Hi has anyone any ideas where to have dinner on xmas day avoiding the parks, there is about 20 of our family ranging in ages from 1 year to 75 years old, difficult to find somewhere nice to suit all ages, also would be grateful for any tips on days out, again avoiding the parks, its a first visit for some but i have been many times and am looking for something different to do, look forward to any replies. Thanks

Where? By avoiding parks do you mean Orlando?

Ibroon, I see this is your first post. Please tell us the city you will be visiting and hopefully someone can help. If you don't get the help you need from this thread, you might re-post using a title such as "Christmas Dinner in _______." This will catch the eye of anyone who is familiar with the city you are visiting. Good luck.

Sorry, should have gave more details, we will be in Orlando for 2 weeks, staying in villas at Rolling Hills just a few miles from Disney, we know that area quite well, but have only ever ate at the usual buffet places, all suggestions welcome.

Start over with a new subject title to get more responses. Many people who could actually help you on this message board won't even open your thread as it doesn't have the city in the title.

Have a blast. We LOVE going away for the holidays. Good for you for making dinner ressies early.

Topping for you, but I agree that reposting with Orlando in the title will get you a much better response.

lbroon, I agree you should post again but only because you have two questions in your post -- where to go for Xmas dinner in Orlando and where to go on your non-park days. It's not clear from your post what sort of place you're looking for for Christmas dinner. But I can tell you that there are scant few places open. One place that I know is open is the Columbia in Tampa -- they have branches elsewhere, perhaps there is one in the Orlando area. Another place you might check into is a chain called Buddy Freddy's that serves a huge buffet of Southern style food. There is one in Plant City next to I-4. You might check chowhound.com closer to Christmas for a better answer. For a nicer pricier restaurant, I don't know what to recommend.

As for other things to do in Orlando, a search of this site will turn up many recommendations for you. Try a search using "Orlando nearby". I found lots of hits using that search.