Local businesses join forces to promote Orlando Entertainment District

Local attractions, bars, restaurants, and nightclubs on Orlando’s International Drive have banded together to create the Orlando Entertainment District to increase communication with local residents.

“Orlando has a rich history of vibrant entertainment districts, such as Church Street Station in the 1970s-’80s, and then Pleasure Island in [the] ’90s and early 2000s,” said Chris Jaskiewicz, president and CEO of Icon Park. “We now have what those spots had and more – nightly live entertainment at Ole Red and Tin Roof, fun nightclubs such as Mango’s, top restaurants such as Yard House, Uncle Julio’s, Sugar Factory, three dinner theatres, bowling, and 15 great attractions from the 400-foot-high Wheel to a Titanic museum with hundreds of artifacts recovered from the ship.”

Over the past 10 years, billions of dollars have been invested in International Drive. In 2015, Orange County’s I-Drive 2040 Vision plan was adopted with a special district as the gateway to International Drive, and now local businesses are taking the steps toward officially branding it as the Entertainment District.

“This is a perfect example of the public and private sectors working together in a smart way – Orange County created a gateway district under their 2040 Vision Plan and now business leaders are branding it to help all businesses on International Drive,” said Luann Brooks, executive director of the International Drive Business Improvement District.

The newly-named district now has a website and social media presence to help increase awareness about the following I-Drive venues:

• Icon Park – A 20-acre open-air dining, shopping and attraction destination in heart of I-Drive which is home to attractions The Wheel, Madame Tussauds, SEA LIFE Aquarium, Pearl Express children’s train, Arcade City, and 7D Darkride Adventure and restaurants and bars including Yard House, Tin Roof, Uncle Julio’s, Ole Red, Tapa Toro, Sugar Factory, Buffalo Wild Wings and Shake Shack.
• Mango’s Tropical Café – A nightclub offering Brazilian Samba, Cuban Conga and a variety of Latin beats to Hip-hop, 80s & 90s hits and Michael Jackson Acts also known for its Dinner & Show, a throwback to the classic supper clubs of yesteryear: The “Tropicana” in Havana, Cuba and the Cotton Club of New York City.
• Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition – Takes guests on a journey back in time to April 1912, when the ship embarked on its maiden voyage. Guests receive a replica boarding pass, assume the role of a passenger and follow a chronological journey through life on Titanic. The Exhibition features more than 300 artifacts directly from the wreck site of Titanic. Access full-scale room re-creations including the famous Grand Staircase, Promenade Deck and First Class Cabin.
• Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! – Features self guided tours of hundreds of exhibits from the worlds of science, hands-on interactive displays, videos, wax figures, cartoons, photos, rare artifacts, and special effects.
• Pirate’s Cove Golf – Voted “Best Miniature Golf” in Florida, players putt through mountain caves, across a full-scale pirate ship, over footbridges and under cascading waterfalls.
• Kings Dining & Entertainment – Features luxury bowling, billiards, energetic music, sports viewing, nostalgic retro video gaming, and food and drinks.
• Pirates Dinner Adventure – A dinner show for children and adults alike featuring a cast of entertainers, acrobats, and cutthroats – sword fights, songs, sea monsters, and a captain’s feast.
• Sleuth’s Mystery Dinner Shows (temporarily closed) – A 45 minute comedy mystery where all the clues are presented to dinner guests who formulate questions for a live interrogation to help solve the crime.

You can find the Orlando Entertainment District near I-4, Universal Boulevard, the Beachline, and the Turnpike on International Drive. For more information, visit OrlandoEntertainmentDistrict.com.