Recomendations for Orlando area?

DesertDevil · May 17, 2009

Besides DisneyWorld, anyone have recomendations for "must do's" while in the Orlando area. The Wildcat Coach family will be spending the first week of June there.

I wanted to take a day and drive over to a beach. Daytona looks like its a fairly easy drive from Orlando. Is Daytona the way to go in that area if we wanna hit the beach? Or should we look elsewhere? Thanks.

quantumleap · May 17, 2009

Do you have your hotel reservations yet? There are houses available for short-term rent just outside Orlando if you don't want to stay in a hotel.

Universal Studios is a good bet. Also, Cape Canaveral was one of my favorite places to visit. It's just a short drive from Orlando.

Dante · May 17, 2009

Wildcat Coach said:
Besides DisneyWorld, anyone have recomendations for "must do's" while in the Orlando area. The Wildcat Coach family will be spending the first week of June there.

I wanted to take a day and drive over to a beach. Daytona looks like its a fairly easy drive from Orlando. Is Daytona the way to go in that area if we wanna hit the beach? Or should we look elsewhere? Thanks.

daytona beach is great..... you can rent these chairs and umbrellas right on the beach and have a great time with the kids in the water.... I was there last year

TheKinz · May 17, 2009

what parks do you plan on going to?? That determines alot. The coast is an hour away and Daytona is great. Give me a little of your itenirary and I would be more than happy to gove you some ideas and places to eat etc..Do you have a hotel booked already?

DesertDevil · May 17, 2009

The Kinz said:
what parks do you plan on going to?? That determines alot. The coast is an hour away and Daytona is great. Give me a little of your itenirary and I would be more than happy to gove you some ideas and places to eat etc..Do you have a hotel booked already?

Yes. Hotel is already booked. We are staying in a two room family suite at the Palisades at Lake Austin Grand Resort. Although it is a little out of the way, we hear its great for families. Apparently it is a newer resort. Just about every review on Tripadvisor was positive. Plus we got a great deal of like $80 per night for 6 nights.

Our kids are 3 and 8. We planned on doing DisneyWorld of course and hitting a beach one day.

Outside of that, Im looking to filling a day or two with something else besides Disneyworld or the beach.

Thanks for the help.

HacheMan · May 17, 2009

Universal Studios/Islands Of Adventure

I actually prefer this place over Disney

2 parks with different things at each one so you would probably want to visit both in order to see everything.

And be sure to not miss the Spider Man & Mummy rides....

DesertDevil · May 17, 2009

Hache Man said:
Universal Studios/Islands Of Adventure

I actually prefer this place over Disney

2 parks with different things at each one so you would probably want to visit both in order to see everything.

And be sure to not miss the Spider Man & Mummy rides....

How are the crowds here on average compared to DisneyWorld?

Also, are there plenty of things to do with the youngens besides coasters?

HacheMan · May 17, 2009

Wildcat Coach said:
How are the crowds here on average compared to DisneyWorld?

Also, are there plenty of things to do with the youngens besides coasters?

Yes, tons of stuff for the little ones.......

http://www.universalorlando.com/amusement-parks/theme-park-overview.html

G.MONEY · May 17, 2009

My Kids loved Bush Gardens in Tampa...Not a long drive away from Orlando, was priced right and not as crowded as Disney..ANd we always had to go to SeaWorld, and I even enjoyed that.

TheKinz · May 17, 2009

Disney is the only park that gets REAL crowded. Universal was my kids favorite as well. My kids are 6-8. The best is to get to the parks right when they open. Then we would be pretty much done by early afternoon and leave when the crowds really get heavy. It was easy to get our kids to want to leave.."want to go back to the hotel and swim?" The answer was always yes (and it will be hot and humid when you are here). Doing this you can also avoid paying park prices for lunch and dinner. When you get to town stop by a liquor store pick up you and your wifes favorite and keep in room. This way you can mix your own drinks at the pool

One place for sure to eat is:

http://www.opaorlando.com/

Our kids loved this place and we have a picture with me on the table dancing with a belly dancer..hilarious..Food is awesome as well.

nhoj · May 17, 2009

Bring lots of cash.

nhoj · May 17, 2009

Also look for deals at universal. I got a 5 day pass for like $69 each a few years ago. It was the My name is Earl promotion. Not sure if they have anything like that now but my kids love that place much more than Disney.

quantumleap · May 17, 2009

Downtown Disney is a nice place to vist as well. Restaurants and shopping.

Take a whole day to do Epcot.

Gravy · May 17, 2009

Not a bad place to eat if you like lobster:

http://www.bostonlobsterfeast.com/RestaurantIndex.cfm?idsPageID=1

Also my 2 aunts are like 15 mins from Disney and worked there and get in for free but make sure you bring alot of money because Disney is sky high on EVERYTHING.

HacheMan · May 17, 2009

Gravy said:
Not a bad place to eat if you like lobster:

http://www.bostonlobsterfeast.com/RestaurantIndex.cfm?idsPageID=1

Also my 2 aunts are like 15 mins from Disney and worked there and get in for free but make sure you bring alot of money because Disney is sky high on EVERYTHING.

Fantastic deal.......

applepicks · May 17, 2009

Daytona Beach:
Beach: Park at Ocean Walk parking garage and walk across the catwalk to the beach.
Food: Ocean Deck, it's within walking distance from above beach area and can walk in and eat in just swimsuits.
Must See: Daytona International Speedway. Kids will love it and it's very cheap under 20 per adult and 12 for kids.

If you need anything while here on your daytrip don't hesitate to ask.

DesertDevil · May 17, 2009

The Kinz said:
Disney is the only park that gets REAL crowded. Universal was my kids favorite as well. My kids are 6-8. The best is to get to the parks right when they open. Then we would be pretty much done by early afternoon and leave when the crowds really get heavy. It was easy to get our kids to want to leave.."want to go back to the hotel and swim?" The answer was always yes (and it will be hot and humid when you are here). Doing this you can also avoid paying park prices for lunch and dinner. When you get to town stop by a liquor store pick up you and your wifes favorite and keep in room. This way you can mix your own drinks at the pool

One place for sure to eat is:

http://www.opaorlando.com/

Our kids loved this place and we have a picture with me on the table dancing with a belly dancer..hilarious..Food is awesome as well.

Are we related? This sounds like our typical day every time we have visited Disneyland as a family.

Hit the park when it opens. Spend 4-5 hours. Leave when it just starts to get super busy. Back to the hotel room for drinks for mom and dad and swimming for the kids.

billsfan · May 17, 2009

Dante said:
daytona beach is great..... you can rent these chairs and umbrellas right on the beach and have a great time with the kids in the water.... I was there last year

and you didn't contact me?? :>(

barman · May 17, 2009

COACH, if you visit any of the theme parks, here's my greatest advice.

Pay the extra jack (usually about $20 to $25 per person) to get the "SpeedPass" option (or whatever they call it).

This allows you to avoid all waiting lines.

Barman Jr and I did Universal Studios a couple summers back and did NOT get the SpeedPass.

We averaged about 45 minute wait on about 10 different rides....thus we spent over six hours just standing in a line.

In short, that sucks donkeys

DesertDevil · May 17, 2009

barman said:
COACH, if you visit any of the theme parks, here's my greatest advice.

Pay the extra jack (usually about $20 to $25 per person) to get the "SpeedPass" option (or whatever they call it).

This allows you to avoid all waiting lines.

Barman Jr and I did Universal Studios a couple summers back and did NOT get the SpeedPass.

We averaged about 45 minute wait on about 10 different rides....thus we spent over six hours just standing in a line.

In short, that sucks donkeys

I agree 100%. I researched Universal and the only way to get these passes on the dates we will be there is to stay at one of their sponsored resorts.

Sucks. I would pay the extra too.