Universal CityWalk Orlando

"Similar to Disney Springs, Universal CityWalk offers adult-oriented—but totally family-appropriate—fun for when you’ve wrapped up another theme park day. An entertainment zone with free admission, it connects the Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure theme parks. Still, it’s most happening after the parks close, when it turns into a veritable dining and nightlife district that often attracts more revelers than downtown Orlando itself. All the restaurants and bars surround a man-made lagoon, which becomes busy with boats ferrying guests to and from the Universal hotels. To eat, there’s everything from casual cafés and a food court to extravagant theme restaurants like the new Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen. Bar options are similarly wide-ranging—you can drink a hurricane at Pat O’Brien’s (which looks just like the original in New Orleans ), sip a Red Stripe beer to the tune of reggae music at Bob Marley—A Tribute to Freedom, or catch the big game at the NBC Sports Grill & Brew. Parking is free after 6 p.m. so expect crowds starting at sundown. You’ll also want to keep an eye on the calendar, as CityWalk hosts major concerts and festivals throughout the year."

"Similar to Disney Springs, Universal CityWalk offers adult-oriented—but totally family-appropriate—fun for when you’ve wrapped up another theme park day. An entertainment zone with free admission, it connects the Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure theme parks. Still, it’s most happening after the parks close, when it turns into a veritable dining and nightlife district that often attracts more revelers than downtown Orlando itself. All the restaurants and bars surround a man-made lagoon, which becomes busy with boats ferrying guests to and from the Universal hotels. To eat, there’s everything from casual cafés and a food court to extravagant theme restaurants like the new Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen. Bar options are similarly wide-ranging—you can drink a hurricane at Pat O’Brien’s (which looks just like the original in New Orleans ), sip a Red Stripe beer to the tune of reggae music at Bob Marley—A Tribute to Freedom, or catch the big game at the NBC Sports Grill & Brew. Parking is free after 6 p.m. so expect crowds starting at sundown. You’ll also want to keep an eye on the calendar, as CityWalk hosts major concerts and festivals throughout the year."

The Best Things to Do in Orlando

"You can navigate between them through Universal CityWalk, an open-air plaza featuring a range of dining options, from fast-food and frozen yogurt to date night-suitable Italian and Mexican restaurants, as well as a number of shops, miniature golf, and concert venues."

"Concept art released by Universal depicts four distinct lands within the park, with shops toward the center hub—like a small-scale CityWalk, Universal’s dining and entertainment complex that connects its other theme parks—and a hotel at the far end of the site."

"CityWalk is the dynamic dining, shopping, and entertainment complex that links Universal Orlando’s two theme parks. Take a midday break from the thrill rides at one of the restaurants, or challenge your family to 18 holes at the Hollywood Drive-In, a sci-fi and horror movie–themed mini-golf course. CityWalk takes on a nightclub atmosphere in the evenings, thanks to its colorful neon lights and live music on the waterfront. Make sure to stop by VooDoo Doughnut, one of the most recent additions to CityWalk; it's the only East Coast outpost of the Portland favorite." - Valerie Marino