Best Dinner Date Night Ideas In Orlando, Florida

Orlando, Florida, is famous for its world-class theme parks, including the iconic Disney World and Universal Studios. But the city offers more than thrill rides and Mickey Mouse. It's also home to a vibrant food scene with something for everyone. From award-winning romantic restaurants to cozy courtyards and fabulous waterfront dining, this guide will introduce you to some of Orlando's best dinner date night spots. Whether you're a local or a visitor, this guide will help you plan a memorable evening in The City Beautiful.

The Old Jailhouse

What's New in Orlando (Jan. 2024)

Stadium Club at Caribe Royale Orlando: Caribe Royale Orlando Resort will very soon open the one-of-a-kind, sports-themed Stadium Club. The city’s most high-tech and immersive experiential sports entertainment destination, Stadium Club will seamlessly blend the exhilaration of sports with the allure of high-energy entertainment, creating a fun atmosphere for fans of all ages. Guests can test their skills on pro-level sports simulators, featuring 12 interactive games, and enjoy an exquisite menu pushing traditional sports bar offerings to new heights, helmed by star-studded chefs Janine Booth and Jeff McInnis.

Holiday Happenings at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin

 

This holiday season, the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin will offer a full slate of new yuletide offerings as well as festive favorites returning to Santa’s Favorite Resort on select nights.

This year’s holiday season celebration includes:   NEW – Elf Outpost Santa’s elves have set up shop at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin – and they’re happy to show you around! Join Santa’s elves for a tour of their Elf Outpost, including the toy workshop and bakery, where guests can enjoy complimentary cookie decorating. The fully stocked toy workshop will also offer crafts and toys for purchase.

Stay near the magic at a Disney Springs® Resort Area Hotel – book now for 20% off best available rates!

Save 20% this fall at Disney Springs® Resort Area Hotels, steps away from the enchantment, excitement, and signature events at Walt Disney World® Theme Parks and Disney Springs®.

Photo credit: ©Disney

Stay Near the Magic

Special rates are available to book August 15 through November 30, 2023, for stays September 5 through December 21, 2023, based on availability. Some blackout dates may apply, and availability may be limited. The rates do not include Resort Service Fees or daily parking fees (if applicable), taxes, or gratuities. The offer is exclusively available through the promotion website and is not valid with any other special offers, promotions, existing reservations, or for groups.

THE SUNSHINE FLYER CELEBRATES ITS SECOND SUMMER WITH KIDS RIDING FREE

Summer pricing is in effect on reservations made now through the end of May

The Sunshine Flyer has announced limited-time, summer special pricing with kids riding free on its themed motorcoach experience that takes guests from Orlando International Airport (MCO) to Walt Disney World® Resorts.

Convenient and cost-effective, the Sunshine Flyer offers an engaging transportation experience that allows guests to start the magic of their Walt Disney World® vacation from the moment they step off the plane.

DISNEY SPRINGS® RESORT AREA HOTELS OFFER ROOM RATES STARTING AT $97 FOR STAYS MAY 1 – AUGUST 31, 2023

Stay near the Thrills at Disney Springs® Resort Area Hotels and enjoy enchantment, excitement, and incomparable experiences at all four Walt Disney World® Theme Parks with extra perks and savings exclusively for hotel guests. 

Disney Springs® Resort Area Hotels include seven properties conveniently located in the Walt Disney World® Resort with spacious accommodations, luxurious amenities, dining, and recreation offerings. Each resort is an Official Walt Disney World® Hotel and is within walking distance of the area's finest shopping, dining, and entertainment via the pedestrian sky bridge to Disney Springs®. 

CLICK HERE: Stay near the Thrills with rooms starting at $97 

Book a guestroom* at one of the Disney Springs® Resort Area Hotels between May 1 and August 31, 2023, then buy a Theme Park ticket and make a park reservation to begin a thrilling adventure to soar on a Banshee high above Pandora – The World of Avatar, meet your favorite Disney Character, or launch into TRON Lightcycle / Run presented by Enterprise, a high-tech, high-speed thrill ride now open at Magic Kingdom® Park.   

Photo credit: ©Disney 

The magic is in full bloom this season with an exhilarating line-up of new and beloved experiences across The Most Magical Place on Earth including EPCOT® International Flower & Garden Festival, now through July 5; the return of Happily Ever After nighttime fireworks extravaganza at Magic Kingdom® Park; and Disney After Hours, fun-filled events that give you three hours – after hours – to enjoy favorite attractions and experiences with lower wait times, select nights now through August 24. 

Disney Springs® Resort Area Hotels guests receive additional savings to add value to their Orlando area vacation experience including:  

• Complimentary transportation – Daily bus shuttle service is available to all Walt Disney World® Theme Parks for Disney Springs® Resort Area Hotel guests. Individual hotel shuttle schedules vary.   
• Early Access – Disney Springs® Resort Area Hotel guests enjoy even more magic with exclusive 30-minute early entry to any theme park every day.   
• Golf - Tee times can be booked up to 90 days in advance with discounts on greens fees and rental equipment to play on all four Walt Disney World® Golf championship courses. 

* Special room rates are available for stays May 1 through August 31, 2023, based on availability. Some blackout dates may apply, and availability may be limited. The rates do not include Resort Services Fee, daily parking fee (if applicable), taxes, or gratuities. The offer is not valid with any other special offers, promotions, existing reservations, or for groups.  

A Theme Park reservation via the Disney Park Pass system and a valid admission for the same Park on the same date are required for each person in your party ages 3 and up. Reservations are limited and subject to availability. 

The Disney Springs® Resort Area Hotels includes B Resort & Spa, DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Orlando, Drury Plaza Hotel Orlando, Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace, Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista, Holiday Inn Orlando Disney Springs, and Wyndham Garden Lake Buena Vista. Sign up for special offers and seasonal promotions at https://disneyspringshotels.com/. 

The Drury Plaza Hotel Orlando within the Disney Springs® Area Officially Opens

Drury Hotels Company welcomed the first guests to the Drury Plaza Hotel Orlando within the Disney Springs® Area on December 7, 2022. An Official Walt Disney World® Hotel, the property features all of Drury’s acclaimed best-in-class amenities and a highly sought-after location within walking distance of Disney Springs® - all with no resort fee. 

Guests enjoy Drury’s amenities in the heart of the Disney Springs® Resort Area with no resort fee 

TOP FIVE REASONS TO STAY AND SAVE AT DISNEY SPRINGS® RESORT AREA HOTELS

Book your vacation at Disney Springs® Resort Area Hotels and enjoy the enchantment, excitement, and adventure of Walt Disney World® theme parks with extra perks and savings exclusively for hotel guests. 

The magic is calling this season with a spectacular line-up of events and celebrations across The Most Magical Place on Earth including Walt Disney World® 50th Celebration, now through March 31, EPCOT® International Festival of Arts, now through Feb. 20, EPCOT® International Festival of Arts presented by AT&T, March 1 through July 5, and TRON Lightcycle / Run beginning April 4, 2023. 

Fun things to do around Orlando on Labor Day Weekend

 

Celebrate Labor Day Weekend with four days of family-friendly fun and music at Promenade at Sunset Walk Orlando! From Friday, Sept. 2 through Monday, Sept. 5, guests will enjoy over 10 live musical acts and DJ’s, both at Promenade Plaza and in the Euphoria Fish House Lounge at the Margaritaville Resort Orlando Hotel. Plus, attendees can check out the over 20 dining, retail and entertainment venues that have made Promenade at Sunset Walk a must-visit destination. Admission to the event and parking are both FREE. For the full weekend schedule, click HERE.  

A 'Grand' Opening: Disney Vacation Club Commemorates New Resort Studios at The Villas at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

Today, Disney Vacation Club® executives, invited guests and some special Disney friends gathered to celebrate the opening of the new resort studios at The Villas at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa at Walt Disney World Resort. The recent expansion added more than 200 resort studios providing the opportunity for more Disney Vacation Club members to call this beloved resort "home."  

The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa Disney Vacation Club celebrated the opening of the new resort studios at The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa at Walt Disney World Resort with a dedication ceremony. Remarks were shared by Bill Diercksen, senior vice president and general manager, Disney Vacation Club. (David Roark, photographer)

The Sunshine Flyer Celebrates its First Summer With Kids Riding Free

 Summer pricing is in effect on reservations made now through the end of July, marking the first summer in operations for the themed motorcoach service

The Sunshine Flyer has announced limited-time, summer special pricing with kids riding free on its themed motorcoach experience that takes guests from Orlando International Airport (MCO) to Walt Disney World® Resorts. The Sunshine Flyer launched in December 2021 and special pricing is a token of gratitude to the city of Orlando and Sunshine Flyer guests for the warm welcome they have received in Florida.

Disney On Ice presents Road Trip Adventures Takes Families on a Fun-Fueled Excursion to Iconic Disney Destinations

Disney On Ice presents Road Trip Adventures will whisk families away on an immersive getaway chock-full of magical participatory moments. Featuring new and classic tales, this multi-generational experience visits Amway Center from September 2 – 4.

Disney On Ice Preferred Customers can purchase advance tickets starting today, June 7th, to get the best seats available before tickets go on-sale to the general public on June 14th.  Fans can still sign up to become a Disney On Ice Preferred Customer and get exclusive access to the pre-sale offer code.

Give Kids The World Village Offers Chance To Win Maiden Voyage Cruise Tower Suite Experience To Help Grant Wishes For Critically Ill Children

Give Kids The World is making a splash this summer by offering the chance to win a Five-Night Bahamian Cruise for up to eight persons departing from Port Canaveral, FL, on July 14, 2022. One lucky Grand Prize Winner and guests will travel aboard the Maiden Voyage of the Disney Wish and stay in the Wish Tower Suite – a first-of-its-kind, two-story “Moana” inspired suite perched high in the funnel above the upper decks, featuring a private entrance; double-height floor-to-ceiling windows; and sweeping ocean views. The Grand Prize Package also includes domestic round-trip airfare for eight guests from any U.S. city to Orlando, FL, the majority of meals on board the ship, onboard gratuities, and unlimited family entertainment.

Aladdin 30th Anniversary Reunion Highlights Give Kids The World’s DIS Con 2022, September 30 – October 1 at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort

An Aladdin 30th Anniversary Reunion will headline DIS Con 2022, a one-of-a-kind expo celebrating all facets of the wonderful world of Disney – from Disney, Marvel and Pixar animation to film, television, theme parks, music and memorabilia. Featuring more than 50 iconic Disney personalities participating in presentations, panels and meet and greets on two stages, this second-annual event will take place on Friday, September 30, and Saturday, October 1, at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort (1000 W. Buena Vista Drive, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830.) An exclusive After Hours Party sponsored by Yogibo will also be held at EPCOT® on October 1, EPCOT®’s 40th anniversary. 

Tickets Are On Sale Now: www.gktw.org/discon/

Head to Raglan Road for The Mighty St. Patrick's Day Festival

The Mighty Festival has returned to Raglan Road Irish Pub and Restaurant at Disney Springs and guests can celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with live music and entertainment and a delicious menu of festive food and beverage. 

First Drury Hotels property in the Disney Springs® Area in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, nears completion

Drury Hotels Company is planning a magical year for its guests. The company's largest hotel to date, the Drury Plaza Hotel Orlando Lake Buena Vista, is nearing completion and will begin to welcome guests by fall 2022, with reservations now being accepted for Oct. 27, 2022 and beyond. The new hotel, located in the Disney Springs® Area in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, is the company's first Official Walt Disney World® Hotel and the fourth Drury Hotel in the state. The entire project – which includes 604 rooms and more than 17,000+ square feet of meeting and event space – will be complete by the spring of 2023, with the first 264 rooms available by fall 2022. The new hotel will feature a host of amenities and is in close proximity to the Walt Disney World® Theme Parks.

Opening Fall 2022

New Disney Shuttle Service, The Sunshine Flyer, To Transport Guests from OIA to WDW

Transportation Management Services (TMS) today announced the launch of The Sunshine Flyer, a themed motorcoach bus experience that will transport guests from the Orlando International Airport (MCO) to Walt Disney World® Resorts. Offering a convenient and cost-effective mode of transportation, The Sunshine Flyer will allow guests to start the magic of their Disney vacation from the moment they step off the plane. 

Whirlpool Brand Celebrates Disney's Encanto, Brings A Touch Of Magic To Families Everywhere

Whirlpool Brand Celebrates Disney's Encanto, Brings A Touch Of Magic To Families Everywhere

Ahead of its theatrical release, Whirlpool brand today announces a collaboration with Disney's Encanto, coming to theaters November 24.

Encanto tells the story of a family that lives hidden in the mountains of Colombia in a magical house that blesses each of the family members with unique gifts. Through the film, it is clear that a touch of magic can play a meaningful role in the home. Whirlpool brand believes in the immense power of small acts of care and how a touch of magic can help make caregiving easier for all families.

VIDEO BY WHIRLPOOL 

Click here to enlarge

Space 220 Restaurant in EPCOT at Walt Disney World Resort Lifts Off

Aspiring astronauts, gastronomes, and space enthusiasts can suit up and prepare for liftoff because Patina Restaurant Group’s highly anticipated Space 220 Restaurant in EPCOT® at Walt Disney World® Resort is now open. The first-of-its-kind restaurant concept promises to virtually lift guests to a new “height of dining.” Reservations are now available to book with seating beginning on September 27.

(Todd Anderson, photographer)

Celebrating its inaugural mission today, a dedication ceremony featured executives from Patina Restaurant Group, Delaware North (Patina Restaurant Group’s parent company), Disney, and very special guests Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse. Mickey and Minnie helped wish travelers a magical “flight” during their maiden voyage to Space 220. Following the ribbon-cutting, media guests were given a tour of the restaurant and the opportunity to sample signature menu items.

“At Space 220, we hope to take guests on a culinary journey with our signature prix fixe menu that will let them customize the perfect meals for their crew and expedite their trip to space and back, allowing them ample time to enjoy all that EPCOT has to offer,” said Patina Restaurant Group Marketing Director Kyle Collins.

“With Space 220, we now have a fine dining experience in our World Discovery neighborhood of the Park – and a chance for our EPCOT guests to experience a restaurant that is truly out of this world!” added Walt Disney Imagineering Creative Portfolio Executive Tom Fitzgerald.

When visiting one of the country’s most anticipated restaurants to open this year, guests will feel as if they are transported 220 miles above Earth to the Centauri Space Station – they will see EPCOT drop away under their feet and look up to see the rapidly approaching station. The scenic journey is fun for the whole family and phase one of Space 220’s immersive dining experience, providing guests with stellar views of Earth by day and night. Phase two begins once they step off the space elevator, walking past a Grow Zone of spinning produce representing the fresh ingredients on the menu, while they’re guided to their table by a Space 220 crew member. Once seated, all guests will have panoramic views of Earth as the backdrop to an out-of-this-world dining experience.

A supernova of flavors awaits diners daily for lunch and dinner at Space 220 beginning at 11:30 a.m. With Executive Chef Marc Kusche at the helm, the restaurant serves upscale, contemporary fare, featuring a two-course prix fixe menu for lunch and a three-course prix fixe menu for dinner. Guests will enjoy a selection of lift-off appetizers, star course main entrees, and a choice of supernova sweets for dessert. Satellite sides will also be available a la carte, and visitors can expect unique beverages with a colorful lineup of atmospheric spirits, zero proof (non-alcoholic) cocktails, big dipper brews, and worldly wines. Some crew favorites include the following signature menu items:

Two-Course Lunch – $55

Includes one Lift-Off appetizer and one Star Course entrée

Lift-Offs

• Big Bang Burrata
• Starry Calamari
• Blue Moon Cauliflower
• Neptuna Tartare
• Space Greens

Star Course

• Bluehouse Salmon
• Centauri Burger
• Flat Iron Steak
• Seared Tuna
• Baked Maccheroni

Three-Course Dinner – $79

Includes one Lift-Off appetizer, one Star Course entrée, and one Supernova Sweet

Lift-Offs

• Big Bang Burrata
• Starry Calamari
• Blue Moon Cauliflower
• Neptuna Tartare
• Space Greens

Star Course

• 8 oz. Filet Mignon
• Slow Rotation Short Rib
• Florida Red Snapper
• X2 Duck
• Terra-Bolognese
• Roasted Free-Range Chicken

Supernova Sweets

• Lemon Mousse
• Sticky Toffee Pudding Cake
• Chocolate Cheesecake

Drinks

Atmospheric Spirits 

• Stargarita
• Atmospritz – Served with a cotton candy cloud
• The Big Tang – Served with “Astronaut Ice Cream”
• Planetary Punch – Served over dry ice
• Celestial Cosmopolitan

Zero Proof Cocktails

These drinks come in a special Space 220 collectible cup

• Lightyear Lemonade – Made with butterfly pea tea
• The Milky Way – Served with a fun-size “Milky Way” garnish
• Moon Rocks – Served with a pack of popping candy garnish

With the purchase of any zero proof (non-alcoholic) cocktail or children’s meal, guests will receive a pack of Space 220 Collectible Trading Cards. Designed exclusively for and only distributed at Space 220, these limited-edition packs of cards feature custom illustrations and trivia facts about space exploration, food in space, and the sky-high innovations at Space 220.

Stay in the know about all the latest interstellar news regarding Space 220 by visiting www.space220restaurant.comand by following along on their social media platforms @Space220Fla on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Gluten free Breakfast Skillet at Disney's Whispering Canyon

I love a good breakfast, especially if it involves Mickey waffles!  Whispering Canyon Cafe at Disney's Wilderness Lodge is one of my favorite breakfast spots. The log-cabin ambience is relaxing and the waiters are fully of personality. I have dined here in the past but this weekend was my first time requesting the "gluten free" skillet.