My Girlfriend and I will be down from October 10th to the 14th. We are staying on International Drive at the Fourpoints. We don’t have a car and plan on going to Universal.
I want to visit Haunted Halloween Nights. I understand it’s a separate admission ticket but I need to know if it’s just shows or rides also. If it’s rides do they accommodate people of large size?
Where are some good non-chain restaurants to eat at?
Where can I go for karaoke?
What somewhat inexpensive entertainment options are there?
Hey you’re going to be right down the road from me!
As far as cheap entertainment, there really isn’t much. Outside of the tourist traps Orlando doesn’t really have much to offer.
If you are looking for a non-chain restaurant in the area I would recommend Carmella’s on Kirkman rd. But again, the area you will be in is pretty much dedicated to tourists so there are chains as far as the eye can see.
Thank you for the recommendation. We are not opposed to taking a cab to a restaurant. I had decided against renting a car just because I felt it would become too expensive
Oh, I beg to differ. I live in Winter Park, which is just north of Orlando, and there are plenty of non-chain restaurants here. There’s live music in the bars and parks around here, art shows, poetry readings, and lots of theater, both here and in the city of Orlando.
Do yourself a favor and get out of the tourist (International Drive) area. Go to downtown Orlando, Winter Park, College Park. The Thornton Park area of Orlando is great. Locals hang out at Aroma on Washington Street and sit outside and listen to live music. Across from Aroma is a little bar (forget what it’s called) with several pool tables and interesting regulars, and next to Aroma is Dexter’s, which is a Winter Park/Thornton Park mainstay. A short stroll down Washington and you’ll find Wildside, which also has outdoor seating and live music, often jazz. Almost right across from Wildside is Urban Think Bookstore, which has poetry readings, art shows, book signings, and offers wine and beer. Go another short stroll down the street to Eola Wine or 310 Lakeside; these are on Lake Eola, which is sort of the centerpiece of downtown. If you’re into nightclubs (I’m not), downtown Orlando has several, as well as “hipster”-type places such as I Bar (Independent Bar) and AKA Lounge, and quite a few others. On the third Thursday of the month galleries and bars hold open houses that are packed–it’s called, cleverly enough, Third Thursday.
Seriously, get out of the I Drive area (bleah and yuck) and venture out into the city and surrounding villages, where those of us who live here hang out.
Thank you kapri. I will look into those areas at night. I don’t think a cab ride will be too expensive. We don’t like doing all the touristy things and I don’t want to go to any of the Disney parks but I will take the shuttle from the hotel to Downtown Disney.
I’m not looking for an all out dopefest but I am up to getting together with some dopers for drinks if we can make schedules work.