Downtown Orlando

[Graeme]

Can anyone help me with a downtown Orlando question?

We're going for 8 nights at the end of April and have timeshare booked for the last seven. The first night I quite fancy going into DTO to see what it's like, but I don't want to spend the night looking for 'the places to go'

Where would be a nice place to be where we could walk out from the hotel and see some life/get something to eat. Also is it a friendly place to walk around at night?

I've found cheap, chain hotels such as Travelodge so that's not a problem.

 

[cheryl.UK]

Downtown Orlando is usually like a ghost town. It isn't the vibrant city you might expect. Even in mid week in the daytime its dead. We've made 3 or 4 trips just to make sure that we hadn't gone to 'wrong bit' or at the wrong time but no, it's just like that. In the Unofficial Guide to WDW there's a chapter called 'the Attraction that ate Florida' , well if Disney ate Florida...it started with Downtown Orlando.

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Church Street Station used to attract a few visitors, with restaurants and shops etc but that closed down many years ago.

Orlando is not your typical US city with skyscrapers etc, like Cheryl says Downtown Orlando is not really a place many tourists go to.

Winter Park is closeby and that is quite nice.

 

[alisonbestford]

We like Celebration too

A little bit like visiting a movie set but quaint

 

[JohnnySharp2]

We like Celebration too

A little bit like visiting a movie set but quaint

Movie set is a good description, especially if you like Stepford.

 

[disneyholic family]

Church Street Station used to attract a few visitors, with restaurants and shops etc but that closed down many years ago.

Orlando is not your typical US city with skyscrapers etc, like Cheryl says Downtown Orlando is not really a place many tourists go to.

Winter Park is closeby and that is quite nice.

actually Orlando is much more typical of US cities than the few that have a downtown with skyscrapers...
most american cities are just a conglomeration of suburbs and strip malls....
with downtowns that you wouldn't really want to be caught dead in (but you're more likely than not to end up in that condition if you're foolhardy enough to venture into them)...

 

[daveyoghurt]

Is Church Street shut down then, because I'm sure it's still being mentioned on the Florida holiday programmes on Sky? Are there a few bars open or have they all closed?

 

[Miffy2003]

Is Church Street shut down then, because I'm sure it's still being mentioned on the Florida holiday programmes on Sky? Are there a few bars open or have they all closed?

Dave, this thread is a little out of date (last year) but at that time there was not much at Church Street Station. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=863917&highlight=church

Seems there was (at that time) some stuff there but not a lot. Things may be different now though - I'm hoping Simon V will confirm this?

I remember my first trip in 1993 and while we never made it there I do recall the adverts everywhere promoting it. I guess it's been a victim of the theme parks' nightlife success? certainly I remember reading that Pleasure Island was set up to keep onsite WDW guests onsite rather than going up to Church St.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

From: http://www.orlandoinfo.com/nightlife/

Want to know where the locals go? Downtown Orlando serves up an eclectic mix of pubs, sports bars, comedy clubs, martini bars, dance clubs and sophisticated lounges. Wall Street Plaza, with eight colorful bars and restaurants lining a brick-paved street, is a great starting point for an evening of club hopping in the heart of historic downtown.

Midway between downtown and the attractions area, Blue Martini, a happening new lounge at the sophisticated The Mall at Millenia, provides an ideal spot for a happy hour martini and appetizers or late-night dinner and nightcap after an evening of shopping.

Also
http://www.churchstreetevents.com/

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Is Church Street shut down then, because I'm sure it's still being mentioned on the Florida holiday programmes on Sky? Are there a few bars open or have they all closed?

Some of the Florida clips they show on SKY are a few years old, I know there are some bars and clubs in the area where Church St used to be but not really much use perhaps when you have to drive there...?

 

[Graeme]

OK, You've all managed to put me right off!

I'm now looking at a beachfront hotel somewhere on the Atlantic side or a blowout Welcome to Florida dinner at a WDW hotel. Our flight gets into Sanford at about 1600hrs so we haven't got time to mess about the first night.

 

[Miffy2003]

Sounds good, Graeme! Let us know what you decide

 

[SimonV]

Sadly, the Church Street Station area is still waiting for its long-promised redevelopment. The only things still currently there are a sports bar, a comedy club and the Paris Hilton nightclub (which is great, if you like pink ). There is definitely more going on in the Orange Street/Wall Street locale, with a good range of bars and nightclubs. The Social is a great live music venue and the Wall Street Cantina and Have A Nice Day Cafe are both happening bars on a Friday and Saturday. The Grand Bohemian hotel has a wonderful bar and live jazz most nights, and all of this is within easy walking distance. However, it CAN seem very dead on a Monday or Tuesday evening, and it is usually only by Thursday that there seems much life in the downtown scene. Thornton Park is a good place to wander at most times of the week, and there are some excellent bars and restaurants there, too, notably Hue and Lee's Lakeside. I certainly wouldn't rule out a visit later in the week, and Saturdays are always busy, if rather raucous by closing time

 

[UKDEB]

I certainly wouldn't rule out a visit later in the week, and Saturdays are always busy, if rather raucous by closing time

Matt and I are considering a Friday/Saturday stay at the Westin Grand Bohemian at the end of our trip this October. We'll have to meet up with you and Susan and you can show us around. We do raucous rather well!