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If you’re staying at Orlando Portofino Bay Hotel or any hotel near Universal Studios for that matter, you’ll enjoy the convenience of world-class dining and entertainment within walking distance.  Portofino Bay Hotel was designed to replicate the Mediterranean seaside resort village of Portofino, Italy. Located at Universal Citywalk, Portofino Bay is only a short walk from NASCAR sports grille, the official restaurant of NASCAR and one of the finest sports bars in the United States. Racing fans will be mesmerized by the amount of NASCAR memorabilia lining the walls and the Speed Zone interactive game room, which features virtual reality video games and speed simulators. Once you enter NASCAR Sports Grille, your eyes will be drawn to the 37-foot media wall, along with 35 TV monitors lining the restaurant. The NASCAR gear store sells officially licensed NASCAR memorabilia featuring the most popular drivers in the league. Popular dishes at NASCAR Sports Grille include appetizers like the Texas Speedway Taquitos and Boogity shrimp, lightly coated and spicy sauce. Main course choices include USDA Choice top sirloin, 10 ounce center cut, barbecue ribs and marinated chicken breasts.
Dessert favorites include 4-car pile up, creamy custard with sweet bananas and chocolate chips served with Hagen Daz vanilla ice cream and a sprinkle of chocolate chips and banana chips. The New Yorker in Key West cake combines white chocolate cake with key lime pie, whipped cream and strawberries.
Fans of the classic American movie, Forrest Gump, will love the food and atmosphere at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., also located in Citywalk. Inspired by the company formed by Forrest and his best friend Bubba, the national restaurant chain is lined with memorabilia and props recreations from Forrest Gump. Fans of the movie recall Bubba’s long list of shrimp dishes, and almost all of them are available on the menu t Bubba Gump. Seafood lovers will appreciate the tasty dishes like Dumb Luck Coconut Shrimp, served with Cajun Marmalade and fries, “I’m Stuffed!” Shrimp Large Shrimp with Crab Stuffing, baked in Garlic Butter, and topped with Monterey Jack Cheese. Served with Jasmine Rice, Mama Blue’s Southern Charmed Fried Shrimp, Shrimp New Orleans An authentic spicy recipe from our staff in the French Quarter, broiled with Butter, Garlic, and Spices, and served with Jasmine Rice and Shrimp & Veggie Stir Fry Tender sautéed Shrimp with crispy Vegetables, all tossed together with a sweet and spicy Sauce, served over rice.

Day trips to theme parks are only half of the entertainment that awaits you during your visit to Orlando. When the sun goes down in central Florida, there are still plenty of amazing places to find first-class entertainment that you’ll remember for years to come. If you’re planning to stay at a  Walt Disney World hotel, you can stroll through the unique shops, restaurants and lounges at Downtown Disney. For a lively and festive atmosphere with friendly servers and fun music, head to Jellyrolls piano club at Disney Boardwalk. Ideal for birthdays, bachelor parties and special occasions, Jellyrolls piano players interact with the audience while they crank out some of the most memorable songs from the past. Other popular lounges around Walt Disney World include ESPN Club, Raglan Road and Auggie’s Jammin Piano bar.  The Auggies Piano Bar is located in the heart of Gaylord Palms resort, and they offer nightly drinks specials and live entertainment starting at 9 p.m.
If  you’re in the mood, you and your family  might want to see Pacific Polynesian Islands, where they bring the traditions and culture of the Islands to Central Florida .  This show focuses on the traditions and culture of the Polynesian Islands through song, dance and theater. A fabulous fire dancer steals the show and your dinner consists of an exotic menus featuring savory appetizers such as pineapple-coconut Bread and mixed greens with mango poppy seed dressing. Shows run nightly, from 5:15 to 8 p.m. at Disney’s Polynesian resort.Tickets are $50for adults and $25 for kids.

One of the most fun activities to do in Downtown Disney World is to watch the nightly parade on the Boardwalk. Almost every night there is a high school band from around the country that plays at Downtown Disney World, and it is a real treat to watch these bands show off their talents.

The Holiday Inn Maingate East is the newest hotel on 192 in Kissimmee, FL, only minutes from Walt Disney World and the heart of Orlando’s tourism: International Drive. Also known as I-Drive, tourists flock to this part of Orlando for the unique and colorful shops, restaurants, attractions and rides.
Since James Cameron’s cinematic masterpiece, the story of the Titanic has lured millions of historians and average Americans. With the vast majority of the ship’s remains buried in the deep sea, the only way to see the boat’s features is through historically accurate recreations.
Titanic: the experience, offers a full scale recreation of the ship’s most remarkable features, including the grand staircase, first class suite and the bridge. At the Orlando exhibit, visitors  can learn about the mystique and history of the grand ship that suffered a doomed ending. The attraction offers an interactive museum with over 200 artifacts and historical treasures to observe.
If your legs grow tired from the long days of heavy walking, you can sit back and relax a magic show at Steve Spellman’s Magic Spectacular, located on 5515 W.Irlo Bronson Highway (Highway 192) , blends humor and illusion for a show that’s sure to please everyone in the family. Spellman’s magic show is one of the largest in the USA. You may have seen Spellman’s tricks on Comedy Central, The Tonight Show or USO tours. Spellman has spent 25 years entertaining people around the world with his magic.
If your entertainment budget is a little higher, you can check out a daily performance by the Blue Man Group at Universal Orlando Resort. Blue Man Group performances are known for their incredible visual effects with thousands of lights and blissfully colored props, complemented with an eclectic mix of music. Blue Man Group performs at the Sharp Aquos Theater, which is located on the site of Universal CityWalk.
After the show, you can find more entertainment throughout Orlando, and Putt-putt golf remains one of the most popular choices for families and groups. Congo River Golf and Pirates’ Cove golf are among the most popular courses, but Florida’s summer storms can dampen your experience.  For an indoor mini golf experience with a unique twist, you and your friends can try your hand at  indoor, glow-in-the dark golf at Putting Edge Fun Center, located on 5250 International Drive. Group packages are available and golfers are encouraged to wear white as they golf through the course covered in vibrant colors.

Independence Day, July 4th, is when many families head to Disney and this year will be no exception. Despite a slumping economy, Orlando vacation hotels have been reaching capacity and have had to turn away potential customers and the fourth has traditionally been a very busy time for Orlando vacation hotels. Recently, Orlando theme parks and orlando hotels have been very aggressive in their discounts and incentives recently and vacationers have gladly taken advantage of their offerings.

This year the July 4th holiday falls on a Saturday and many will be taking Friday off of work to make the most of their weekend on their Disney vacation. With hotel rooms booking fast, you don’t want to get left out.

The Disney July 4th weekend has always been a special one. They have always had a great nightly fireworks show for their park visitors but the July 4th fireworks show always has a little something extra added to it. This real the fireworks at the Magic Kingdom take place at 9PM.

Disney’s Magic Kingdom is the best park to catch the fireworks show at and if you are going to go, here are the best locations in the Magic Kingdom to catch the show:

1. Main Street
2. The bridge located by Tomorrow Land
3. The Plaza Restaurant. Not in the inside seating area but on the outside.
4. Close to the Riverboat, which is located on ‘Rivers of America’. there are benches available. So, if you tired from a long day at the park, you can grab a seat.
5. And for those that are really tired or just want some air conditioning, try the monorail. You still get a great view as the monorail circles around the Disney area.

If you are looking for an orlando vacation hotel be sure to call us at 1-800-641-4008 and be sure to book early.

Many tourists who visit Walt Disney World in Orlando are unaware of the non-Disney hotels located on Disney property. You can eat and sleep at several different hotels right next to Walt Disney World. Several national hotel chains are located on Disney’s grounds, including Best Western, Hilton, Royal Plaza and the Palace Resort and Hotel.

Guests staying at the Best Western get rooms with queen size beds, a balcony, a pool bar, a full lounge and two on-site restaurants, which will save you from the hassle of trying to fight your way through the long lines at the restaurants near Walt Disney World. Another convenient aspect of Best Western is the on-site Disney Store, where you can purchase your tickets for the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach. The on site Disney Store is also a great way for your kids to entertain themselves before or after a long day at the park.

Two of the world’s most well-known resorts, Hilton and Royal Plaza, have locations on Disney Property, and both are within a few short steps of Downtown Disney. Guests at all the fun at Downtown Disney.As expected, the Hilton at Disney offers an incredible list of amenities, including an on-site barber, babysitting, a business center, beauty shop, golf, valet service, a Disney character breakfast, a fitness center and swimming pools.

At the Royal Plaza Hotel Orlando your family can dine at the new Girafe Cafe. Another resort to consider for staying on Disney property is the Palace Resort and Spa Orlando, which offers a waterfront view of Downtown Disney. With convention center amenities, the Palace Resort is priced at higher rates than the other resorts listed on Orlandovacationhotels.com, but guests are sure to appreciate the incredible quality. Palace Resort offers many amenities you can’t find at nearby hotels, such as a sauna, tennis courts, a beauty salon, a 24-hour fitness facility and babysitting service.