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Will my heart go on?

Let’s find out with a trip to Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition in Orlando, Florida. The exhibition features hundreds of artifacts from that fateful night, including a black glass necklace recently discovered at the Titanic shipwreck site in the Atlantic Ocean.

But first, lunch.

Isan Zaap Thai Café (https://isanzaaporlando.com/) is a delightful restaurant about five miles from the Titanic Exhibition. It’s a bustling little place with great food, and I ordered an old favorite of mine: Chicken Pad Thai. Bob went with the Stir-Fried Basil, which our waitress recommended.

There are so many restaurants in Orlando that choosing one can sometimes be a challenge. I have a rule of thumb: though: go to the restaurant located in a strip mall. I’ve followed that little piece of advice for most of my adult life, and it has yet to steer me wrong.

With full tummies, we headed off to the Titanic Exhibition.

After purchasing our admission tickets, we were handed boarding passes with the names of actual Titanic passengers. At the end of the exhibition, we would find out what happened to our assigned passenger. Did they survive? Or did they perish that terrible night?

My passenger was Mrs. Eva Georgette Light, a third-class passenger eventually headed for Wichita, Kansas. Since she was traveling third class, I immediately had an eerie premonition about her fate.

I saw Titanic, the movie, several years ago, and one of the things I really wanted to see was the Grand Staircase. It wasn’t the actual staircase, of course, but it was an awfully good replica.

Naturally, I saw a great photo opportunity.

I started composing the perfect shot in my head, just as everyone else apparently had.

And, just like everyone else, I was thwarted by the professional photographer, who was more than happy to take our picture.  For a fee.

Among the fascinating things we saw was a replica of a first-class suite and a two-ton piece of the actual hull, nicknamed “Little Piece.” We also saw authentic bolts from the ship.

One of my favorite displays showed the place settings for each passenger class. First class had plates, vases, salt and pepper shakers, and plenty of silverware. Everything was opulent.

Second class received considerably less.

Third class received a plate and a cup.

That’s it.

No silverware. No vases. Nothing else.

And just so you know, these were actual place settings recovered from the Titanic. I found the display fascinating. Bob, meanwhile, was riveted by the elaborate menus.

Another thing I liked about the exhibition was how the atmosphere changed as we moved through it. The farther we wandered, the colder and darker it became, almost as if we were actually aboard the ship on that unlucky night.

That was a nice touch.

What I didn’t like was the lack of interaction. This could have been a terrific experience if there had been more ways to engage with the exhibits. Instead, the experience consisted primarily of reading placards beside the highlighted objects.

Lots and lots of placards.

I can’t see this being particularly appealing to younger children, and even we found all the reading a little tiresome after a while. I would have liked to see some character actors, interactive displays, or even designated photo opportunities throughout the exhibition.

At the end, we finally discovered what had happened to the passengers listed on our boarding passes.

My passenger, Mrs. Eva Georgette Light, was 33 years old when she boarded the Titanic. Somehow, she survived that terrible night and went on to live to a ripe old age.

Bob’s passenger was Mr. Edgar Samuel Adams, an 18-year-old second-class passenger.  He did not survive.

The gift shop is the final stop as you make your way toward the exit. Be sure to check out the enormous chunk of coal from the Titanic. Tiny pieces of coal are available for purchase, and we were told that coal is the only Titanic artifact from the ship that is available for sale.

So, back to the original question:

Will my heart go on?

No.

Not for this exhibition.

If you’re really fascinated by the story of the Titanic, by all means, go see it. There are certainly some fascinating artifacts, and history buffs will probably enjoy the experience.

Otherwise, just watch the movie.

After all of that, we decided it was time for an adult beverage.

Brewlando Brewing was on the way home and seemed like the perfect place to use our PubPass. If you’re not familiar with PubPass, check out last week’s blog about the Crayola Experience, Color My World (https://centralfloridaadventure.org/color-my-world/).

Brewlando was listed in our 2026 PubPass, so off we went.

This is our third year of traipsing around the greater Orlando area drinking “free” beer.

And yes, I realize that “free” beer is somewhat of an oxymoron when you have to buy the PubPass.

But that’s a technicality.

Afterword

My friend Cindy visited the Titanic Exhibition in Branson, Missouri. Their museum actually incorporates a replica of the Titanic, while the Orlando exhibition is housed inside a building.

And, quite frankly, the Orlando version wasn’t particularly inspiring.

I asked Cindy if they had placards next to everything, and she confirmed that they did.

While we spent about an hour and a half wandering through the Orlando exhibition, she needed three hours to see the one in Branson.

So, there you have it.

If you want the better Titanic experience, go to Branson.

Adventure Rating: 3

Crowd Level: Moderate

Worth the Drive? No

Hidden Gem Score: 4

Family Friendly: Yes, although the amount of reading may get boring for younger children.

Time Needed: 1–2 hours

Tips Before You Go: Bring your reading glasses and wear comfortable shoes.