(according to Citysearch)

1. Orange Blossom Balloons
7980 W Irlo Bronson Hwy, Kissimmee, FL
Ride the wind on spectacular one-hour sunrise ride over the theme parks and resorts which ends with a champagne breakfast.

2.Norman's
4000 Central Florida Pkwy, Orlando, FL
Taste Grand Marnier-marinated foie gras and more artful cuisine by Norman Van Aken at one of the region's top restaurants.

3.Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex
SR 405, Kennedy Space Center, FL
Count down with the crowd, hear the roar and witness an historic shuttle launch (or routine night rocket launch--even brighter and just as noisy).

4.La Coquina
1 Grand Cypress Blvd, Orlando, FL
Get romantic and dine on fine cuisine as you gaze through floor-to-ceiling windows facing beautiful Lake Windsong.

5.Magic Kingdom
311 World Drive, Bay Lake, FL
Catch the 11pm show near Splash Mountain and watch the bright electric-lit floats and costumed characters pass from close-up.

6.Arabian Nights
6225 W Irlo Bronson Memorial Hwy, Kissimmee, FL
Banquet medieval-style inside the world's largest indoor equestrian arena and enjoy a spectacular and romantic show featuring 50 horses and daring stunts.

7.Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge
2901 Osceola Pkwy, Orlando, FL
The late-afternoon feeding is the best time for viewing the roaming zebras, giraffes, wildebeests, and exotic birds from outdoor balconies around the hotel. You don't need to be a guest and the parking is free.

8.The Social
54 N Orange Ave, Orlando, FL
Escape the tourist traps and corporate culture to see a live, loud, up-and-coming underground band at this downtown music venue.

9.Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
4401 Grand Floridian Wy, Lake Buena Vista, FL
Stay in style at this turn-of-the-century resort with a private beach and lagoon, and a dazzling view of the Magic Kingdom and nightly fireworks.

10.Old Hickory Steakhouse
6000 W Osceola Pkwy, Kissimmee, FL
Dine on buffalo steak amid an atmosphere that recalls historic Florida.

(according to Citysearch)

I have been living in Orlando since 2003 and if I were to tell my best friend to come visit, here are the Top 10 things I would tell him to do:

#10.Beaches (Cocoa, Daytona, Clearwater)

#9. International Drive & 192 Kissimmee

#8. Gatorland and Cypress Gardens and Wet 'n' Wild

#7. Kennedy Space Center

#6. Disney's Downtown Disney & Universal Studios' City Walk and EPCOT's Boardwalk.

#5. Do the side venues (Hollyland Experience, Titanic the Exhibit, Wonder Works, Mini Golf).

#4. See a show (Cirque du Soleil, Blue Men Group, House of Blues, Pirates Dinner Theater, Arabian Nights)

#3. Go Outlet and retail shopping.

#2. Do the parks. (Universal Studios/Islands of Adventure, Sea World/Discovery Cove, Walt Disney's EPCOT/Hollywood Studios/Animal Kingdom).


and last but not least...



#1. Go see Mickey at Magic Kingdom.
:cool:

*Remember to wear comfortable shoes and stay hydrated!

# 11. Visit nearby City of Winter Park
Winter Park was founded as a resort destination by wealthy New England Industrialists before the turn of the 20th century. It is recognized as the first centrally planned community in Florida; its main street includes not only public civic buildings and retail, but also art galleries, a private liberal arts college, museums, a park, a train station, a golf course country club, a historic cemetery, and a beach and boat launch. Winter Park is celebrated for a sense of place and history, uncommon to many parts of Central Florida. Many structures are more than 100 years old. The scenic "olde Winter Park" area is punctuated by small, winding brick streets, and a canopy of old Southern Live Oak and Camphor trees, draped with Spanish Moss. The city draws thousands of visitors to annual festivals including the Bach Festival, the nationally ranked Sidewalk Art Festival, and the Winter Park Concours d'Elegance.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winter_Park,_Florida

I second the above post. A friend and I went walking through Winter Park earlier this week and it's a beautiful area (particulary around the Park Ave. section). Lots of places to shop, get something to eat, or just chill on a bench and people-watch.

Slip quietly into a coma soon enough to miss some of the already suggested adventures and to avoid exposure to the cultural theme of the metroplis....

Monumental excess doesn't really conceal an epidemic of random bad taste!"

I'm waiting on the Harry Potter attraction at Universal Studios myself.

As for my favorite shopping place, I will take the Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World at the North end of International Drive.

Slip quietly into a coma soon enough to miss some of the already suggested adventures and to avoid exposure to the cultural theme of the metroplis....

Monumental excess doesn't really conceal an epidemic of random bad taste!"

ROTFLMAO! I saw this on the home page of FT and thought "I'd rather die than return to Orlando." Isn't that place a large hospice? :D

10. Drive back to the airport
9. Buy plane ticket going ANYWHERE
8. Clear the mess that is security
7. Hide in airline lounge until boarding time
6. Board plane
5-1. Celebrate making it out alive

My general opinion is to avoid Orlando, but if one must go there,(and I must occasionally on business and to take friends or kids to area attractions),I'd have to say my list would be:
1.Gatorland, one of the old Florida attractions
2.I-Drive if you're into shops,exhibits or tourist related things, too many to list
3.Cirque de Soleil
4.IMAX on I Drive, makes any movie so much better!
5. Grab something at Pollo Tropical, cuban style chicken(Pollo!) and great sides like plantains and more.
6.Winter Park is nice , yes
7.Disney/Adventure Island,Universal/City Walk
8. Whataburger, for a burger place it's pretty good, as is Steak and Shake also, a real shake still made there
9.Visit a real orange grove and get fresh juice or real oranges(not like your grocer has back home at all,real oranges as they are)
10.Several good Sunday brunches at area hotels
Seriously , many, many things to do, more than can be listed here.A few trips and you'll find something new every time.

Boy, I sure am glad all you grumpy snobs avoid Orlando so that the rest of us can enjoy it. I guess all the people who make it the world's #1 vacation destination year after year are really gullible and low-brow, huh?

Wow. here's a lot more to Orlando than Theme Parks. You just have to stop cursing the commercial aspects and start exploring. Here's some things to add to the list:

1. Enjoy an outdoor concert at the Ampitheater in Downtown Orlando

2. Stroll around Thorton Park and rent a Swan Boat on Lake Eola

3. Explore Orlando’s many small parks. I suggest Dickson’s Azalea Park/Fern Creek

4. See the Eagles, Falcons and Owls at Audubon’s Birds of Prey sanctuary

5. Stroll the shops and cruise the canals in Winter Park

6. Check out the Tiffany glass at the Morse Museum while you are there

7. Take an Airboat Ride on Boggy Creek

8. Shop for orchids at a world of Orchids in Kissimmee

9. Take a drive to see the manatees at Blue Springs State Park

10. Enjoy soup and a sandwich with your favorite wine at Press101 in Dr. Phillips, and top it off with desert at the Desert Lady

Boy, I sure am glad all you grumpy snobs avoid Orlando so that the rest of us can enjoy it. I guess all the people who make it the world's #1 vacation destination year after year are really gullible and low-brow, huh?

I agree. Orlando is a nice clean town. Lots to see and do. Lots to buy, a shoppers paradise. And the hotels have reasonable prices.^

....cruise the canals in Winter Park....

Canals? I have seen only a lake near Rollins College!?! But other than this ... it's a nice village

Then you didn't take the boat ride! The lakes around Winter Park are all connected by these little canals. They are not too much wider than a pontoon boat, but they are very scenic. If you use Google earth they have a few pictures on them.

A couple other waterways I want to see is the Mt Dora canal (which I heard is beautiful!) and Wekeiva Springs.

Then you didn't take the boat ride!...

Correct, I did not! Thanks, I'll check it out ....^

me and the wife and the little monkeys :D(10 & 8) are going to ORLANDO in november for 11days before heading onwards to CANCUN for a wedding.Our TEN places we are visiting are:

1, Magic Kingdom
2, Seaworld
3, Aquatica
4, Busch Gardens (I know its NOT Orlando But near enough)
5, Blizzard Beach
6, Islands of Adventure
7, Animal Kingdom
8, Disney Studios:
9, Typhoon Lagoon
10, Not forgetting International Drive, to get some clothes half the price of rip off Britain!!:D

We last went in 2001 just after 9/11, and we cant wait to go back.:D

In 11 days? I suppose you could, but would you want to? That's a lot to bite off, especially if you are going to cruise over to Tampa for Busch Gardens. I can spend a week at the 4 Disney parks alone!

AND I'M SINGLE!

*edit*
I meant that I didn't have to cope with a couple of kids as well, not as a plea.

Please include me out of the "snobs' designation, I am a native Floridian and avoid it due to the traffic and congestion, but still am glad to visit and take friends and children there.I recommend what we call "Real Florida" to those who visit also, short drive Florida State Parks and other beautiful places to see.