OT: Anyone in Orlando?

[DJ Spanky]

We're heading down this afternoon for a short vacation at Universal, plus some time down on Cocoa Beach. Staying at some Royal Pacific resort or something - I've had no hand in setting this up, just say "Yes ma'am!" Linda and Corey are all excited to see the new Harry Potter rides that have been put in since we were there 3 years ago.

 

[RUBigFrank]

go to Margaritaville and have few drinks while the kids ride.

 

[mikefla]

Its the high season for theme parks and I GET that this is when people have time but we are having a very unusual 96F+ weather spell brought on by the vacume created by the Texas storm hitting the gulf coast yesterday. Not exactly the BEST time to be in Fla. Be careful...hydrate etc

 

[RU4Real]

Go to Lee & Rick's Oyster Bar. It's on Old Winter Garden Rd. in Orlando. They serve you oysters in a gallon bucket for about $25. Two years ago when we played in the bowl game down there it was the first place we went after we got into town.

 

[RU89MG66]

The best tip I can provide is to use the early entry to the parks afforded by staying at a Universal resort hotel to see Harry Potter before everyone else gets there. The parks open at 7 AM for hotel guests. Also, use the Flash Pass that also comes with your resort stay, if you buy through the hotel (I think). On most rides you go to the front of the line (not for Harry Potter unfortunately, as there is no Flash Pass on those.

 

[DJ Spanky]

The best tip I can provide is to use the early entry to the parks afforded by staying at a Universal resort hotel to see Harry Potter before everyone else gets there. The parks open at 7 AM for hotel guests. Also, use the Flash Pass that also comes with your resort stay, if you buy through the hotel (I think). On most rides you go to the front of the line (not for Harry Potter unfortunately, as there is no Flash Pass on those.

Yep, we got that and intend to use it, especially for the Harry Potter rides. We learned the last time when we saw people jumping to the head of the line.

 

[RU848789]

Summer in Florida, yay. My dad and my sister live in the Vero Beach area and I do whatever I can to avoid visiting from about May through September.

 

[mikefla]

The best tip I can provide is to use the early entry to the parks afforded by staying at a Universal resort hotel to see Harry Potter before everyone else gets there. The parks open at 7 AM for hotel guests. Also, use the Flash Pass that also comes with your resort stay, if you buy through the hotel (I think). On most rides you go to the front of the line (not for Harry Potter unfortunately, as there is no Flash Pass on those.

The early entry is the best tip. You can do the same at WDW EPCOT

 

[mikefla]

Summer in Fla is when we let the vacationers fight it out at the theme parks.

But summers in Fla...particularly at the beaches are fine. Early rise......get everything done by noon.....SIESTA(there is a LOT to be said for mid days naps)....then enjoy the summer nights.

Personally i avoid anywhere north of the Fla/GA border OCT-April when we get springlike weather for 7 months LOL

 

[RU Analbumcover]

Sorry I'm late to the convo, but if you're still here...

I live In Orlando and work just up the street from Cocoa Beach in Cape Canaveral.

Orlando: If you want to get out of the park scene for a day, Park Ave in Winter Park is nice place to take a walk with lots of really good restaurants in all price ranges. There's also natural springs in the area such as Wekiva Springs. You can swim, hike, kayak and all that good stuff.

Cocoa beach beach is quiet (i.e. NOT at all like the shore or Miami). There's some fun places like Sand Bar and Coconuts (might be more college age on the weekend). There's also the port at Cape Canaveral (5 min up A1A) with lots of restaurants (Fishlips, Grills, Rusty's etc...). You can also go on fishing trips from there if that interest you and you can always go to the Kenedy Space Center. If you're into local breweries, there are three in the area:
Cocoa Beach Brewing Company - Cocoa Beach
Florida Beer Company - Cape Canaveral near the Port
Bugnutty Brewing Company - Merritt Island which touches Cocoa Beach & Cape Canaveral

 

[LadyRU09]

I was in Universal and Disney last March. Stayed at the Doubletree across the street from the Universal entrance that was a partner hotel, and thus had early entry. Just a word of caution: the early entry, at least at the time we went, only applied to the Hogsmeade area in Islands of Adventure. It stunk because they herded everyone into the same place, thus keeping waits long instead of dispersing the smaller crowd around the entire park.

Diagon Alley is fantastic, though, with so much detail. The Simpsons area is really fun, too. (Get a giant donut from Lard Lad and split it for breakfast. It only costs about $5.)

 

[vkj91]

I was in Universal and Disney last March. Stayed at the Doubletree across the street from the Universal entrance that was a partner hotel, and thus had early entry. Just a word of caution: the early entry, at least at the time we went, only applied to the Hogsmeade area in Islands of Adventure. It stunk because they herded everyone into the same place, thus keeping waits long instead of dispersing the smaller crowd around the entire park.

Diagon Alley is fantastic, though, with so much detail. The Simpsons area is really fun, too. (Get a giant donut from Lard Lad and split it for breakfast. It only costs about $5.)

And Duff beer

 

[DaveSNJ]

I'm in Orlando right now. Flew in from SF on Thursday will be here through next Friday. We are planning to go to Universal, have no idea when - wife did all of the planning. I'm just along for the ride, lol.

 

[retired711]

I went to high school in Orlando and delivered mail there the summer after my freshman year in college. Yes, mornings are generally fine. And yes, hydration is very important.

 

[RUbacker]

We're heading down this afternoon for a short vacation at Universal, plus some time down on Cocoa Beach. Staying at some Royal Pacific resort or something - I've had no hand in setting this up, just say "Yes ma'am!" Linda and Corey are all excited to see the new Harry Potter rides that have been put in since we were there 3 years ago.

No Va Beach

 

[T2Kplus10]

We're heading down this afternoon for a short vacation at Universal, plus some time down on Cocoa Beach. Staying at some Royal Pacific resort or something - I've had no hand in setting this up, just say "Yes ma'am!" Linda and Corey are all excited to see the new Harry Potter rides that have been put in since we were there 3 years ago.

Don't be a cheapsake and take them to Disney.

 

[RUnumber1]

Spanky, I live close to Orlando. About 30 minutes from Disney. What do you need to know? Love living here. Best advice: buy any pass that allows you to re-enter the parks. Then do the parks in the morning and in the evening. Take a nap in AC or pool in the middle of the day. You will be glad that you did. Come back and visit in January when everyone else is freezing and we are in the 80s and sunny. :sunglasses:

 

[mikefla]

Yup...mid day siesta is a very important concept. Disney or Universal is way better at night !

ENJOY !

 

[DJ Spanky]

I'm in Orlando right now. Flew in from SF on Thursday will be here through next Friday. We are planning to go to Universal, have no idea when - wife did all of the planning. I'm just along for the ride, lol.

Man, do I know that feeling!

 

[DJ Spanky]

Don't be a cheapsake and take them to Disney.

Thanks for the wonderful advice.

 

[Piscataway]

Oh man. You are brave. We were in Disney 2 Octobers ago. 96 degrees and 90 % humidity. I do not know how one can live there year round.

 

[DJ Spanky]

Oh man. You are brave. We were in Disney 2 Octobers ago. 96 degrees and 90 % humidity. I do not know how one can live there year round.

Yeah, we're back. And it was 95°-97° the whole time we were there. Just have to stay hydrated and go on rides which have air conditioned entry ways.

What was really fun was when the air masses from the Gulf and the Atlantic met in the center of the state and created massive t-storms. That happened late in the day on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

 

[retired711]

When my family moved to Central Florida in the summer of 1966, we expressed concern about the heat. "No problem," we were told. "You go from your air-conditioned home in your air-conditioned car to your air-conditioned office and to the air-conditioned store." But I actually know of a couple of gentlemen who moved from the Catskills to Central Florida in the 1940s -- before air conditioning. They must have been heartily sick of the cold. One had served in New Guinea in World War II, and he must have liked the climate.