OT: Annual Training in *checks notes* Orlando - Any Suggestions?
Every time my group sends us to a city I know little or nothing about I come to the board for suggestions, and it has always produced great recommendations. I stayed at Disney once 15 years ago and did not leave the property. Thought I would go to the well one more time. So Guys and Gals, anything you have to do in downtown Orlando for 4 days and 3 nights? Bars, restaurants, breweries, cool places to check out, etc..
As always, thank you in advance.
AD
Check out Winter Park area for dinner and drinks.
The Ravenous Pig in particular. Never been but the chef is legit legit.
Wait, what? You’ve never been, but the chef is legit? The most internet thing ever.
He's a friend of a friend.
I know a couple chefs like that just through random coincidence. One guy is my wife's old boss's brother. He's not a bad guy but wasn't a good boss, either. When we moved to Toronto she politely told him we'd try his brother's place out with no real intention to do so.
Turns out it's got a great reputation so what the hell. When we finally eat there it's fantastic. The brother closes it up, takes a few years off, opens up another place. It's also great and much closer to where we live. We were regulars until they closed again.
If the brother opens up another restaurant I'm there. He seems to get bored every few years and needs to do something new, though.
Yeah, I was a chef in fine dining in a former life. It's a pretty small industry, all things considered. Terrible owners are a dime a dozen, and chefs generally have to work with them closely. As most of us know, people don't quit jobs, they quit managers.
My personal end goal is to open up a B&B on the shores of Lake Michigan serving an optionally cannabis-infused tasting menu with wine pairings, from food (and weed) that I grow there and proteins that are locally caught/farmed.
I've been. It's legit.
I’ve been to Orlando a bunch of times for work. My only bit of wisdom is that to and from Orlando have a lot families with young kids, which makes for a different travel experience. If you don’t have TSA-Pre (or Clear), I highly recommend doing so, especially for the trip back from Orlando.
Can concur on MCO security, they lines are something and there is never seems to be a "slow" time. Pack your patience for even the TSA precheck line. Give the multi-generational traveling parties lots of time...
Could not agree more, lots of strollers and stressed parents traveling with enough gear to outfit them on a weeklong jungle expedition. If you can skip that with pre-check go for it. I don’t use pre-check as I’ve never really needed it. Orlando is the one airport that has tempted me.
I got precheck about 5 years ago. I can't go back, I won't. It is a must have. I don't even travel that much but in my opinion it is well worth the effort and cost to get it.
Now get Global Entry (it gives you TSA-Pre for free) which means getting through US customs in like 2 mins. That was well worth the money and effort despite only going overseas maybe once per year.
I have TSA-Pre for work and bought Global Entry for our trip to the UK last year. Both are worth the money.
Sometimes the Digital ID (free) line is shorter than Clear (pay) and both beat the TSA-Pre lines.
Also agree with Global Entry even if only used a few times. There's nothing like breezing through customs in 5 minutes vs. hours after a 10 or 11 hour flight with the scan of a Global Entry card.
Couldn’t agree more. I have precheck and was flying back from a conference in Orlando last October, 6am on a Sunday morning, and it was a madhouse. Even for precheck. It just felt so unorganized and there was no clear indication of who goes in what line. At least not in the Delta terminal.
I’ve moved through the line faster at Hartsfield Atlanta, and that’s saying something.
I have travelled a lot compared to an average person and I can say without a doubt, not even close, Orlando is the worst airport I have ever been to.
Having lived in Orlando, and now Atlanta, I can confirm Orlando is the worst airport. So inefficient and there's really no reason for it to be that way.
The fact that Orlando and Tampa airports are as close as they are and one is amazing and the other is a nightmare is quite the comparison.
If you're interested in experiencing what some might describe as a real-life Truman Show/Pleasantville world, I would suggest visiting the quaint town of Celebration. It's quite fascinating and somewhat mind-bending all at once. No, you're not the main character, and I don't think you're on t.v.
I liked going to Celebration. It is a Disney fake quaint town that looks a bit like a movie set. I went with my wife and daughter and we had lunch at The Columbia which is a Cuban restaurant. My daughters did not like Celebration but they like the Columbia so they went back.
Good restaurants in Celebration. Also a good hospital. Not to mention nicely scenic, with an Amsterdam vibe downtown. Bad roofs though.
Had a great meal at Cafe Tu Tu Tango years ago
I logged in to say this. I even looked it up. Tapas is normally meh for me, but this place was absolutely fantastic. Went on a Saturday night with the kids and we seriously considered coming back the next day for the Sunday brunch. It is on International drive by the Ferris wheel.
Things to do in Florida
- Find Walt Disney and ask him why he insists on ruining everything
- Meth
- ??
- Profit
3 is “Leave”
😂
…if you can get through the airport!
Go to Universal Studios so you can ride Velocicoaster.
Ivanhoe Park Brewing had a few beers I really enjoyed.
I have thought about this. Never been to Universal and I love roller coasters. Big Cedar Point fan (I am sure many on her are). $150 day pass, worth it?
Definitely worth it. I'm assuming that's the price for just Islands of Adventure? Easily my favorite between the 2 sides.
Not a bunch of coasters there but the ones they have are really good.
Concur - Veloci-Coaster and Hulk are awesome. Haven’t been on the Hagred ride yet. Harry Potter ride inside the castle is somewhat fun - if you’re a HP fan.
Probably worth it, if you get the express pass for an extra level of commitment. Velocicoaster, Hagrid's, Hulk, Mummy are rivals for CP (though none compare to Millenium).
Velocicoaster was really fantastic. Super smooth, which is important for old people who can't take Gemini or the Mean Streak anymore, and super thrilling. Probably one of my favorite coasters. The Hagrid one is great, especially if you're into Harry Potter.
Winter Park is good for dinners and drinks.
If you have a half day or so, you might trek either east to cape Canaveral to see space museums, launch pads and/or Cocoa Beach or west to Busch Gardens, which in my opinion is the best park in Florida.
If you're in Orlando the entire time, just grin and bear it. There are some good examples of Florida golf courses/clubs in every direction from Orlando.
In the Dr. Phillips area, you can partake of the ancient Florida tradition of finding a legitimately decent restaurant tucked away in a strip mall.
Check the launch schedule at Kennedy Space Center. Launches are visible from a long way away - especially at night. A trip to and tour of KSC is amazing for space junkies. It's 45-60 minutes from the Orlando area and a truly unique thing to do in Central Florida.
Lake Eola is nice, just off downtown with some waterfront restaurants and walking paths. If your timing coincides with a show at the Dr Phillips Center it's a great venue. Wall Street is a party area. I-Drive, while touristy, does have some good bars with live music a short Uber from downtown.
Concur with riding Velocicoaster, one of my top 5.
Good info! Thanks
I visited Orlando several years ago for work and got what amounted to a guided tour from someone who lived there. OP, I have no idea if any of these would remotely be your thing, especially if you're still in the "nightlife" stage of life, but in the spirit of the post I'll present them anyway. All were more enjoyable than I'd imagined.
https://www.thorntonparkdistrict.com/meet-us/ (a neighborhood close to downtown)
https://www.orlandomagazine.com/orlandos-little-vietnam/
There's several blocks of an "old" Orlando that looks very different from the stuff outside Disney.
One other thing: The atmosphere on the plane when it touched down in Orlando was hilarious. Many kids on possibly their first plane ride and thrilled by everything they could see out the window.
Good info. Thanks Blueheron!
Has its nightmarish aspects, but there's a crap ton of great Vietnamese, South Asian, and Latin American food in Orlando. If ethnic food is your thing you can really eat well. I've salvaged my sanity through many a trying family trip during the ages of Covid and Trump by insisting that we eat one really good meal each time we go down there. If there's a Sunday with either the men's or women's Orlando soccer teams in town, the stadium is beautiful, breezy, and often full of raucous fans.
Limit your driving if possible. The international flavor of visitors means plenty of motorists coming from left hand traffic countries. I’ve seen drivers leaving a business turn left into oncoming traffic (me) numerous times.
Welcome to Orlando! Downtown Orlando is fairly weak for restaurants (though great for bars) but some of the surrounding neighborhoods are great, especially Mills 50 and Winter Park.
Downtown and immediately surrounding:
- Persimmon Hollow
- Motorworks Brewing
- Sideward Brewing
- Bellhop (cocktails)
- SoDough Square (Detroit style pizza)
- Artisans Table
- Reyes Mezcaleria
- Otto's High Dive
Mills 50/Ivanhoe:
- Ivanhoe Park Brewing
- Ten10 Brewing
- Chicken Fire
- Sticky Rice (Laotian)
- King Bao
- Tori Tori
- Moderne
- Kabooki Sushi
- Santiago's Bodega
- The Pinery
- The Strand (book ASAP)
Winter Park:
- Ravenous Pig
- Jam Hot Chicken
- Swine & Sons
- Bulla
- Vinia
- Prato (book ASAP)
College Park:
- Pizza Bruno
- Digress Wine
Baldwin Park:
- Tactical Brewing
- Golden Hour Wine
- Domu
My favorite local food blog is Lemonhearted for more recs.
With 3 nights and balancing work, I'd lean more casual (except for night 3) and probably do:
- SoDough Square, then come back to Persimmon Hollow and a nightcap at Bellhop
- Swine & Sons, drinks at Ravenous Pig, then walk around downtown Winter Park
- The Strand
Great Summary and suggestions!
Kres Chophouse not making the downtown list is a crime. I’d put it as easily the best steakhouse in Orlando, and possibly the state (with Berns in Tampa being #2).
Mathers Social Gathering (just a few minutes walk to Kres) is a phenomenal spot for cocktails. Great laid back speakeasy vibe with bartenders committed to exquisite cocktails. Hit them before dinner at Kres.
Stay near Universal Orlando and hang out in City Walk after hours. No entrance fee and soooo many food choices.
If you like… make that love sushi. Try and get a reservation at EDO boy.
Its reservations only
Its a standing restaurant (no seats at all) for 8
It isn’t cheap - but it is amazing
Watch Ohio State play in this year's Citrus Bowl.
If you like South Indian food try Royal Southern Kitchen in Winter Park. Has really good "street food" style South Indian dishes rarely seen in the typical Indian restaurant.
Personally, I enjoy Cape Canaveral, Cocoa Beach, Cocoa Village, Melbourne, Melbourne Beach and Sebastian myself.
If you fly Delta, and are checking a bag. Go to curbside check in for your bag. When I go to Orlando to work the college football bowl games for ESPN. I drop my car off, and go outside to drop my bag, it’s been so fast the last 2 times I’ve been there. The normal bag check and sky priority are always long lines. But just outside takes 2 minutes most of the time. And tsa pre-check and clear get me through security so quick. The other lines are bad.
True pro tip right here!