Beyond Disney

[bravesfan92]

Can anyone tell me besides WDW, US, IOA and even Seaworld, are there any really other nice things to see or do in Orlando. I have a 10 year old boy and a 6 year old girl.

We are doing Disney 2 days and US and IOA 2 days. I was just looking for something a little different. Maybe something a little slower paced.

Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[dj2]

if you can swing the admission $, Discovery Cove is a much more relaxed park. you swim with sting rays (no stingers), snorkel in a man-made coral reef with giant, colorful and well stocked fish, feed birds from your hands in their aviary, swim in a lazy river-type pool, and can even have a short dolphin swim (not sure if the 6YO can do this). it was the BEST day of our 14 day vacation.

 

[Gluman11]

What???

there's is other stuff in orlando?????????

 

[loriandmatt]

we have done the following or they are on our list to do:

airboat rides
a visit to gatorworld
hot air balloon ride
visit NASA
swing by Daytona (and even stop into Daytona USA)
spend a day at any one of the great beaches in the area
a dinner show at Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede
a guided fishing tour

granted, most of these are not right close to Disney property, so you would need a car.

have a great vacation - lori

 

[soccercruiser87]

why would you have to do anything else? disney has everything, disneys the best! :thewave:

 

[Minky]

We drove to the Gulf Coast one day and hung out at the beach...VERY laid back mellow vibe. Was a cool way to break things up

 

[ShadowWind]

I haven't been up to International Drive in awhile, and Orlando changes quicker than most places on what is there and not there, but these are the ones I can think of that were there the last time I was there. For the architecture alone (upside down house, house falling into sinkhole), it's worth driving up on International just for that. The best thing to do if you have a car, is to stop at one of the restaurants outside WDW and get one of the tourist books. They have a lot of these listed and often have discounts as well.

Guiness Book of Records
Ripley's Believe It Or Not
The IMAX theatre at Pointe Orlando
Wet and Wild
Skull Kingdom
Bells (sp?) Factory Outlet - which has a lot of cool shops including a Disney Character Warehouse store where you can buy souvenirs very cheap there, much cheaper than in the parks.
Amazing Animals - A small place, but they do have some cool exhibits like face to face with some big cats (tigers/panthers).
Race Rock restaurant
Wonderworks - I would just look at the outside building and skip the inside, which is a bad science museum. Your money would be better spent at the:
Orlando Science Center - A multistory science museum with a lot of hands on exhibits for the kids.
Mystery Fun House - Which I'm not sure is still there, but it was the last time we were there.

On US-192:
Old Town which has a lot of shops and museums as well as carnival type rides and some nights, a classic car show.
WaterMania
Several MiniGolf courses (Congo River Golf is pretty awesome).
Medieval Times Dinner Show
Arabian Nights Dinner Show
The Sky Coaster

About 50 miles east, the Kennedy Space Center. 70 miles west, Busch Gardens...