Themed / unique restaurants, or ones with free entertainment

[nighttowll]

I've been trying to get a list of themed places together for the family (all tween girls), we haven't tried yet. I'm not looking for dinner shows, just fun different places to go. Maybe somewhere you eat inside of a train / boat / highly themed area, or somewhere they have some kind of smaller free entertainment, dancers, magicians, etc. I know our local Chick-fil-a has a family night every Thursday that offers things like that. It could be something that simple. Just something different.

We have already done:
Rainforest Cafe
T-Rex
Johnny Rockets
Old Town Spaghetti Factory (not sure if they have this in Orlando or not)
Ragland Road

I'm thinking about:
Hard Rock Cafe (not sure how much the theme will appeal to them)
Joe's Crab Shack (they are not big on Sea food, so not sure)
The Melting Pot (they've never done fondue, and I think they are finally old enough now, so could be fun, but its so expensive)
Texas De Brazil (they are carnivores, so I know they'd love it here, but we have a local one they can visit)

I'd love to find something more like the Rainforest Cafe, but my searches pretty much turn up dinner shows or Disney restaurants, and we aren't doing Disney this trip. Wish Sci-Fi Dine In was located in DTD. That would be perfect.

Any ideas are appreciated.

 

[BrinkofSunshine]

Some that come to mind-
Cafe Tu Tu Tango
Dave and Buster's (not free entertainment, but could be fun to eat and play games)
Margaritaville
Kobe Steakhouse (the hibachi chef is fun)

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

I know you said "no dinner shows", but the Outta Control Dinner Show is well worth considering. The menu appeals to tween girls (all-you-care-to-eat pizza, salad, popcorn), unlimited beverages are complimentary (including alcohol for the adults), and dessert is included as well. The entertainment is FABULOUS. Tony Brent is part magician, part comedian, ALL amazing and totally family-friendly. There's tons of audience participation and its just a ton of fun. Price is right too.....about $23 per person, and there are always coupons to knock another dollar or two off per person.

I highly recommend it .

Some other things that come to mind.........

Shrek Feast at Villa de Flora at Gaylord Palms (if the girls are Shrek fans).

The World's Largest McDonalds's & Playplace on Sand Lake Road (they have bowling, arcade games, etc.).

Dine With Shamu (but you would have to have admission to SeaWorld).

CityWalk at Universal has several themed dining options....Nascar and NBA City come to mind.

 

[nighttowll]

I know you said "no dinner shows", but the Outta Control Dinner Show is well worth considering. The menu appeals to tween girls (all-you-care-to-eat pizza, salad, popcorn), unlimited beverages are complimentary (including alcohol for the adults), and dessert is included as well. The entertainment is FABULOUS. Tony Brent is part magician, part comedian, ALL amazing and totally family-friendly. There's tons of audience participation and its just a ton of fun. Price is right too.....about $23 per person, and there are always coupons to knock another dollar or two off per person.

I highly recommend it .

Some other things that come to mind.........

Shrek Feast at Villa de Flora at Gaylord Palms (if the girls are Shrek fans).

The World's Largest McDonalds's & Playplace on Sand Lake Road (they have bowling, arcade games, etc.).

Dine With Shamu (but you would have to have admission to SeaWorld).

CityWalk at Universal has several themed dining options....Nascar and NBA City come to mind.

I'm not opposed to dinner shows if I can find a groupon or something and am able to fit them in our schedule. We are just a large group, and this is our quick, cheap, trip. We did our big trip back in Sept. Lodging and tickets pretty much wiped out the budget for this trip, so it will be meals in the condo for the most part. Even a $25 or $30 meal, gets expensive fast when you multiply that by 6. Plus, I see us pretty much staying at the parks all day, so not sure we have time for any shows.

I'd like to come up with a few fun dinners that aren't too expensive. Just something different. I've looked at everything at City Walk and at DTD. I'm sure we will do something at City Walk or in a park just not sure what yet. Nothing really appeals to me all that much at City Walk, and I'd really prefer to avoid DTD just because of parking issues. This is a non Disney trip, and we are doing all the driving, so I hate to go all the way to DTD just for dinner when we are touring Universal and Sea World. I have looked at a few meals at Sea World, but I haven't narrowed anything down yet, and I'm sure we will find a few places inside US or IOA for lunch. I was just trying to find some non park options for dinner which is hard because all the lists out there primarily list dinner shows and then the regular themed places at all the parks, DTD, or City Walk. I'm sure there are plenty of great unique places in Orlando that don't fall under those three categories, but its almost impossible to find them on any lists.

I actually have thought about the Outta Control show. We really like Wonderworks, so I thought it might be fun. I'm just not sure if we can fit it in or not.

I also thought about the McDonalds, but many of the reviews aren't very good with people saying it is extremely dirty, so I'm not sure about that. Also, apparently the girls saw some documentary or something about what is really in McDonald's food and now refuse to eat there. Although, the appeal of a huge arcade might change their minds. I'm just wondering if we'd be better off with Dave n Busters in the end, but we can do that at home, so...

Which brings me to my other issue, we have a lot of the themed places locally (Coral Reef, Rainforest, Johnny Rockets, etc.), so it makes it hard to find something new to try.

We had a small BBQ place where I used to live in Texas that was set up inside a train car on train tracks. The track it was on didn't work, but the one beside it did. Trains would come right by, close enough to touch if the window was open, and the whole place would vibrate. You could watch your food move across the table with the vibrations. I remember loving that place as a kid. I just feel there are lots of neat places like that all over the US, but unless you know about them, they can be hard to find. Something as simple as that would be great. Just something different.

 

[BrinkofSunshine]

Would you mind driving a little to find an interesting local/eclectic eatery? Most of the restaurants in the tourist corridor are going to be either the standard themed giants (Rainforest Cafe, Hard Rock, etc.) or big chains (Olive Garden, Outback, etc.). If you're interested in an eclectic experience I'd recommend:

Yellow Dog Eats
Dandelion Community Cafe
Stardust Cafe and Video
White Wolf Cafe

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

OP, when is your trip?

There is currently a Groupon running here for discounted admission (2-for-1) for the Outta Control Dinner Show (so 2 adults for $25) or the dinner show/Wonderworks combo pass ($44 for 2):

http://www.groupon.com/deals/wonderworks

The Groupon expires March 14th.

 

[jeff968]

Bahama Breeze has the steel drums which are always nice to listen to and quickly put you in the vacation mood. Free while you are eating.

 

[nighttowll]

OP, when is your trip?

There is currently a Groupon running here for discounted admission (2-for-1) for the Outta Control Dinner Show (so 2 adults for $25) or the dinner show/Wonderworks combo pass ($44 for 2):

http://www.groupon.com/deals/wonderworks

The Groupon expires March 14th.

Thanks for the heads up, but we will be there right after the 14th, just my luck!

March 16-22

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Thanks for the heads up, but we will be there right after the 14th, just my luck!

March 16-22

Well, shoot .

 

[nighttowll]

Well, shoot .

Yep, this is why we usually go in the off season. All the good deals get blacked out for peak season. But, we already took the kids out of school in Sept., so it's spring break or summer. Missing school twice in one school year is just too much for us, so our dates are pretty set.

 

[Miumiu4me]

Gaylord Palms has several themed restaurants. The Nile restaurant on iDrive has excellent Ethopian food. The girls might like eating with their hands.

 

[mamabear0222]

OP, when is your trip?

There is currently a Groupon running here for discounted admission (2-for-1) for the Outta Control Dinner Show (so 2 adults for $25) or the dinner show/Wonderworks combo pass ($44 for 2):

http://www.groupon.com/deals/wonderworks

The Groupon expires March 14th.

Is this good for young kids?

Sent from my Samsung S3 using DISBoards

 

[TxAnn]

We had a small BBQ place where I used to live in Texas that was set up inside a train car on train tracks. The track it was on didn't work, but the one beside it did. Trains would come right by, close enough to touch if the window was open, and the whole place would vibrate. You could watch your food move across the table with the vibrations. I remember loving that place as a kid. .

Sorry I don't have any answers for your question, but do you mind telling me the name/city of this bbq place? Sounds like a fun place to eat. My kids would love it!

 

[nighttowll]

Sorry I don't have any answers for your question, but do you mind telling me the name/city of this bbq place? Sounds like a fun place to eat. My kids would love it!

It would be somewhere in the Northwest Houston area. I'm honestly not sure it's even still open, that was years ago, but I'll check and see if I can find the name if it.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Is this good for young kids?

Sent from my Samsung S3 using DISBoards

When we were there, there was just about every age represented....from toddlers to grannies. And everyone was having a good time.

There's music that's kinda catchy that the little ones enjoyed dancing to. There's lots of audience involvement so it will be fun for the younger ones to watch some of the things that Tony Brent gets someone from their table to do. The magic appeals to everyone.....he sets things on fire that re-appear later in the show, for example. He's silly and dresses in funny costumes (dresses some of the audience volunteers, too) which gets the kids all laughing. And the comedy part of the show is very family friendly (no swearing, etc.). As for the meal......pizza is universally appealing, even for the wee folk, which is nice. So yes, I wouldn't hesitate to take a young child there.

 

[TxAnn]

It would be somewhere in the Northwest Houston area. I'm honestly not sure it's even still open, that was years ago, but I'll check and see if I can find the name if it.

Thanks for checking! I googled and found Railroad Crossing BBQ. Might be the one?

 

[mamabear0222]

When we were there, there was just about every age represented....from toddlers to grannies. And everyone was having a good time.

There's music that's kinda catchy that the little ones enjoyed dancing to. There's lots of audience involvement so it will be fun for the younger ones to watch some of the things that Tony Brent gets someone from their table to do. The magic appeals to everyone.....he sets things on fire that re-appear later in the show, for example. He's silly and dresses in funny costumes (dresses some of the audience volunteers, too) which gets the kids all laughing. And the comedy part of the show is very family friendly (no swearing, etc.). As for the meal......pizza is universally appealing, even for the wee folk, which is nice. So yes, I wouldn't hesitate to take a young child there.

Thanks. Believe it or not one of my kids hates pizza lol. She's a grilled chicken and salad kind of girl lol weird kid

Sent from my Samsung S3 using DISBoards

 

[nighttowll]

Thanks for checking! I googled and found Railroad Crossing BBQ. Might be the one?

Yes, I checked with my dad that's it. On Hempstead Highway off of 290.

I haven't been in years, so no promises it is as good as it used to be. We had about 3 BBQ places we really liked in Houston, and that was one of them. I honestly don't even remember how great the food was. I just loved to sit in the train car and eat. If I remember right, you had the option of eating in the main restaurant building or in the train car.

 

[powellrj]

Not sure if they are still offering them, but restaurant.com had BBKings and House of Blues the last time we were there and since you could buy large amounts it was a great bargain for us along with giordanos pizza.

 

[country-mom-of-4]

Darn! The groupon is gone ;( - we will be in Orlando the 16-23. We might
have to check it out anyway.....\