House of Blue on Industry Night (Sundays)
Located on the West Side of Downtown Disney, HOB opens up on Sundays to anyone 18+ (21 to drink) and shows them a great time with a DJ, dancing and of course drink specials! The reason why everyone goes on Sundays is that it is Industry Night. Anyone 21 and over gets in FREE with a Disney ID. And with one of the bus routes stopping right outside, why not go?
Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure
Yes, yes... Universal is a competitor of Disney, but why not take advantage of another awesome theme park and resort? CityWalk (their version of Downtown Disney) has lots of restaurants and a giant movie theater. If you order an annual pass (preferred pass level = $294), it pays for itself in 2 visits after you factor in parking! Even splurging for one day is worth it (at least for me) to check out the Harry Potter World and tasting the magic that is Butterbeer.
Hit up the Beach!
Even though Orlando is not on the coast of Florida, it is right in the middle. This means, its easy to make a day trip to the beach on either coast! Yes that either coast! To the East I recommend going to Cocoa Beach or Daytona. To the West, definitely take advantage of going to Clearwater Beach. My roommates and I took day trips to both as well as a nice night on Cocoa Beach. There are people who spend good money to come and vacation at these beaches and they are just a short drive away!
Cowboys
This was my favorite bar to go to on a night off with my roommate Steph. Cowboys is 18 to enter, 21 to drink. The best part is the theme! Of course its country so naturally, there's line dancing! All night long! They also have a nice outdoor patio and plenty of pool tables. Thursday nights are ladies nights and that means all girls get in for free! Many people go on Saturdays because it is dollar beer night!
Miami
Now, it's not as easy to take a trip to Miami as it is to go to Cocoa Beach or Clearwater. It is about a 5 hour drive down from Orlando. However, this city is so lively and has so much to offer! My roommates and I took a party bus down with a bunch of other CPs and spent the day on the beach and then got bused home. I'm not sure if they do these trips anymore, but it was a great time!
Downtown Orlando
Speaking of the party bus... during my program, there was a company that would bus CPs during the week to different clubs. The guys that ran them were promoters for the clubs and CPs would get in for free or at least a reduced cover. It was a great way to get out and do something crazy! And you didn't have to worry about DDs or navigating the city because they dropped you off right at the door!
EAT Around the World
Disney has sooooooo many amazing restaurants to eat at! Take a night out with your friends, get a little fancy and pick a nice place to eat for dinner or lunch! My roommates and I attempted to eat in every country in EPCOT before we left. Unfortunately, we did not meet out goal, but we so enjoyed those nights out with each other.
Shopping!!!
If you're like me, you need a little retail therapy from time to time! Orlando is definitely a tourist area so you know what that means? OUTLETS!!! There is one outlet right across a parking lot from The Commons apartment complex and another just a 5 minute drive down I-4. If you have a car, the Florida Mall is only about a 15 minute drive! The greatest part is that a lot of the stores at the outlets will grant a discount (usually like 10-20%) with a Disney ID.
Disney Park Festivals
Food and Wine Festival. Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween. Flower and Garden Festival. The list goes on! Each one has special shows and merchandise and gets you in the mood for the holidays. Definitely don't miss out of the special times in the parks. If anything, they make for a great photo opportunity!
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