I get 2.7 walking on Google Maps - you can do it in less than an hour.
I probably wouldn’t do it, but it isn’t unreasonable.
This is true, but one of the bridges is seven miles long (it’s called the Seven-Mile Bridge) and if I’m not mistaken, there is a hump in the middle for ships to pass under. I think there are also a couple of other bridges like that, too, here and there.
As far as interesting things to do that are of the beaten path, might I suggest Gatorland? It’s cheesy, but certainly different. Also, parking is free.
But it’s far from a straight shot. That’s what’s getting me about it.
Buy the Unofficial Guide to WDW book. The aforementioned Len Testa is one of the authors. And a Doper. He’s bound to turn up here soon.
When we visited my grandparents in Titusville we never missed Gatorland. It’s definitely fun if a teeny bit scary. And if there’s baby gators you can hold them! (They’ll pee on you.)
Maybe the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue at the Fort Wilderness Resort?
The Tampa Museum of Science and Industry looks fun, from the description.
The EPCOT food and wine festival, as above.
On the subject of exotic food—it seems the place in Tampa that sold lion meat tacos is now closed, but there are at least three places in Orlando to buy exotic jerky (including python, alligator, kangaroo, etc), and—oh! One of them is at the Skeleton Museum! (I don’t, however, know if you can also buy skeletons at the Skeleton Museum, or if you have to go to their Oklahoma location or their web site.
I should clear that up, I actually start from where my hotel is, usually around Wet N’ Wild, which starts south of I-4. That’s just over 4 miles. Universal is about a mile east of Wet N’ Wild, so 5 miles if I go from Universal Studios to Sea World.
Out of stock at Amazon 
…and I need it sooner rather than later. Can try my local B&N this weekend.
Cape Canaveral isn’t too far away, and they have tours and a museum and a yard full of old rockets. Also you can see a complete Saturn V on its side- just amazing.
Most of the rides at Disney are pretty tame as far as motion goes, though if you’re squeamish you might stay away from Space Mountain or the Tower of Terror. Things like the Hall of Presidents are perfect low stress attractions.
They JUST came out with the 2017 edition, and it’s huge - 856 pages! My local B&N bookstore has them in stock (heh - a bookstore!)
Nobody has mentioned Cape Canaveral and NASA. Would she have any interest in heading east and see their films and displays? If you are lucky and can work it out, try to go on a day of a scheduled rocket launch. To me, seeing the “real” stuff was more interesting than the amusement park “make-believe” stuff in lots of ways.
Isn’t that guidebook written to optimize the park experience for someone who wants to go on as many rides as possible and see as much as possible? Would it be useful for someone like the OP, who wants to avoid rides?
It’s got a lot of “standard” info in it, restaurant descriptions and wait times, show descriptions, hotel ratings, etc. as well as the touring plans themselves. It’s refreshingly honest as well - if something is crap, it will tell you, unlike the official Disney guides.
I think you’ve got say Len’s name 3 times in a Disney thread to get him to appear, like Beetlejuice or Biggie Smalls.
It wouldn’t be my first choice for anyone at all, quite honestly. But particularly someone who just wants to go for the experience and only has a month to plan.
Birnbaums is a much easier read, has color pictures, is upbeat about everything, and isn’t nearly as overwhelming.
For what they want - I’d buy a ticket for the MK so she can say she’s been. Spend a morning wandering around (be there when it opens)- see the Hall of Presidents, Country Bear Jamboree, Tiki Birds, Pirates. Try and see if you can still get a dinner reservation someone good at Downtown Disney, spend the afternoon at Downtown Disney, shopping. See the late La Nouba show - it will be a LONG day. Go to Epcot the next day, shop through the World Showcase - which doesn’t open until 11 - skip FutureWorld, see the Circlevision stuff, have a late lunch in one of the countries (if you can still get a reservation), and leave. Head back to DTD if that has’t been exhausted and you still have the willpower.
It really is the best as it’s unbiased.
Birnbaums is a Rahrah book.
Not much to add about WDW and related. But I have to say that’s an awesome username/post combo. The family that plays together stays together … or something.
I don’t live in Orlando, but I visit from time to time. I don’t get the place, frankly. Sure, WDW is pretty much one of a kind. And Orlando does have a concentration of other theme parks such as Universal & Sea World.
After that it’s a giant agglomeration of outlet malls, conventional malls, and franchise chain restaurants ranging from Sonic drive-ins to Ruth’s Chris and up. Plus some minor attractions like go kart tracks, funky museums a la Ripley’s believe it or not, and alligator farms.
For somebody from rural America or overseas it’d be pretty exotic. But anyone who’s ever been to any US city of 500,000 people has seen most of the non-theme park stuff already.
The OP knows his wife. If I was in his shoes I’d be asking the wife’s friends for specific recommendations on things they did in Orlando and running that list by the wife. It might turn out the interest just isn’t there.
Also so you’re not surprised: there’s not much beach in Key West. And what little there is is not very good. Key West is a place to go to drink and to explore small shops full of tourist stuff. And to just hang out. It used to be “authentic” but is less so every year. There’s neat diving and sport fishing and such from several spots along the keys. Which is probably up the OP’s alley, but not his wife’s.
The drive down along the keys is real pretty. Getting from Orlando to the first key makes I-5 in central California seem very, very scenic.
I’m trying to add some happy news here but I’m struggling a bit. I sincerely hope you have a great time and come back to tell us about the adventures you both enjoyed.
Two other people have mentioned the Cape.
Ohhh ok. That makes much more sense.
Also, RIP Wet and Wild amirite?
The parts I bolded, plus the “trolley tour” about town will *easily *entertain my wife for 2 days on the Key West sidebar (assuming, that is, she’s good with the Causeway/water issue mentioned above–I’m bringing this topic up tonight).
Thanks; appreciated.
Are you still planning to drive down to Key West from Orlando to spend two days there? I would think spending fourteen hours of driving to and from there a poor use of your vacation time.
I don’t find the UOG unbiased at all. Its completely biased. It gives on size fits all advice “this is worth seeing, this is not” although tastes are completely subjective. “All families with small children should go back to the resort for naps” even though that doesn’t work for all families - some are way better off with stroller naps or just short days.
Birnbaums is definitely a rah rah book - but in that - all things are wonderful - you get to decide for yourself if you disagree. You don’t skip something because the book said it was awful - all things are wonderful in Birnbaums. But you also don’t stand in line because it was a must do - everything is equally good, so you can pass on the three hour Toy Story Mania line and see Muppetvision and still be happy.
Best is subjective - like Toy Story Mania being the “best” ride (I like the safari an AK best). For a short trip on short notice for someone who has non-standard taste in theme park activities, its going to be not a good choice.
(My favorite is the Passporter, but its overkill for a short trip.)