Whether for swimming, singing, sailing, or sporting, Orlando has a new roster of activity venues.
1. SeaWorld’s new 59-acre water park, Aquatica, opened in April 2008 with 36 waterslides, six rivers and  lagoons, and more than 80,000 square feet of sandy beaches. The park’s signature ride, the Dolphin Plunge, shoots guests down side-by-side clear tubes through a pool of black-and-white dolphins. The park features private cabanas for as many as seven guests and hosts evening parties for 500 to 7,500, complete with interactive entertainment such as beach games, performances, and dancing.
2. Disney’s Wide World of Sports added a new facility, the 70,000-square-foot Jostens Center, in July 2008. The sprawling complex includes space for 12 volleyball courts or six basketball courts, two roller hockey rinks, and a 1,200-seat field house. Each space is available for private event rental, as are the existing indoor and outdoor sporting facilities throughout the 220-acre property.
3. Disney also upgraded its in-park cruise facilities in June 2008, launching the 52-foot Grand 1 yacht, which provides hourly-rate cruises through the Magic Kingdom. The vessel can be booked for private morning, afternoon, or evening tours for as many as 18 guests, and dining and cocktail services can be provided.
4. CityWalk, Universal Studios’ dining, shopping, and nightlife district, opened the 1,680-square-foot karaoke venue CityWalk’s Rising Star in March 2008. Guests can take on a tune with a full band and backup singers, or just listen and sample from the extensive menu of appetizers. The venue is available for private events; it seats 206 or holds 275.
5. The national Memphis-themed chain B.B. King’s Blues Club opened a location in the Point Orlando resort in December 2007. The club offers live music nightly along with a Southern menu featuring pulled pork, ribs, and fried dill pickles. The main space can be bought out for as many as 1,000 guests; three private dining rooms seat up to 65 each; and the outdoor patio holds an additional 200.
This information was previously published in the 2009 BizBash National Venue Guide.
