I hope this doesn’t sound disrespectful to the OP because that’s not my intent.
But it kinda sounds to me like the driving is the part he’ll enjoy the most as it’s the big break from endless trinket shopping. IOW: feature not bug. I’ve certainly been on vacations or had out of town visitors like that.
Perhaps that’s the plan. But if it is, he might consider changing his return flight to originate from Miami and plan the Key West part of the trip for the end of his vacation.
This is absolutely correct. 2 days driving and Key West touring is 2 days NOT spent looking for parking, waiting in lines, hectic hectic hectic.
This thread is my attempt to make sure the 3 days I do spend in the Orlando area are specifically targeted to things my wife will enjoy, or at least tolerate. I need a very wife-specific plan, so we can hit theme park A, ride B, show C, restaurant D, shopping area E, you get the picture.
And I have gotten some really good ideas from all the input.
Yeah, good park, although Universal’s new one will probably top it and there’s Aquatica and Blizzard Beach.
That’s the best part of reading the Unofficial Guide to WDW! Yes, the Unofficial Guide quotes a whole bunch of its completely biased, highly opinionated readers, but at least the book quotes the ones who explain WHY they like/don’t like something. I find that knowing people’s preferences/likes and dislikes helps me evaluate the information I’m getting and aids me with decision-making in general. The variety of perspectives given in the Unofficial Guide is something no other Disney guidebook offers.
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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.
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I don’t think this is fair to the Unofficial Guide. I just reread the section in my copy of the book where the authors recommend that families with small children head back to their hotel rooms for a break during the summer. They explain the rationale behind their advice, which boils down to “Based on our experiences, and on what our readers have told us, parents and little kids are more likely to enjoy their WDW visit during the summer if they take a long midday break to get away from the crowds, cool down, and rest tired feet.” People are free to disregard the UOG’s advice if they wish, but the UOG’s recommendations have sound reasoning behind them.
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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.
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I disagree that “everything is equally good.” To take this particular example: I enjoyed Toy Story Mania far more than Muppetvision, even though I had to wait 1.5 hours for Toy Story Mania and had no wait at all for Muppetvision.
The UOG may look overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be read cover-to-cover. The Dining chapter alone is worth reading for its restaurant descriptions, reviews, and commentary.
Anyway, to make this message relevant to the OP: Walt Disney World has more than enough dining to satisfy someone who doesn’t care about rides. I especially recommend Jiko inside the Animal Kingdom Lodge. Dinner there was my favorite meal during my last visit to WDW; I felt that Jiko served the most inventive and flavorful food of all the Disney restaurants I went to, and it isn’t every day that I have an opportunity to eat African-inspired cuisine. I also had an excellent meal at Citricos inside the Grand Floridian.
Thanks, MrAtoz.
Divemaster, I co-write the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World. Did my grad school work on the math behind avoiding lines at theme parks. Send me an email if there’s anything I can help with, please: len at touringplans dot com.
See we had to say his name three times. 
I’m not saying that everything is equally good - is it equally good in the Birmbaum book - so you are free to make your own decisions on what is appealing to you or not. I don’t agree with some of the “why’s” in the unofficial guide, but had I not had twenty years of Disney behind me before my first read through, I might have gone in with their bias.
I find the UOG overwheming for first timers - who don’t know that they want to just skip to the dining reviews. They don’t know enough to know they want anything other than counter service - and they certainly don’t want that if they are non-traditional park goes with two days. It really, in my opinion, is a book for either someone interested in doing a lot of research for a first trip - or someone who went once, liked it, and wants a second (or third or fourth) better trip.
Len is the master of queuing theory though. Hey Len - the Unofficial Guide for First Timers is worth writing.
I didn’t read the entire thread, so apologies if these have been discussed already.
EPCOT has belly dancing. Your wife may be interested in watching that. Heck, you might, too. Or, just suffer through it.
ICEBAR Orlando is interesting. It’s a gimmick, to be sure, but it may interest you to try it out. I thought it was cool. Pun unintended.
The drive to Key West is beautiful - islands rimmed with white sand beaches next to beautiful aqua blue waters. None of the bridges are high, but be advised that one is 7 miles long. Also, Key West is 400 miles from Orlando, that’s quite a haul to get there. Good thing is, if you’re in the Keys and then realize it’s not your thing, just turn around. You don’t have to go all the way.
If you’re in the Everglades then an air boat tour is kinda fun. Not expensive either.
If you’re an airplane fan then Kermit Weeks’ private collection can be seen near Orlando at a place called Fantasy of Flight.
Three words: Key Lime Pie. You don’t have to get it pricey at a restaurant. The Publix supermarkets bake them and those are good tasting pies.
Wow! I summoned him! 
Just a quick warning:
There are three gas stations near the airport (and a bunch of car rental places, natch) which will severely gouge you on gas prices. Note the average price for regular in the area is c. $2.09…
They are off of I-4 exit 68, route 535.
A Chevron at $2.49 for regular…
A Mobil at $2.89…
And a Shell at $5.99, off of Vineland Avenue.
That is no misprint, that is what Gasbuddy has it as right now.
That’s not unusual. Gas prices are usually higher near the rental car return places at the airport. But they’re still less than what the car rental agency will charge you.
What they’ll charge you if you don’t fill up before returning it AND don’t prepay a tank of gas on pickup. They still gouge you a quarter or more on pre-pay but that’s far better.
Gas prices at 110% or 125% of the regionally typical price are not that uncommon near rental car return sites. 300% is a whole 'nother arena of ripoffery.
I stay in lots of hotels near lots of airports. And watch for nearby gas prices out of curiosity. I was flabbergasted the first time I saw $6.00/gallon gas at a convenience market near an airport.
So where across the entire USA was this paragon of price gouging? In Orlando at the corner of S Semoran Blvd & Butler National. About 1/2 mi north of the entrance to the MCO airport.
Gotta be careful about those prepay options.
Many of them have you agree to buy an entire tankful at the prepay price regardless of how many gallons the car needs. IOW if the car holds 15 gallons and the prepay price is $2.50/gallon you’re agreeing to pay them 15 * $2.50 = $37.50 to refuel the car even if you bring the car back needing just two thimble-fuls of gas.
If you can arrange to arrive back at the turn-in place running on fumes that 25 cents times 15 gallons = $3.75 is a reasonable charge for your convenience. If not though it’s pure ripoffery.
Yes, my goal is to do the fumes thing.