Randy

We are going to Orlando on 4/20/02 and plan to visit Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. We have 3 children 12, 10, and 8 going with us. Any information how best to do the parks and places kids would like to eat that don't cost a fortune. This is only our second time in Orlando the first time it rained and was about 40 degrees the whole week. So I want to do as much as posible Thanks Randy

Gail

For LOADS of info on Universal/IOA go to www.disboards.com and scroll down to the Universal message boards. There is sooooo much info there to help you.

Postal

Where are you staying? Right across from Universal's main gate and to the right, there is a Cracker Barrel Country Restaurant that is very popular with everyone in our family (we live in Orlando). In addition, there are about 20 places to eat within one mile north on Kirkman Road, including Kobe Steak House, Orlando Ale House, McD's, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Shoney's, Taco Bell, Hooters, Outback Steak House, Friendly's Ice Cream and Burgers, Boston Market, Einstein Bagel, Cheeburger Cheeburger, Bubbalou's Bodacious BBQ, JB's Sports Bar (great chicken wings), a Chinese restaurant, Baja Burrito Kitchen, Le Peep for breakfast and lunch, Burger King, a pizza place, etc., etc.

If you need any more specific info please feel free to e-mail me.

kay

You can get a copy of Fodor's Guide to Orlando or other Guidebooks at the library to give you great ideas of how to best do the parks and restaurants. They are full of ideas!

One of the best hints we picked up was to go to the rides which have the longest lines first thing in the morning. As the day progresses, by 11 or 12 all those rides will have long lines. (For example, Space Mountain)

Merilee

Hi Randy...start the day with breakfast at Shoney's which offers a large buffet with good food such as eggs, bacon, ham, sausages, hash browns, pancakes, french toast, cereal, fruit, just to name a few items...it is very reasonably priced and will keep you going throughout most of the day...for lunch and or dinner I recommend one of the steakhouses such as Golden Corral, which also offer a huge buffet that is very good...you don't have to order a special entree such as steak...you can just have the buffet which has a taco bar, potato bar, pasta bar, chicken, macaroni & cheese, mashed potatoes, rice, vegetables, pizza, also just to name a few...they also have a dessert, salad, and fruit bar...kids usually like the soft serve ice cream bar with loads of toppings...again, this is also very reasonably priced and there's also something that will suit everyone...Golden Corral also has a breakfast buffet on the weekends...another idea is to pick up overstuffed sandwiches and side salads at the Goodings Supermarket located off I-4 in the Crossroads Shopping Center near Disney Village...it's also a good place to pick up snack foods, juice boxes, etc.