Looking for Suggestions for Non-WDW Attractions

[tarheelmjfan]

We're planning to spend a couple nights later this month to visit Comedy Warehouse & Adventurers Club before they close. I have a few things planned, but we're travelling with 2 teenagers. They'll want to go wide open. Here's what we have planned:

7/27 - Early arrival - probably Celebration (We need a place to hang out where our pet can join us, until we can get into our room.) Later, Hawaiian Rumble Adventure Golf

7/28 - WonderWorks, DTD & Pleasure Island

7/29 - Check-out

I'm thinking we may already have a full day on the 28th, but I don't think mini-golf is enough for the 27th. We'll be checking in ASAP. I'm looking for something other than shopping. We'll shop at DTD, & my DH & DS wouldn't be happy doing more shopping. A non-WDW, smaller attraction is preferable. All suggestions are welcome. TIA

 

[spiceycat]

you have Oct dates - but it will be closed then

from the disney site:

'By September 28, 2008, all of the nightclubs on Pleasure Island will close. It will be last call for the last time at 8 Trax, The Adventurer's Club, Mannequins™ Dance Palace, BET Sound-Stage™ Club, Motion and The Comedy Warehouse'

did you mean July or August or Sept?

 

[tarheelmjfan]

you have Oct dates - but it will be closed then

from the disney site:

'By September 28, 2008, all of the nightclubs on Pleasure Island will close. It will be last call for the last time at 8 Trax, The Adventurer's Club, Mannequins™ Dance Palace, BET Sound-Stage™ Club, Motion and The Comedy Warehouse'

did you mean July or August or Sept?

Oops! You're right! This trip is in a few weeks. I'll change my OP. We're also going to WDW in Oct. I guess my "blond" brain can't handle planning 2 trips at once.

 

[spiceycat]

I think Gatorland is up and running.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

Thanks for the suggestion. We live in FL. It's not uncommon to see gators in the neighborhood. I'm not sure they'll want to see more, but I'll ask. You never know what they'll want to do. Sometimes, they surprise you.

 

[bazzanoid]

Been to Cypress Gardens? Should be a few hours distraction i would have thought

 

[Darcy03231]

With teens I would recommend Universal Studios/Islands of Adventure. I have teens and my kids love these parks. If you only have enough time to do one, I would do Islands of Adventure.

We've also been to Busch Gardens (Tampa), SeaWorld, Wet n' Wild and Ripley's Believe it or Not museum, which they enjoyed, just not as much as US/IOA.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

I've been scanning for ideas & I'm thinking of suggesting Ripley's or the Titanic Exhibit. We have been to Ripley's. For some reason, my DH & DS love them though.

We haven't been to the Titanic Ship of Dreams Exhibit. This one gets my vote. Have any of you been to the exhibit, since it moved to the Orlando Science Center? Did you enjoy it? Would we have to pay for admission for both the Science Center & the Titanic Exhibit? I'm not sure how that works.

Been to Cypress Gardens? Should be a few hours distraction i would have thought

We've been to CG several times, but not since they closed & reopened. Have you experienced both. I'm wondering how it compares then to now. That sounds like another fun weekend getaway.

With teens I would recommend Universal Studios/Islands of Adventure. I have teens and my kids love these parks. If you only have enough time to do one, I would do Islands of Adventure.

We've also been to Busch Gardens (Tampa), SeaWorld, Wet n' Wild and Ripley's Believe it or Not museum, which they enjoyed, just not as much as US/IOA.

My DS(16) & DH totally agree with your teens. They much prefer staying onsite at UO to visiting WDW. It has taken me 4 yrs. to talk them into going back to WDW rather than UO. It wouldn't take any convincing at all to get them there, but only if we were staying at HRH. I hope you enjoyed BG. It's 15 min. from our house. We like it better than SW, but agree that UO is the best of all the parks.

 

[VAN]

Old Fashioned Air Boat Rides are located in Christmas, FL. I highly recommend them. We've done them twice and have seen so much wildlife including scads of alligators. Captain John (the owner) is the absolute BEST!!

Here is the website: http://www.airboatrides.com/index.htm

We found out about them by word of mouth and tried it one year while enroute for a day trip to Cocoa Beach. It was the highlight of the trip both years we did it.

==============
Good evening entertainment for the whole family is at the River Roost Lounge at Port Orleans Riverside (Wed-Sun I think) ... Bob Jackson!! The whole family (teens included) love him.

 

[garmich]

I've been scanning for ideas & I'm thinking of suggesting Ripley's or the Titanic Exhibit. We have been to Ripley's. For some reason, my DH & DS love them though.

We haven't been to the Titanic Ship of Dreams Exhibit. This one gets my vote. Have any of you been to the exhibit, since it moved to the Orlando Science Center? Did you enjoy it? Would we have to pay for admission for both the Science Center & the Titanic Exhibit? I'm not sure how that works.

Last year we went to Wonderworks with two boys (9 & 13), and they enjoyed it. It has lots of hands-on science exhibits. We were there for about 3 hours. There is a parking garage adjacent to Wonderworks, but there is a hourly fee for parking.

We have never been to the Orlando Science Center, but we will be going there in August. We have a membership at our local science museum, so it will be free admission, but the Titanic Experience would not be included for us. According to the OSC website, the Titanic Experience is included in the "OSC Full Experience" at $23.00. That is the only option that is listed.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

Thanks for the additional info. I'll ask about the airboat ride.

Ripley's was axed. My DS actually said he didn't want to do it this time.

He's really looking forward to WonderWorks again. He's been, but his girlfriend hasn't. She's really excited about going.

I've been reading reviews on OSC & the Titanic Exhibit, & I'm not sure it's worth $23. garmich, I wish you were going before me, so you could be the guinea pig.

 

[tiggermei]

I'll throw out my family's favorite non-Disney attraction in Orlando. You can do indoor skydiving at SkyVentures Orlando. We go pretty much every time we go as a family to Orlando. It's a bit expensive but so cool -- especially to have a DVD of your family flying! My favorite adrenaline rush ever.
http://www.skyventureorlando.com/

 

[tarheelmjfan]

I'll throw out my family's favorite non-Disney attraction in Orlando. You can do indoor skydiving at SkyVentures Orlando. We go pretty much every time we go as a family to Orlando. It's a bit expensive but so cool -- especially to have a DVD of your family flying! My favorite adrenaline rush ever.
http://www.skyventureorlando.com/

They would love to do that! Unfortunately, my DS's girlfriend is only 17 & her mom won't be along to sign for her. I wish there was a way around the parent/guardian signature requirement & we'd definitely let them do that.

 

[bazzanoid]

They would love to do that! Unfortunately, my DS's girlfriend is only 17 & her mom won't be along to sign for her. I wish there was a way around the parent/guardian signature requirement & we'd definitely let them do that.

There is - you can download & print the waiver form from this link and get her mom to complete it before you go:

http://www.skyventureorlando.com/downloads/SV_Release_Waiver.pdf

 

[Anne34]

I'll throw out my family's favorite non-Disney attraction in Orlando. You can do indoor skydiving at SkyVentures Orlando. We go pretty much every time we go as a family to Orlando. It's a bit expensive but so cool -- especially to have a DVD of your family flying! My favorite adrenaline rush ever.
http://www.skyventureorlando.com/

I was going to suggest this too!! We did it in March and had a great time. My DH, Myself(the big chicken!), DD14, DS12 & DD10 all thought it was great -- we got the family package with the video and picture CD included.

 

[garmich]

FYI, the Entertainment '08 coupon book for Orlando, has a coupon for SkyVenture. It offers "one complimentary ride when a second ride of equal or greater value is purchased, up to a $38.00 value". If you already have the book, it's coupon #G62. Owners of registered books can go online to print additional "Repeat Savings" coupons.

If you don't have a book, you may be out of luck, as they are currently soldout. This coupon was in the 2007 coupon book, so it might be available in the 2009 version.

I thought about doing SkyVentures on my last trip because I had the coupon, but I couldn't squeeze it into my intinerary. I'm considering it for my next trip.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Another vote here for US/IOA. We love it there. Also if you stay at their onsite hotels, your room key works like an unlimited fast pass so you bypass all the lines. Even only a 1 nt. stay gets you 2 full days of FOTL access.
Hard Rock Hotel is my fav.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

My son will be thrilled that we may be able to take them to Skyventure. Now, if we can only convince her mom to sign the form.

Wish us luck! We're still shocked she's letting her go.

 

[Wishing on a star]

We have never been to the Orlando Science Center, but we will be going there in August. We have a membership at our local science museum, so it will be free admission, but the Titanic Experience would not be included for us. According to the OSC website, the Titanic Experience is included in the "OSC Full Experience" at $23.00. That is the only option that is listed.

When I click 'purchase tickets' and it brings up the whole page of different tickets, It shows 'member' prices at 7:00 adult and $5.00 child... But, that may be for a specific OSC membership???

I would love to hear if this is any good, and might be worth the time and $$!

We are not traveling until next Spring.. does anyone know how long Titanic might be there?