Things to do in Orlando?

[Lindley]

My company has decided to send me down to their office in Orlando, FL from Wednesday (tomorrow) through Friday. This is very sudden; I found out on Monday.

See, first another guy I know was supposed to go to the Pennsylvania office to do some work with a bit of hardware there. But Pennsylvania is being snowed in, so they figured they'd send both the device and him to the Orlando office instead. But then the guy got sick, so now they're sending *me* to Orlando instead.

Anyway, I'll be busy during the days, but I presume I'll have a bit of free time in the evening and I get seriously bored when I'm stuck in a hotel room with nothing to do.

Any suggestions? I'll have a rental car available, but I'm not looking to go too far....

 

[Gary Mitchell]

I've never tried Medieval Times but it might be fun.

 

[gturner]

I'd hang out in front of the court house and watch lawyers come and go, or maybe sip coffee with the geezers at Hardees.

Oh wait, it's Orlando.

Let's see.

Howl at the Moon.
Typhoon Lagoon
Disney's Animal Kingdom
Gatorland
Ron Jon Surfpark
Islands of Adventure (from Universal)
Discovery Cove
Cirque du Soleil
Disney World
Epcot
Hollywood Studios
Universal Studios
SkyVenture (indoor skydiving)
Kennedy Space Center
House of Blues

Hrm... Or just hang out with the geezers at Hardees.

Grab up some of the brochures in your hotel lobby.

 

[Bloodwhiner]

The hookers are on Orange Blossom Trail.. The ones dressed as Disney Characters cost more but you can get a multi-day all-entrance discount pass..

 

[trekkiebaggio]

If you've got free time in the evening Downtown Disney is a good bet, got a lot of shops and food places, and a really nice cinema (they also had a massive Virgin Megastore but I hear that's been pulled down since I left. I don't know what's in its place.)

 

[David cgc]

Sci-Fi City is good geeky fun. Or it was last time I was there, when it was the NCC-1701 Store.

 

[Brian]

There's currently a Princess Diana exhibit (gowns, photos, various other artifacts) where the Virgin Megastore used to be at Downtown Disney. I think. At least that's what was there the last time I went by.

For night life, I would definitely choose Downtown Disney over Universal City Walk. I generally feel that a fight could break out at any moment when I'm at City Walk (the crowd in the clubs is heavier on the young douchebag element), and always feel completely safe at Downtown Disney.

For something a little off the beaten path and semi-cultural (though funny and fun as well), the Orlando Gay Chorus is having a fundraiser performance at the Parliament House, 8pm Thursday night. I'll be there. http://wanzie.com/boxoffice/uncut/ogcu021810.html

 

[Franklin]

If you're staying downtown, see if the Orlando Magic are home if you like NBA basketball and want to drop some bucks on a ticket. The arena is right downtown.

If your hotel is downtown, all the Disney attractions will be about a 20 mile drive away. It's about a 10 mile drive to the things around Universal Studios. If you're staying by the airport, they're even farther away. And, Orlando is a shitty town to get around in, so if you decide to venture in either of those directions, give yourself time and avoid getting caught in rush hour.

 

[Brian]

Agree with Franklin about traffic, though Disney is really 15 miles from downtown and Universal is 7.

The Magic are hosting Detroit tonight at 7pm, and Dallas Friday at 8pm.

 

[Franklin]

Yeah. brian is right. Downtown Disney is only about 15 miles from downtown Orlando. Give yourself 25 minutes to a half hour to get there. Or more, depending on traffic. The Magic Kingdom itself is closer to 20 miles from city center, but only takes a few minutes more to get there because the last few miles are on Disney property.

If you decide to go to any of the Disney parks, bear in mind Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom close pretty early this time of year (9 PM or even before). Even the Magic Kingdom may be open until only 10 or 11 PM. So, if you're only free in the evening, and you want to go to any of those parks, you should check the hours. You may not get to spend enough time there to be worth going.

 

[Purdy Bear]

The new Harry Potter park is supposed to be open. I'd be there like a shot!

 

[Brian]

It's not yet open, Purdy Bear. All they'll say is "Spring 2010".

 

[trekkiebaggio]

Yeah. brian is right. Downtown Disney is only about 15 miles from downtown Orlando. Give yourself 25 minutes to a half hour to get there. Or more, depending on traffic. The Magic Kingdom itself is closer to 20 miles from city center, but only takes a few minutes more to get there because the last few miles are on Disney property.

If you decide to go to any of the Disney parks, bear in mind Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom close pretty early this time of year (9 PM or even before). Even the Magic Kingdom may be open until only 10 or 11 PM. So, if you're only free in the evening, and you want to go to any of those parks, you should check the hours. You may not get to spend enough time there to be worth going.

Epcot was always 9, if I remember correctly (apart from just before Christmas when it was 930, although it's been almost a year since I worked there so my memory or all the opening times is a little sketchy.) Animal Kingdom would be about 7 or 8 at this time of year, Magic Kingdom sometimes shuts even earlier than Epcot as does Hollywood Studios.

 

[Brian]

If Lindley is only free in the evenings, I'd say the parks (Disney, Universal, Sea World) aren't worth the money for such a short visit. It's about $80 for a single day admission now.

But for future reference, here's the best source for Disney park information: http://pages.prodigy.net/stevesoares/

 

[Brian]

The hours are pretty tight (10am-5pm), but if you should get some free time during the day, you could check out the "Out of This World" exhibit, currently at the Orange County Regional History Center, located in downtown:

Discover new ways of seeing characters as defined by their costumes in this exhibition featuring more than 40 costumes, props, and models spanning 60 years from "Star Wars," "Blade Runner," "Terminator 2," "Indiana Jones," "Star Trek," "Ghostbusters II," "Batman," and many more of the most popular films and television shows of all time.

Out of this World examines how costume design incorporates color, style, scale, materials, historical traditions, and cultural cues to help performers and audiences engage, in new or accepted ways, with the characters being portrayed.


The 3,500 square foot exhibtion features:

* Hat worn by Margaret Hamilton as Wicked Witch of the West in the film "The Wizard of Oz"

* Jacket worn by Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones in the film "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade"

* Leather jacket worn by Arnold Schwarzenegger in the film "The Terminator"

* Embroidered robe worn by actor Joe Turkel as Eldon Tyrell in "Blade Runner"

* Darth Vader cape, Jedi robe, and lightsaber from the "Star Wars" trilogy

* Tunic and Sash worn by William Shatner as Captain Kirk in "Star Trek"

* Costume worn by Dan Aykroyd as Dr. Raymond Stantz in the film "Ghostbusters II"

And much more!

Details: http://thehistorycenter.org/exhibits/outofthisworld

 

[Kirby]

If you've got free time in the evening Downtown Disney is a good bet, got a lot of shops and food places, and a really nice cinema (they also had a massive Virgin Megastore but I hear that's been pulled down since I left. I don't know what's in its place.)

This is my suggestion too. I was there for a conference a few years ago and this was a better alternative to the theme park.

 

[Lindley]

Some good suggestions here, thanks. Downtown Disney seems like it might be worthwhile.

 

[Jan]

Dinner theaters are often a good evening's entertainment. There's everything from murder mysteries to horse shows.

Have a good time!
Jan

 

[Franklin]

Some good suggestions here, thanks. Downtown Disney seems like it might be worthwhile.

Probably. Especially with so little time. But still --

The hookers are on Orange Blossom Trail.. The ones dressed as Disney Characters cost more but you can get a multi-day all-entrance discount pass..

 

[Alpha_Geek]

I've never tried Medieval Times but it might be fun.

...and the one in Orlando has more interesting stuff than the rest of the chain. The castle has a small village built up outside it, including a period loom that was brought from Spain, IIRC.

Other geeky things to do:

Skycraft suplus: the home for all your geeky 'tronics and hardware purchases. If Mythbusters did anything in Florida, they'd shop here.

KSC isn't too far away. Go. Drive east, take the Saturn bus tour and see a real frakkin' moon rocket!

El Pollo Loco is a tasty fast food chain. Caribbean jerk chicken, greens, etc.

Disneys Pleasure Island, a bar district run by a mouse! The Adventurers Club there is kind of fun. If you get a drink at the bar in the Main Salon, tell the bartender that your friends from Trekbbs sent you and ask him for a good seat. He should fix you up.