Downtown Disney

For information about nighttime activities throughout Downtown Disney, call tel. 407/939-2648.

Pleasure Island

This 6-acre complex of nightclubs, restaurants, and shops, not to mention a multiscreen movie-theater, will not disappoint those in search of an exciting night on the town. Guests can walk the grounds and enjoy the sights, sounds, and surroundings free of charge, but if you want to enter the clubs, admission is required. A single admission price, $23.38 plus tax, allows you to club hop into the wee hours every night of the week. If you prefer to head to a single club (though it may be difficult to stick to just one), admission is $11.66 (though the Comedy Club and the Adventurers Club don't offer single-club admission prices, so it's all or nothing if you want to hang at either of them). If you have a Water Park Fun & More admission ticket, you can use one of your options for a 1-night admission to all clubs on Pleasure Island. Pay special attention to Mannequins (listed a little later). This club is the cream of Pleasure Island's crop and fills quickly, so late arrivals may be left standing at the door.

Pleasure Island is designed to look like an abandoned waterfront industrial district with clubs in its lofts and warehouses. But the streets are decorated with brightly colored lights and balloons. Dozens of searchlights play overhead, and rock music emanates from the bushes. You'll be given a map and show schedule when you enter the park. Take a look at it and plan your evening around the shows that interest you. The mood is always festive both inside the clubs and out, no matter where you choose to party the night away.

Although this is Disney, it's essentially a bar district where liquor is served -- both in the clubs and on the street -- making it, in my opinion, an inappropriate destination for anyone younger than the age of 21. Also note that six out of the eight Pleasure Island clubs now require you be at least 21 to get in (the exceptions are the Comedy Warehouse and the Adventurers Club, where you must be at least 18 unless accompanied by a parent or legal guardian).

Pleasure Island has seven regular clubs, plus BET Soundstage, which is included in the ticket on nights it doesn't have a special concert going. In addition to the clubs, there are shops and eateries (some with outdoor umbrella tables) on the island -- the most notable of which is Raglan Road. Planet Hollywood is a few steps further down the way -- adjacent to Disney's West Side. (You don't need an admission ticket to eat at any of the Pleasure Island restaurants.)

For more information on Pleasure Island's clubs and events, call tel. 407/939-2648 or surf over to www.disneyworld.com. Clubs are open daily from 7pm to 2am; shops open at 11am, and some are open till midnight or later. There's free self-parking, but as the night wears on spots can become very hard to find.

The Luck of the Irish -- The Great Irish Pubs of Florida, Inc. (the company that created the Nine Fine Irishmen pub in Las Vegas's New York-New York Hotel & Casino) has brought the luck of the Irish to Downtown Disney. In October 2005, on the former site of the Pleasure Island Jazz Company, Raglan Road opened its doors to the public. The pub is an impressive and inviting addition to Disney's collection of unique eateries, immersing guests in a wholly Irish environment that includes custom-made furnishings direct from the Emerald Isles, incredibly high ceilings, rich woodwork, and leaded glass. The spirited atmosphere, where singing, dancing, and clapping are all encouraged, is enhanced by the live nightly entertainment. And the food's pretty good, too, thanks to the culinary creations of Kevin Dundon, one of Ireland's most celebrated chefs.

Disney's West Side

This area adjoins Pleasure Island and offers additional shops, restaurants, and a 24-screen AMC Theater.

Not Your Ordinary Circus -- Lions and tigers and bears?

Oh, no. But you won't feel cheated.

This Disney partnership with Cirque du Soleil, the famous Montréal-based, no-animals circus, is located in Downtown Disney West Side. The eye-popping La Nouba (derived from the French for "to live it up"), set in a custom-built, state-of-the-art theater, is a Fellini-style amalgam of live music, dance, theater, and acrobatics that will have your jaw dropping in no time at all. Highlights include a cyclist who does things with a bicycle that would make an X-Gamer jealous, a spectacular coordinated trampoline performance, and a pint-sized troupe of Chinese acrobats who do tricks with diabolos (Chinese yo-yos) that bring the house down. I rank this one just beneath Las Vegas's Mystère, though the comedic interludes in this production are the best of all the permanent Cirque shows.

That said, though La Nouba is a ton of fun, it's also one of the priciest shows in town, so you need to decide if your budget can take the hit. Ticket prices vary according to location (don't feel you must spend extra for the expensive seats -- nearly every spot in the theater offers a good view) and range from $63 to $112 for adults, and $50 to $90 for children ages 3 to 9 (plus 6.5% sales tax). Yes, it's an expensive 90 minutes, but do keep in mind that prices here are the cheapest of all the permanent Cirque productions in the U.S. Shows are at 6 and 9pm, Tuesdays through Saturdays, though the show is dark 6 weeks each year. There are occasional matinees, so call ahead (tel. 407/939-7600) or check the show's website (www.cirquedusoleil.com) for information and tickets.