Nightlife

For those of who you actually have the energy after a day at the parks and simply can't call it quits, Orlando has plenty of after-dark venues suitable for a night out on the town. That said, even if you're Orlando veterans and not first-timers (the ones most likely to overdo it), if you try to go-go-go from morning until night, you will be completely exhausted after only a few days and will end up needing a vacation after your vacation.

The success of Universal's CityWalk, a district filled with a variety of clubs, shops, and themed restaurants, shows that many visitors have the pizzazz to withstand life after a day of schlepping around the House of Mouse. But don't think Downtown Disney West Side, Pleasure Island (soon to be Hyperion Wharf), and the Marketplace (each filled with its own unique lineup of shops, themed restaurants, and attractions) are hurting for business. The clubs may have closed (a re-imagined Pleasure Island filled with upscale shops and trendy eateries is beginning to emerge, its appeal widened with every unique addition), but the shops and restaurants found throughout Downtown Disney are typically filled to capacity.

Check the "Calendar" section of Friday's Orlando Sentinel for up-to-the-minute details on local clubs, visiting performers, concerts, and events. Many of its listings are also online at www.orlandosentinel.com. The Orlando Weekly, published every Thursday, is a free magazine found in red boxes throughout Central Florida. It highlights more offbeat performances. You can see it online at www.orlandoweekly.com. Another good source on the Internet is www.visitorlando.com, operated by the Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau.

A Night Out -- Several of the higher-priced Disney resorts -- including Animal Kingdom Lodge, Beach Club, Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, and Wilderness Lodge, as well as the Polynesian Resort -- have supervised kid care, usually from 4 or 4:30pm to midnight daily ($11.25 per child 4-12 per hour, dinner and activities included; tel. 407/939-3463). Disney also offers in-room sitters through Kid's Night Out (tel. 407/827-5444). The Walt Disney World Dolphin, an "official" resort, offers a supervised child-care program as well.

The Performing Arts

While Disney occasionally hosts classical music acts, you'll usually have to go downtown to get a taste of the traditional arts.

Disney does not turn into a pumpkin when the sun goes down, offering plenty of nighttime entertainment, including laser-light shows, fireworks, IllumiNations, and Fantasmic!. There are also two distinctly different dinner shows worthy of special note, the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue and Disney's Spirit of Aloha, and a third show that's an occasional player. Note: While they offer family-friendly entertainment, don't expect haute cuisine. The food, though good, takes a back seat to the show.

If You're Lucky . . . -- Mickey's Backyard BBQ (tel. 407/939-3463; www.disneyworld.com) is offered at Pioneer Hall at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground, where Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn allow you onto their home turf to have a thigh-slapping time and a feast in a covered outdoor pavilion. Expect Mickey and his pals to join you for a meal that includes barbecued pork ribs, chicken, cheeseburgers, hot dogs, corn on the cob, baked beans, mac and cheese, watermelon, beer, wine, lemonade, iced tea, and dessert. Meals are served at 6:30 and 9:30pm and cost $44.99 for adults, $26.99 for kids 3 to 9, including tax and tip. It happens only on Thursdays and Saturdays, generally from March through December, but the weather plays a big factor and shows are canceled at times, so call ahead. Advance Reservations are accepted up to 180 days ahead. Payment in full is expected at the time of booking.