help!opinions on orlando needed
 

hi,<BR>i would be grateful if the forum members could advise me on this one. my wife, for many years has wanted to go to orlando esp sea world and universal. what i want to ask is- is orlando much fun without kids? we do not have kids and in our 30'. so what can we do to have a good time in orlando? regards<BR>ipsych

IMO, Orlando blows. It consistently is rated on this board as one of the most over-rated cities in the US. Go to San Diego if you want Sea World.

My husband and I ended up at Disney World once without any kids (he was there for a conference) and it turned out to be quite an enjoyable experience. WE got to eat in nice restaurants, no food court here, we could look at all the "kid boring" things in the nations of the world part of Epcot with nobody complaining it was boring and they wanted to go to the pool or on the rides...<BR><BR>Speaking of pool, we could take a book and sit in a lounge chair by the pool and not have to count heads in the water....<BR><BR>WE could be bad and sleep in till 9 and not have to be at the park at the opening bell to get in line for the third trip down Space Mountain....<BR><BR>You get the idea, eh?

orlando IS disney, universal, sea world etc..<BR><BR>if you like theme parks,mini-golf, discount shopping malls, bungee jumping this is your town......

I think it is a place to enjoy with or without kids. Our family have been several times (we are English) and we all love every minute of it. Sea World is our favourite and Islands of Adventure is great - I think people who knock it have no sense of fun in them. Go and have a wonderful time - although leave out the Magic Kingdom

I think anyone who has the opportunity should experience the theme parks in Orlando...I have been to the parks with and without kids...(obviously) it's a different experience without them...you get a chance to see it through your own eyes rather than (usually) exhausting yourself trying to make it one of the most memorable times of their lives...both are fun times, though...Lake Eola in Orlando rents pedal boats that look like swans...I thought that was fun...overlooking the lake is a very nice restaurant called Lee's Lakeside...Mt. Dora is a quaint town about 25 miles north of Orlando where you can browse through antique shops and galleries...there's a lovely hotel there overlooking the lake where you can have a nice lunch or dinner...weather permitting there's dining on the wraparound porch...I learned recently on this forum that Church Street is closed for renovations...anyone out there know if it's reopened? That would be another fun place to walk around...there's saloons with shows, restaurants, shops...at Disney Village you can rent a pontoon or sunsprite and ride through a few of the resort areas...there's plenty to keep you happy and busy...Don't miss the Maelstrom in Norway at Epcot and the river ride in Mexico (also in Epcot)...can't say the food is great but the scenery at the Mexican restaurant in Epcot is lovely...(or it was).

thanks for your responses.will take a plunge

Off property we had a relaxing, delicious meal in the Macaroni Grille. It is lovely, relaxing and great food. We also liked alot a restaurant, Bahama Breeze. It was fun, beautiful and some really unusual and delicious menu items.The people were so nice there. I have also heard a place called, Mythos in Islands of Adventure is fantastic - upscale and georgeous. You can eat there without paying to get into the park. <BR><BR>I think you guys can have a wonderful time. Sea World is relaxing and lovely - lots to enjoy there without kids. <BR><BR>If I were in your position I would want to stay somewhere really nice with the kinds of ammenities we enjoy. I would spend some time at the pool, playing tennis, etc. <BR><BR>Hope you have a great time.

If you accept Orlando for what it is - a giant prefabbed artificial playground - and don't try to overanalyze the place, then you can have a great time there. Universal City Walk is attractive, clean, has some fun bars and restaurants - I had a ball there one night with some adult friends especially at Pat O'Briens which was remarkably like the original in New Orleans. The Boardwalk at WDW is the same (though not quite as fun). Sea World is also very nice (though I did like the one in San Diego better). I am of the opinion that two adults who really enjoy each others company could have fun any where. Go, relax and enjoy.

WDW and Universal/IOA are better without kids. Universal/Islands of Adventure are great parks. Stay at the Hard Rock Hotel or the Portofino Bay Hotel and you get express line access all day to the attracitons. Just show your room key and by pass the lines. It's the best perk ever!

Go to Discovery Cove and spend a day! Expensive but worth every cent. Lovely pool to lounge around in, aviary to feed the birds in, you can do the dolphin swim or not (cheaper without), plus you get Sea World passes with your Discovery Cove admission! Don't miss it.