Nightlife · Orlando · United States
Orlando nightlife
Where the evenings happen in Orlando, from early drinks to late nights.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: ( Ebyabe ), CC BY 2.5
Quick answer
Orlando's nightlife splits between the visitor entertainment districts — Universal CityWalk, Disney Springs and ICON Park on International Drive — and the local bar scene in Downtown, Mills 50 and Winter Park. Downtown's Orange Avenue and Church Street are busiest at weekends. The main areas are Universal CityWalk, Disney Springs, Downtown Orlando and Mills 50 and Ivanhoe Village.
Key facts
- Nightlife areas
- 4
- Stay near the action
- Universal Orlando area
- Local drink
- Butterbeer
Where to go out
Universal CityWalk
Bars, live music and clubs outside the Universal parks, open later than the parks themselves.
Disney Springs
Bars, restaurants and live entertainment by the lake, more relaxed than a club scene.
Downtown Orlando
Clubs and bars along Orange Avenue and Church Street, busy with a local crowd at weekends.
Mills 50 and Ivanhoe Village
Dive bars, craft-beer spots and small music venues with a local, creative crowd.
Nightlife tips
- The drinking age is 21 and ID is checked, including at bars inside the theme parks.
- Use rideshare between resort areas and Downtown; distances are long and drink-driving laws are strictly enforced.
- Universal's Halloween Horror Nights and Disney's after-hours parties are popular evening events, so book ahead.
Evening sights
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Theme park · Walt Disney World
Magic Kingdom
Arrive before the official opening time; the first hour and the afternoon parade are the quietest moments for the most popular rides.
- Time needed
- Full day
- Cost
- Expensive
- Iconic
- Kids
- After dark
Theme park · Walt Disney World
EPCOT
Eat your way around World Showcase in the evening, when it is cooler and the pavilions are lit up.
- Time needed
- Full day
- Cost
- Expensive
- Iconic
- Kids
- Food
- After dark
Theme park · Walt Disney World
Disney's Hollywood Studios
Head to Galaxy's Edge or Toy Story Land at opening, as queues there build quickly.
- Time needed
- Full day
- Cost
- Expensive
- Kids
- Iconic
- After dark
Theme park · Universal Orlando
Epic Universe
Go to the land you care about most at opening; queues elsewhere are usually shorter later in the day.
- Time needed
- Full day
- Cost
- Expensive
- Kids
- Iconic
- After dark
Street · Lake Buena Vista
Disney Springs
Parking in the Disney Springs garages is free, so it makes an easy evening out even if you are not staying at Disney.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Shopping
- Food
- After dark
Park · Downtown Orlando
Lake Eola Park
Come at dusk, when the fountain lights up, and hire a swan boat for a slow lap of the lake.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Kids
- Couples
- After dark
Viewpoint · International Drive
ICON Park and The Wheel
Ride after dark for views across the lit-up resort area.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Views
- After dark
- Kids
What to drink
- Butterbeer — The sweet, butterscotch-flavoured drink from the Harry Potter books, served cold, frozen or hot under a creamy topping. It contains no alcohol.
- Fresh Florida orange juice — Central Florida was once covered in citrus groves, and fresh-squeezed orange juice, with grapefruit and tangerines in winter, is still a local staple.
Evenings through the year
Sunset and the overnight low decide how long the outdoor part of a night lasts. June has the warmest evenings, with lows around 22°C (72°F).
| Month | Sunset (15th) | Overnight low | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | About 17:50 | 10°C (50°F) | 6 |
| April | About 19:51 | 16°C (61°F) | 5 |
| July | About 20:25 | 23°C (73°F) | 17 |
| October | About 18:56 | 19°C (66°F) | 7 |
Getting home late
- Bus — Disney's free buses connect its hotels, parks and Disney Springs, and LYNX public buses serve International Drive, Downtown and Kissimmee, though slowly.
- Ride-hailing — Rideshare is widely used between resort areas and for evenings out, and is usually far quicker than public buses.
Late-night bites
- Smoked turkey leg — Snack carts in Magic Kingdom's Frontierland, EPCOT and other parks.
- Fried alligator bites — Gatorland, fish camps and old-Florida restaurants around the region.
Staying safe at night
Heat, sun and dehydration are the biggest risks for visitors, so drink water and rest in the shade. Lightning is frequent in summer storms; go indoors when you hear thunder. Treat every lake and pond as potential alligator habitat, and follow official advice during hurricane warnings.
- Emergency number
- 911 (police, fire, ambulance)
Where to stay for nightlife
$$$ · Best for families, first-timers and nightlife
Universal Orlando area
Universal Orlando's hotels, from value resorts to the Portofino Bay and Hard Rock Hotel, are linked to Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure and CityWalk by walking paths, water taxis and shuttles, with buses to Epic Universe a few kilometres south. Some premium hotels include express queue access for the two original parks.
- Good
- Walk or take a boat to two parks; Express queue access with premium hotels; CityWalk restaurants and bars
- Watch out
- Far from the Disney parks; Premium hotels are expensive
- Nearby
- Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, CityWalk, Epic Universe
Questions travellers ask
+Where is the best nightlife in Orlando?
Universal CityWalk, Disney Springs and Downtown Orlando. Bars, live music and clubs outside the Universal parks, open later than the parks themselves.
+Which area of Orlando is best for nightlife?
Universal Orlando area: Universal's on-site hotels, CityWalk and walking paths to the parks.