I'm going to echo sherbertlemons' statement.
Orlando can get expensive. Disney is about $50 for a ticket. I'm not sure if you can get student discounts at the gate. (I know UCF provides them to their students but you have to purchase them at the Student Union) Universal, Epcot, MGM all run about $50 for a ticket.
The dinner theater shows such as Arabian Nights and Medieval Times are tons of fun and I suggest you go there but, once again, they are expensive.
The Wet and Wild water park is probably one of the least expensive attractions around. They do provide student discounts. Also, if you go there are 3pm, I think tickets are about $15 (but don't quote me on that).
Hotels and restaurants around that area cost a lot of money. You're best bet is to stay somewhat further away from the attractions in a nice hotel. Nice hotels around the theme park area can be about $200/night for the least expensive room.
Just make sure if you pick a hotel outside the area that it's not too far away. Orlando is one big toll road and can run you about $8 roundtrip to get to Disney from some parts of the city. Also, the roads here are HORRIBLE. Too many people, too little highways, and too many bad drivers create one of the worst highway systems in the county. There's even a website out called
www.ihatei4.com that describes our most hated roadway. There's an area where the two biggest highways in Orlando (408 and I-4) meet up and it's almost laughable to watch people trying to merge (my Orlando peeps know what I'm talking about!).
Restaurants around the Disney are are great but, once again, expensive.
Disney's Pleasure Island and Universal's City Walk provide great night life. They are expensive. Drinks can be in the $10 range. I suggest you go downtown to enjoy the nightlife. It's more of a college scene there anyway. (The Pleasure Island and City Walk area attracts a bunch of 40-year-olds who are trying to relive their youth while their kids are asleep in the hotel room)
Make sure you visit UCF while you're in Orlando. I hear that it's a great school!
