Planning a trip to FL...

[sunflower]

I have a conference in the Tampa area, then we're going to hit Orlando for just a couple of days before going home.

The Tampa portion is covered, since that's work related. Looking for any coupons/deals that anyone knows about in Orlando. I will probably do not do the actual parks, as it will take up all our free time. That's okay though, we have some family to visit and I have been promised a trip to Downtown Disney for my hot fudge brownie sundae! And hopefully dinner at Bongo's.

So I'm particularly looking for deals on hotels for a couple of nights in mid to late August. I don't need to stay in Disney, just looking for something decent, we won't be there much. Also if you know of any fantastic restaurant, attraction, etc deals, I'd appreciate you passing them along!! Or even fun/weird attractions that I might not have heard of, we like to do unique things from time to time!

[secondchance]

I have been promised a trip to Downtown Disney for my hot fudge brownie sundae! And hopefully dinner at Bongo's.
Also if you know of any fantastic restaurant, attraction, etc deals, I'd appreciate you passing them along!! Or even fun/weird attractions that I might not have heard of, we like to do unique things from time to time!

PLEASE go see Cirque Du Soleil's "La Nouba" in Downtown Disney. thank me later...
(Hope you can get tix [cirquedusoleil.com], it's probably sold out. ...maybe Ebay/Craiglist?)

[sunflower]

I think I already saw it several years ago. I want to say maybe even 8 or 9 years ago, it's the same Cirque show as it was then, correct? I'm pretty sure it was La Nouba. Might not be a bad idea to see it again though, thanks for the suggestion.

Is there anywhere that does discount tickets, like in NY or Vegas? Or is it just fend for yourself with someone selling them? (Other than dealing with a timeshare visit, which I usually do, but we're just not up for it this time)

[secondchance]

It has been there for about 10 years, yes. It's amazing - I'd see it again, but then I've seen "O" & "Mystere" 3 times. Can you say obsessed...

[sunflower]

Is Mystere the one at Treasure Island? I saw the one there and for the life of me can't remember the name of it. Too many in Vegas to keep them straight!

I also saw Ka and only remember the name of it because I stayed at MGM and walked by the Ka sign 400 times a day!

Never saw O - Bellagio??

I also saw one when they came to CT...it was awful...I can't remember the name of it but it was maybe 3 or 4 years ago, it was like a medly of stuff from all their other shows, set to music. Hardly any gymnastics and just a lot of weirdness...but in general, I'm a fan!

[secondchance]

yes, "Mystere" at Treasure Island & "O" at Bellagio. "O" is the water one -absolutely fabulous. My very favorite is the touring "Quidam," the one with the headless guy holding the umbrella. I've seen all but the very newest, say the last 3-4 years or so. "Dralion" wasn't good- a nice Chinese circus, but not up to Cirque standards imho. I think you're referring to "Verekai," also not their best.
Did you enjoy"Ka?" Still need to see that, and the Beatles' "Love."

[tanstaafl2]

Would love to see La Nouba if I ever get to Orlando again. It may be the only show they have done in the past 10-12 years that I have not seen.

I have been fortunate to see all the shows in Las Vegas, including Love shortly after it opened in 2006. But I think my favorite of that bunch was Zumanity.

But that one isn't exactly a family show...



Saw KA in 2006 as well and have seen Mystere a number of times. KA was enjoyable but perhaps too much of a good thing.

The one I have enjoyed the least was O but perhaps that is because I had the worst seats for that show. For all the others I have been fortunate enough to be in or near the front row. I like to be close enough to see the veins pop and hear them grunt and call out the commands!

In general I think the Cirque shows have declined in quality while of couse increased in price over the years, particularly the "road shows", as they now tend to have mostly a single company performing and a greater focus on style and choreography and less on stunning and unique individual acts by specialists that are strung together by the clowns and circus theme that was the case in earlier days.

Not that the acts aren't pretty amazing still but perhaps less so than they once were.

[sunflower]

The prices have definitely gotten CRAZY for what it is, especially in Vegas.

However, in Vegas I routinely go to Tix 4 Tonite and get phenomenal deals. I think I saw Mystere for $35 or something like that. I wish there was a Tix 4 Tonite in Orlando! But seeing as there is only one show, I guess it doesn't make sense...

[plasticene]

We just went to Orlando and for the first time didn't visit any parks. (Unthinkable if Play-It! were still there.)

I echo the recommendation for La Nouba. We went to the box office on July 1 and had no trouble getting three fantastic seats for the late show July 4. I would avoid seats in the front section (which includes the highest-priced seats), since they could require lots of neck-craning, as well as having to turn around to see some of the pre-show antics.

I also recommend a trip to the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art in Winter Park, which specializes in the works of Louis Comfort Tiffany. It was a gem, and admission is just three bucks! Note that it's closed on Mondays.