Orlando offers so many family-friendly attractions, it's almost overwhelming! Here are some tips on how to spend less and get the most out of your next vacation.

With all of the thrills and adventures offered by Orlando theme parks, water parks, and world-class resorts, it's easy to get overwhelmed with the planning, packing, and purchasing needed for your family's vacation.

But have no fear! Here are six essential tips for squeezing the most out of your vacation budget -- and squeezing the most fun into every day you're in Orlando.

1. Make plans early. By researching and making plans well in advance, you'll be able to find the best deals on hotels, theme park admissions, and Orlando attractions. (You'll also be able to plan around potential vacation spoilers, like theme park rides that are closed for maintenance.) If you're thinking of visiting Walt Disney World Resort, for example, you can order free maps for each park online, and before you even leave home, your kids can decide which rides they just have to go on.

2. Buy advance tickets. Buying tickets to theme parks online in advance can save not only money -- it can save you valuable time while you're at the parks, too. Check for great deals online at websites like Orlando's orlandoinfo.com. You'll likely be able to get passes for longer periods at a significantly cheaper price than the gate admission. And, with your tickets in hand, you'll be able to walk right past the long lines at the entrance.

3. Consider your needs. In Orlando, it isn't necessary to use the majority of your vacation budget on a place to stay. There's a wide variety of options and pricing, from budget accommodations to value hotels to vacation homes. With all the accommodation options you are considering, make sure to ask whether kids stay free, and if the answer is yes, what the cutoff age is.

4. Pack the essentials -- and maybe a little more. Last-minute purchases or rentals of certain necessary items can add up quickly. Pack plenty of sunscreen, rain ponchos, water bottles, and bandages, and even consider bringing along your kids' stroller. After a long day of walking, your kids will welcome the opportunity to relax.

5. Use the tourist-friendly transportation. Get a ride to major Orlando attractions for only $1 on the I-RIDE Trolley. If you're planning to navigate Walt Disney World Resort, their transportation systems (monorails, buses, and boats) provide free door-to-door access. For visitors to Downtown's arts, culture, and dining scene, a free bus offers rides along a three-mile loop in the heart of downtown.

6. Explore Orlando's free attractions, too. At the Peabody Orlando Hotel, twice a day visitors can watch the March of the Peabody Ducks, in which the resident birds walk a red carpet to and from the Royal Duck Fountain. Every Monday morning, admission is free to Harry P. Leu Gardens, a 50-acre botanical park with the largest camellia collection in eastern North America. The park also runs a free storytime program for young children on the third Monday of every month.

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