Orlando Dining Without Blowing the Budget!

Olive garden Restaurant

Restaurant | "Wait For The Buzzer!"

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The Olive Garden is a chain of American Italian restaurants. We visited the one at the Southern end of International Drive in Orlando, Florida. I had heard several good reports about this chain so I was keen to give it a try.On arrival we saw several people hanging around outside and presumed they were waiting for the rest of their group. The outside was an attractive building and there was plenty of free parking.Once inside we were greeted pleasantly and were asked my first name. It was at this point that we realised that the lady in question had a very poor command of English, my name is Dawn which is not a terribly common name in the US but not too complicated either I w...Read More

The Olive Garden is a chain of American Italian restaurants. We visited the one at the Southern end of International Drive in Orlando, Florida. I had heard several good reports about this chain so I was keen to give it a try.

On arrival we saw several people hanging around outside and presumed they were waiting for the rest of their group. The outside was an attractive building and there was plenty of free parking.

Once inside we were greeted pleasantly and were asked my first name. It was at this point that we realised that the lady in question had a very poor command of English, my name is Dawn which is not a terribly common name in the US but not too complicated either I would have thought. She just couldn’t understand me and even after trying to spell it to her we gave up and accepted her spelling of Dell! We were then given a little contraption that looked like a flying saucer and were told it would buzz and light up when our table was ready. This explained all the groups hanging around; they were waiting for their little buzzers to go. We probably only waited about 10 minutes until our new toy started flashing blue and we went back to my friend at reception.

We were taken to a good sized table, there were only four of us but the table could have easily accommodated six so it was nice not to be squashed up together.

The menu was very varied with a great selection. There is also a children’s menu but that is separate so I am not sure what was on it. The adults menu had plenty of pizza, pasta, seafood and meat options. We had heard that the portion sizes were generous so we decided not have any starter. However when we ordered our main courses we were told that they would bring out salad or soup for each of us anyway as that is part of the deal. Within a couple of minutes the waitress appeared with a plate of garlic bread, a large bowl of mixed salad for me to share with the children (strangely enough they weren’t fighting me for it!) and my other half had minestrone soup which he said was lovely and felt like a meal in itself. My salad was fresh but could have done with more tomatoes and less onion in my opinion.

When our food arrived we were glad we hadn’t opted for a proper starter. I had ordered chicken and mushrooms in massala sauce with rustic potatoes, my daughter had chosen lasagne, my son had pepperoni pizza and my husband had mushroom ravioli. Al of the plates were excessively full and I knew I would never finish mine. I must say that I thought my plate looked very messy, I think it could have been presented better but it was delicious, the mushrooms in particular were really tasty. My daughter wasn’t so keen on hers because the cheese sauce layers were very thick and almost like curd cheese rather than a smooth sauce, she did like the meat and the past though. My son enjoyed his pizza but could only eat about half of it but that might have had something to do with the mountain of garlic bread that he demolished first! My husband’s was probably the nicest meal; it was beautifully presented and tasted wonderful (well I did have to try a little bit-purely for research!). He quickly finished the whole lot and after spending a week in America I think he was pleased to be having a change from steak and chips.

We had all chosen soft drinks and as is standard in many places there these were bottomless and the waitress was very on the ball about refilling them, we never had to ask.
There was no way that we could have attempted a dessert at that point so we just asked the waitress for the bill. The service we received once we got past the receptionist was excellent. The inside of the restaurant was nicely decorated, it felt very homely and for once even though there was air-conditioning it wasn’t turned up to such a ridiculous level that you would need a jacket. Our bill came to about $60 for the four of us which didn’t seem too bad to me (plus $10 tip) for the amount of food and the nice setting. The other half of the pizza was boxed up for us and that did as lunch the next day for my son so that was handy too.

This is certainly a restaurant that I would be happy to return to as there were so many delightful looking things on the menu.
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Member Rating 4 out of 5 on November 8, 2025

Olive garden Restaurant
3675 E Colonial Dr
Orlando, Florida 32803
(407) 896-0498

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Cici's Pizza

Restaurant | "Pizza Paradise!"

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We are a family who really enjoy treating ourselves to a pizza and having had a few pizzas in Orlando we had been disappointed with the quality. In one of the many voucher booklets that you can pick up all over the place we spotted an advertisement for CiCi’s Pizza and thought it would be worth a try.We ended up at the one on Palm parkway just outside the Walt Disney World resort. When we pulled into the car park I felt inclined to drive away as it was in a dreary row of shops that looked a little rough but since we were all staring hungry we decided to give it a go. The exterior looked shabby and it took a few seconds to locate the entry door as one door was not in use. On...Read More

We are a family who really enjoy treating ourselves to a pizza and having had a few pizzas in Orlando we had been disappointed with the quality. In one of the many voucher booklets that you can pick up all over the place we spotted an advertisement for CiCi’s Pizza and thought it would be worth a try.

We ended up at the one on Palm parkway just outside the Walt Disney World resort. When we pulled into the car park I felt inclined to drive away as it was in a dreary row of shops that looked a little rough but since we were all staring hungry we decided to give it a go. The exterior looked shabby and it took a few seconds to locate the entry door as one door was not in use.

On entering the restaurant we were immediately hit by the delicious smell of freshly baked pizza. The young lady at the reception greeted us cheerfully and asked if we had ever visited before. We said that we hadn’t and also handed over the voucher that we had cut out of the local voucher booklet. She gave us our large carry-out drink cups with lids and then explained that we should find ourselves a table and then we could help ourselves to any of the buffet items as many times as we liked. CiCi’s also offer a special order service if you want a particular pizza but I think most people opt for the buffet.

The seating area was a reasonable size and we noticed how busy it was. There seemed to be lots of families and I always think it is a good sign if you walk in somewhere and it is busy and people look happy!

The restaurant area is certainly not the most attractive in the world. There are lots of Formica tables and metal chairs and although it looks quite well worn it was spotlessly clean and stayed that way throughout our meal as an amazing older lady whizzed around whipping away plates and cleaning tables at an amazing speed.

The children went and filled up our drinks at the self-service machine which they really enjoyed doing. We had all chosen diet-coke and I was pleased to see it was diluted properly, I have been to some places where they make it so weak in these machines you can see straight through it!

We then headed to the pizza buffet. There was probably a selection of about seven or eight different pizzas on the hotplates, all sliced up so you could help yourself. One of the guys who was cooking also greeted us warmly and explained that the garlic breads were at one end, main course pizzas in the middle and the ones on the far left were pudding pizzas. There was a lovely selection varying from the standard cheese, pepperoni or ham and pineapple to spinach, barbecue, vegetable and macaroni cheese pizza. I must admit to trying the macaroni cheese pizza as it was proving very popular with the American diners but I thought it was awful, in fact it was the only thing we tried that none of us liked.

There were a couple of bread items which were not like normal garlic bread but they were very tasty and there was also a flip-pizza with the filling inside which was rather unusual as it was thin rather than the usual folded pizzas that we get in the UK. The only problem at the pizza buffet is that the pizzas have no labels so you have to guess or you can ask the staff as they are very helpful. I realised this is probably because they keep replacing the pizzas as soon as they are finished and they put out whatever has just been cooked, there seems no particular order.

A large bowl of pasta was also available with a tasty tomato sauce which I found to be very nice and the pasta perfectly cooked which surprised me.

CiCi’s does say that you can eat as much salad as you want too but you really can’t get excited about the salad bar. There was a couple of large bowls of mixed lettuce, some tomatoes and some carrot sticks, not really the most interesting selection but I still helped myself several times as it was still a nice accompaniment to the pizzas.

As the cook had already explained CiCi’s also offers desserts and some of these come in the form of pizzas too. I did see several people putting savoury and sweet pizzas on their plates together, I don’t know if they just didn’t realise or if they liked eating that way. One of the dessert pizzas had apple slices with cinnamon and I think it was one of the nicest desserts that I tasted during our whole holiday. There was also something rather like a Chelsea bun which was very sweet but quite nice.

CiCi’s is not going to win any awards for its luxurious surroundings or interesting decor. However all of the pizzas are cooked on the premises and they taste lovely because of it. They were freshly cooked and as a plate is emptied a new pizza is put out. The vegetables and the meat seemed very fresh and all had lots of flavour. The pizzas did not seem greasy or heavy and I certainly ate far more than I usually do and I loved being able to try all of the varieties. We visited when the weather was exceptionally hot and the restaurant was nicely air-conditioned without being freezing cold. The buffet was $6.99 and the refillable drinks were $1.50 and we had vouchers so that two of the buffets were free so we fed the four of us for about $20 (less than £15) and left with large drinks ready to take back into the parks in the evening too. We liked it so much that we visited again during our stay and found the service to be just as friendly and helpful as on our first visit and the pizzas just as delicious so we will definitely be returning next year.
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Member Rating 4 out of 5 on January 5, 2026

Cici's Pizza
7437 International Drive
Orlando, Florida
(407) 226-9822

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Planet Hollywood

Restaurant | "Won't Be Going Again!"

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Planet Hollywood is probably the most easily recognisable restaurants in Downtown Disney. The enormous blue globe with classic red neon signage can be seen as you drive along the road opposite the leisure area. It is located in the west side of Downtown Disney, reasonably close to Cirque de Soleil.The restaurant opens from 11am for lunch and then stays open all the way through until 1am the next morning for Dinner. Reservations can easily be made online at the Disney dining website or by calling direct if there is a large group.We visited at about 7.00 in the evening and we had made a reservation so we were able to bypass the queue that had formed on the steps after speaking...Read More

Planet Hollywood is probably the most easily recognisable restaurants in Downtown Disney. The enormous blue globe with classic red neon signage can be seen as you drive along the road opposite the leisure area. It is located in the west side of Downtown Disney, reasonably close to Cirque de Soleil.

The restaurant opens from 11am for lunch and then stays open all the way through until 1am the next morning for Dinner. Reservations can easily be made online at the Disney dining website or by calling direct if there is a large group.

We visited at about 7.00 in the evening and we had made a reservation so we were able to bypass the queue that had formed on the steps after speaking to the girl on the podium at the bottom. As we reached the top we had a family photograph taken in front of a Hollywood hills backdrop. This was a little irritating as we knew we would not want to buy the photograph and we had to queue to have it done before we were allowed in the restaurant.

We have visited a few times in the past but every time I am surprised by how noisy and how dark it is as you enter. We were passed to another server but it was quite difficult to tell what was going on and she suddenly disappeared without telling us to follow, we eventually found her on the staircase.

The restaurant is covered with memorabilia from the movies that you are encouraged to have a look at, however some of it is difficult to see as there are tables and diners in the way. To be honest very little seems to have changed and I do think they could update the stuff a bit.
We were eventually shown to our table and given a menu. Our server seemed rushed and distracted and disappeared for about a minute before coming back and asking for our order. She seemed rather disgruntled when we asked for a little longer.

The prices seemed a bit expensive so we decided just to have a main course (entree) and then see if we wanted desserts later. My husband and daughter had the BBQ ribs whilst my son and I selected the chicken fajitas.

Whilst waiting for our food we had more chance to take in the surroundings. I think that the place is definitely starting to look a bit tatty and could do with a whole facelift inside. There is a big screen which could be used to show classic film clips but instead just shows music videos which are really loud and make it difficult to talk to each other as well as the server.
Our food arrived quite quickly, it was put on the table and the server immediately left without checking everything was ok, I then had to go and find her as we had received no tortillas with the fajitas, quite an obvious problem really. They eventually appeared but there was no apology. The fajitas were nice but there was not very much chicken and it was not spicy enough for me and the salsa was also not very hot. My husband and daughter were not at all impressed with their ribs, the sauce was ok but the ribs were extremely fatty and they felt that they didn’t actually get much meat even though the ribs were large; the fries that came with them were very nice though. The meals were very large and by the time we had finished we didn’t actually feel in need of any dessert although there was quite a good selection to choose from.

Overall I don’t think we will be returning to Planet Hollywood for a while. The place looks a bit grubby and tatty and for $120 for four main courses and soft drinks with tip we felt that we didn’t get value for money as the food wasn’t that impressive either. The service was rushed and not at all personal and I don’t like being disturbed whilst I am eating to be harassed to buy photographs that I didn’t even want taking in the first place and certainly won’t be buying.!
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Member Rating 1 out of 5 on January 12, 2026

Planet Hollywood
1506 East Buena Vista Drive, Downtown Disney
Orlando, Florida 32830
(407) 827-7827

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Ponderosa Steakhouse

Restaurant | "Great Steak"

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Finding cheap places to eat in Orlando is not usually too difficult and one of our favourite is Ponderosa. People seem to have a love it or hate it relationship with this place. If you are visiting then I would suggest you arrive early in the evening as it gets messy as the evening wears on as customers can be quite sloppy and lazy!On arrival you choose your entree from the selection on the board, this start at about $10 for an adult chicken breast with fries or jacket potato. You then add on a drink and pay at the cashier, vouchers can be found in most booklets in the area which give a discount as well.You sit at your table and then you help yourself to the buffet whilst yo...Read More

Finding cheap places to eat in Orlando is not usually too difficult and one of our favourite is Ponderosa. People seem to have a love it or hate it relationship with this place. If you are visiting then I would suggest you arrive early in the evening as it gets messy as the evening wears on as customers can be quite sloppy and lazy!

On arrival you choose your entree from the selection on the board, this start at about $10 for an adult chicken breast with fries or jacket potato. You then add on a drink and pay at the cashier, vouchers can be found in most booklets in the area which give a discount as well.

You sit at your table and then you help yourself to the buffet whilst your server gets your drinks. The buffet has a huge choice and I would defy anyone to not be able to find something they like. For starters there are a selection of soups, chicken wings, vegetables,nachos and pasta. There is then a large salad bar with plenty of choice of salad veg and dressings. There is also a great selection of fresh and tinned fruits, ice-cream with nuts, Oreos and sauces or jelly (jell-o), cakes and puddings. I usually select the plain chicken breast as that is my favourite but the rest of the family usually pick steak and to be honest they have all commented that the steaks at Ponderosa are frequently tastier and more tender than those we have bought at much dearer places.

You can return to the buffet as often as you wish and your server will bring your entree and will also bring a free cup of tea or coffee at the end of your meal if you ask. The soft drinks that you purchase are bottomless but the cups are so enormous we are hard pushed to finish one each!

We have found that with children this is an excellent place to pick up a cheap meal. We have rarely encountered a poor server and because we tend to visit when it is quiet it is always clean and tidy even though the interior looks a little worn and dated. It is one of the few places where our children actually get to eat some fruit and vegetables which has got to be a good thing and we find that we can have a satisfying meal without being rushed.

For about $10 per head after discount for a filling meal with lots of choice we find that the Ponderosa on the Southern end of International Drive can’t be beaten.
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Member Rating 4 out of 5 on January 22, 2025

Ponderosa Steakhouse
8200 World Center Dr
Orlando, Florida 32821
(407) 238-2526

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Sizzler

Restaurant | "Cheap but Not Always Cheerful!"

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Buffet restaurants are always popular with our family whilst on holiday as you get seated quickly, can start eating straightaway if you are very hungry and they are very reasonably priced so make our holiday money last longer.Sizzler is a chain for buffet style restaurants (most are franchised) and there are at least three within close proximity to Walt Disney World, we tend to use the one about half way down International Drive. This restaurant is a good size and since we tend to dine early we have never had to wait for a table although we have seen lines later in the evening. One side of the restaurant is basically all windows so it does feel light and airy inside, there is ample free ...Read More

Buffet restaurants are always popular with our family whilst on holiday as you get seated quickly, can start eating straightaway if you are very hungry and they are very reasonably priced so make our holiday money last longer.

Sizzler is a chain for buffet style restaurants (most are franchised) and there are at least three within close proximity to Walt Disney World, we tend to use the one about half way down International Drive. This restaurant is a good size and since we tend to dine early we have never had to wait for a table although we have seen lines later in the evening. One side of the restaurant is basically all windows so it does feel light and airy inside, there is ample free parking right outside the door or you can get to it using the I-Ride trolley.

You order your entree on arrival at the counter as well as your drink. You are then shown to your table by your server and are then let loose on the extensive salad buffet bar.
The entree menu focuses on steaks and seafood with a 6ox sirloin being about $10 and this includes limitless access to the salad buffet. Personally I like their chicken, either the breasts with lemon and herbs or the strips. We are not very fond of seafood so I can’t comment on that but most of the family usually choose steaks and the majority of the time we have had nicely cooked, juicy steaks but occasionally they have been chewy or over or undercooked and then it seems quite problematic to get them to change them.

The salad bar consists of a large selection of vegetables and dressings but there is also plenty of meat, pasta and sauces and then there is also ice-cream or cakes for desserts. The drinks you are served are bottomless and your server will keep refreshing them for you.
We find Sizzler very good value for money in general but sometimes we have been disappointed with the quality of the food, it does seem very variable as does the standard of the staff. It certainly offers a cheap meal and I like it because the children love all of the sliced fruit so will always choose a lot from the fresh selection which I feel is good for them.
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Member Rating 3 out of 5 on February 11, 2025

Sizzler
9142 International Dr
Orlando, Florida 32819
(407) 351-5369

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Orlando Journals

Orlando Dining Without Blowing the Budget!

Olive garden Restaurant

Cici's Pizza

Planet Hollywood

Ponderosa Steakhouse

Sizzler

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