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OT- First time in Orlando

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OT- First time in Orlando 

Post#1 » by j_n » Sun Nov 4, 2018 9:55 am

So, Im coming to the states (from Israel) around Christmas time and I will finally get to watch my beloved team in person for the first time.

I'm coming with my wife to Orlando from the 25th to the 30th in December and I would love to get some advice from the local posters about attractions, restaurants, hotels, Airbnb etc...

Thanks in advance.
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Re: OT- First time in Orlando 

Post#2 » by NickAnderson » Sun Nov 4, 2018 10:35 am

You’ll probably have a lot of fun at city walk. Check that out for sure
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Re: OT- First time in Orlando 

Post#3 » by Blue_and_Whte » Sun Nov 4, 2018 12:00 pm

j_n wrote:So, Im coming to the states (from Israel) around Christmas time and I will finally get to watch my beloved team in person for the first time.

I'm coming with my wife to Orlando from the 25th to the 30th in December and I would love to get some advice from the local posters about attractions, restaurants, hotels, Airbnb etc...

Thanks in advance.
City Walk has clubs, some shopping and restaurants.

Disney Springs/Downtown Disney is much bigger without the night clubs. More eating and shopping options. A family friendly vibe.

Restaurant Row (Sandlake Road) has a ton of restaurants. Urbain 40 is one of my favorites, its a 40s / Frank Sinatra themed spot live music, good happy hour specials and food.

Rocco's Tacos has a really good ambiance, food is OK imo, but they have a huge tequila Selection.

Agave Azul is my go to for mexican food. Their food is really good imo their margaritas are some of thr best ive had. Its also family owned and imo their food is fresh not just churned out like some of the other places.

International Drive has a bunch of new places I haevnt tried yet but Brickhouse, yardhouse, Maggianos and BB Kings all imo have good food. Bb kings has live music so thats a plus. Thats all ive got for now.

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Re: OT- First time in Orlando 

Post#4 » by j_n » Sun Nov 4, 2018 4:09 pm

Blue_and_Whte wrote:
j_n wrote:So, Im coming to the states (from Israel) around Christmas time and I will finally get to watch my beloved team in person for the first time.

I'm coming with my wife to Orlando from the 25th to the 30th in December and I would love to get some advice from the local posters about attractions, restaurants, hotels, Airbnb etc...

Thanks in advance.
City Walk has clubs, some shopping and restaurants.

Disney Springs/Downtown Disney is much bigger without the night clubs. More eating and shopping options. A family friendly vibe.

Restaurant Row (Sandlake Road) has a ton of restaurants. Urbain 40 is one of my favorites, its a 40s / Frank Sinatra themed spot live music, good happy hour specials and food.

Rocco's Tacos has a really good ambiance, food is OK imo, but they have a huge tequila Selection.

Agave Azul is my go to for mexican food. Their food is really good imo their margaritas are some of thr best ive had. Its also family owned and imo their food is fresh not just churned out like some of the other places.

International Drive has a bunch of new places I haevnt tried yet but Brickhouse, yardhouse, Maggianos and BB Kings all imo have good food. Bb kings has live music so thats a plus. Thats all ive got for now.

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That's great, thanks!

Any recommendations for hotels? Airbnb? Is there an area that's close to most attractions?
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Re: OT- First time in Orlando 

Post#5 » by Blue_and_Whte » Sun Nov 4, 2018 5:37 pm

j_n wrote:
Blue_and_Whte wrote:
j_n wrote:So, Im coming to the states (from Israel) around Christmas time and I will finally get to watch my beloved team in person for the first time.

I'm coming with my wife to Orlando from the 25th to the 30th in December and I would love to get some advice from the local posters about attractions, restaurants, hotels, Airbnb etc...

Thanks in advance.
City Walk has clubs, some shopping and restaurants.

Disney Springs/Downtown Disney is much bigger without the night clubs. More eating and shopping options. A family friendly vibe.

Restaurant Row (Sandlake Road) has a ton of restaurants. Urbain 40 is one of my favorites, its a 40s / Frank Sinatra themed spot live music, good happy hour specials and food.

Rocco's Tacos has a really good ambiance, food is OK imo, but they have a huge tequila Selection.

Agave Azul is my go to for mexican food. Their food is really good imo their margaritas are some of thr best ive had. Its also family owned and imo their food is fresh not just churned out like some of the other places.

International Drive has a bunch of new places I haevnt tried yet but Brickhouse, yardhouse, Maggianos and BB Kings all imo have good food. Bb kings has live music so thats a plus. Thats all ive got for now.

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That's great, thanks!

Any recommendations for hotels? Airbnb? Is there an area that's close to most attractions?
Ive got nothing in terms of air bnb's. For hotels the ones I've had a stay in are Rosen Centre Hotel on International Drive. Ive also stayed at Wyndham Lake Buena Vista which is really close to Disney. Its a nice one at really good prices. However youre coming during the holiday so the prices will be jacked up pretty high



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Re: OT- First time in Orlando 

Post#6 » by OrlandO » Sun Nov 4, 2018 6:12 pm

j_n wrote:
Any recommendations for hotels? Airbnb? Is there an area that's close to most attractions?

International drive North/Universal Studios area is where a ton of restaurants, hotels and smaller attractions are crammed together. It's basically in the middle. Drive 15-20 minutes east on the main highway and you get to downtown orlando where the magic play or 15-20 minutes west on the highway to get to disney world/disney springs (not accounting for high traffic times).

Hotel location should depend on your main plans imo. If you're doing multiple disney days like a lot of people do might be a good idea to stay on site or nearby to get the best experience... otherwise if your schedule is more mixed somewhere near Universal might work out better.
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Re: OT- First time in Orlando 

Post#7 » by bargnanimvp » Sun Nov 4, 2018 8:50 pm

Hope you have a good time, we're planning on making the trip later next year.
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Re: OT- First time in Orlando 

Post#8 » by Viper1500 » Mon Nov 5, 2018 1:12 am

If you come to the U.S. without eating chick fil a, you didn't do it right.
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Re: OT- First time in Orlando 

Post#9 » by WeAreVenom » Mon Nov 5, 2018 1:33 am

Congrats man, I hope you enjoy!

Btw I co-sign with Blue about Agave Azul. Great food, kinda pricey but well worth it.
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Re: OT- First time in Orlando 

Post#10 » by UCF » Mon Nov 5, 2018 3:38 am

Agave Azul is a bit overrated. I’ve had lunch there about 20 times (coworkers request) and its always just an average meal to me.

Black Rooster, hunger street, dumo, prato, osprey tavern, seito, hawkers are all great options in downtown area. Attractions area is mostly chains but there are some great options on sand lake (restaurant row).
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Re: OT- First time in Orlando 

Post#11 » by Blue_and_Whte » Mon Nov 5, 2018 7:49 pm

UCF wrote:Agave Azul is a bit overrated. I’ve had lunch there about 20 times (coworkers request) and its always just an average meal to me.

Black Rooster, hunger street, dumo, prato, osprey tavern, seito, hawkers are all great options in downtown area. Attractions area is mostly chains but there are some great options on sand lake (restaurant row).

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Re: OT- First time in Orlando 

Post#12 » by UCF » Mon Nov 5, 2018 7:57 pm

Okay :lol:

The best Mexican food I’ve found in Florida is in San Antonio. A small place called Pancho’s Villa.
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Re: OT- First time in Orlando 

Post#13 » by magicman112 » Mon Nov 5, 2018 8:43 pm

j_n wrote:
Blue_and_Whte wrote:
j_n wrote:So, Im coming to the states (from Israel) around Christmas time and I will finally get to watch my beloved team in person for the first time.

I'm coming with my wife to Orlando from the 25th to the 30th in December and I would love to get some advice from the local posters about attractions, restaurants, hotels, Airbnb etc...

Thanks in advance.
City Walk has clubs, some shopping and restaurants.

Disney Springs/Downtown Disney is much bigger without the night clubs. More eating and shopping options. A family friendly vibe.

Restaurant Row (Sandlake Road) has a ton of restaurants. Urbain 40 is one of my favorites, its a 40s / Frank Sinatra themed spot live music, good happy hour specials and food.

Rocco's Tacos has a really good ambiance, food is OK imo, but they have a huge tequila Selection.

Agave Azul is my go to for mexican food. Their food is really good imo their margaritas are some of thr best ive had. Its also family owned and imo their food is fresh not just churned out like some of the other places.

International Drive has a bunch of new places I haevnt tried yet but Brickhouse, yardhouse, Maggianos and BB Kings all imo have good food. Bb kings has live music so thats a plus. Thats all ive got for now.

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That's great, thanks!

Any recommendations for hotels? Airbnb? Is there an area that's close to most attractions?


Orlando is 2nd only to Vegas in hotel rooms so you're in luck there. Depends on where you are going to be doing things. If you're going to be mostly at Disney the hotels on site are more expensive but the convenience of being right on the property is worth it always buses and monorails running to anywhere you would want to go. And there's plenty of hotels off site in the Lake Buena Vista and Kissimmee area that are close by. Same goes for Universal my parents come to stay there for Christmas and they enjoy being right there the Portofino Bay is nice there's a great Italian restaurant there called Mama Della's they have singers that walk around the tables even. Universal is a bit closer to the Amway Center but it's easy to get to you'd just take I-4 east and it's right off of I-4 to the left as you come into downtown you can't miss it.
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Re: OT- First time in Orlando 

Post#14 » by Blue_and_Whte » Mon Nov 5, 2018 11:08 pm

UCF wrote:Okay :lol:

The best Mexican food I’ve found in Florida is in San Antonio. A small place called Pancho’s Villa.

I’m not a huge hawkers fan for some reason.
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Re: OT- First time in Orlando 

Post#15 » by j_n » Wed Nov 7, 2018 6:31 am

Thanks a lot everyone, its all very helpful, I'll be sure to settle the debate regarding Agave Azul.

can't wait to see Orlando
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Re: OT- First time in Orlando 

Post#16 » by j_n » Wed Dec 26, 2018 5:24 pm

So a little update, I'm here in Orlando and I got to say this is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen, everyone is really friendly and the weather is perfect, me and my wife are coming to watch the suns game tonight.

One last request, and this one is probably better if you can pm me, but it would be very helpful if someone can direct me to a place /guy that sells something to smoke in Orlando, preferably around amway but any suggestion will be welcome.

Also, again, thanks everyone for the help, so far we're really loving Orlando.
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Re: OT- First time in Orlando 

Post#17 » by BadMofoPimp » Wed Dec 26, 2018 6:33 pm

j_n wrote:So a little update, I'm here in Orlando and I got to say this is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen, everyone is really friendly and the weather is perfect, me and my wife are coming to watch the suns game tonight.

One last request, and this one is probably better if you can pm me, but it would be very helpful if someone can direct me to a place /guy that sells something to smoke in Orlando, preferably around amway but any suggestion will be welcome.

Also, again, thanks everyone for the help, so far we're really loving Orlando.


LOL. Always thought you were some undercover Law Enforcement Agent!
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Re: OT- First time in Orlando 

Post#18 » by nymets1 » Wed Dec 26, 2018 6:59 pm

j_n wrote:So, Im coming to the states (from Israel) around Christmas time and I will finally get to watch my beloved team in person for the first time.

I'm coming with my wife to Orlando from the 25th to the 30th in December and I would love to get some advice from the local posters about attractions, restaurants, hotels, Airbnb etc...

Thanks in advance.


If you like the beach, you should get a wetsuit and bodysurf. Also the attractions( Busch Gardens, Seaworld, etc).
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Re: OT- First time in Orlando 

Post#19 » by j_n » Wed Dec 26, 2018 10:32 pm

BadMofoPimp wrote:
j_n wrote:So a little update, I'm here in Orlando and I got to say this is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen, everyone is really friendly and the weather is perfect, me and my wife are coming to watch the suns game tonight.

One last request, and this one is probably better if you can pm me, but it would be very helpful if someone can direct me to a place /guy that sells something to smoke in Orlando, preferably around amway but any suggestion will be welcome.

Also, again, thanks everyone for the help, so far we're really loving Orlando.


LOL. Always thought you were some undercover Law Enforcement Agent!

:lol: j_n gonna prove yall wrong!!!
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Re: OT- First time in Orlando 

Post#20 » by Blue_and_Whte » Thu Dec 27, 2018 6:32 pm

j_n wrote:Thanks a lot everyone, its all very helpful, I'll be sure to settle the debate regarding Agave Azul.

can't wait to see Orlando

Did this ever happen? :lol:












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