Orlando without the Parks

Who knew that Orlando had so much to offer besides the theme parks! A 5-day stay, busy from dawn to dusk, with the opportunity to visit various hotels in the main Downtown and International Drive area, and experience their cuisine for breakfast, lunch and dinner – just ask if you need advice on where to stay, and what to see. Monday’s itinerary began at The Ramada Plaza, which is undergoing a major refurb in one of its buildings, but the existing Club Level Suites are great with exclusive rooftop pool access. Here we also got to meet various suppliers for the area. Next was Sampaguita and the most amazing Filipino Ice Cream Parlour! Then we got to explore Downtown Orlando and the Orange County Regional History and Art Centre. The evening was spent at the Kia Centre for an indoor basketball match and dinner - what an experience! The game was almost the smallest part of a very entertaining evening, with a lovely buffet dinner and great views over the court. Tuesday began with breakfast at the Ritz-Carlton. Again, the Club level is lovely and the food amazing. It’s situated in very peaceful grounds, just a short drive from the main parks. You can even get a boat trip from the property to the start of the Everglades National Park. Then we had a visit to Discovery Cove, where you can swim with dolphins and stingrays. Followed up with lunch at SeaWorld where we had a guided tour. Did you know that SeaWorld Orlando has more roller coasters than any other park in Orlando? Dinner was at the Rosen Shingle Creek in a similar location to the Ritz-Carlton, with equally high-quality food. Wednesday started with breakfast at Gatorland and a chance to explore. Did you know that they paid to rescue more than 100 alligators last year alone? This was a very interesting experience, but you must book ahead for the Zipwires over the gators…. Lunch was at the Italian Restaurant Buca di Beppo in the Florida Mall, where we also had some time to browse. Dinner was at the amazing Spanish restaurant Jaleo at Disney Springs, followed by the totally amazing Cirque du Soleil show ‘Drawn to Life’. This experience included a backstage tour after the show where I was astonished at how much space there was above and behind the stage. Thursday’s breakfast was at Caribe Royale Resort – this was the first time I have had a ‘tasting menu’ breakfast which I really enjoyed. The Caribe Royale is an interesting property, right on the doorstep of Disney. Then we explored International Drive and Icon Park with Madame Tussaud’s, Sea Life and The Orlando Eye. Then came two exciting rides - Starflyer and Slingshot - using our GoCity Pass which gives you discounted rates at various attractions. Dinner was at Wonderworks and included a comedy show and entry to the museum. This is a science-focused indoor amusement park, combining education and entertainment, with over 100 hands-on, interactive exhibits. Friday began with breakfast at the Drury Plaza Hotel. This is a very good value-for-money, family hotel, with breakfast included along with evening bites, with a ‘happy hour’ and - the biggest hit - the Mickey Mouse-shaped waffles you can make for yourself! Finally, before we began our trip home, a visit to the high-end Millenia Shopping Mall, with some great food hall offerings, including Phili sandwiches, ice-cream and burgers.