Extra Night Activities

[TraderAsh]

Im looking for extra things to do at night after a day at the parks... Im staying at the Sheraton Studio City Hotel very close to the gate of Universal... what extra things are close by or within walking distance to do? Im really thinking about going to see "La Nouba" the cirque show at Downtown Disney b/c ive wanted to do it forever... im definatly open to any other suggestions... got any??? thanks!

 

[Disney Debbie]

Well, there's City Walk of course!

But if you have the money to see La Nouba - I'd go for it . I haven't seen it but I've seen both their shows in Las Vegas and they are SPECTACULAR! I've just never had any extra money in Orlando to go to one of them - I need to plan a weekend just to do that I guess!

 

[the Dark Marauder]

La Nouba is amazing.

 

[DocBosch]

You could also do Dusney Quest.

I tried to do this last visit, but I drove around the Disney property for a while, and ended up parking on the opposite end of Downtown Disney. With stopping and checking out the stores, once I got to Disney Quest, it was already closing.

-Kevin

 

[robvia]

I've done Arabian Nights many times with my daughter. We now own a 9 year old T-bred. Food is good, and you get unlimited beer and wine, kids get soft drinks. Girls will like the show because of the story and the horses. For those who haven't gone, here's what happens.
You enter a stadium like arena, think of a hockey rink with dirt. There is a fire in the middle with fog and music playing. You sit in chairs behind a counter top like table which streatches across your row. As you arrive there is a salad already there. Servers come around and fill your glass with what ever drink you want. The show starts, a fairy tale prince and princess meet, horses, dancers, and the king telling the story. Dinner is served, it's veggie lazagna, chicken fingers, or meat slice with veggies. The princess is captured and taken away. The prince has to find her, and get her back. In the middle of the show, there are stunts, a chariott race, and a little comedy bit involving a horse. One of the characters has a birthday celebration, and they bring out cake for everyone (desert). Of coarse, the story has a happy ending, the prince and princess get back together and live happily ever after.

The thing about going to a show like this, is you usually have to leave the park around 3pm or so to get ready. Because at Arabian Nights, to get the middle rows down low, you have to be there early. It's first come first served. And bring some extra cash because they expect you to tip the servers. It's worth it.
https://secure26.softcomca.com/arabian-nights_com/res.htm

Not sure how La Nouba works with the seating arrangement, but I'm sure you gotta be there early.

 

[kellymonaghan]

You could walk to Fun Spot, which is a little like an old-fashioned small town amusement park. It stays opens fairly late in season.

It has a ferris wheel and what I think is the coolest go-kart track in Orlando. It's made of wood and apparently the design is copyrighted, which has resulted in a spat between Fun Spot and Magical Midway (also on I-Drive).

Of the dinner shows, Sleuths and Pirate Dinner Adventure are the closest to where you'll be staying. Both fun, but very different shows.

If you're a skateboarder, check out Van's, up I-Drive towards Belz Outlet Mall.

 

[TraderAsh]

Ive heard allot about Sleuths... is it any good?? we are theatre people so we enjoy that kind of stuff... Im still thinkin allot about La Nouba too... I think we will plan on arriving at the hotel around 5:00 pm on Friday July 18th and then find something to do that night.. Saturday at Universal, Sunday at Islands and then Monday we will probably go back to Universal to do "re-rides" and then leave that night.... I really want to find something to impress the folks im going with for our first night.... to sorta "set the mood" if you know what I mean... Im saving bunches through a special deal i got with work and Ill only be paying about $65 a night for the Sheraton so ill have some extra cash....any more ideas... Arabian Knights sounds cool too... someone help me decide!!!

 

[the Dark Marauder]

Sleuths is fun. You watch the show and hafta figure out "who done it". Your table will choose a captain whom gets to ask one of the characters any question you can think of. It's fun stuff.

 

[TraderAsh]

Okay Folks, Ive decided for our first night we are going to Disney quest around 4:00, having dinner at The House Of Blues around seven and Going to Cirque at 8:30... and expensive yet enjoyable.. I might drop the DisneyQuest part and just go shopping... is Disney Quest really worth all that money to get in?????? get back to me!!! Luv ya!!!!!!

 

[TraderAsh]

Ahhhhhhhh... poo! It looks like im gonna have to take a Taxi to DisneyQuest...The Sheraton doesnt provide transportation to Down Town Disney... its very close to universal... so how much do you think cab fare would cost??? someone told me $20 from WDW to universal I hope not...

 

[the Dark Marauder]

$20 sounds about right for a taxi to/from WDW to US.

As for Disney Quest, that's something you need at least 5-6 hours to see and enjoy. Some can get it all done in 3-4, but I like to spend time playing classic games.

 

[ColUK]

I stayed at the Radisson Universal 3 weeks ago and a cab to Pleasure Island was was about $25 (inc tip) Sheraton will be slighty less but not much in it.
You could get the I Ride to the stop outside Seaworld and get the Lynx from there to Disney but not sure about where it stops in Disney. Also the time taken will be quite a while compared to a cab.

 

[Disney Debbie]

I'd skip Disney Quest - too much money for too little time!

 

[TraderAsh]

Geez.... that stinks... Im not skipping Cirque... ill just go shopping around instead of Disney Quest but im not skipping Cirque!!! So that means I still have to find transportation... Is $25 including the entire trip to Down Town Disney and back or just to Down Town Disney??? I couldnt imagine spending $50 on a cab... that would make me mad... I may break my rules and use my car but I HATE to drive after ive parked my car at the beginning of a vacation to Orlando... I DESPISE doing that... If I could find any other way to get to downtown disney it would be great... hmmm maybe ill hitch hike.... its times like these ill be needing one of those DeLoreans .... How can I get there cheaply w/o driving and if (worst case) I have to drive is it easy to get from where ill be to DTD??? Help again!!!

 

[the Dark Marauder]

It would be $25 one way, then another $25 back to the hotel. The easiest way to get there if you have to drive is to just take I-4 Westbound.

 

[Disney Debbie]

I know what you mean about parking your car! We're the same way. We're making a first night/day exception to that rule ourselves this trip! Our first night we're at the Radisson Parkway and will drive to Sea World the next day and then check in at RPR that evening. THEN we won't move the car until it's time to go!

I'd definitely drive it - it's not hard to find DTD - there's tons of signage. $50 is almost the cost of one of the Cirque tickets! Since it's your first night as well - give yourself a "first night" exception like we are

Does the Sheraton provide transportation to ANY WDW park? You could go to a park and then catch a bus to DTD - but you'll probably be adding 2 hours round trip to your travel time just to avoid driving your car. The bus service from the parks to DTD is not nearly as efficient or as often. Also, you'd still have to coordinate getting back to a park to the be picked up by the Sheraton. It wouldn't be worth it to me - but it may be a possibility if it's that big a deal to you.

 

[TraderAsh]

I think ill call the concierge at the Sheraton and see if they can arrange something... I doubt ill have any luck but I guess its worth a try..... theres no other way... thats so expensive!!! makes me apreciate the free transportation i am recieving!

 

[kellymonaghan]

Originally posted by TraderAsh
Ive heard allot about Sleuths... is it any good?? we are theatre people so we enjoy that kind of stuff...

In that case, I think you might get a charge out of Sleuths. Much of it is improvised and some of the performers are quite talented and very funny.

It's a bit of a crap shoot, of course. There's no way of knowing if the best performers will be on at any given show. My understanding is that that each show (there are a fair number of different ones) is cast three or four deep -- that is, they have three or four actors they can call on for any given role.

 

[TraderAsh]

Sleuths sounds good... I will Consider it but I reeeeaaallly wanna see Cirque. I think we will drive but not untill i try to find every way not to!!! From what I understand there is really nothing like cirque in this part of the country... and ive been dieing to see it since it came to Orlando... I even own some of the cirque videos but havent been to one yet... so natrully I have to see it!!! maybe we will just see how things go untill the night we get there and ill just put some money aside and if we decide to go, ill buy the tickets at the door... I like to pre-buy tho.... but maybe I can sacrifice it... on the other hand maybe ill just sacrifice 50 smackerz and take the darn taxi!! I mean this is my vacation!! we'll see... ill probably end up at skull island on night to... I wonder if that is within walking distance of the Sheraton... does anyone know?

 

[ColUK]

Skull Kingdom is about 250 yards from the entrance of the Sheraton. Never been there but I think there was a thread here that said it wasn't so good but im sure someone will post about it.
You can phone Mears and they have shared shuttle rides that pick up from various places, you need to book 24 hours in advance but quite a bit cheaper. According to their website to get a round trip from the airport to the Sheraton is $24 so I would expect Disney to be about the same price.
The I ride stops right outside the hotel and you should be able to get day passes from the Univesal desk inside. I know 3, 5 & 7 day passes work out $1 per day for unlimited rides.