Orlando vacation starts the end of Febuary, Thursday thru Wednesday, all adults... no kids... childless... without the little squirts. Did I mention we will be minus our darling lambkins? I don't know how to behave without them, this is a first! OK, question is: What are the necessary attractions to see for a first time visit with only 5 actual full days? Also, where are the best places to eat? And last, but not least, some good water'n holes to have a drink and listen to some good jazz/blues? Thanks all for the info.

OK give us a hint. Are you looking for "attractions" in general or are you going to Disney or Universal?

Not to be particularly mean, but I'm frankly curious: Without kids, what IS there to see/do in Orlando other than the theme parks? I have a buddy that lives there, and I'm just not a theme park dude.... What would we end up doing if I went there?!

Maybe you're too young, rjw, to want to pretend to be a kid again. az, who has dumped her kids and has her man to herself wants to be a kid who is kidless, chowing down, and sloshing back a few under the stars in Florida, to a heavy jazz/blues beat.

Not everybody wants to hang out with the homies.

rjw, are you kidding? Orlando is lots of fun for adults.

az, first park, go to Epcot in Disney. Do the educational stuff on the big golf ball side first.

That should take you about 5-6 hours. From there walk over to the world showcase. Drink your way around the world starting with either Black & Tans in the pub in Great Britain or Margaritas in Mexico. Have a nice dinner in Japan. Jockey for a good position to see the fireworks.

Day two, Islands of Adventure! Stay on site to get the room key pass. Ride rides all day until you drop. Hulk and Spidy are my two favorite but there are lots of great rides. Dueling Dragons and the thing that falls from the sky. Save the water/log rides for the last of the day because you will get drenched. Think of jumping in a pool with your clothes on.

Day three, Universal Studios! Don't forget the Back to The Future Ride!

Day four, relax by the pool because you will be worn out.

Day Five, Sea World! My favorite roller coaster Kraken is there! This isn't the same Seaworld that was there ten years ago. The have cool rides along with Shamu.

tandoori_girl: Yes, that's all well and good, but ARE there any good "water'n holes" that aren't associated with WallyWorld 2 and Universal 2?

Orlando has a great downtown jazz bar. It's been there for years. Is that what you're asking?

And there's Winter Park. Wonderful watering holes.

Are you just trying to make conversation or do you know what you're talking about?

Go: Thanks for the plan.... Yeah, there's a lot to do for adults in Orlando, but everything you list is still associated with theme parks-- every single one of which is a somewhat newer version of one I have within 90 minutes drive of where I live (well, not Epcot...). And I have the ultimate thrill ride every day: Southern California Freeway Screams!

Keep tryin', everyone.

Tandoori_girl: No, I'm asking in all seriousness. And you've given me some good suggestions. Look at my original post. Know also that I've been to Orlando, done the theme parks and don't need to do them again; but I would like to see my friend, and it would be easier to try and do things in Orlando than for us to both have to travel to, say, South Beach (although it would be fun...).

Hmmm. I love Winter Park, have you been there? It's a great little community, an old town that grew up around the railroad at the turn of the century. Very artsy, very Florida, lots of little bars and restaurants. Just off the highway east of downtown.

OK, let me be real here. We call it Bore-lando -- but that's because we live in Tampa. We have Ybor City, we have the beaches, we have Skippers Smokehouse, we have some great music venues, we have some great blues bars. But she's not going to Tampa, she's going to Orlando. And Orlando is not exactly hicksville, by any means.

Not knowing exactly what's going on while az is in Orlando, I can tell you that there used to be some hot music there -- it's Disney, for chrissakes, they can afford whatever. I actually saw Chuck Berry there once, and there was hardly anybody around because most of the folks were on kiddy rides. But I haven't kept up with Disney's music scene.

Girlfriend, there's a House of Blues at Downtown Disney -- check it out. There's Cirque de Soleil right next to it. And if you and hubby are into virtual reality, try Disney Quest. It's a virtual reality theme park. Late in the PM there's no kids there and you and hubby can do the bumper cars, do this really cool virtual reality thing where you put on this head gear and slay dragons, another one where you can attack this pirate ship. Sip some brews from next door, then get back in with your all-day pass. Next door are many shops and bars and restaurants. Downtown Disney is a happening place.

And if you tire of this contrived atmosphere, head to Winter Park. I can't remember the name of the Jazz Club downtown in Orlando -- and it's possible it's no longer there. I'll try to find out.

Wow, all of you are really great... so informative. Thanks so much for the info, it will really help and by the way... I'm the hubby. This site is a first for me and I was suprised to see all the responses so soon, keep them coming. My wife and I are in our early 40's, our daughter, 18, just moved out on her own... next, our son 20, just married less then a week ago, just moved out as well (he is on a Hawaiian honeymoon for a week). And our oldest son, 21, will be coming home from Iraq as soon as our Orlando trip is over. I think after all that, I'm ready to start playing again. I'll tackle some of the rides but I don't want to spend much of it spinning around and around... I can do that anywhere. My main goal, I think, is to see the Kennedy Space Center and Epcot Center, I will plan around that. We will be traveling with my folks who are both 70 but act like they're both 21... really! The water'n hole and jazz/blues are their ideas. But anyway, I need to continue to work in some thrill and adventure around KSC and EC, so please continue to give me some of your ideas... again, thanks!

Almost forgot... Disney or Universal? Which is better, I've heard more possitive stories about Universal in the last couple days, I have'nt tallied the votes just yet.

That would depend on what you like. If you prefer roller coasters, you will find more of them at Universal and Islands of Adventure. My husband is not a huge fan of those so for our first trip to Orlando (since we were kids) we chose to do the Disney Parks first.

Having been to both parks over and over and over and over, I'd say Universal Studios/Islands of Adventure.

As an adult, my favorite Disney Park is Epcot which I think is a do not miss.

The last time I've been to Magic Kingdom was for a private after hours cocktail party and that is probably the only way I'd go back.

Went to MGM on a VIP pass off season so we didn't wait in line for anything. There really weren't that many fun rides besides Rock and Rollercoaster and Tower of Terror.

Animal Kingdom is kind of cool if you can see the animals.

All of my trips to Orlando were sans kids.

I enjoy both Disey and Universal parks, but I favor Universal. Especially if you stay at one of the three on-site hotels at Universal. The hotels themselves are FANTASTIC, but the fact that by staying there you get express access to all the attractions is PRICELESS. Go to www.disboards.com for LOADS of information on Disney and Universal.

If you like thrill rides Universal is for you. There are many adults that just go to ride all the coasters. To each his own.

If not your cup of tea, I'd do Epcot, MGM and Pleasure Island at Disney. Animal Kingdom might be interesting as well if you stick to the safari. Pleasure Island is fun. Lots of music venues and comedy clubs.

Great restaurants in Orlando. Just do a search and you'll find some good recs. LMF