1st day Orlando ideas? Wonderworks?

[o2bnoz]

Hi,
We'll be arriving in Orlando on a Friday, around noon. Our timeshare won't be available until Saturday so I'm thinking of hanging out in Orlando that first day and then heading to Epcot on the Saturday and leaving to check into our timeshare in the middle of the day and then back to Epcot.

That being said... trying to figure out the best thing to do on that first 1/2 day in Orlando. We will be a family of 3. This is a surprise trip for my husband's 50th birthday, and also will be a complete surprise to my 5 year old son (will be 6 at the time of the trip).

Has anyone been to Wonderworks? Is it something like a hands-on Science museum? My son is definitely into science and that sort of thing. Has anyone done the "Outta Control dinner" there?

My other thought is to do something else in that afternoon and then possibly head to one of the "themed" meals in Orlando? Pirates, Medieval... etc? If you've been to any of these.. please let me know your thoughts. I know they are hokey and not necessarily the BEST food, but I want something that will be a fun start to our time in Florida.

I'm not bound to these ideas, so any thoughts at all would be fantastic! Thank you!!!

 

[Gr8t Fan]

Hopefully someone with 100% sure information will chime it, but I belive Wonderworks was closed sometime in 2008. Please verifiy this before you take it as gospel, but I remember some news reports that said their doors were closed, assets seized, etc.

ETA: I just checked and saw that they are 100% operational. Perhaps I've confused them with the Ripley's Museum?

Anyway, if you have a car available, I would suggest heading over to the Orlando Science Center (just past downtown Orland). If you have a local science museum membership, you may even be able get in free through their reciprocity agreement.

 

[steelebug]

We were at Wonderworks in February. My kids 4, 7, and 9 enjoyed it. We did not do the dinner show because it was sold out when we got there at around 2PM. We spent about 3 hours there. It is two levels if I recall correctly. I don't know that it was worth the price but my mom paid for it so I can't complain. I might go to Kennedy Space center or the beach for the day.

 

[o2bnoz]

Thanks so much for this information. It's great to get such quick, helpful tips!

I think that I"m going to check into doing the Kennedy Space Center. Maybe I will even look at staying near there instead of right near the airport. That might make more sense. My son is crazy about space and wants to be an astronaut. I had thought about the Space Center but was thinking that it wouldn't be worth it to do in half a day. I'm going to check it out.

If not, the Orlando Science Center sounds like a great option. I was a bit concerned that Magicworks might be a bit too hokey And since I WILL be paying for it... not sure that I want to part with that much money for an "average" experience.

You guys are great! Thanks!

Does anyone have anything to say about the themed meals? Medieval? Pirate? Etc??

Oh... and we are going in February, so the beach is probably not going to an option.

Thanks again!
Dee

 

[toverly]

We like to go down to Downtown Disney the first night / day, walk around and go to Rainforest Cafe.