Visiting Orlando

[nmesisca]

Hi everyone,

Im a long time reader, but I have only registered today to ask for some advice..

I will be visiting Orlando for a week, I have never been there and apart for the obvious Disney park/Universal I am not sure what other interesting things are in the area.. so if you could give some suggestions I would really appreciate.

Also, being the geek that I am :) I will be looking around for shopping :) ... and I mean computer parts (hard drive/blue ray drive/ram) shopping.. anything close to Orlando with nice prices?

thanks in advance for your help guys,

N

[+Nik Louch Subscriber²]

International drive - just spend a day walking up/down - full of random places. Ripleys Believe It Or Not, for example.

Or the worlds largest toilet seat...

[nmesisca]

International drive - just spend a day walking up/down - full of random places. Ripleys Believe It Or Not, for example.

Or the worlds largest toilet seat...

:) heheh sounds... interesting... thanks mate...

any nice PC outlet stores I should know about?

keep them coming please guys :woot: need stuff to do/see !

[nmesisca]

:) heheh sounds... interesting... thanks mate...

any nice PC outlet stores I should know about?

keep them coming please guys :woot: need stuff to do/see !

:huh: ... ehm... no one else?

[ck2k01]

I lived there for 5 years and just recently moved away in 2006. It's the tourism capital of Florida so there's plenty to do besides Disney and Universal. Off the top of my head (and not knowing your age/interests):

-Sea World has improved tremendously in recent years and is actually a great bang for your buck (I think $50 or so for an all year pass).

-The two Disney water parks (Blizzard Beach, Typhoon Lagoon) and Wet-n-Wild.

-The Orlando Water-sports Complex if you're into water-sports (cable park).

-As previously mentioned, all the touristy crap on I-drive (Ripley's, Worlds Biggest McDonalds, etc.)

-Point Orlando (has an IMAX theater), Universal City Walk, and Downtown Disney.

-Cirque de Soleil (at Downtown Disney). If you go see any show, see this one.

-Medieval Times, Arabian Nights, Dolly Parton's Dixey Stampede (dinner shows).

-Old-town on 1-92 in Kissimmee. Sort of like an everyday carnival with rides and shops and the like. Go on Saturday nights for classic car night. Also, if your looking for a thrill there, pay $35, and ride the "Skycoaster".

-Millennium Mall (very nice, "up-scale" mall)

-House of Blues, Hard Rock Cafe, Back-booth, the Social (if you're into live music).

-Celebration (where I lived, downtown is great for "date night"), Winter Park (also great for "date night"), and Gaylord Palms (originally known as the Grand Ole Opry Florida)

-Countless, and I mean countless mini-golf courses.

Again, this is all just off the top of my head. Let me know if you have any specific interests, as I'd be glad to pass on any ideas to you.

Oh, and as for computer shopping, I can't think of anything besides the ordinary Best Buys, CompUSAs, etc.

[nmesisca]

I lived there for 5 years and just recently moved away in 2006. It's the tourism capital of Florida so there's plenty to do besides Disney and Universal. Off the top of my head (and not knowing your age/interests):

-Sea World has improved tremendously in recent years and is actually a great bang for your buck (I think $50 or so for an all year pass).

-The two Disney water parks (Blizzard Beach, Typhoon Lagoon) and Wet-n-Wild.

-The Orlando Water-sports Complex if you're into water-sports (cable park).

-As previously mentioned, all the touristy crap on I-drive (Ripley's, Worlds Biggest McDonalds, etc.)

-Point Orlando (has an IMAX theater), Universal City Walk, and Downtown Disney.

-Cirque de Soleil (at Downtown Disney). If you go see any show, see this one.

-Medieval Times, Arabian Nights, Dolly Parton's Dixey Stampede (dinner shows).

-Old-town on 1-92 in Kissimmee. Sort of like an everyday carnival with rides and shops and the like. Go on Saturday nights for classic car night. Also, if your looking for a thrill there, pay $35, and ride the "Skycoaster".

-Millennium Mall (very nice, "up-scale" mall)

-House of Blues, Hard Rock Cafe, Back-booth, the Social (if you're into live music).

-Celebration (where I lived, downtown is great for "date night"), Winter Park (also great for "date night"), and Gaylord Palms (originally known as the Grand Ole Opry Florida)

-Countless, and I mean countless mini-golf courses.

Again, this is all just off the top of my head. Let me know if you have any specific interests, as I'd be glad to pass on any ideas to you.

Oh, and as for computer shopping, I can't think of anything besides the ordinary Best Buys, CompUSAs, etc.

Thanks mate, I think this will keep me busy for a while :)

Feel free to add your thoughts guys !!

:D

[hekkyUK]

- Kennedy Space Centre (Check their site to see if theres any launches when you are visiting!)

- Busch Gardens (only if you're into rollercoasters!)

- You must MUST do a breakfast at a Ponderosa/Golden Corral/insert other food place here - I'm seen nothing like it anywhere else! LOL!

If you're planning on doing all the big parks, google FlexTicket - It will get you cheaper entrance into them :)

Once you get there try to find a tourist information place - They usually have loads of free brochures and maps and vouchers and stuff :) (If you're hiring a car they usually give you a free map with these places marked on!)

[mtrftw]

Sea World is cool. The dolphin and killer whale shows are pretty amazing.

[SirDarkness]

Universal is AWSOME!!! Family+Coasters+movies+waterrides=AWSOME! ++++ COASTERS!!! New simpsons ride that replaced the back to the future ride. (miss it)

Disney IS GREAT!! ---> Takes about 2 days to see everything. Great memories are sure to be had.

BUSCH GARDENS HAS LOTS OF ANIMALS!! + Coasters = FUN but is in Tampa. ~70 miles from orlando

Cyprus Gardens has a garden...

International Drive is a great place to do anything. :-)

Kennedy has space stuff. Unless a shuttle is launched I would stay in orlando. OR if you love space stuff. :-)

Daytona has a circle of pavment and nice views ;-) on the beaches.

SeaWORLD has alot of big fun fish. With a few coasters. one being the Krakin it is worth the trip if you like coasters.

In short if you love action and coasters goto Universal and spend 2 days at both parks there. ITS AWSOME!! There is alot to do and see. Same with Disney just not all the coasters. :-)

Hope that helps.

:-)

HAVE FUN!!!!!!

[nmesisca]

- Kennedy Space Centre (Check their site to see if theres any launches when you are visiting!)

- Busch Gardens (only if you're into rollercoasters!)

- You must MUST do a breakfast at a Ponderosa/Golden Corral/insert other food place here - I'm seen nothing like it anywhere else! LOL!

If you're planning on doing all the big parks, google FlexTicket - It will get you cheaper entrance into them :)

Once you get there try to find a tourist information place - They usually have loads of free brochures and maps and vouchers and stuff :) (If you're hiring a car they usually give you a free map with these places marked on!)

Sounds great !

.. and definitely loooking forward to trying that nice breakfast you're talking about hektik :)

thanks very much guy, appreciated all your suggestions :)

hehhehe I want to see some crocs too :woot:

[+Nik Louch Subscriber²]

You know, I have to chime in...

Kennedy Space Centre / Cape Canavaral... It bored me to tears. It was quite heavy going, slow and 100% propaganda.

But if you are into it, fair enough.

[ECEGatorTuro]

You know, I have to chime in...

Kennedy Space Centre / Cape Canavaral... It bored me to tears. It was quite heavy going, slow and 100% propaganda.

But if you are into it, fair enough.

It may be slow but if there is a launch scheduled, best thing you could ever do!

I lived in Miami for 20 years and I remember going to KSC as a kid and watching the shuttle launches with my parents. It was an amazing experience!

[MMaster23]

If you need a place to stay, the Sleep Inn on Westwood blvd is great. It offers great value for you money. Nice and clean. Friendly staff.

I saw the prices last week .. only 39$ .. awesome deal right there.

Breakfast kinda sucks but right next door there is an awesome diner which is open from 6AM to 12PM.

I stayed there last June when visiting Microsoft TechEd 2008 for IT Pro USA so I didn't do allot of sightseeing (altough Universal is great).

Just be sure to buy the "park hopper" option when going to Universal. I didn't and regret it looking back.

I went to Universal Studio's with Microsoft on Thursaday (kick ass party, free booze, free food, no lines etc .. awesome :)) but couldn't see much then.

Went to go see Isles of Adventure (Universal) later that Saturday (day off) but after seeing pretty much everything around 2PM< and my bus not coming till 5, I really regretted not paying a little bit more for Park Hopper.

All the rides in Universal and Isles of Adventure freaking rock :D Also got a little bit of a tan altough the UV index was extremely low in Florida that week.

Too bad I wasn't there with some mates and was there on business. Else I would have seen more of Orlando.

ps. The I-Drive is a little bus that drives on the international drive every 20 minutes. A week pass barely costs you 7$ or so. Go for that if you don't have a car or really hate walking in the bloody sun ;)

edit: lol only now do I realise this thread is kinda old .. you prob. were there before I was haha

[+Nik Louch Subscriber²]

If you need a place to stay, the Sleep Inn on Westwood blvd is great. It offers great value for you money. Nice and clean. Friendly staff.

I saw the prices last week .. only 39$ .. awesome deal right there.

You know, I looked up that place, ad then a few others linked to from Expedia... Damn some of your 2* hotels are nice. Over here 2* means "Do not stay in this flea infested pit".

I'm planning the honeymoon to Orlando next year, and I'd look at those hotels (we have no intention of starting our married life in debt).

[NotChetHanks]

I live near I-Drive in Dr. Phillips. I hate you tourists! :p Traffic is a beeeeeeeeyotch!

[obiwong]

definitely give Sea World a try

i went there with my fiancee a couple years ago and it was awesome (Y)