One of the great things about Orlando is its diverse collection of entertainment options. Families can enjoy anything from theme parks to water parks, or indoor skydiving to horseback riding all right in the heart of Central Florida. And just as diverse as the daytime activities are, the nighttime hot spots are even more varied, with traditional nightlife spots such as bars and clubs mixed in with a wide assortment of dinner shows and Broadway-caliber performances that give adults many options when it comes to where their after-hours fun will come from!

If you are looking for a great place to go to dinner but would also like to be entertained throughout the evening, dinner shows are great ways to enjoy a night of either family fun or a night on the town for two. Orlando has perhaps the best collection of dinner shows in the entire country, with venues that have their shows down to perfection. In nearby Kissimmee, Fla., Medieval Times entertain guests with performances on horseback, while the Pirate’s Dinner Adventure provides an engaging battle between pirates in an epic setting that includes a 50-foot long ship anchored in an indoor lagoon (and did we mention an after-party?). Even better yet, YOU can become part of the show at the Sleuths Mystery Dinner Shows as you become the detective! And if dancing is what you’re looking for, then Mango’s Tropical Cafe is the place to be with a full live band and Latin-inspired music that will have you dancing the night away.

The local theme parks also get into the act when it comes to dinner shows, as two of the top performances are located at these popular tourist destinations. The Walt Disney World ® Resort plays host to the Hoop Dee Doo Musical Revue, a musical with down-home southern cooking at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campgrounds, while SeaWorld Orlando transports guests to the Pacific Isles each night with the Makahiki Luau. Universal Orlando’s CityWalk also has a pulse-pounding hit on their hands with a resident show of Blue Man Group!

The concept of a dinner show or a theater performance might not be on the forefront of some guests’ thoughts when it comes to nightlife, but these top shows in Orlando definitely give visitors to the area a whole new way to have fun when the sun in the Sunshine State goes down!