davidhartmn said:
I was at Marriott Horizons in a first floor villa just off Westwood Boulevard and could hear Orange and Osceola systems with a back-of-the-set antenna, which also did well searching. Again I was at ground level on the first floor.
You have to keep in mind that Florida is flat. REALLY flat. You could cover it with felt and you'd have a giant pool table. Altitude obviously buys you distance, but it's a bit less important here with no geographical features in the way.
Enjoy your vacation, I did, my third trip down in as many years. ALOT of vehicle traffic, patience is/will be required.
I could go on for hours about the traffic here in Orlando.
Drive defensively. There are many drivers here who learned to drive in places where road signs and lines on the street are just suggestions, not things to be followed without question. Driving on the shoulder at 40MPH when traffic on the main road is at a stop is quite common.
If you're trying to make a right turn and are waiting for an actual break in traffic to go, it's almost a sure thing that someone will pull to your left and make a right turn around you because you're taking too long.
Be prepared for your lane to exit in a direction you don't want to go or to simply end, all with no warning whatsoever.
Avoid US 192 like the plague. It's nothing but touristy places and the road is filled with tourists who have no clue where they're going. It's particularly bad between Kissimmee and I-4. I recall one Saturday evening before I knew better when it took me about 90 minutes to go the ten miles from downtown Kissimmee to the I-4. West of I-4 it's not quite so bad.
If you're staying near Westwood Blvd, there's a shortcut through the Convention Center that will shave at least five minutes off your trip if you're headed to International (I-Drive) or Universal Blvd. Just west of the Extended Stay is a traffic light and a bridge over the Beach Line (tollway) into the Convention Center. Take the bridge, follow the road past the Convention Center, make a right at the stop sign. You'll come out on International having missed about 8 traffic lights and a zillion conventioneers. Make a left at International and you'll be heading toward all the tourist spots. If you're looking for Universal Blvd, make your left into the far right lane on International and take the immediate right turn. When the road tees, make a left. You're on Universal and have missed another dozen traffic lights and a zillion tourists.
If you're looking for a very nice, yet healthy meal in elegant surroundings, I highly recommend Seasons 52 on Dr. Phillips and Sand Lake. If you dine before sunset you'll have a nice view of the lake. Try the flat bread pizza as an appetizer. Jeans and sneakers are okay. They often have open tables even when you couldn't get a reservation. They also serve the full menu in the booths in the bar, which are always first come, first served.
If you're looking for an upscale steak dining experience, check out the Capital Grille in Pointe Orlando (right after the turn onto International in the shortcut I described above). While they won't kick you out for wearing jeans, you'll blend in better if you dress up just a bit. Let's just say if you wear black, they'll bring you a black napkin instead of the normal white one so you don't get white lint all over your black clothes. You can judge the rest from there. Great aged steaks, plus the usual fish and other items. Everything is ala carte, but the sides are huge. One potato side and one vegetable side will easily serve two. Check out the celebrity wine lockers near the entrance.
The big meat eaters will want to try Texas de Brazil on International. This is a Brazilian steak place where they keep bringing around skewers of different meats and sausages until you plead for mercy. They also have one of the most amazing "salad" bars I've ever seen. Not cheap, but if you don't walk out stuffed to the gills you weren't trying.
One nice thing about Orlando is the abundance of very good restaurants. If you enjoy eating out, you'll have some great opportunities here.
Sorry about deviating so far from radio. PM me if you'd like other restaurant recommendations. My sister-in-law is in hospitality here and knows just about every place in town.
