D1GT-x8

im visiting orlando next friday for 8 days. so far i got a 5day hopper pass to disneyworld theme parks. is there any other attraction, and other parks that is recomended to see like BUSCH GARDEN, UNIVERSAL STUDIOS, im a big rollercoaster fan. but my girl isnt. anything you guys can recommend. oh yeah any good resturant.

im going to coral reef resturant in epcot. is it good? are there better places to eat in the disney park?

how far is miami? will it be a matter of 1 to 2 hours?

PLEASE HELP

KYLiquid

I used to work at disney, depending on the park, I would eat at the places listed below :

MGM - Brown Derby (similar to the one in LA), Scifi-Cafe (pretty good food, but the cool thing is you eat in little cars, and it looks like an old 50s drive in)

Epcot - Canada (great stakes), Italy (killer pasta), Germany (pretty good food and a good show) and France (not the resturant, go to the pastry shop...amazing deserts!)

as far as Magic Kingdom/Animal Kingdom....There isnt anything I find really special to eat there.

Remeber that there is no 'reserved seating' at any of the resturants at Disney...only perfered seating, so when you get to the park go to a resturant (any of them, and make a time to eat where you want (they can do it at any resturant for any place in the park) it just means when your ready to eat you wont have to wait as long).

Universal Studios has 2 parks, there is the Studios (very similar to LA) and Islands of adventure (closer to a 6flags style park) you can get a 2 park ticket for Universal Studios as well. If your girl like rides more like disney, she will like the studios, there are rides and shows...but nothing extream. If you want coasters...the Islands of Adventure is for you.

Bush Gardens has some good coasters, but its about 1-2 hr drive from the disney area of orlando.

Sea World is a lot of shows and a few rides, Im not really a big sea world fan person, but some people like it.

As far as places to eat in town goes : Emerals @ Universal City Walk (outside Universal Studios) is AWSOME, but I think you need to make reservations in advanced 2+ weeks...although they do take walkins if they have the room.

Down Universal on International Drive there is TONS of places to eat...although traffic there SUCKS since its such a tourist hot spot....and I think its kinda a dumpy area, but they do have a Texas de Brazil there, this is an all you can eat style places, but its table service not buffet, if you like meat this is the place to go!!!

Also near Universal is Caddy Shack, its a fun places, good food...its Bill Murrays Resuturant.

Seasons 52, about a 35min drive from the disney area is a great place, very good food...and a nice place to have a meal and a drink and relax.

There is also the Space Center on the East Coast, about 1hr from the disney area.

There is a lot of stuff to do within a 30 min drive from the Disney area, and even more if you will travel up to an hour.

I hope some of this helps. Where are you staying when your hear.

KYLiquid

saw the 2nd part, there is a toll-road, Florida Turnpike, that is the fastest way down to miami. I have made it in a little under 3 hrs (220ish miles) to get to miami, but once your there, bet on another 45 mins to get to where you want to go (south beach, downtown, ect......everyone literaly drives 100mph on that road down there. It will cost you around 4 bucks each way I think.

Something else to check out here in orlando, about 25 mins from the disney area is Mall Millenia, its not that special, but its a nice mall, big food court and a nice air conditioned place to get away from the heat....its the 'fancy mall' in orlando.

There are also all the outlet malls closer to universal!

What part of the san diego area are you from? I used to live in Escondido, a short drive from SD.

beachdog

Ky, sorry to disagree on a couple of points...

If you haven't been to Emerils lately, it totally sucks. You need to make reservations way more than two weeks in advance if you want any time slot resembling dinner time. The context for my comment about them sucking is that I had catered a business dinner there for about 2 dozen people that was absolutely fabulous. So, a year later when the same group of people was coming to town, I catered there again. The evening was so bad that the manager gave everyone of my guests a voucher to come back for a free meal. A few of the out of town guests gave me their vouchers since they wouldn't have a chance to use them. I returned three times and I wouldn't even bring home the leftovers for the dog. And those were free meals! Popularity and a high backlog has gone to their heads.

Season's 52 is excellent and even a reasonable value. In the same plaza is Roy's which is also excellent. Across the street is Moonfish which is terrific. It's kind of a seafood version of a steakhouse. Pricey but the quality is there.

On Disney property, the best restaurant is California Grill on the top floor of the Contemporary Hotel. The restaurants within the parks are not as good as good restaurants outside of the parks. They are expensive though.

Maybe it's a typo, but the tolls on the turnpike between Orlando and Miami are about $17 each way if you take it all the way. About $14 if you switch to I95 in Jupiter. Turnpike has a few long streches of construction going on and if you hit them at the wrong time the Miami run is going to take 5-6 hours. I drive to Miami 2-3 times per month.

If you go to Miami, plan to stay over. It's more than a day trip.

Universal's Islands of Adventure has the strongest coasters in Orlando. The best overall ride there is not a coaster. Spiderman.

If you wind up at Disney Animal Kingdom they have an interesting coaster. Not terrifying but fun. The cars spin. The best ride there is Dinosaur.

guy321

I'll be glad to come out and hang with your GF while you partake of all the rollercoasters!!! :D

Tigster

Here are my thoughts.

1. Disney is getting outdated, the rides are not like they used to be.

2. Animal Kingdom is good but go earlier in the morning before it starts getting too hot so the animals are out.

3. Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure has the best roller coasters.

4. Pleasure Island is fun to go to at night lots of clubs etc all at disney.

5. The Palms restaurant at the Hard Rock Hotel is awesome!

6. Miami is 3:30 hours away if you drive at a decent speed, and the tolls are more like $8.00 each way.

7. The polynesian hotel at Disney has a good Hawaiian Luau restuarant. I forget the name.

8. If it is really hot Seaworld is a cool park where you can get wet and cool off. Plus they have the newer Kracken roller coaster

D1GT-x8

wow thanks guys. ill try to check out all these places. but i will be at that rotary meet at Race Rock Cafe can anyone give me an address so i can get directions.




another thing how is the weather in orlando right now. and can someone keep me updated on the weather next week. THANK LOTS guys.

beachdog

Race Rock
8986 International Dr
Orlando, FL

weather is unusually hot and humid even for Orlando. It's been mid to high 90's and it feels over 100. Expect thunderstorms every afternoon especially at Disney. Last week it was drier around here but you still have to expect some rain especially in late afternoon or evening. Not a big problem because you don't have to wear fancy clothes anywhere near the parks. If you have technical shirts and shorts and hiking sandals they work best at the parks especially if you go on rides that get you wet.

KYLiquid

yeah, i was there april 04 for my birthday and thought it was great, i guess times change.

Ive been there 3 times now (the one in altimont springs) my girlfriend does some contract work with them, very good food and the prices really arnt bad. I love the decor of the place.


yeah I meant to put $14 down there...oops. also when did they start the contruction, i havent been down there since dec...so i guess that too changes...jeez i guess i need to get out more lol

KYLiquid

beachdog posted the address. you can also see it right from the interstate, its not hard to find.

I sent you a pm about it, if you didnt get it, here is the thread about the meet.

https://www.rx8club.com/se-rx-8-forum-30/fl-rotary-meet-part-ii-65253/

eclps0

MGM u need to go to MGM the new stunt ride with cars is WOOOOOOOWW i have pics and videos i will post

eclps0

Can’t forget California grill. The best food I have ever had it comes in 1st place on my list and chef de France comes in 2nd.

D1GT-x8

Thanks Guys. I Just Got Back Orlando Was Fun But Toooooooo Humid. I Ended Up Loosing My Credit Card So I Couldn't Rent A Car Thats Why I Didnt Go To The Meet.

wankleman

yeah island of adventure is the bomb, incredible hulk ride, spider-man, dueling dragons, and the tower thing ride is awesome. Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville is a good place to eat in universal studios. Is anybody going to the parks during zoom-zoom live in oct.

Tigster

We like to go occasionally at night for a few hours as the lines are not that bad. But I also have an executive pass that we get in free with from one of my friends.