Orlando, FL

[Cadaverine]

So, I am going on a vacation to sunny Orlando in about a month.  I'm curious if anyone that lives in the vicinity knows of any cool events/places/whatever outside of the usual tourist things.

Also, I'm stuck with a 2.5 hour layover in Chicago.  Any good bars, or restaurants, near O'Hare where I could eat, drink and forget that I will be stuck hurtling through the air with a good number of irritable geriatrics for two and a half hours.

[rattran]

A 2.5 hour layover in O'Hare means you'll not have time to leave the airport, get anywhere, and make it back.

That's assuming your plane isn't late (it will be) So instead just head over to terminal 1 concourse b and see the brachiosaurus.

[Cadaverine]

Ah well.  Guess I'd better bring two books then.  I will check out the dinosaurs, though.

[Oban]

Also, I'm stuck with a 2.5 hour layover in Chicago.  Any good bars, or restaurants, near O'Hare where I could eat, drink and forget that I will be stuck hurtling through the air with a good number of irritable geriatrics for two and a half hours.

If all you want is a sports bar, there are a few decent ones in the airport itself.  The quality really depends on which airline you are flying and therefore which terminal you will be stuck in at the time.  

A one day pass to the United Red Carpet Club is an option too, they go for about ~USD50.  If all you are looking for is a place to unwind, have a coffe/water/soda and some snacks, it is a viable option.

[Merusk]

So is this your first trip to Orlando, because it sounds like it.  There's nothing there BUT tourist stuff.  The whole city is as large as it is because of Tourisim and everything is centered around it.  It was a small town in a swamp before Disney bought up all the land. Hell, that's WHY he bought-up all the land he did. (even though he did it through shell companies to avoid people catching on and jacking-up the price.)

[K9]

I have to say, the best time to visit disney world is in the days after a tropical storm has passed over Florida. You can walk onto everything as the place is as empty as it'll ever be, and disney world is good fun.

The everglades are dull as shit though

[Merusk]

Here's a tip: If you stay on-site between August 22 and September 29, you get their base meal plan for free.  Saved us $500 on our upcoming trip.

[Oz]

if you've got a rental car there's some cool historic shit within an hour.  I was just in Orlando in April for a conference.  Let me know if you'll have a car and i'll find out the other places we went for you. 

[Oz]

BTW Cadaverine.  I saw in teh politics forum you're in NE.  Where at?  I ask because my wife is from there as well. 

[Tige]

So is this your first trip to Orlando, because it sounds like it.  There's nothing there BUT tourist stuff.  The whole city is as large as it is because of Tourisim and everything is centered around it.  It was a small town in a swamp before Disney bought up all the land. Hell, that's WHY he bought-up all the land he did. (even though he did it through shell companies to avoid people catching on and jacking-up the price.)

Agreed.  

Even when I lived in FL and bitched about all the tourons there's no way around becoming one in Orlando.  In Orlando you either work in the tourist industry or you are a tourist.  

[Cadaverine]

BTW Cadaverine.  I saw in teh politics forum you're in NE.  Where at?  I ask because my wife is from there as well. 

Omaha.

Thanks for all the replies so far.  I have it easy, since I'm going to be staying at a friends place. I can live with being tourist-y.  Plenty of amusement to be had there, I bet.   

[Oz]

Coolbeans, my wife is from Lincoln.  I've got a couple friends living in Omaha right now. 

[Yegolev]

I can't think of any reason to visit central Florida that doesn't involve WDW.  I'll be there for the last week of Sept.

[Merusk]

Hm I'll be there the first.  I'll scrawl F13 in chalk somewhere around the giant golf ball for you to have a chuckle about.  Or to get me arrested by Homeland Security.. we'll see which happens!

[Phildo]

I just moved away from Orlando at the end of May, luck you.  Aside from the resorts there are a few cool bars and night clubs downtown.  The city gets a lot of good bands rotating through.

[Signe]

I heard that Orlando is filled with 10 year olds and 80 year old Jewish couples.  Which one are you?

[schild]

80 year old Jewish couples.

That's North Miami and Aventura. You have your geriatric-centric communities mixed up. 10 year old boys is South Beach, but they call them Twinks. And they're really 25.

[Yegolev]

I've never seen a jew at WDW.  Oh, that wacky Walt.

[Signe]

Geez.  I've never even heard of Aventura!

[Phildo]

There are quite a few large universities in the Orlando area.  I was going to school there.

[Nevermore]

The only two I can think of off-hand are UCF and Rollins.  I guess Full Sail if you really want to stretch the meaning of 'university'.

[Phildo]

I think Valencia is around the same size as Rollins, and Full Sail is now an official University.  Officially.

[Nevermore]

Valencia is still just a 2-year community college though, isn't it?

[Phildo]

What do you have against 2-year community colleges?  Educationist!!!

[schild]

What do you have against 2-year community colleges?  Educationist!!!

They're shitty. That's what.

[Yegolev]

What do you have against 2-year community colleges?  Educationist!!!

I went to one and look at me now.  Seven years of school and not even an Associate's degree.

[Phildo]

Weak sauce.  I managed to get two degrees in 5 and a half years of school, but you've probably done more with your life so far.  Full Sail dumped me on the street corner as soon as I was done paying tuition.

[Yegolev]

It is true that I have done many things.  The interesting ones have little to do with academia, and in fact I find that academia generally inhibits adventure.