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HI!

Taking the keets to the Happiest Place on Earth (no, they don't mean Margaritaville either....)

Anyway, we will be in town during that time and wondered if anyone had some insight into good "local" places to eat, visit, etc. We also need a good family-oriented place (keets are 3 and 5 so they need room to roam) to maybe catch the Daytona 500 in the event we can't get into our hotel room early.


So, I guess this is an open invitation to anyone who may want to do Magic Kingdom, Hollywood, or Animal Kingdom that week. We plan to do a 2 or 3 day stint during that time.


So, let me know what we should do in the short time we are there. I so hope to have one day to lounge at the pool, but I'm also fishing for ideas of what not to miss.


Whatcha think? Anyone up to a rita at Mville Orlando on that Sunday to toast my first official sunburn of 2008???

PM Z-man he lives by the mouse....

Can't help you with the Big O but have a great trip Mel and don't forget to save some "Fun Tickets" just in case Jimmy decides to show his face here in the area this summer!!!

What part of Orlando are you staying in? I'm sure a local knows the place better than I do I've only been about a dozen times but I know a few things to see and do there. As to restaurants you'll find every chain known to mankind and they put most of the local places out of business though a few survive here and there. Still the chains are so successful because no matter where you go it's a decent place and they are litteraly everywhere, you can't go in any direction without seeing several of them.

With only 2 to 3 days you won't get to see much that time of year. Between it being summer time in South America and the snowbirds coming south for the warmer weather the parks will be quite crowded then add to that the park hours will be greatly reduced. Expect it to be very busy with some lines for attractions taking well over an hour. To help reduce the crowds significantly check for the days where there are "Magic Hours" and avoid those parks on those days. Magic Hours are for guests staying on the Disney properties and it gives them extended hours in the park meaning for those staying off the Disney properties that that park on that day the lines will be extra long. Also, alot of people have been told that most people go to the right when they enter the park so most people go to the left. Because of this going right you may encounter less of a crowd until half way through the day. It seems to be best though if you go immediately to the back of the park and start there as almost everyone else is turning left or right.

If you go to Margaritaville on the 21st you can catch John Frinzi on the Porch!!!! Have a great trip!!! and yes pm Z-Man i am sure he can give you lots of info since he lives there!!! I won't be getting down to Fla until the 28th otherwise i would meet you for that Margarita!!!!!

Carolinadreamin' wrote:PM Z-man he lives by the mouse....

no, he lives by the shark. the mouse is further south, and further away.

RinglingRingling wrote:

Carolinadreamin' wrote:PM Z-man he lives by the mouse....

no, he lives by the shark. the mouse is further south, and further away.

less than 2 miles to Universal,
a little over 7 miles to Disney

z-man wrote:

RinglingRingling wrote:

Carolinadreamin' wrote:PM Z-man he lives by the mouse....

no, he lives by the shark. the mouse is further south, and further away.

less than 2 miles to Universal,
a little over 7 miles to Disney

and how far to the true Magic Kingdom that is the BestBuy/B&N with the Orlando Brewing Co. just down the street on the OBT?

z-man wrote:

RinglingRingling wrote:

Carolinadreamin' wrote:PM Z-man he lives by the mouse....

no, he lives by the shark. the mouse is further south, and further away.

less than 2 miles to Universal,
a little over 7 miles to Disney

wow, and you lived to tell about it! Got any good leads on a place for us to watch the Daytona 500 that may be a bit kid friendly?

Universal City Walk has a Nascar Cafe, probably as kid friendly as you will find I imagine.

PetalMel wrote:

z-man wrote: less than 2 miles to Universal,
a little over 7 miles to Disney

wow, and you lived to tell about it! Got any good leads on a place for us to watch the Daytona 500 that may be a bit kid friendly?

I would recommend Fridays Front Row on International Drive, just south of Sand Lake Road. Big family restaurant/Sports Bar, lots of TVs, enough going on that if the keets get a little loud, it won't bother anyone. There are lots of video games to keep older kids occupied, but yours may be a bit young for that

Take I-4 to exit 74(Sand Lake Rd), go East on Sand Lake. First light is International Drive. Go South (right) on I-Drive, Fridays is on the right about a block from Sand Lake.

Nascar Cafe at Universal would be good for the Daytona 500, but get there early. Race starts at 3:00 - 3:15.

If you have time cruise up to Daytona during the race and even just hear the cars running around the track. There is a real good little bar and restaurant east of the Speedway a couple of miles. The Brickyard, a racing themed bar. Great burgers, sandwiches and they'll have the race on. Just get out of Daytona before the race is over, traffic will be wild. Daytona is about 65 miles or so from Disney, just up I-4.

Universal charges for Parking up until 6 or 7 pm, not sure.

Marinell would know for sure.

Two for One Hurricanes on Tuesday nights at Pat O'Briens.

Here's the website for the Brickyard in Daytona:

http://www.daytonabrickyard.com/

Pat O'Brien's at Universal:

http://www.patobriens.com/orlando.html

Parking is FREE at Universal after 6:00

http://www.universalorlando.com/pi_parking.html

Emiril's tchoup chop at Royal Pacific Resort at Universal is very good but also plenty pricey, make sure you have a reservation if you want to go:

http://www.emerils.com/restaurants/orlando_tchoupchop/

Have phun!!!!! We'll be at the Race in Daytona, then down to Key West on Monday the 18th for 5 days.

thanks so much for the ideas, links, and directions. I think we will hit City Walk since our plane gets in about 10 a.m. and by the time we get there, it should be time for a rita and lunch.

Glad to know about the NASCAR cafe--I hadn't seen it on previous trips to their website so I had written it off. I would love to head to Daytona, but I think that will be a bit too much traveling for the keets (as well as myself!)


Thanks again! I do hope the weather holds for us. Mid seventies and sun would feel absolutely splendid to this frigid Michigan body.

z-man wrote:

PetalMel wrote:

z-man wrote: less than 2 miles to Universal,
a little over 7 miles to Disney

wow, and you lived to tell about it! Got any good leads on a place for us to watch the Daytona 500 that may be a bit kid friendly?

I would recommend Fridays Front Row on International Drive, just south of Sand Lake Road. Big family restaurant/Sports Bar, lots of TVs, enough going on that if the keets get a little loud, it won't bother anyone. There are lots of video games to keep older kids occupied, but yours may be a bit young for that

Take I-4 to exit 74(Sand Lake Rd), go East on Sand Lake. First light is International Drive. Go South (right) on I-Drive, Fridays is on the right about a block from Sand Lake.

i forgot about Front row and my brother used to work there!!! The keets will love it! My nephew kicked my butt on the dance step game!

PetalMel wrote:thanks so much for the ideas, links, and directions. I think we will hit City Walk since our plane gets in about 10 a.m. and by the time we get there, it should be time for a rita and lunch.

Glad to know about the NASCAR cafe--I hadn't seen it on previous trips to their website so I had written it off. I would love to head to Daytona, but I think that will be a bit too much traveling for the keets (as well as myself!)


Thanks again! I do hope the weather holds for us. Mid seventies and sun would feel absolutely splendid to this frigid Michigan body.

and don't forget to try and catch John Frinzi at Margaritaville on the 21st! He starts playing at 5pm and is keet friendly. there were plenty of keets on the porch the last time i went! and i am planning on taking my niece who is 3 and nephew who is 6 to see him while i am there!