Orange County Convention Center – Experiences

You’ve got so much to look forward to during your upcoming visit to the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida, including the convention center itself! As the second-largest convention center in the United States, the Orange County Convention Center has a lot to offer. While there, attendees can enjoy amenities like free Wi-Fi, two FedEx Offices, and plenty of parking space. They’ve even got massage and shoe shine stations!

The Orange County Convention Center also boasts an impressive selection of on-site dining options. Attendees looking to escape the hustle and bustle of the exhibit hall floor can enjoy a sit-down meal at one of the convention center’s full service restaurants. Food courts and portable hospitality carts are located throughout the facility as well for attendees who would prefer to get back to the action as quickly as possible instead.

Another great part about the Orange County Convention Center is its prime location. It’s right on International Drive, Orlando’s main tourist strip, near many of the city’s most popular attractions. This makes it easy for attendees to enjoy some of the best experiences in Orlando, no matter how brief their visit to the Orange County Convention Center may be.

If you’re now wondering how to make the most of your stay in the Sunshine State, you’ve come to the right place. Here we’ve put together a day’s worth of fun things to do near the Orange County Convention Center, such as going for a ride on the tallest observation wheel on the East Coast or dining at a restaurant ran by a renowned Iron Chef. Try to fit in as many of these activities as you can and make your trip to the Orange County Convention Center one to remember!

 

Morning

Noon

Night

 

Morning

One surefire way to start your day on a high note is with breakfast at iCafé de Paris. If you’re staying at a hotel near the Orange County Convention Center, iCafé de Paris should only be about a 10-minute drive away. It’s located at ICON Orlando 360, an 18-acre shopping, dining, and entertainment complex that’s a big draw among locals and tourists alike.

This chic café brings an authentic taste of France to the heart of Central Florida. On the menu at iCafé de Paris you’ll find crepes of both the sweet and savory variety, along with a selection of pastries, sandwiches, omelets, and more. Some of their crepe creations include the Cannes, filled with a blend of strawberry jam and ricotta cheese, and topped with savory sour cream; the Napoleon, packed with fresh apples, cinnamon, and walnuts; and the Arles, with mozzarella, Cheddar cheese, tomato, béchamel sauce, and your choice of ham or turkey.

Orange County Convention CenterIf you’re not crazy about crepes, try one of their pastries instead. The croissants at iCafé are a popular choice, available either plain or filled with delicious ingredients like chocolate or a savory combination of spinach and feta cheese.

Whatever you decide to order, just make sure to wash it down with one of their delicious coffee drinks. They’ve got mochas, macchiatos, and everything in between. Also, if you plan to enjoy your meal on iCafé’s outdoor patio, don’t forget to get your drink iced. Otherwise you might overheat! They don’t call Florida the Sunshine State for nothing.

After breakfast, the next stop on our list is ICON Orlando 360’s signature attraction, ICON Orlando. Not your everyday Ferris wheel, ICON Orlando stands at 400 feet tall, offering unforgettable views of the surrounding area, including nearby theme parks and downtown Orlando.

On ICON Orlando, riders take flight in enclosed, air-conditioned capsules outfitted with panoramic windows. The ride lasts for about 20 minutes, so it won’t take up too much time. That’s definitely a good thing, since you don’t have a minute to spare with all of the exciting experiences Orlando still has left in store for you.

You can either purchase your ticket for ICON Orlando online ahead of time or in-person at the ticket counter located inside of the terminal building. It’s recommended that you purchase your ticket in advance however, since availability may be limited during busy or peak periods.

 

Noon

Once you’re back at ground level, it’s time to experience the future of golf at one of Orlando’s hottest new attractions, Topgolf. At only one mile from ICON Orlando 360, the drive to Topgolf should take about five minutes or less. You could also walk there if the weather’s nice, which chances are, it is. This is Florida we’re talking about, after all.

Orange County Convention CenterSo, what sets Topgolf apart from other driving ranges? A lot, actually. For starters, Topgolf features a sprawling, 215-yard outfield with giant targets that players aim for from high-tech, climate-controlled hitting bays.

There are dozens of bays in Topgolf’s three-story facility. Each one features amenities like HDTVs and complimentary Wi-Fi. Bays are rented by the hour, so you can stay for as little or as long as you’d like.

As you play one of six unique games, your score and stats are tracked via microchipped golf balls. The most popular of these games is the namesake TopGolf, where players can rack up points based on the accuracy and distance of their shot. If you’d rather brush up on your short game, play TopChip instead. This game is similar to TopGolf, but only utilizes the seven targets nearest to the hitting bays.

There’s more to Topgolf than just golf though. When it’s time to take a break, kick back with a stiff drink in your private bay or head to the swanky rooftop terrace. If you’re hungry, Topgolf even has a menu full of fun, inventive foods like bacon mac ‘n’ cheese spring rolls and bite-sized donut holes that you can inject with a variety of sweet sauces. Just make sure you save some room for lunch!

If Topgolf’s futuristic golf experience and creative menu offerings weren’t enough to make you feel like a kid again, the World’s Largest Entertainment McDonald’s & PlayPlace definitely will. Also known as Epic McD, this McDonald’s is the largest in the country at a whopping 19,000 square feet. You know what they say: everything’s bigger in Orlando.

Now, I know what you’re thinking. “McDonald’s? Really?” Yes, really. Square footage aside, this McDonald’s is mainly worth stopping by because it serves more than the usual Chicken McNuggets and French fries. Their menu also features some of the last foods you’d expect to order at a McDonald’s, including pizza, pasta, waffles, omelets, and so much more.

If you’d rather stick with the classics though, hey, go right ahead. Nothing beats a good old-fashioned Big Mac, and either way you’ll get to enjoy a satisfying midday meal while saving some room in your budget for when you hit the town after sundown.

 

Night

If you’re looking for nightlife in Orlando, you’ll find it at Disney Springs. With “Disney” right in the name, it’s no surprise that magical experiences abound at this lively outdoor shopping, dining, and entertainment complex.

Channel your inner shopaholic as you browse more than 50 shops, boutiques, and kiosks, including the world’s largest Disney store. Again, everything’s bigger in Orlando! If shopping’s not your thing, catch a free concert at the Marketplace Stage located along the Lake Buena Vista or belly up to the bar at one of Disney Spring’s trendy watering holes.

No matter how you decide to kick off your evening at Disney Springs, just make sure you follow it up with a spectacular dinner. Home to over 60 dining options, deciding where to eat at Disney Springs is no easy task. They’ve got it all, from stands specializing in poutine and Asian-inspired bowls and wraps to exciting themed restaurants like Rainforest Cafe and Planet Hollywood.

Orange County Convention Center

If all these options are making your head spin and stomach growl, we recommend going with either The Polite Pig or Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto’s restaurant, Morimoto Asia. Barbecue junkies will go hog wild for the Polite Pig’s slow-smoked medley of meats, while diners with more adventurous palates will appreciate the variety of Pan-Asian offerings on the menu at Morimoto Asia.

As its name would suggest, the menu at The Polite Pig features plenty of pork-centric dishes, including the Southern Pig, a decadent sandwich piled high with pulled pork and fennel-apple slaw, and drizzled with tangy mustard barbecue sauce and Duke’s Mayo. Other mouthwatering menu items include baby back ribs, a barbecue sausage hoagie, baked beans, mac and cheese, and, believe it or not, salads.

Drawing inspiration for Chinese, Japanese, and Korean cuisine, the menu at Morimoto Asia is as varied as the food is delicious. On it you’ll find everything from sushi and sashimi to dim sum delicacies and inventive desserts like tempura-fried Oreos. Though, don’t be surprised if you end up skipping dessert there after hearing about the next and final stop on our Orlando adventure.

After a day of incredible experiences, the perfect way to wind down is with a sweet treat and warm cup of coffee at the Ghirardelli Ice Cream & Chocolate Shop. Choose from over 10 specialty sundaes or create your own chocolate-laden creation. Shakes and floats are also available, along with baked goods like chocolate chip cookies and brownies. Their selection of coffee drinks includes lattes, mochas, espressos, and more.

So, there you have it: a day’s worth of fun experiences near the Orange County Convention Center. Hopefully you’re able to do it all, but if not, there’s always next time. After visiting the Orange County Convention Center and the beautiful part of sunny Central Florida where its located for the first time, you’ll be looking for any reason to come back again in the near future.