I have been gifted with a long weekend in Orlando this May. Truth is I'd rather go to Paris, but I'll take any travel that is free.

The advice I need is this....what to do??? Are the Epcot things with european themes worth going to ???

Or, should I just stay poolside, soak up the sun and an occasional coktail (while dreaming of Paris)

Seafox

Are you being gifted with hotel accomodations at the theme park area or jsut the trip to Orlando?

I live there and I haven't been near the parks for years, except to hit the huge outlet malls that are nearby.

Orlando itself has several interesting museums, some good theater and maybe there will be something special going on that week-end. Check the calaenser on the Orlando Sentinel website.

Winter Park , a suburb, is really lovely. Two small museums. The Morse Museum 's collection of the works of L C Tiffany is the finest in the country, maybe the world. The are boat rides thru the chain of lakes ,farmer's markets on saturdays.

I agree it is hardly Paris, but it is a free trip and like you I'm packed and ready to travel!

www.morsemuseum.org

If you like theme parks, I'd definately check out Epcot. It's not just European countries and there are some wonderful restuarants. The other part of Epcot has themed areas such as the land, seas, imagination, space, etc. that are interesting as well. The new Mission Space ride is supposed to be great if you like thrill rides and the Test Track ride is fun too.

If you are staying in Disney be sure to spend a day at Typhoon Lagoon. Disney has 4 theme parks - Magic Kingdom, Epcot, MGM, and Animal Kingdom. They also have several waterparks - Typhoon Lagoon, River Country and Blizzard Beach. In addition there is Downtown Disney/Pleasure Island with nightclubs, restaurants(Gloria Estefans, Rain Forest, etc) and entertainment (cirque du soleil, jazz clubs etc.)

Seafox, abandon yourself to the theme park experience. Buy "The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World" and do it up right. With just a long weekend, you will not be able to do everything, but read up on the parks and the rides and choose accordingly. I've been a life long Theme Park Hater, but then last year we took the kids to Disneyland and I was hooked. It turns out that I hated the way my family did theme parks when I was growing up(arriving late, no plan, wandering around, standing in long lines)...with Fast Pass and the other resources that are available, it can be a very positive experience.

It always sounds like the best restaurants are in the Disney hotels and in Epcot. Try looking under "restaurants" in wdwig.com or disboards.com and you'll find some that should make you excited about your trip!

To go along with Missypie's suggestion, try the book Disney for Adults with restuarant recommendations and other fun adult activities.

Easy to dream of Paris and all of France at the spectacular movie in the France pavilion in EPCOT. I really like the restaurant in Norway at EPCOT for lunch. The evening fireworks there are spectacular also.

One more thing...we still haven't discerned where you are staying, but the Universal parks tend to have more teen/adult rides and attractions than kiddie attractions, so if you think you just can't stomach Mickey Mouse, you might want to experience Universal.

Another great adventure - try airboating in the everglades and checking out the alligators and wildlife. Air boats are a blast and something you can only do in the swamps! http://www.airboating.com/

I am from Florida and I visited Orlando this past weekend and experienced the Cirque du Soleil show called La Nouba at Downtown Disney. I never thought I would like "those kind of shows" but I had a blast. It is hard to describe. I think you just need to go and experience it. The theater is pretty intimate and the show was quite fun. Check this site for more information:
http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/Cirque...sident/lanouba

I use to take my European History students to EPCOT as a fun field trip but also to have them experience a theme park version of European countries. They had to write papers about the degree of realism in the various countries at EPCOT. It might be fun as a European to see the place for yourself. I LOVE the movie in the France area and the music is so lovely.

Enjoy your visit.

I live in Orlando...so I might be of some assistance. What are you looking to do? Nice restaurants? Awesome outlet shopping? Nightlife? Amusement parks? General sight seeing?

I agree with the other Floridian, Winter Park is very quaint and I visit that area quite often. You will not find a great deal of tourists there. (bonus for the Florida natives)

The more info that you can give, the better direction that can be provided.

Try Sea world for a more real life experience (granted therre are some rides but they can be ignored for real animal contact. I found some of the curators very informative - especially about the manatees.)

TTT keep the ideas coming

I flew into Orlando the last time I went to the U.S. and decided to take my mother to Epcot. I could only afford to go to one and my mother would not be interested in the theme parks and ride in the others.

It was fun but I would not go back again. I think it was hyped upto be more international. I thought there was very little in France except for a pastry shop and a restaurant. My brother loves the french restaurant as he went with his wife twice but we decided to book into the japanese reataurant. I found it too rushed and disappointing.

My preference would be to chill by the pool and do things outside the parks i.e. shows like Cirque du Soleil etc. I wasn't blown over by Epcot.

If you don't want to do any of the parks and you have a car head over to the Kennedy Space Center. It's only 1 - 1 1/2 hour drive. Check their website and see if they have a scheduled launch - that would be sooo cool. If not you can tour the center. Another option is to go west to Tampa. Or just enjoy the warm sunny Florida weather. Boston seems to be cold and rainy this spring.

If you are staying in one of the Disney hotels you can get a length of stay pass which permits you to go from Park to park. If so, check them all out. Magic Kingdom is really designed to enchant small children and it is quite charming to just see, especially the main Street Parade at about 6 p.m. or so. MGM has lots of interesting fake Art Deco architecture so it's fun to take a look at and the Brown Derby there has that terrific Cobb Salad. But if you are there for two days and don't have park hopper passes, choose Epcot for one day and Animal Kingdom for the other if you enjoy zoos at all. These two are the most "adult."
In Epcot, I'm with Kikki on the France movie and lunch at Akershus, the restaurant in Norway. You might also try the French restaurants (casual downstairs, more upscale upstairs) In Epcot you should also see the China movie--fabulous. In the evening, go to Downtown Disney and see the Cirque du Soleil performance. Unless you have no more inner child left in you, you can't help but get into the spirit and enjoy yourself. I fought the idea of going to Disney for years and now must have a periodic fix.

You did not say if you were coming alone or with family. You might not want to do the parks alone. It will be really hot especially in late May so you might just want to chill out around the hotel pool and relax. Or just take a drive around town and discover Orlando.