Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
12
•
World Showcase restaurants
(Epcot;
&
407/939-3463
): Epcot's World
Showcase is home to Orlando's best col-
lection of theme restaurants in one set-
ting. Dine in Italy, chow down in
China, or watch a belly dancer do her
thing as you eat couscous in Morocco.
You'll have a blast no matter which din-
ing spot you choose. See p. 134.
•
Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant
(Disney's Hollywood Studios;
&
407/
939-3463
): Your table is set inside a
1950s-era convertible, your carhop
(umm . . . waitress) serves you popcorn
as an appetizer, and you can zone out
on sci-fi flicks on a giant movie screen
while you eat. It's an out-of-this-world
experience. See p. 148.
•
50's Prime Time Café
(Disney's Hol-
lywood Studios;
&
407/939-3463
):
Ozzie and Harriet would feel right at
home inside this replica of Mom's
kitchen (ca. 1950), where classic TV
shows play on black-and-white screens.
Servers may threaten to withhold des-
sert (choices include s'mores!) if you
don't finish your meatloaf, so clean that
plate! See p. 147.
•
T-Rex Cafe
(Downtown Disney Mar-
ketplace;
&
407/828-8739
): Set some
million or so years in the past, this pale-
ontologist's playground is waiting to be
explored—especially if you're dining
with the kids. Bubbling geysers, a fossil
dig site, life-sized animatronic dino-
saurs, an hourly meteorite shower, eerily
glowing rooms, and themes of fire and
ice—it's all here. It's definitely one of
the most creative dining spots at Dis-
ney. See p. 159.
1
8
THE BEST PLACES FOR ADULTS
Let's face it: Orlando and the theme-park
zones usually crawl with kids. That's fine if
you have your own in tow, but if you're
looking for some quality adult time (or at
least a place not necessarily swarming with
children), you do have some options.
Some people are incredulous when
informed that Orlando is the honeymoon
capital of the United States, but it happens
to be true; so be assured that there are
activities, hotels, and so on that are geared
to adults here (though, admittedly, avoid-
ing kids altogether is tough). Aside from
the romantic hideaways discussed above,
here are some good bets for adults:
•
Visit Epcot.
Of all the major theme
parks in Orlando, this one, thanks to its
scientific and cultural themes, is the
most adult-oriented of the bunch.
Shop, stroll, and dine your way through
the nations of the World Showcase; take
a behind-the-scenes tour of the park's
horticulture or architecture; or explore
the technological- and scientific-themed
attractions of Future World. Just be sure
to break in your walking shoes before
you arrive! See p. 218.
•
Swim with Dolphins at Discovery
Cove.
It's popular with families, but
thanks to the park's limit on guest entry
(a mere 1,000 people per day), adults
won't get overwhelmed by kids at Sea-
World's sister park. There are plenty of
places to catch rays in relative serenity,
and the dolphin swim's a thrill at any
age. See p. 304.
•
Have a Meal in an Upscale Restau-
rant.
Though it's not a firm rule (espe-
cially inside the theme parks), generally
speaking, the more you pay for dinner,
the more likely it is that you won't
encounter children at your meal. So if
you're looking for a romantic meal, save
up and splurge (and I mean splurge).
Great options in town for a special
dinner include
Victoria & Albert's
(p. 151),
Emeril's
(p. 163),
Tchoup
Chop
(p. 163),
California Grill
(p. 153),
