Mr. SCL and I are going to Central Florida - any ideas as to things I shouldn’t miss and things I should miss? I will have about a week - the rest of the time will be spent with family, which is the purpose of the trip. I don’t have an unlimited budget, so info on cheap places to eat, etc. will be much appreciated.
It depends what you like. For most people Disney or Universal Studios is a given, but I would personally rather see Kennedy Space Center. If you like nature stuff I can give recommendations. I’m not too deep into the arts/entertainment though so I couldn’t help you there as much as someone else could.
Dunno if you’re going any where near St. Pete or if it’s your kind of thing, but I like to stop by the Salvador Dali Museum when I’m up around there.
Oh yeah, and this is probably more of an IMHO topic, BTW.
Oh and, welcome to the board!
May I recommend that you capitalize the ‘c’ in your name? 
Playalinda beach, north of Cape Canaveral.
Oh, and Gatorland!!! In Kissimmee. Much better than the rodent place or the other mainstream theme parks.
Um, west central Florida (Tampa Bay), east central Florida (the Space Coast), or central central Florida (Orlando)?
If it’s Orlando, I can’t help much except to say “Don’t eat anywhere along 192 near Disney or in any part of Orlando near Universal cause you’ll pay too much”, and that I hope you like traffic.
Paging ivylass and Big Bad Voodoo Lou – you’re the only two Orlandoans I can remember offhand.
General Questions is for a question with a factual answer. What you need is opinions. Moving to IMHO.
samclem GQ moderator
I’m a relatively new Orlando resident, but maybe I can help. Narrow it down some–how old are you both? What are you into? What do you like to do? What do you like to EAT? I haven’t been to either Disney or Universal since I moved up here on Thanksgiving Day, so it’s possible to visit our city and not do the parks. Still, you may want to. It depends on your budget, your interests, where you’re coming from, etc. Let us know!
We’re going to be in central Central Florida - we will probably do the big black and white rodent again if only for old times sake - we went to Disney the first summer we were dating (back in 1979 - imagine that!). We’re in our mid 40’s. I love anything animal related, too. Thanks for your help.
Sorry about posting in the wrong place. One day (maybe) I’ll learn to keep my mouth shut.
Then by all means, go to Disney’s Animal Kingdom park, if you’re animal lovers. The Disney parks have changed a LOT since 1979 (I haven’t even been to them since the late '80s). If you’ve got a week, buy one of those “park-hopper” passes, so you can go to Magic Kingdom, Epcot, and Animal Kingdom over the course of 2 or 3 days for a discount. I’m not exactly sure how it works, but I’m sure Disney’s website explains the ins and outs.
You may want to take the Orange Blossom Trail to Kissimmee and visit Gatorland as well. I pass it every day on my way to work, but I’ve never been. If you like gators, I wouldn’t miss it.
The only theme park I’ve visited in recent years is Islands of Adventure at Universal Studios, which is a lot of fun if you like crazy roller coasters. I’m a big comic book fan, so I love Marvel Comics Island, complete with the awe-inspiring Spider-Man virtual reality/motion simulator ride. Dr. Seuss Island is a lot of trippy fun if you’re a fan, and all the rides in the entire park are just great. But unless you go on a weekday and are there when they open, the lines will be frustratingly long.
If you like professional wrestling (yeah, right!), TNA tapes their weekly Impact! TV show at Universal Studios on Tuesday nights, and it is free to be in the audience. I keep meaning to go to this, actually.
The best flea market I’ve ever been to is Flea World in Sanford, which is just north of Orlando on the 17-92. Free admission, air-conditioned, great deals, interesting people, earthy aromas, and cheap food. Where else can you get a gyro, a funnel cake, and a Mountain Dew for five bucks and then go shopping for ninja weapons?
As far as food options go, anything along International Drive (I-Drive) is going to be touristy, crowded, and expensive. Orlando is full of national chain restaurants, so I’d personally avoid those and try smaller, more local places. If you feel like spending the money for some a few really grand meals, I hear Seasons 52 in Altamonte is AWESOME. It’s a new place owned by Darden, the Orlando-based company that owns Bahama Breeze, Olive Garden, and Red Lobster, and it’s getting rave reviews. Jiko, an African restaurant at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, is supposed to be out-of-this-world amazing (and also expensive, but worth it). Jungle Jim’s (right off I-4 on the way to Disney) has a huge menu of really great burgers, including the 1 1/2-pound Headhunter, and Fuddruckers, in the Festival Bay Mall near a nice movie theater, has the best burgers I’ve ever had in my life. Despite being a chain, Chipotle has great, affordable burritos, and a local chain started by University of Central Florida graduates, Tijuana Flats, is also good for cheap Mexican–their chimichangas are the best. Again, something a little more extravagant than usual but worth it is Boston Lobster Feast, along the Orange Blossom Trail near the Florida Mall. All-you-can-eat Maine lobsters, crab legs, shrimp, scallops, crabcakes, everything. I went there with my dad and for something like $20 each, we consumed multiple lobsters. I never would have dreamed such a wondrous place could exist outside of Vegas!
No kids, it sounds like? The only thing my wife and I found to do in Orlando was leave it to have fun. No, wait, the Rainforest Cafe wasn’t too shabby, but $22 for a red snapper seemed a bit steep. We were captives for a week, so we:
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[li]Went to Clearwater and Tampa areas.[/li][li]Went to Cocoa Beach.[/li][li]Would have gone to NASA but didn’t have time :([/li][li]Went to Silver Springs – highly recommended![/li][/ul]
Seasons 52 is fairly expensive, although the food was not bad.
Cypress Gardens was just bought out and reopened with new owners. It probably won’t be as crowded as Disney.
If you like animals, swing by Sea World.
If you’re into gardens, Leu Gardens is a lovely, cheap way to see a lot of beautiful foliage.
Thank you for visiting! It’s because of your tourist taxes that Florida does not have a state income tax! 
You can check to see if they’re sending up anything from the Space Center while you’re there - they’re resuming shuttles shortly, right? I’ve always wanted to go. You can still go watch launches, although I think there are some vantage points you can no longer use post 9/11.