Universal Studios/I-Drive

Description:

Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida is open for your enjoyment 365 days per year, and offers three world class resort hotels - the Royal Pacific, Hard Rock, and Portofino Bay. Relax and have fun in the lap of luxury with countless restaurants, shops, and attractions at your fingertips. Kids are never bored with their choice of two amazing theme parks and endless entertainment. The nightlife is all for the parents - clubs, bars, chic restaurants, and performances by the Blue Man Group make this spot great for the entire family.

Description:

It's a long way to Key West, but you can make the trip without ever leaving Central Florida with a stop at this restaurant that evokes the spirit of the Keys where singer Jimmy Buffet got his start. Themed to resemble a snazzy version of favored Key West haunts, the restaurant offers such Keys and Caribbean favorites as conch fritters, jambalaya and that all-time favorite key lime pie. There's a full bar here and, truth be known, that's the destination of most of those who stop in here.

Our Local Expert Says:

Fabulous seasonal events like Mardi Gras, Halloween Horror Nights, and the Holiday Concert Series

Description:

The world's favorite films and film stars come to life here, and 40 amazing and amusing rides, shows and attractions await. A virtual interactive Terminator 2:3-D adventure has its own set of thrills, as does an encounter with Jaws, a trip Back to the Future, and a voyage beyond the stars in an E.T. Adventure. Special VIP tours are available by pre-arrangement.

Our Local Expert Says:

Celebrate the legacy of the legend at the restaurant/bar that bears his name at Universal Citywalk.

Description:

Bob Marley, the revered father of Jamaican reggae music, provided the inspiration for this dining spot that's become a popular part of Universal Studios. By night, this place is jamming with Marley's and fellow reggae artists' music, keeping the steel drum beat going strong for dancing. There's a variety of appetizing offerings, such as whitefish dip with toast points, salsa served with unusual dipping chips that include dried yucca and plantain chips, and yucca fries, much loved in the Caribbean.

Description:

This trill-a-minute innovative theme park is every adventure lover's fantasy come alive. Fasten your seat belts and be ready to plunge from heights, experience a shark attack or set your adrenaline pumping with action-packed earthquakes and tornadoes. To savor the once-in-a-lifetime experience, try their pulse pounding roller coasters, psychological thrill rides or nerve-wrecking challenges where you get to attempt stunts. Greet your favorite comic characters, legends and super heroes in the motion based 3-D action rides or try your luck in the fun-filled video arcade. Watch dinosaurs in their natural habitat and Spider man in action, when he takes on his enemies in the ultimate battle. This far from average theme park is certainly not for the weak-hearted!

Description:

This restaurant bills itself as offering 'the biggest and best grain-fed beef direct from the Midwest'. It's an accurate assessment by all accounts. What makes this restaurant even more interesting than the average beef-and-baked potato spot is its invitation to guests to grill their own steaks over the restaurant's centerpiece barbecue pit. It might be fun to try your hand, but if you're of the "I'm not going to a restaurant to cook my own meal" camp, the trained staff is happy to serve and cook. Favorites include the eight-ounce Filet Mignon, the 22-ounce Porterhouse steak and the 17-ounce Boneless Rib Eye. Finish your meal with choices from exquisite wines, martinis, vodkas, etc. And last but not the least, don't forget to dig into some sweet pickings.

Description:

Who knew people came in so many shapes and sizes? Stacked or stubby, terribly tan or not, all kinds come here, so there's no reason to be bashful about squeezing into a bathing suit and going out in public. The 25-acre Wet 'n Wild is America's third most popular water park (behind Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon, respectively). In 2007, Brain Wash, a multiperson tube ride with a 53-foot drop, areas of complete darkness, and high-tech special effects that includes video projection and special lighting was added to the lineup of thrills. Disco H20, an enclosed flume ride where a four-passenger raft sends you flying through the sights and sounds of the '70s, complete with mirrored lights and disco tunes blasting in the background, debuted in 2005. Other options include the Flyer, a six-story four-passenger toboggan run through 450 feet of banked curves; the Surge, which is one of the longest (580 ft. of curves) and fastest multipassenger tube rides in the Southeast; and Black Hole, a two-person spaceship-style raft that makes a 500-foot twisting, turning voyage through darkness (all three rides require that children 36-48 in. tall be accompanied by an adult). You can also ride the Knee...

Description:

Hoist your jib and set your sails for this pitch and putt course, where playing putt-putt is a little like walking the plank. You'll find plenty or pirate references to amuse you, including shipwrecks and skulls with eye patches, but don't worry, this place is strictly family fare. From its two separate courses to its complimentary leis, it's a tropical tee-off, as you escape cascading waterfalls and rubber swords. Don't forget to check out the snack bar on your way out, and you can't leave without a handful of free Pirate's Cove stickers, plastic doubloon rings and pirate flags.

Our Local Expert Says:

A storied piece of Orlando's theme-park culture, Fun Spot is a great place to keep your kids (and you) occupied and enthralled for hours on end. With video games, rides and go karts, it's impossible to be bored.

Description:

All kids and many grownups love this place. It offers a 10,000-square-foot, two-story arcade filled with high-tech video games. Outside, you'll find time-tested rides like go-karts, bumper cars and bumper boats. The park's KidsSpot offers mild thrills appropriate for children ages 2-6. If all this activity leaves you hungry, eat at the on-site snack bar. Admission is free, but you do pay for each ride you take and each arcade game you play.

Our Local Expert Says:

This is the largest indoor/outdoor paintball facility in Florida, so if paintball is your sport of choice, Orlando Paintball isn't to be missed.

Description:

Feel like burning off a workweek's worth of stress? Consider a visit to this facility, which offers a variety of survival games in which opponents shoot at each other with paint pellets. A traditional game scenario includes two teams infiltrating each other's territory and attempting to capture the other team's flag. Visitors can play in indoor or outdoor arenas. Inside are game areas featuring two-story towers, forts, bunkers and medieval structures. Outside are four themed fields and a cluster of futuristic structures.

Description:

Now, let's see. Was it the butler with a dagger in the pantry, or that gorgeous dame with a gun in the bedroom? Designed to get you into the thick of a murder mystery, this lively attraction mixes you in with others who haven't a clue, and with a group of talented actors and actresses who know exactly how this story ends. Also specializing in mystery events for business meetings and personal celebrations, the troupe commits murder during the evening, and it's up to you to solve the crime. All the suspects are discussed over dinner, then you get to grill the murder suspects to figure out who-done-it. Adult admission includes unlimited beer, wine and soft drinks. Group discounts available.

Description:

Part of what is now an impressive array of nightlife opportunities at Universal Studios, this bar gets groovin' with five themed rooms designed to appeal to the widest possible variety of partygoers. Dance areas represent various historic musical eras ranging from a vaudeville stage to a roaring 20s dancehall, a 1960s rock 'n roll haven, a disco and a high-tech futuristic scene. Specialty drinks are offered in each area, and live bands are often on the bill. With these and several quiet areas tucked away in this big complex, this spot can appeal to everyone, from those who want to party to those who just want to kick back for a quiet drink and keep their options open.

Description:

Universal Studios has added a host of shopping, dining and entertainment spots. This themed eatery is a jazz club, with tables surrounding a performance stage. Live jazz bands, both well known and on their way up, perform as you dine. Entrees include such favorites as Lamb Chops and Beef Tenderloin. A variety of appetizers is also available. A full bar is, of course, available here and with the musical options always available, a cover charge may be in effect if the entertainment is well-known. Call ahead for rates.

Our Local Expert Says:

Best close encounters with dolphins and marine life

Description:

In July of 2000, Discovery Cove opened its gates and began providing a unique theme park experience that is nothing short of extraordinary. With a maximum of 1,000 guests per day, the park has managed to create an intimate feel - more like you're visiting a swanky resort in the Caribbean than visiting a theme park in the middle of Orlando. The admission price, though hefty, includes all of your needs…
towels, wet suits, lockers, snorkels, masks, sun tan lotion, souvenir photos and parking.

Meals and snacks are included as well (and not just hot dogs and hamburgers either). You'll start the day with a continental breakfast (pastries, muffins, fresh fruit, juices and coffee). You can have a hamburger for lunch if you'd like, but Discovery Cove also offers such items as grilled salmon and pasta primavera. Unlimited snacks such as chips, pretzels, nachos, ice cream and smoothies are available all day. You can also enjoy as much bottled water, soda, beer, and cappuccinos as you like.

If you've booked yourselves into the Dolphin Encounter, the friendly concierge will schedule your time in the Dolphin Lagoon when you arrive. During the 30-minute encounter, you and 5-7 other guests will... read more

Description:

The 20,000 sq.ft. Titanic attraction lets you explore over twenty unique rooms featuring full-scale recreations of Titanic's most famous locales, including her Grand Staircase, First Class Parlor Suite, Captain's Bridge, Marconi Room, Verandah Café and the Boiler area. Actors in period costume portray famous Titanic notables such as Capt. Smith and Molly Brown, sharing stories of passengers and crew during an hour-long guided tour. The world renowned attraction also features an extensive Underwater/Expedition area, displaying an eight foot replica of Titanic as she appears on the bottom of the Atlantic today with multiple screens footage of the wreck shot during the most recent expedition, led by G. Michael Harris. Also showcased at the 'World's First Permanent Titanic Attraction' are over 200 artifacts, including movie memorabilia from James Cameron's blockbuster film, TITANIC.

Description:

Do you crave weird science? If you're a fan of the bizarre, here's where you'll find lots of oddities. Among the hundreds of exhibits: a two-headed kitten, a five-legged cow, a three-quarter-scale model of a 1907 Rolls-Royce made of 1 million matchsticks, a mosaic of the Mona Lisa created from toast, torture devices from the Spanish Inquisition, a Tibetan flute made of human bones, and Ubangi women with wooden plates in their lips. There are exhibits on Houdini and films of people swallowing coat hangers. Visitors are greeted by a hologram of Robert Ripley. Allow 2 hours.

Description:

You can't miss this building. It was designed to look as if it landed upside down! Go inside to discover more than 100 exhibits that will entertain the whole family. Defy gravity in the Inversion Tunnel, visit the Disaster Zone to see what an earthquake feels like (the Hurricane Hole and has winds up to 71mph), play virtual air hockey in the light and sound zone and trek through outer space in the Space Zone. There is so much to do here, you might have to go back a second time!

Description:

Emeril's Restaurant Orlando encompasses everything that Emeril stands for - high energy, bold exciting flavors & a memorable experience. Chef Emeril Lagasse's fifth restaurant, Emeril's Restaurant Orlando, is a fitting addition to the line-up at Universal CityWalk. Upon entering the restaurant your eyes take you on a ride up the metal staircase, across the Gertjejansen artwork, down the wall of wine, over the Ochsner portrait & stopping for a moment at the food bar. By this time the staff greets you with the warmth of a welcome home. A drink at the bar, maybe a classic New Orleans cocktail to start & then you are seated. The dining room bustles with energy with a view of the chef & the brilliance in the kitchen. Although walk-ins can be accommodated, reservations are highly recommended. Our dress policy is casual, but no sleeveless shirts for gentleman & boys. Jason Glus, Chef de Cuisine, and Gabriel Orozco, General Manager, are dedicated to providing you with that memorable dining

Description:

Founded in 1949 with only a handful of alligators living in huts and pens, Gatorland now houses thousands of alligators (including a rare blue one) and crocodiles on its 70-acre spread. Breeding pens, nurseries, and rearing ponds are situated throughout the park, which also displays snakes, toads, insects, turtles, and a Galápagos tortoise. Its 2,000-foot boardwalk winds through a cypress swamp and breeding marsh.

The Screamin' Gator Zipline is the park's latest addition. It will open June 16.

Headliners include Gator Wrestlin', using the old "put-them-to-sleep" trick, but it's more of an environmental awareness program; Gator Jumparoo, a crowd-pleaser in which the parks largest reptiles lunge 4 or 5 feet out of the water to snatch a hunk of meat from a trainer's hand; Up Close Encounters, showcasing the park's toothy carnivores, slithery snakes, and other wildlife; and Critters on the Go, a mobile show that allows younger kids a chance to interact with the parks cuddlier critters. A train ride, a treat for younger kids and tots, runs through the park ($2 per person); the Gully Gator Splash Park, a new wet-and-dry play area; and Allie's Barnyard, a small petting zoo. While you're...

Description:

This high-end steak house is making a splash among the Orlando elite. Expensive and plush with dark wood paneling and impeccable service, this newcomer to the steakhouse scene lures the high-roller crowd and is the popular choice for high-level business meetings. In an atmosphere of mahogany paneling and linen tablecloths, patrons feast on 20-ounce New York strip sirloins and 24-ounce porterhouse steaks. Meals end with Godiva chocolate cake and the wine list boasts 175 offerings. Reservations recommended. A full bar is available.