The Kiss Goodbye is the last episode of The Orlando Local Show. After some deliberation, we decided to end the show and concentrate on some other efforts. Thank you to everyone who listened, subscribed and commented on our shows. We truly appreciate you! The post OL 068 – The Kiss Goodbye appeared first on Orlando Local. © Copyright 2017 by Orlando…

We updated our Top Ten Orlando Restaurants for 2018. Aimed primarily at visitors, this list includes mostly restaurants in predominantly visitor areas for easy access. We also included one local restaurant outside of those areas because it's just so good and we haven't found anything like it replicated elsewhere. The post OL 067: Our Top Ten Orland…

Seminole County Public Schools (SCPS) has a great track record. In 2017, the district ranked 1st place out of all Central Florida Schools, and it's 3rd graders ranked 1st of the 17 largest districts in the state of Florida Yet the schools seem to have some incredibly stupid rules and practices. We wanted to share some of our experiences from a pare…

A Day at Epcot as a Local Family - What's it Like? Our family spent a day at Epcot last weekend. Perhaps one of the things we hear most often from die-hard Disney fans who visit Orlando often is about how great it must be to live here and go to Walt Disney World anytime you want. Well, think of this episode like the old Mythbusters show The reality…

Christmas season at Walt Disney World is a fun time to visit, but it's not without some caution. Christmas is one of the busiest and most expensive times to visit the parks and resorts. We can help you know when to get some of the holiday fun without breaking the bank. The post OL 064: What to Expect for Christmas Season at Walt Disney World appear…

Now that Walt Disney World resorts allow dogs in rooms, the Internet seems to be in mass hysteria. Some people are elated while others have dire predictions. How will this impact your Disney World vacation? Why Would Walt Disney World Resorts Allow Dogs in Rooms Quite simply, it's a business decision. Other hotels and resorts have dog-friendly poli…

This is a replay of a previous episode. We Address Some Orlando Myths and Misconceptions Is IHOP really the best place for breakfast? Should you spend part of your vacation in Orlando shopping at Walmart? Are there secret police waiting to arrest jaywalkers on International Drive? While my answer would be No to all of these questions, I discovered …

The Adult side of Walt Disney World provides some entertainment and activities primarily for adults. There's nothing wrong with taking some time away from the kids, as long as you made sure they're covered. We'll discuss some reasons why you may want to consider some adult time at Walt Disney World. The post OL 062: The Adult Side of Walt Disney Wo…

The Winter Park Fish Company is an informal shack with some of the best seafood you'll ever taste. There aren't many tables. It doesn't have enough parking. It's not even inexpensive. However, find out why locals are flocking to this little fish house on a regular basis to get some of the most delicious seafood you can find. The post OL 061: Winter…

Keke's Breakfast Cafe is one of the better breakfast restaurants in Orlando. We mentioned them in our roundup of restaurants in episode 14 of The Orlando Local Show. We decided it deserves a full review of by itself. While nothing is perfect, we found that Keke's generally offers a good breakfast and is a better option than visiting the usual IHOP …

Hurricane Irma hit some areas of Orlando harder than others. However, impact isn't the entire story. We'll let you know how people acted and reacted before, during and after the storm in our Hurricane Irma review. The post OL 059: Hurricane Irma Review appeared first on Orlando Local. © Copyright 2017 by Orlando Local.…

Going on vacation to Orlando brings new challenges that you may not face in every day life. You do different things. It's likely that you dress differently. New environments can cause stress that you normally won't encounter. That's why we have three travel accessories to recommend for your next Orlando vacation. The post OL 058: 3 Travel Accessori…

Use Our 10 Tips for the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival to Get the Most Out of Your Experience Every year when I visit the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival, one thing keeps coming to mind. This is Disney's way of getting people to visit during a time when nobody really wants to go on vacation in Orlando. Kids are back to school…

Labor Day in Orlando: The Slowest Holiday of the Year Labor Day in Orlando is a pretty slow period of the year for visitors. Kids are back in school and most people don't plan a family vacation right after school starts. Even the locals aren't spending much time in theme parks or other locations. If they do, it's likely on the Saturday before Labor…

Learn How to Choose a Camera for Vacation Photos I know what you're thinking. Why do I need to choose a camera for vacation photos? I have a smart phone and it's always with me. Trust me, I get it. Smart phones, particularly iPhones, take some really great photos these days. We love them and use ours every time we visit the parks. Since they're onl…

Does Constant Construction at Walt Disney World Cause You to Rethink Your Vacation Plans? Over the past few years, it seems as is the construction at Walt Disney World will never end. The construction walls and scrims at every park and Disney Springs can have a serious impact on your vacation experience. It turns out that attendance is down because…

Just How Do You Choose a Walt Disney World Resort Hotel for Your Next Visit? Perhaps one of the most important decisions of any vacation, just where do you want to stay? If you are thinking about staying on site at Walt Disney World, this episode will help you understand: * Why staying on-site at Walt Disney World is a good decision * Help you unde…

Extra Magic Hours: Sometimes Great and Sometimes a Waste of Time Extra Magic Hours (EMH) at Walt Disney World are perks for resort guests. Essentially, you get more time in a Walt Disney World park than guests who aren't staying at one of the Disney hotels on property. You don't get Extra Magic Hours in every park or on every day. The schedule chan…

We Ignore All the Rides at Magic Kingdom The world is full of rules. Most people tell you that you can't enjoy yourself at Walt Disney World unless you plan ever nanosecond of your visit. In fact, there's an industry of planners, schedules and tools just to micro-manage your Walt Disney World vacation so you can squeeze every last drop of experienc…

Choosing a Snowbird Home in Orlando We received an email from a reader who asked for our advice in choosing a snowbird home in Orlando. Visiting Walt Disney World was part of her concern, and she's fine with being up to an hour's drive away from the parks. As it happens, we live roughly an hour's drive away from the parks. That has a huge impact on…

Have Fun at Walt Disney World Without Park Admission There's much more to Walt Disney World than its world class theme parks and water parks. Let us show you how to have a good time without ever setting foot into a theme park. You can experience almost anything, from dining, shopping, entertainment, water sports, spa days and more. Everything we me…

This is Why Our Toothsome Chocolate Emporium Review Will Make You Cry Our Toothsome Chocolate Emporium Review actually started with a request from a reader. It was a simple question, really. He wanted to know who makes Orlando's Best Milkshake. There are a few places in town that are creating really over the top milkshakes in the style of Black Tap…

Cuba Libre Restaurant has Great Cuban Food and Friendly Service Lee and I visited Cuba Libre Restaurant at Pointe Orlando for our anniversary and it was fantastic. I've been a few times, but it was Lee's first visit. Cuba Libre is a great escape from burgers and fries or pizza. The dishes are well-prepared and delicious. I'm as much of a picky eate…

Here's Where to Buy Groceries for Your Orlando Vacation Buying groceries may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you plan your Orlando vacation, but we think it may be a good idea for a lot of visitors. After a few days of eating restaurant food or paying for over-priced snacks in the hotels & parks, you may want the simple comfort of ha…

Our Story: How Orlando Local Got Started We owe this episode to a reader email from Trish. She asked how Lee and William met, and we included that in the story of how Orlando Local got started. First, thanks to Trish for asking. Her email put a big smile on our face. We think it makes sense that you know more about us and why we're working to provi…

Discover Three New Things in Orlando This Week We recorded this show over the Memorial Day weekend and really had a great time. There are some new attractions in town to go with some incredibly hot weather, making three new things in Orlando. We'll start with Pandora: The World of Avatar and tell you what to expect. The post OL 044: Three New Thing…

Oh, Pandora: The World of Avatar. We had a first look at you during the Annual Passholder Preview. Some things worked. Some things didn't. We spoke with some other guests and recorded their thoughts to go along with ours so you can know what to expect at Pandora - beyond the long lines of any new land in Walt Disney World. The post OL 043: Pandora …

Our Tommy Bahama Restaurant Review Tommy Bahama Restaurant at Point Orlando on International Drive is one of Orlando's gems. It's an upscale restaurant with a casual, tropical atmosphere that consistently delivers excellent food and great service. We visit Tommy Bahama's Restaurant about 3 or 4 times per year. The tropical atmosphere is relaxing an…

We Address Some Orlando Myths and Misconceptions Is IHOP really the best place for breakfast? Should you spend part of your vacation in Orlando shopping at Walmart? Are there secret police waiting to arrest jaywalkers on International Drive? While my answer would be No to all of these questions, I discovered that a large number of International vis…

Sweet by Holly Review: Which Cupcake Flavor are You? It may sounds predictable, but I'm a Red Velvet. There are many flavors to love at Sweet by Holly, but I always have to get the Red Velvet cupcake on every visit. Holly is a Three-Time winner of Cupcake Wars, and she opened her first shop here in Orlando. We'll tell you what we like about these w…

New Disney Parks Security Changes Are a Hit with Us! The Disney Parks security changes are really streamlining entry into the Magic Kingdom. The old system in required all guests to pass through security in the same area, which could lead to some delays and bad experiences just before entering the park. While we think the Disney Security cast membe…

REPLAY: Our Top 9 Restaurants in Walt Disney World Thanks for listening to The Orlando Local Show. Our family enjoyed a nice Easter break, but that put a dent in our podcast production schedule. So I called an audible and decided to re-broadcast our episode about our top 9 restaurants at Walt Disney World. You can find the original show notes on th…

The Top 6 Orlando Running Races If you're looking for some races in Orlando, besides the RunDisney races, we have some outstanding picks for you. These races are all less expensive and less crowded than the RunDisney races. If you want to see Orlando and Central Florida instead of a theme park, we hope you'll enjoy some of these events. The post OL…

The Return of Star Wars Celebration Orlando After wandering the galaxy for five years, Star Wars Celebration is back in Orlando. Star Wars Celebration Orlando is the ultimate Star Wars fan festival. Filled with passionate fans who dress as their favorite characters and geek out over four days, this conference truly lives up to its name The Star War…

Disney Springs: Dining, Shopping and Entertainment Disney Springs is a sprawling complex in Walt Disney World filled with dining, shopping and entertainment. You can get away from the stress of the parks to relax over a meal, see a show or movie, and do a little shopping. We'll tell you how to get there from the resorts, what to do and what you may…

Craft Beer in Orlando You can find beer in any bar. However, you don't always find specialty craft beer in every bar. Try something interesting and unique. There is a thriving craft beer and microbrewery scene happening all over Orlando. For those visiting around International Drive, we mention two of our favorite restaurants that have their own cr…

Daytona Bike Week Overview for the First Time Visitor Sometimes I wish Daytona Bike Week was a holiday, because it's one of my favorite times of the year. The weather is usually great. People who attend Bike Week are generally happy and friendly. Bike Week started in 1937 with the Daytona 200 race on the beach and road. Now it's one of the largest …

The Wild Africa Trek Takes You Behind the Scenes at Disney's Animal Kingdom If you enjoy the Kilimanjaro Safaris and want a more in-depth experience and a chance to see behind the scenes, the Wild Africa Trek at Disney's Animal Kingdom may be for you. The Wild Africa Trek is a Behind the Scenes tour of Animal Kingdom's wildlife that you see on the …

Our Winter Park Wedding Chapel Experience The Winter Park Wedding Chapel is a non-denominational chapel on Lyman Avenue. It's about a block away from Park Avenue, close to the Winter Park Farmer's Market and the Amtrak Winter Park Station. It's a simple, yet inviting small building that was perfect for our wedding. The chapel seats about 60 people …

Improve Your Orlando Hotel Experience It's easy to overlook some aspects of your hotel experience, whether in Orlando or anywhere else. Frequent travelers may have already learned these tips, but we wanted to share them for those of us who take occasional trips. The post OL 031: 5 Tips to Improve Your Orlando Hotel Experience appeared first on Orla…

Is Walt Disney World a Good Value for Your Vacation Dollars? Walt Disney World raised its prices for the 29th year in a row. It's like we're being trained to accept the higher prices each year as a fait accompli, never noticing how much Disney's ticket prices have exceeded the rate of inflation. OK, so we accept that prices get higher every year, b…

Orlando Toll Roads Surround the Orlando International Airport We received a note on Twitter asking if we've done a show on Orlando toll roads and how to avoid them. It seemed like a great idea, so here's our show on the issue. Orlando International Airport has two major toll roads nearby - Florida State Road 417 and Florida State Road 528 (The Beac…

A Surprise Trip to Walt Disney World Can Go Either Way Your surprise trip to Walt Disney World could make you feel like a hero or a fool. Give it some thought before you decide to tell your family to drop everything because you planned a surprise trip that they weren't expecting. Thank you for listening to The Orlando Local Show. We have a bit of e…

Your Obsession With Vacation Planning May Cause You to Miss Out on Some Great Parts of Orlando If you're obsessed with vacation planning, don't worry. You're in good company with a lot of other folks who choose a Walt Disney World vacation in Orlando. If this is your first time, we really do encourage you to research and plan your Orlando vacation.…

Orlando International Airport Tips Thank you for listening to The Orlando Local Show, Episode 2. We really appreciate your time and hope this show gives you some useful tips for your next visit to Orlando. This show is a rebroadcast of our second episode, and one of our most popular shows. We share some advice and our Orlando International Airport …

Visit Winter Park for A Break from Tourist Sensory Overload Just a few miles north of Orlando, Winter Park is a beautiful respite from the sensory overload. Get away from the theme parks, enclosed malls and fast food joints. When you need a break and want to appreciate Florida's natural beauty, head up to Winter Park for a day. The post OL 26: Wint…

Discover What’s New in Orlando for 2017 We shared some info to help you discover what's new in Orlando for 2017. There are a lot of projects on the horizon, but few with firm dates. The post OL 025: Discover What’s New in Orlando for 2017 appeared first on Orlando Local. © Copyright 2017 by Orlando Local.…

Time to Peace Out 2016! Thank you for listening to The Orlando Local Show. It's almost the New Year and time to Peace Out 2016. We launched The Orlando Local Show this year and it's been a wonderful experience. We appreciate you and the responses we've received since starting the show. The post OL 024: Peace Out 2016 appeared first on Orlando Local…

Learn How to Photograph Fireworks at Walt Disney World Thank you for listening to The Orlando Local Show about how to photograph fireworks at Walt Disney World. You can capture awesome photographs with simple equipment, and we'll show you how it's done. You don't have to spend a lot of money on camera gear. In fact, you can get great fireworks phot…

Celebrate Christmas in Orlando and Central Florida at 6 of Our Favorite Places We want to help you celebrate Christmas in Orlando, so we're listing 6 of our favorite places outside of the major theme parks (though I guess Legoland counts for a theme park). While our friends in the north are hunkering down for a major polar vortex, the forecast for …