[libade]

We'll be staying on 192 for most of our upcoming trip, and have a few days dedicated to hanging at the resort.

Are there any restaurants that I must try?

Also, I'm thinking of getting the entertainment book - is it worth it?

Thanks!

[Park Hopper]

That's a hard question to answer without knowing more about your preferences in restaurants and your budgetary concerns. If you're really a restaurant hound, though, Emeril's at Universal CityWalk is a must. If you're a steak lover, Shula's Steak House in the Dolphin Hotel is incomparable. I realize it's on WDW property, but it's not a Disney restaurant. And if it's seafood you crave, the best restaurant in town is Blackfin in the Winter Park Village shopping area in Winter Park.

Just holler if you want more recommendations for other types of cuisines.

[libade]

Thanks for answering. Budget is always a concern, so I am thinking of getting the Orlando area Entertainment book. So far, we are doing
dinner in Norway
Chef Mickeys
CRT
O'Hana or Whispering Canyon
Mamma Melrose

I love chain restaurants like Outback, Applebees, Chili's, but DH prefers otherwise!

We have 2 girls (6 & 8), so kid friendly would be important.

I'll look into the ones you mentioned - especially the steak house. DH LOVES a good prime rib!

We'll be in a condo, so I will be able to make some dinners there, but I would think the majority of our meals will be at restaurants.

Thanks for your help!

[Park Hopper]

Originally Posted by libade

I love chain restaurants like Outback, Applebees, Chili's, but DH prefers otherwise!

We have 2 girls (6 & 8), so kid friendly would be important.

If you like kid-friendly chains, I would recommend Bahama Breeze. It's a Darden (Red Lobster, Olive Garden, etc.) chain, but a very large cut above the other two. There are three locations in the Orlando area, one of them just a few miles from Downtown Disney on Vineland Avenue. You can get the menu and directions from the Web site.

[CaribBeachNut]

Orlando Chamber of Commerce will give you an Orlando Magic Card, which is good for 3% off of a lot of the activities/restaurants outside of Disney. The card is free from the Orlando Chamber of Commerce web site.
Also, if you go out the back entrance to WDW, past the onsite non Disney hotels, and turn left and then turn left again at the next light, there are a bunch of nice restaurants. Tony Roma's Ribs is there, and next to it is a very good Chinese Buffet with a chef that will cook specialites right then for you. We always go there - my daughter's favorite. Tony Roma's has a special night with special plates very inexpensive. (two years ago it was ribs and sausage for $9.95) but I think the prices have gone up. There is also a place out on 192(?) with a very prominent bungy ride. They have custom car shows every Friday night. There is a pizza joint in there with very good NY style pizza. I don't know if these are "musts", but they help us survive when we just don't feel like "Disney food".
There is also an all you can eat lobster fest restaurant. I don't remember it's name, it may be Boston Lobster Fest(?). It is all you can eat lobster. I would say this restaurant is medium. The lobsters are small (1-1/4 pound) and not the best. But it IS all you can eat lobster. My son at 11 lobsters when we went there. So it is worth the money. But in all, I would say the best food is Disney and probably within Epcot's world showcase.

[Kippage]

There's Ponderosa, not really 'a MUST', but it's good food, wait staff, and very kid friendly. There's a few of them in Orlando. Buffet style (but you pick the main dish at arrival). Good steaks, dessert buffet, fruit bar, etc. I personally like it and we always go back when we're in town.
http://www.orlando-ponderosa.com/

[Soundgod]

Avoid at all costs the Boston Lobster Feast, it's just not worth a side trip, of course there's a Bahama Breeze next door. Either Emeril's restaraunt is a must do for me. There is the one at CityWalk and a second in the Royal Pacific with a South Pacific/Asian themed menu. If you're at CityWalk, check out Maragittaville as well as NBA City, they aren't don't miss, but they are good. The Palm at the Hard Rock Hotel is a good place for steaks, except it's pricey. There's a Japanese restaraunt on I-Drive called Ran-Getsu that's really good as well. Landry's Seafood just outside WDW on the other side of I-4 and the main gate.

[Pooh Fan]

I too was going to suggest Margaritaville and NBA City. My DD who was 10 on our last trip and DS who was 5 both loved these restaurants. The food was good, and we enjoyed the atmosphere and it wasn't very expensive either.