During your time in Orlando, your days are pretty much guaranteed to be wall-to-wall action from the minute you start your car in the morning. So what can you do when the sun sets? Well, let me assure you, this may be the Sunshine State, but the fun doesn’t stop when the sun goes down! As the Genie once said in Aladdin, ‘why don’t you ruminate, whilst I illuminate the possibilities!’.

Orlando Dinner Shows

Obviously one of the most important evening events is dinner! So why not combine your love of food with an all-action dinner show – it sure beats sitting in front of the TV watching EastEnders! These shows can be equally as immersive as some of the theme parks you visit during the day. They really do go all out here, with such varied shows as the Pirate’s Dinner Adventure, Medieval Times Dinner Show and Mango’s Tropical Café, there will be something for everyone to get their teeth into as they bite into dinner!

At Pirate’s Dinner Adventure you’ll witness acrobats performing stunts before you join in with sing-alongs, as a story plays out before you! With everything from skulduggery to sword-fights and romance on display as you tuck into your three-course feast, this will be a meal you won’t forget! Also transporting its guests back to a past age is Medieval Times Dinner Show, where you and your group will enjoy watching the jousting tournament, sword-fights and falconry, as you munch your way through four sumptuous courses whilst the king or queen keep a watchful eye on proceedings. At Mango’s Tropical Café the volume is raised a notch or two! Prepare to dazzled by fine food as the musical tribute acts, singers, samba, salsa and the conga all light up your evening in a feast of energy and Latin flavour! Still have energy after gorging on your two or three course meal? After the dancing has died down on stage, it’s your turn to show what you can do as the venue becomes a nightclub, with music continuing on until 2am!

These are just for starters! There are many more located in Orlando for you and your family to enjoy after a day on your feet in the theme parks. You can help solve fictional murders or even be amazed by magic as you and your party relax and enjoy some great food. Has your appetite for a dinner show been whetted? With dinner shows starting from 4:30pm all the way up to 9:45pm, there is bound to be a time for families of all ages to sit down together after a hectic time in the parks.

Walt Disney World Fireworks

Get more bang for your buck by watching the firework displays at Disney’s Magic Kingdom! Every night the sky is lit-up by the coordinated pyrotechnics which could prove to be the grand finale your day in Orlando requires. The iconic Cinderella Castle at the heart of the park becomes the focus as it explodes into life with rear-projections, lasers and fireworks. These change dependent on the season, so whenever you go, you will have a special show to look forward to.

Night Time Airboat Ride

Nature enthusiasts will love what happens at Boggy Creek Airboat Tours when the sun goes down! With limited seats available, the Sunset Tour is an exclusive excursion where you will witness creatures of the day and night out at play. If you like your thrills with a feeling of danger, then the Night Tour is definitely for you! Although completely safe, the lack of light and knowledge that alligators and other critters could be lurking nearby really gets the pulse racing!

Alligator Night Tour

You could also be in for a treat in the Gator Night Shine at Gatorland! Venturing out at dusk, you get a rather snappy hour in the alligator breeding marsh, armed with a torch and some food for your long-snouted friends! You get to make your way around the walkways and bridges as the eerie red eyes reflect on proceedings from the water surrounding you!

The Wheel at ICON Park

Once you have had your fill of long tails and teeth, head along International Drive for the wonder that is The Wheel at ICON Park! Standing slightly shorter than the London Eye, the Orlando skyline is put on display for you in any of the 30 air-conditioned pods. You can enhance your experience with bottomless beer or Champagne, and they’ll even help you with special events, such as birthdays, anniversaries and proposals! They have even been known to light up The Wheel in pink or blue for guests’ gender reveal videos too.

Car Cruises at Old Town USA

Calling all petrolheads! Take to the streets of Celebration to watch the Old Town USA Car Cruise! Held during the evenings of Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, motors will purr at the sight of the classic cars, muscle cars and motorbikes on display for all in this free, weekly show.

Character Dining at Disney and Universal

To really ignite the imaginations of children, there is no better experience than character dining. With six destinations in the Disney theme parks alone, little ones are bound to love having the opportunity to have their photo taken with their favourite character. Your little princesses can enjoy a meal in the company of Cinderella in her castle, or you can find her as you tuck into the American and Norwegian cuisine in the Akershus Royal Banquet Hall, as guests meet Snow White, Belle, Aurora and Ariel. The Victorian-inspired Crystal Palace playing host to fan favourites from the Hundred-Acre Wood like Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Piglet and Eeyore as diners tuck into their buffet. Take a seat at the Garden Grill restaurant and you could soon spot Chip ’n’ Dale as well as Pluto and even the main man himself, Mickey Mouse, who you can also find in Hollywood & Vine! Donald and Daisy Duck, Goofy and Minnie Mouse have also been known to make appearances here, as have Doc McStuffins, Jake and the Never Land Pirates, Handy Manny, and Sofia the First! Everything has an African flavour in the Tusker House restaurant, home to Mickey, Minnie, Daisy, Donald and Goofy all in safari regalia.

Over at Universal Studios’ Cafe 4, from Thursday through to Sunday, your budding superheroes can enjoy their meal in the company of Marvel heroes! Here, they chow down in the presence of comic book characters such as Storm, Rogue, Captain America, Wolverine and of course, Spider-Man!

As with all character dining experiences, specific characters can’t always be guaranteed, the ones listed here are the most common in their respective venues – but these aren’t certainties as they can be changed with no notice. For the best advice on who to expect in the various eateries and when, please contact the parks directly.

World-Famous Shows

For a slightly more grown-up evening, why not see one of the many spectacular shows in Orlando? One of the most popular in the area is definitely the world-famous Blue Man Group. You’ll have an evening to remember with the anthemic music, comedy and colourful light displays! With no spoken words, there is no language barrier to enjoying this stage spectacle, held nightly in Universal’s CityWalk.

Following on from their massive hit show La Nouba which ended in 2017, Cirque du Soleil is due to come back to Disney Springs with a brand new show called Drawn to Life in March 2020! If you are a fan of the group, you’ll know what to expect, but this time they have teamed up with Disney to create a true showstopper, which honours both Cirque du Soleil’s artistry and Disney animation – this promises to be something which you cannot miss!

American Sports

Try a slice of true Americana by watching some genuine American sports, as Orlando is host to some of the US’ major teams. Orlando City Soccer Club play football in the Exploria Stadium in the MLS, with Orlando Pride, their sister team, containing World Cup 2019 winner Alex Morgan alongside Marta – the six-time FIFA Women’s Player of the Year. When looking for a slam-dunk of an evening you can catch Orlando Magic’s NBA games in the Amway Center, a short drive from Disney World. Sing ‘Take Me Out to the Ball Game’ as you watch the Tampa Bay Rays play baseball, after making the two-hour trip to their Tropicana Field stadium. If you are thirsty for some NFL action, it’ll also be a two-hour car journey to watch the Jacksonville Jaguars; alternatively you could watch from the safety and comfort of Orlando’s many popular sports bars where you can enjoy all-American food and drink with friends, family and a room full of cheering strangers!

Enjoy a Barbecue at Your Orlando Villa

Sometimes, going out to have fun can really seem like hard work, or can just work out too expensive. To truly relax with friends and family, grab some food from your local supermarket, such as Wal-Mart or Publix, and gather on your villa’s pool deck for a barbecue as the sun begins to set. Bliss! If you are looking for a holiday home to rent, take a look at our website. We have over 1000 Orlando properties available in Orlando, so we’ll always be able to find you somewhere for your dream Florida holiday to begin!

These are our ideas for ways to spend your evenings when on holiday in Orlando, can you think of anything we have missed? Have you done and of the above and want to share your thoughts or pictures with other Florida holidaymakers? We’d love to hear from you! Get in contact through the usual social media channels!