Gonna take a little vacation, and go to orlando for sons graduation. Never been, so just wondering what yalls experience has been, and what i should check out while I'm there. So far we plan on hitting universal, universal island, and possibly the new water park thats opening this weekend. Have know idea about restaurants.

I lived in Orlando for 2 years, but I worked at Disney so I was pretty much just always doing Disney things. Orlando is full of every chain restaurant you could ever want...meaning I never really found great local places. Then again, I was in a different stage of life and was more focused on Tinkerbell and Cinderella than I was finding great places to eat.

I grew up in a suburb of Orlando. Where will you be staying? I know BradB on here still lives down there and could prob be a valuable source of info.

The mid evil times restaurant is pretty cool. We went and had a good time.

days Inn, somewhere pretty close to the parks, according to my wife

International Drive is the touristy spot out that way. I think they've got a ripleys Belive it or Not, FAO Schwartz, McDonalds with the world largest playground, outlet malls, bass pro...... I Drive

We were in Orlando about a month ago. We've always enjoyed Sea World more than Disney. Hampton Inn at SeaWorld was only about $120/night and gives out free fast passes and will bus you there free, less than 5 minutes away. Medieval Times and Escape Games are fun. Boston Lobster Feast is great if you like all-you-can-eat lobster, shrimp and king crab.

Universal City Walk has a number of restaurants in it. Good places to eat are not in short supply in Orlando. Just see what is close by when you get hungry.

BTW, if you haven't found out already, Universal is expensive. Buy the tickets that allow you to go from one park to the next in one day, but don't plan on doing the whole thing in a day. Also, you'll need to buy the Express option on your tickets at $100+ each if you don't want to stand in line. Disney's Fast Pass system is much better and doesn't cost extra.

Wth? For some reason I thought you were a lot younger.

Last time I was there for a trade show; dined at Capital Grille and Maggiano's; both were good.

Don't know when you're going, but you better make sure it is not during this crap.

http://www.wdwinfo.com/disney-gay-days.htm

I'm in Apopka now for work, just north of Orlando. If you plan to travel any distance get a Sunpass. Dang toll roads everywhere.

Perch recommends Pulse Night Club.

Knew that was coming

Tinkerbell and Cinderella? Well hell sounds like you were on to something good to eat

He won't be able to avoid it. There is a heavy presence 24/7/365.

Need to add, the premium outlets are pretty good too. Got some great deals on Columbia shorts.

Lots of good eats in Orlando. Haven't been in about 10 years but they have local chain steakhouse named Charleys. Prime aged beef cooked over a wood fire, not under a broiler like most high end steakhousea. Great steaks.

grew up in Apopka just north of Orlando , now live in east Orlando ....tons of things to do here , 30 min east is port Canaveral and the inlet where all the big cruise ships come in , food over there is great as well...also the beaches over there great.

I know it is a chain, but there are none around us, so my family likes eating at Bahama Breeze when we go down there. No idea of the name, but in a strip mall on International Drive in the Sea World area, there is a family run Thai Place that I really liked. Other than that we pretty much just eat what we get a hankering for depending on what is handy at the time we are ready to eat.

My brother is the manager at the New Balance store in the outlet mall on I-Drive if you need some new kicks....

He's a man of the cloth, James, c'mon. A man of the cloth with a thing for petite blondes. We all have our fleshly weaknesses....

I've been here in Orlando for the last 4 years. Let me know any specific places you want t go or eat and I'll do my best to give you a local perspective. It's kinda like Washington DC; if you can get past your anticipated perspective, there are a lot of really cool things to do. And the local food and shopping is outstanding.

Traffic can make or break your visit. I'm in the road building business here so that might be the best advice I can offer if you want it. Avoid I-4 at all cost and take the toll roads. If you drive stop at the Turkey Lake Plaza on the Turnpike and get an E-Pass. You'll be very, very glad you did.

Figured my testimony needed some spicing up...

I'm in Orlando a pretty good bit. I usually drive 30 miles to Titusville to eat rock shrimp at Dixie crossroads at least once per trip. They have a Orlando location, but I have never eaten their.

Dallas county

Is the epass so that you can just ride through the toll booths?

Rossi's has awesome pizza and wings. It's been there since the sixties.

Mostly yes. I use mine at the airport for parking. It's only $5 for the sticker and then you load it from your credit card in $10 increments. It will save you tons of time and money. Most toll roads are all electronic meaning you need an e-pass or exact change. Or you will get billed by plate which adds substantial admin fees to each toll. The tolls aren't real expensive but he lines at the booths get real long. Edit - I just re-read your post. If you are just going to the Universal area you might not have to have one. If you are driving down the Turnpike (which I would think you would have to) I'd go ahead and order one by mail if you have time. Your going to spend that much in tolls anyway. It's $5 for the sticker and a minimum of $10 to load it. So you'll spend that just coming and going on the Turnpike. They sell Sunpass, not Epass but I don't think there's any difference for nonresidents.
https://www.sunpass.com/purchase

You work for Volkert Dallas?

no, I work for www.middlesexco.com

I'd steer clear of Pulse nightclub, but you might enjoy it. Not judging.

I was hesitant to click on that link..What kinda name is Middlesex Corporation for a road building company?

Because driving on their roads is as sweet as...nevermind.

My company has a store there. I believe the restaurant you are looking for is called Rachel's Steak House.
Eat a pretty descent steak and watch women take their clothes off at the same time.

Leave it to Aldeer to have someone familiar with Rachels. I live a little over a mile south of that place.Don't have any tourist advice. I stay the heck away from anything south of Colonial Drive(SR 50) unless forced to by work.

Sitting at Epcot right now. Wife and daughter riding rides that I can't ride with this titanium in my neck, lol. Pretty good time and good food here with the dining plan but I'm ready to be home. Staying at Disney Port Orleans Riverside, nice, reasonable resort. If you go to Disney be sure and ride Soarin', you won't regret it.

Oh Rachel's! They actually have an excellent steak. I actually know people that truely do go there to eat. CAuse the girls aren't full nude or very attractive

You know Rachael's is south of Colonial Drive by more than a mile LOL I don't know of any neighborhood within a mile of Rachel's.

It's the county in New England where our company was founded. I won't bore you with an British-American history lesson

Not Rachel's north on 436

Yep it's the SR 436 location next to a Sams Club I am talking about.

Jlbuc10 probably also remembers Winter Parks famous Boobie Trap. Two circular rounded buildings with what can only be described as nipples on top. Back in the day they were actually painted tan on the bottom and pink on the top. Winter Park finally got it demolished just a few years ago.

I second that. Any chance I have to call a woman a "wench" and not get slapped is pretty awesome. Oh, and you get to eat with your fingers, double awesome!!!

Universal is expensive, but if you stay at either Royal Pacific Resort, Hard Rock Hotel, or Portofino Bay Resort, the unlimited express passes are free for all resort guests.

We just got back today from a Disney/Universal trip. Stayed 2 nights at Animal Kingdom Lodge, one night at Hard Rock Hotel at Universal (which gives you 2 days' worth of express passes), and 4 nights at the Poly. Had a ball, as usual.

We ate at the new Universal restaurant, Toothsome Chocolate Emporium, on Sunday night. Food was pretty good, but the milkshakes are the star of the show. I had a Peanut Indulgence milkshake, and I could have had it for my meal. They come in what amounts to a quart mason jar. Very filling.

We're at our fish camp just outside of Winter Garden for a few days, right now. As previously mentioned, Sea World is pretty neat, Disney sucks.