Restaurants outside of Downtown Disney

[alaskajamaica]

Please forgive in advance if this is the wrong place to post this.

I know of the restaurants in Downtown Disney.

I am looking for places very close by that we can drive to for meals.

We are interested in everything except buffets and places that are similar to that ( Golden Corral, Denny's) nothing like that.

Any suggestions or anything that is locally owned and eclectic. Where do the locals eat?

TIA.

I know that SR535 has a few places and I-4 perhaps?

 

[H.E. Pennypacker]

I'm not a local, but I'll tell where we often go. If you turn left out of the Downtown Disney parking lots and follow Buena Vista Dr. northeast, it turns into Hotel Plaza Blvd. Take that until it t-bones at Apopka Vineland and you'll find a plethora of restaurants. If you keep going straight into the Crossroads plaza, you'll find a Chevy's (mexican), Fuddrucker's (great burgers), McDonald's, Buffalo Wild Wings, Red Lobster, TGI Friday's. If you head a couple blocks north to Palm Pkway and take a right, you'll find a Pizza Hut a CiCi's Pizza buffet and a Hooters.

If that isn't enough, follow the signs out of Disney to 192 West, and there are tons more restaurants within 20 minutes of WDW all up and down 192 (Irlo Bronson Hwy) - Cracker Barrel, Bob Evans, Maccaroni Grill, Pizzeria Uno, Chili's and many, many more.

I realize none of these probably fit into your locally owned, eclectic category, but I think you'll need to go a little further away from WDW to find that. Away from the touristy areas. You could always take a road trip out to Clermont, or Haines City, or Winter Haven or some of the other nearby towns that aren't so touristy. We discovered a great BBQ place by doing this on our recent trip - Sonny's Real Pit BBQ in Haines City. Although it's a chain, it's definitely a "local" eatery.

 

[jx3smom]

One of our favorites is Bahama Breeze. It is a chain but nothing like Red Lobster and Olive Garden. Lots of locals dine there so go early.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

This location is a bit farther from WDW property and where Downtown Disney is located, however I would highly recommend the Bonefish Grill at 7830 W Sand Lake Rd.

 

[Tara922c]

Right accross the street from the DTD enterance to DIS, is the Crossroads with lots of resturants. If you make a left, or a right you will run into tons of chain restuarants. All types of places pretty much surrond the Disney area.

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

Head for the intersection of Turkey Lake and Sand Lake Road.

Starting with the shopping area that has Whole Foods, there are some very nice restaurants. At the main intersection if you turn LEFT (with Whole Foods will be on your right) on Sand Lake, you will come to an area with any number of nice restaurants.

If you continue along Sand Lake to Dr. Phillips Blvd. and take a right, you will again travel along a section of road that has any number of restaurants.

Explore that area. You'll be happy you did.

The general area is approximately 3 or so miles from Downtown Disney.

 

[SnowWtch]

Flippers Pizza has a nice restaurant right there at Crossroads across from DTD on 535. Their food is really good. They do more than just pizza. They have pasta and other dishes as well.

 

[Jerry@dvcstore]

One of our favorites is Bahama Breeze. It is a chain but nothing like Red Lobster and Olive Garden. Lots of locals dine there so go early.

Bahama Breeze is so good and a great choice for an off property dining experience. Yummy.

 

[bama106]

A friend of ours introduced us to Miller's Ale House back in October, and the food there I thought was AWESOME and you get HUGE portions at very reasonable prices. They have just about everything. There is one just a couple of miles from DTD. Here is there website: http://www.millersalehouse.com/default.asp

 

[abubu919]

A friend of ours introduced us to Miller's Ale House back in October, and the food there I thought was AWESOME and you get HUGE portions at very reasonable prices. They have just about everything. There is one just a couple of miles from DTD. Here is there website: http://www.millersalehouse.com/default.asp

Another vote for Ale House...I lived in Orlando a while before heading to college at Bama and that was our favorite place. I one we always went to was of Kirkman road over by Universal. Although restaurants around DTD are good too. Uno's Pizza is good, but if you just got down 535/Apopka Vineland you will find something you like