Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
9
Walt Disney World &
Orlando After Dark
For those of who you actually
have the energy after a day at the parks and
simply can't call it quits, Orlando has
plenty of after-dark venues suitable for a
night out on the town. That said, even if
you're Orlando veterans, and not first-
timers (the ones most likely to overdo it),
if you try to go-go-go from morning until
night, you
will
be completely exhausted
after only a few days and will end up need-
ing a vacation after your vacation.
Admit it: Some of you know the feel-
ing. You're hard-core partiers who aren't
willing to give it up after a long day in the
parks. You want the after-hours adventure
as well. The good news: Orlando's cer-
tainly willing to accommodate you, offer-
ing a wide array of entertainment options
to satisfy your cravings.
The success of Universal's
CityWalk,
a
district filled with a variety of clubs, shops,
and themed restaurants, shows that many
visitors have the pizzazz to withstand life
after a day of schlepping around the
House of Mouse. But don't think
Down-
town Disney West Side, Pleasure Island,
and the
Marketplace
(each filled with
their own unique lineup of shops, themed
restaurants, and attractions) are hurting
for business. The clubs may have closed
(while a re-imagined Pleasure Island, slated
to include upscale shops and trendy eater-
ies, is under construction in order to
widen its appeal), but the shops and res-
taurants found throughout Downtown
Disney are typically filled to capacity.
Check the “Calendar” section of Fri-
day's
Orlando Sentinel
for up-to-the-
minute details on local clubs, visiting
performers, concerts, and events. It has
hundreds of listings, many of which are
online at
www.orlandosentinel.com
. The
Orlando Weekly
is a free magazine found
in red boxes throughout Central Florida.
It highlights the more offbeat and often
more spur-of-the-moment performances.
You can see it online at
www.orlando
weekly.com
. Another good source on the
Internet is
www.orlandoinfo.com
, oper-
ated by the Orlando/Orange County
Convention & Visitors Bureau.
1
THE PERFORMING ARTS
While Disney occasionally hosts classical music acts, you'll usually have to go downtown
to get a taste of the traditional arts.
CONCERT HALLS & AUDITORIUMS
The city continues to dream of getting financing for a multimillion-dollar world-class
performing arts center. While you're holding your breath, there are two existing facilities,
both of which fall under the wand of Orlando Centroplex.
Amway Arena
This 17,500-seat venue has a resume that includes the NBA's Orlando
Magic (see “Spectator Sports,” in chapter 7), the Orlando Predators arena football team,
