For business travel, Orlando shines with unique venues

Horse play: the dinner show at Arabian Nights in Orlando

By Mark Chesnut

The Orlando area may be the capital of Florida vacations, but it’s also a major player for business travel, with countless opportunities to make a lasting impression while entertaining clients and staging private events. The large amusement parks at Walt Disney World and Universal Studios offer lots of possibilities, but here are five noteworthy independent venues that host business groups.

Arabian Nights
This Broadway-style dinner show tells the tale of Schererazade, a girl with dreams of being a princess. The venue can offer customized and private shows as well as pre- and post-show receptions and VIP upgrades for up to 1,200 people.

Baby Grands Dueling Piano Bar
A full band and — you guessed it — two very competitive piano players provide the live entertainment at this downtown Orlando venue, which has capacity for 400. For private events, you can choose your own appropriate music (corporate jingles welcome).

Capone’s Dinner & Show
Up to 372 attendees can partake in private events at this dinner theater, where the stage — when not filled with old-fashioned gangster types —  can be used for presentations.

Titanic Dinner Event
Located on International Drive, this venue gives groups the opportunity to participate in a dinner party celebrating the “retirement” of the ship’s Captain Smith. Costumed cast members portraying Molly Brown, Thomas Andrews and other Titanic notables are among those on the guest list.

WonderWorks
This offbeat attraction, which has more than 100 interactive exhibits, helps business types test their team-building skills through activities like laser tag and negotiating the ropes course; they also have a 4D theater and dinner shows.

Related resources

• Family vacations
• Kissimmee hotels
• Orlando hotels
• Tampa hotels

Mark Chesnut is a travel writer, editor and publisher of LatinFlyer.com, which focuses on business and leisure travel to Latin America.

Tagged: Florida