# One day to kill in Orlando - is Disney worth it? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 4, 2020, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-day-to-kill-in-orlando-is-disney-worth-it/847494 "2020-02-04T20:47:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2020, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-day-to-kill-in-orlando-is-disney-worth-it/847494/21 "2020-02-07T21:06:17Z")
Disney World is HUGE. If I were you, if you only have a day, I’d go see some other Florida attractions, like Leu Gardens, Bok Tower Gardens, even Gatorland. The Orlando Eye is near some nice shops and restaurants. To do Disney properly, I’d say you should plan on going for a week. ---
**Author:** ![gkster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gkster/32/14107_2.png) [@gkster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gkster)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2020, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-day-to-kill-in-orlando-is-disney-worth-it/847494/22 "2020-02-07T21:40:48Z")
If you want a restful day and a light dose of Disney, I’d recommend going to look at the resorts. Park at the Grand Floridian or Polynesian or Contemporary and take the monorail from one resort to another, enjoy the lobbies, grounds, theming, bars and restaurants. Or go to Animal Kingdom Lodge and as well as the grounds, animals, spectacular lobby, they have tours of the resort and great restaurants > **[Dining at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge | Walt Disney World Resort](https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/resorts/animal-kingdom-lodge/dining/)** > > Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge features all-you-care-to-enjoy buffets, enchanting dinners, 24-hour room service and more. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2020, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-day-to-kill-in-orlando-is-disney-worth-it/847494/23 "2020-02-07T22:14:30Z")
Heck, I would do SeaWorld before Disney. Second choice: Kennedy Space Flight Center. Third choice: LEGOland (if you see my 7 YO nephew there, please tell him to come home, it’s been five months, already!). Bok Tower and Gardens is nice, too. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2020, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-day-to-kill-in-orlando-is-disney-worth-it/847494/24 "2020-02-08T02:22:16Z")
Rent a car and drive to the Keys. You’ll have to drive REALLY FAST, because you only have one day. The Keys and the Everglades are really the only things a grown-up person should want to do in south Florida. ---
**Author:** ![caligulathegod](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/caligulathegod/32/9685_2.png) [@caligulathegod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caligulathegod)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2020, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-day-to-kill-in-orlando-is-disney-worth-it/847494/25 "2020-02-08T20:05:11Z")
When I was there, Disney struck me as a series of gift shops all selling essentially the same thing surrounded by interminable line waits for a few rides. ---
**Author:** ![sachertorte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sachertorte/32/3727_2.png) [@sachertorte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sachertorte)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2020, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-day-to-kill-in-orlando-is-disney-worth-it/847494/26 "2020-02-08T20:59:50Z")
> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > Rent a car and drive to the Keys. You’ll have to drive REALLY FAST, because you only have one day. > > The Keys and the Everglades are really the only things a grown-up person should want to do in south Florida. What a strange thing to say. First, Orlando and Disneyworld are not in south Florida. Second, I’m sure there are other “acceptable” activities for adults in South Florida as well. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2020, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-day-to-kill-in-orlando-is-disney-worth-it/847494/27 "2020-02-09T16:20:04Z")
It’s about an eight hour drive from Orlando to Key West. It’s doable in a day but that would be your day. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2020, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-day-to-kill-in-orlando-is-disney-worth-it/847494/28 "2020-02-09T18:24:56Z")
Yep, the Central Florida Theme Park region is just colossal and can be exhausting if not properly planned. But it is doable and can be enjoyed, as the millions of repeat visitors attest. > [@dalej42](#): > > Heck, I’d even suggest some planning for a cruise. A. Arrive at departure city the day before. B. Bring cash for tips. Don’t bring the good jewelry. C. Bring extra pants two waist sizes larger. D. Swimming lessons and shark repellent? E. Hazmat suit and gallon jugs of sanitizer. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2020, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-day-to-kill-in-orlando-is-disney-worth-it/847494/29 "2020-02-09T20:10:04Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > Yep, the Central Florida Theme Park region is just colossal and can be exhausting if not properly planned. But it is doable and can be enjoyed, as the millions of repeat visitors attest. > > A. Arrive at departure city the day before. > B. Bring cash for tips. Don’t bring the good jewelry. > C. Bring extra pants two waist sizes larger. > D. Swimming lessons and shark repellent? > E. Hazmat suit and gallon jugs of sanitizer. > 😛 And look at shore excursions in advance and decide if there’s things you can do independently. Just give yourself plenty of buffer. ---
**Author:** ![jaycat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat/32/3015_2.png) [@jaycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaycat)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2020, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-day-to-kill-in-orlando-is-disney-worth-it/847494/30 "2020-02-09T23:11:11Z")
There’s a cool manatee refuge somewhere nearby, I don’t remember quite where, but it’s definitely worth a visit. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2020, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-day-to-kill-in-orlando-is-disney-worth-it/847494/31 "2020-02-10T00:26:11Z")
> [@jaycat](#): > > There’s a cool manatee refuge somewhere nearby, I don’t remember quite where, but it’s definitely worth a visit. Maybe this one? [https://www.tampaelectric.com/company/mvc/](https://www.tampaelectric.com/company/mvc/) ---
**Author:** ![jaycat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat/32/3015_2.png) [@jaycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaycat)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2020, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-day-to-kill-in-orlando-is-disney-worth-it/847494/32 "2020-02-10T02:18:46Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > Maybe this one? > > [Manatee Viewing Center](https://www.tampaelectric.com/company/mvc/) I think it’s on the east coast. But I could be wrong, it’s been many years since I was there. ---
**Author:** ![DummyGladHands](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/49beb7/32.png) [@DummyGladHands](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DummyGladHands)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2020, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-day-to-kill-in-orlando-is-disney-worth-it/847494/33 "2020-02-10T02:36:08Z")
> [@amaguri](#): > > Thank you for the comments so far – I should note that there is a work event at Universal Studios planned for earlier in the week so I will already have been there. > > I don’t like rides (my husband doesn’t share my opinion). I guess maybe a good question is, how different is the Magic Kingdom from Disneyland, for anyone who’s visited both? If your work event is in the evening, there will be limited things open to you. Assuming it’s a private event and the park is closed except for your event. I did a Shell Oil thing where that was the case, and I went back during the day my next day off, I had seen so many things I wanted to experience that were closed off for the event. ---
**Author:** ![amaguri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/49beb7/32.png) [@amaguri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amaguri)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2020, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-day-to-kill-in-orlando-is-disney-worth-it/847494/34 "2020-02-17T18:48:35Z")
In case people appreciate closure for this sort of topic… 🙂 We went to Universal as part of the work event. The Harry Potter area was reserved for our group; not everything was open, but there were still plenty of things to do. Free butterbeer (not the frozen kind)! I got strong-armed into riding the new Hagrid motorbike thingie and got hella sick. I asked hubby to look at what was available at each of the parks and decide which one was worth visiting. He neglected to do so (lol) so we ended up going to Epcot after all. Yes, there is definitely a lot of stuff under construction. But for someone who’s never been (and might never go again) it was still a perfectly enjoyable way to spend the day. The art fair was nice. We had no problem just wandering around and eating/drinking our way through the various countries. Pretty good pastries in DisneyFrance, pretty awful fried rice in DisneyChina. I have no idea why exactly but we waited in line for about an hour for the Frozen ride. Overall, a good time was had by all. Thanks again for all of your feedback and suggestions! ---
**Author:** ![sachertorte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sachertorte/32/3727_2.png) [@sachertorte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sachertorte)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2020, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-day-to-kill-in-orlando-is-disney-worth-it/847494/35 "2020-02-17T21:23:27Z")
I’m glad you had fun. That is the most important thing. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-day-to-kill-in-orlando-is-disney-worth-it/847494.md?page=1)