Hi, me and my girlfriend are going to Orlando in two weeks and cannot wait! We%26#39;re planning on staying at the Quality Inn Plaza and was wondering what the best restaurants are around there? I%26#39;ve read that there are loads round the north part of I-Drive and don%26#39;t mind going there, but also would like ones near our hotel. Whats the best place for a buffet breakfast?
Also, is it a common thing in orlando to get vouchers for cheaper meals? For instance, here in the UK we can print off vouchers off the internet for loads of restaurants for buy one get a meal free etc. Any good websites for orlando vouchers?
Many Thanks
Alex
restaurants in International DriveMore choices than you can imagine in easy walking distance, and more still a short bus ride away.
Breakfast buffet - try Sizzler right outside.
Dinner - across at Pointe Orlando there are many good choices. I like Red Rock Canyon Grille. And close by, for outstanding value is the italian-style Olive Garden.
Take the bus down to Premium Outlets and go to Outback (Australian-themed steaks and grills - also excellent value).
Plus the obvious TGIFridays and loads of others.
Whilst I don%26#39;t recommend it as a means of transport (it%26#39;s route is too limited and there is a much broader alternative) the I-Ride trolley route map has a list of and approximate locations of, some of your choices:
http://www.iridetrolley.com/pdf/marker.pdf
restaurants in International DriveTry Red Lobster just north of Wet n Wild, I love their cheesy biscuits and the ceasar salad! Plus if you love seafood you%26#39;ll be spoilt for choice. There are meals for people who don%26#39;t want seafood either that are very good, and all reasonably priced.
Try the IHOP for breakfast, that will probably fill you up till dinner time! haha!
Also you have to try the Cheesecake factory (if you can get there) in the Millenia Mall, their cheesecakes are to die for!
Search on here for it and others and you%26#39;ll get an idea of what%26#39;s good and what%26#39;s not so good. There is a list of restaurants which you can check through as they%26#39;ve all had reviews in here.
excellent, I shall have to try all of those! Regarding transport, we%26#39;re not getting a rental car so would you recommend using lynx over other bus services?
Hi
Don%26#39;t know where it is in relation to your hotel but I would recommend Sweet Tomatoes. Buffet service with lots of salads which makes a welcome alternative. There are also lots of coupon booklets about in most shops which give discounts on eateries and attractions.
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Hi ADringer,
Welcome to Trip Advisor!
We%26#39;re at the Quality Inn Plaza right now! We weren%26#39;t up in time for breakfast I%26#39;m afraid but in a few minutes we%26#39;re going to head out to Cafe Tu Tu Tango for lunch. Bahama Breeze is planned for dinner tonight. I%26#39;ll let you know how it goes.
Jennifer
Hi - you can get loads of voucher books when you get there - they are everywhere.
Also try www.orlandocoupons.com
Have a great time.
re ';would you recommend using lynx over other bus services';
There are only two to choose from; one only serves I-Drive itself so is very limited; that%26#39;s the I-Ride trolley.
The other is LYNX, which you can use to get pretty much anywhere you might want to go. And here is how:
***** LYNX BUS ROUTES ON INTERNATIONAL DRIVE *****
From anywhere on I-Drive between Premium Outlets and Prime Outlets to:
- Universal - 8 or 42 to a stop two lights North/East of WetNWild (look out for the Sheraton Hotel - distinctive cylindrical building with a wire-frame globe on top) at the intersection of I-Drive and Grand National Drive; If coming from the south (most hotels are south of this point) you%26#39;ll need to cross the street. Take 37 going West/South every 30 minutes (hourly at weekends)(destination - Park Promenade).
- Sea World, Aquatica and Discovery Cove - bus 8 (frequent) from a stop on I-Drive.
- Disney Parks (option 1) - bus 8 to any one of three or four stops near Sea World, then transfer to bus 50 express to Disney%26#39;s Transportation %26amp; Ticket Center. Use Disney%26#39;s free bus/boat/monorail to the parks.
- Disney Parks (option 2) - bus 8 or 42 to Canadian Court (adjacent to the southern end of the Convention Center). If coming from the north, you%26#39;ll need to cross over I-Drive. Go into the mini-interchange in Canadian Court and take bus 111 (hourly) to the Transportation %26amp; Ticket Center. Use Disney%26#39;s free bus/boat/monorail to the parks.
(I mention both of these mainly for coming back; you can get on 50 (destination DownTown Orlando) or 111 (destination Airport) - whichever comes first - but note that if using 111 you have to walk out of the mini-interchange and onto I-Drive for your connections.)
- DownTown Disney - buses 50 and 111 both call there en route to/from the transportation %26amp; ticket center.
You can also go by LYNX to
- Premium Outlets - 8 or 42 south
- Prime Outlets - 8 or 42 north
- Florida Mall - 42 north from anywhere on I-Drive **or** 111 from Canadian Court interchange (runs once per hour but may be a lot quicker than the 42).
- Orlando International Airport - 42 north from anywhere on I-Drive **or** 111 from Canadian Court interchange (runs once per hour but may be a lot quicker than the 42).
- Millenia Mall - 8 or 42 north to Prime then 24 (hourly) to Millenia. Note the last 24 going back towards I-Drive from Millenia is at 6.18pm Mon-Sat and 5.48pm Sun. If you are later than this, you%26#39;ll need to use a cab. To minimise cost, you could take a cab back to Prime and then go the rest of the way by bus.
- US192 in Kissimmee (e.g. for Old Town, Celebration) - travel to Disney%26#39;s Transportation %26amp; Ticket Center using either method above and then get LYNX 56 every 30 minutes to US192.
- WALMART - The easiest store to get to by bus is on John Young Parkway. You need to be on bus 37. This service stops at just one stop on I-Drive, and that%26#39;s two traffic lights north/east of WetNWild at the intersection with Grand National Drive (opposite-ish the Sheraton Studio City hotel, which is a distinctive cylindrical building with a wire-frame globe on top). If necessary, take an 8 or 42 to get to this stop. Catch the 37 as it goes in the north/east direction (so, if you are coming from the south, stay at the same stop). After going through a residential area, the bus ends up going East on Sand Lake Rd. It turns south onto John Young Parkway and passes the front of the store, before turning left past some modern offices and then stopping at the rear of the store. This is where to get off. Ask the driver if necessary. And get the bus back from the same stop. 37 is every 30 minutes weekdays; hourly on Sat and Sun. Note also that this location is fairly close (but not walkable) to the Florida Mall, which is where the 37 bus is going. If visiting both, you might care to consider combining the two into one outing.
etc............
- Busch Gardens - you%26#39;ll need the Busch Gardens shuttle express which picks up at three places in the area - at ';Gooding%26#39;s Plaza'; (this is in the parking lot adjacent to Ripley%26#39;s Believe It Or Not and Charley%26#39;s Steakhouse, half a block to the south of Sand Lake Rd; I understand that Goodings has closed so the name may change at some point); at Premium Outlets, and at Sea World. (There may be other points, too). This is a once-per-day scheduled service, but you need to book in advance by phone to be sure of getting a seat. The price is very low and it%26#39;s free for holders of certain multi-park admission tickets (e.g. the type of Orlando FlexTicket which includes Busch). This service is not part of LYNX, but you can, of course, use LYNX to get to the pickup point if necessary. More details and online bookings here https:/鈥uschGardens.asp
Obviously, if you are starting out close to a transfer point (e.g. if you are at the Sheraton Studio City, then you are already close to the 37 stop) you%26#39;d walk rather than taking the first bus detailed above.
***** LYNX TIMETABLES *****
Download timetables for all these and other LYNX services at
http://www.golynx.com/?fuse=cstm%26amp;app=route
(home page http://www.golynx.com)
***** LYNX TICKETS *****
LYNX costs:
$2 each person one-way regardless of distance. Transferring buses (eg from 8 to 50 at Sea World for Disney) is at no extra cost so long as you ask for a transfer ticket when you board and pay.
or
$4.50 for an all-day ticket (if you are going to make %26gt;2 one-way trips in a day)
You can buy one-way fare and one-day passes from the driver. No change given.
%26gt;%26gt;%26gt; For best value and convenience %26lt;%26lt;%26lt;
$16 for a week%26#39;s unlimited use. Buy in advance from the Official Visitor Center 1/2 a block north of Bahama Breeze on I-Drive, set at the back of a parking lot and indicated by an orange, yellow and black ';i'; sign. I understand, also, that you can pre-purchase passes on the website https://www.golynx.com/?fuse=shop%26amp;app=store and they will mail to overseas addresses (pick the $16 7 day pass). In any case, passes are validated on the bus the first time of use and the period of validity starts then.
***** FINALLY *****
All the services I have mentioned above have a weekday daytime frequency of every 30 minutes or better except where stated and run every day of the week, including holidays. Most also run well into the evening. The last 50 out of Disney, for example, is at midnight every day. But do study the schedules for precise timings to minimise waiting and note that the number 8 bus stops running earlier in the evening on Sundays and you%26#39;d also miss the last 8 if you leave Disney later than 11 on a Saturday. 8%26#39;s are also less frequent later on than in the daytime. So take care if you are returning from Disney late on, esp. on a Sunday.
Once you have LYNX passes, you won%26#39;t also need I-Ride passes. On the odd occasion that you do feel the need to ride the trolley, I suggest you just pay cash fare. LYNX stops in pretty much all the same places as the I-Ride, so you can use LYNX for any trips you would otherwise use the I-Ride main line for.
LYNX services on I-Drive run until the small hours of the morning (earlier at weekends). They do get less frequent later on, so do take copies of the schedules with you.
I would also emphasise that LYNX bus drivers are helpful, patient and co-operative for the most part and will answer questions and give guidance. You will quickly get the hang of it.
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