If you guys are in the mood for some beach time then come to Datytona Beach "The World's most famous beach" aprox 1 hr. from Orlando

Two Words. Disney World. It is imperative that you go. Driving near the parks makes the child in all come out. Go take pictures with Mickey Mouse and Minnie, despite the fact that it can be really cheesy. The Kennedy Space center is great too. It's a little boring if you're not ready to hear a bunch a lectures about the Space Shuttle and such, the Apollo/Saturn V Center has a real Saturn V rocket in sections in the building

You should go to Disney and Universal studios. Also, come up to Daytona Beach. Has great action, we have the Daytona International Speedway. Great shopping. Miami is also great. Go to south beach. Great clubs and shops.

Also go to the Kennedy Space Center. Awesome place to go.

If you get the chance, drive up to St. Augustine along A1A, it will take you through Daytona. It's very pretty along the east coast.

Also, try to check out Ichetucknee Springs State Park just outside of Fort White, FL, and go tubing down the Ichetucknee River. It might be a little bit cold this time of year, but it's a really nice way to relax for couple of hours, and it's pretty cheap ($5 a carload), and you can rent a tube for the day. It might be a little bit out of the way, but it's worth it. Afterwords, you can eat at one of my favorite restaurants in the area, Floyd's in High Springs (there is a life-size Elvis just inside the door). Enjoy your trip!

The Florida Keys are a must if visting South Florida. The Keys offer an American style to Island Living. Things to do:

• Diving the Spiegel Grove in Key Largo. This Nay Cargo ship sunk in 2002 still allows divers to operate it's gun turrets.
  
• Isamorada is kow for it's fishing. Offshore and Flats fishing is some of the best around.
  
• Key West is a must for any trip to the Keys. It's too bad that They wont be able to make Fantasy Fest.
  

The keys would offer a unique comparson the the Pafic Rim.

Go to the everglades national park. There is so much wild life. but the sad part about the place is that a comercial jetliner crashed in the everglades.now there is a memorial to them.

I'd have expected a lot more detailed suggestions for Orlando/Miami! But definitely we're hitting Disney World! I love Cartoon Mice, crusingbug! Haha. Being a total comic and cartoon geek, yes, Disney World is one of those things you aspire to create. Really looking forward to that.

Do any of you guys watch Miami Ink? I want to visit their shop! I probably won't be able to afford a tattoo, but I'd love to go and check it out. No suggestions for really affordable food places? We'll need it!

Ooh..the Florida Keys would be beautiful. That would be great if they could make it!

I watch Miami Ink sometimes...it's a cool show and it would be cooler if you saw their shop! As for food, whenever I went to Florida with my family, I never really went to any places that had food in your budget range. Sorry...

Some tips from a native Floridian:

I can get all 5 TJs into Disney for free. Just ask.

Also, are many places near Disney that do airboat rides through Florida swamps. If you want something a little less commercial (and free), I live on a huge chain of lakes that has beautiful, untouched Florida. And a boat. Could even go all the way to the St. Johns and the springs to see manatees or to the intercoastal waterway to (maybe) see some dolphins.

I would recommend Silver Springs. They have beautiful glass bottom boats, but at $36, I think it would break your budget. Perhaps Weeki Wachee? I don't know what their price is.

Go to Lakeridge winery in Clermont. They used to give free tours.

Anyway, that's all I can think of off the top of my head...

Try going to Mt.Dora to ride in a train car from the 1920's, shop in unique shops and see beautiful landscaping.

Go to Coral Castle in Homestead. You can push a 3 ton rock with a finger....

Go to Gatorland in Kissimmee to see a lot of really big gators.

If you have a car, go to Spook hill in Lake Wales. I can help with that too. You put your car in nuetral, and go up hill.

Oh! Affordable food places! I know plenty. I'm a college student, so budgeting is huge. If you know what your doingand where you'll visiting, I can give you a nice list of cheap places to eat. The biggest tip I can give it get away from the themeparks first.

Also, when going to Disney, eat a good breakfast before you go. Buy one bottle of water and keep refilling it. Try to keep yourself to snacking (the meals can be expensive if you don't know what places have cheap food.) and then eat a good meal when you leave.

Remeber, American portions can be HUUUGE! Split things. 2 people may be able to share one dinner. Or, eat an appetizer for dinner. They're a few dollars cheaper, but usually are enough to fill you up.

Also, stop by a welcome center or any "touristy" looking store (like those on International drive or near Disney). Usually, there are coupon books inside (there are always coupons at the welcome centers). Not only are there coupons for attractions, they can have huge discounts on food. Search around online for more coupons and price ranges.

However, you mustmustmust eat some seafood! Florida is surrounded by water, so we get some bretty fresh seafood (especially near the coast). Shrimp and catfish are common. If you allow yourself a few extra dollars, try some stone crab claws! They are a little more expensive, but unique to Florida.

Also, try some key lime pie!

Oh, there's a great chain of supermarkets here called Publix. Nice deli and things inside for a quick, cheap meal. However, the Alberson's Supermarket in Winter Park (Winter park is right next to Orlando and is a great place to walk around, especially Park Ave.) has the best deli. It even has a place to sit and eat inside!

Oh, and if you do make it to Winter Park, they have a great Farmer's market on Sundays. You can buy pastries and fresh, locally grown food. Go in the morning though so you get the best selection. Buy food for lunch if you want, and eat it in the Park on Park Ave. In the afternoon, walk down Park Ave. Usually, the resturants are a bit pricey, but sometimes the resturants have really good specials. This is a rich area, with stores full of too expensive clothes and $5 million houses, but it's nice to walk around and just look. Oh, one last thing about Winter Park, they have a boat ride. For about $10 you can see the lakes and the back yards of some celebrities.

If you go to Disney, Epcot is the best park, then MGM. If they eat in MGM, the should go to Mama's Cafe - it's this really cool 50's diner where they play 50's sitcoms and Mom will yell at you for not finishing all the food on your plate! Plus, it's the only decent food in all of DisneyWorld. Downtown Disney is cool too, so is Bad Ass Coffee (bad donkey) on International Drive (only good coffee in Orlando too). If they go to Miami, they MUST go on an airboat ride in the Everglades, if anything to have a small clip for the show. And make them go to an alligator farm and have fried alligator tail for dinner! Can't wait to see the show in Florida!

There's a place in Cocoa, Florida called The Lone Cabbage Fish Camp. They have airboat rides and a restaurant that serves alligator tail, frog legs, and turtle, along with a more normal menu for the less adventurous type. I'm guessing that's not you guys since you're coming all the way here

Also if you go to epcot (which is largley regarded by everyone over 21 to be the best park) drink yourself through the world and eat at germany. there's not much for vegetarians there, but the performance is lively and the food isn't as cheesy as the other countries. and i don't mean cheesy as in mmmmm cheese.

You have got to try OLD TOWN in Kissimmie Fl a few miles from Orlando. The admission is free along with alot of cheap attractions. the web site is http://www.old-town.com/index.html. Check it out

Hey TJs! Take it from a Cast Member. Don't waste all your time and money at theme parks. They are fabulous good fun of course, but there is more to Florida than cartoons. I can try to find passes if you want to see Disney like I do: I can show you what really is worth the trip. If you want to avoid the tourists, head west to the Gulf, rather than east to the Atlantic. It's much more chill. Plus, the Orlando Museum of Art is only $8 and always has something interesting to experience. A fun and cheesy night out is on Hwy. 192 in Kissimmee at Old Town: bars, shops, rides. Plus, Thursday is Bike Night, and Friday is a massive hotrod show. Down Miami-way drive on Alligator Alley (toll road!) and check out an airboat tour of the Everglades.