Discover Gay Florida :: Orlando

The city of Orlando was founded in 1857, and originally it was slow to grow. By the last decade of the 19th century, however, it became the de facto hub of Florida's citrus industry. Then, in the 1920s, the Florida Land Boom turned the city into a winter home paradise for rich Northerners. In the ensuing decades, the Air Force and Navy would set up bases in the area. Orlando grew from a population of 3,000 in 1910 to 100,000 by the early 1970s.

It was the opening of Walt Disney World in 1971 that would change the area forever, as it brought millions of tourists from around the world to this unassuming, simple, mid-sized American city. Other theme parks would open in quick succession, Orlando's metro area would fan out miles upon miles away from Orange County, and the area would have an indelible footprint of international prestige.

Today, a quarter of a million people live in the city proper and over two million people live in the metro area. People from over 170 countries live in Orlando and its suburbs. Orlando is also well-known for its sizable Puerto Rican community, the largest in the country, and the city's Latin flair is immediate and evident to any visitor.

There are so many things to do here, but we will have to make it brief and run down our favorite things about Orlando. Below we detail the places to stay, play and go in the City Beautiful.

WHERE TO STAY

Doubletree by Hilton Orlando at SeaWorld

This hotel is very gay-friendly, and they prove it by being the host hotel for various Orlando gay-related events such as Gay Days and Orlando Bear Bash. A thorough remodeling has left the hotel with a "Balinese oasis" look and feel. Located right on International Drive in the theme park district, this hotel combines sumptuous luxury with affordable pricing. (10100 International Dr., (407) 352-1100)

B Resort and Spa

B Resort and Spa is a posh new addition to the Downtown Disney area, putting you in close proximity to the theme parks but still within a 20-minute drive of all the gay nightlife Orlando has to offer. They want you to "B Blissful" during your stay, and that's easy to do when every room has oversized pillow-top mattresses. "B Indulged" at their full-service spa and salon. With nearly 400 gues rooms, B always has a place for you. (1905 Hotel Plaza Blvd., Lake Buena Vista, (407)828-2828)

Aloft Orlando Downtown

This chic addition to Orlando's downtown puts you right in the middle of everything. The new Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts is within walking distance, as is the Amway Center and downtown nightlife. Have a drink at the w xyz bar and then take on the downtown area. When the night is over, relax in your loft-inspired guest room, complete with a cushy pillow-top bed. Unwind even more by freshening up in your oversized spa shower and enjoy the room's free WiFi and bottled water. (500 S. Orange Ave., (407) 380-3500)

Parliament House Resort

Sometimes you want to be right in the middle of the city's gay nightlife. Those are the times you want to stay at the Parliament House Resort. Where else can you sleep in, lounge around the pool in the afternoon, grab something to eat in the cafe, and party at various nightclubs throughout the night, all without having to go away from the property? The value and experience cannot be beat. (410 N. Orange Blossom Trl., (407) 425-7571, parliamenthouse.com)

WHERE TO PLAY

Orlando has quite a few gay nightlife (and some daylife!) options scattered throughout the city.

Parliament House (410 N. Orange Blossom Trl.) is a large nightclub complex with multiple dancefloors and bars; when the night is over, you can stay in the motor inn or in The Gardens condominiums. Southern Nights Orlando (375 S. Bumby Ave.), upon its opening in 2014, brought back the iconic "Southern Nights" name to Orlando after a decade-long absence. Its creative theme nights have been particularly well-received, such as their men's nights on Fridays and women's nights on Saturdays. SAVOY (1913 N. Orange Ave.) is a great place to meet locals, who have made close friends with the owners and their favorite bartenders. With indoor and outdoor bar settings, SAVOY offers something for everyone, from male dancers to drag shows to football during the autumn season.

Stonewall Bar Orlando (741 W. Church St.) is going through the process of remodeling, but don't let that deter you from checking out this watering hole; it is particularly popular with the bear community. You won't get a more authentic local gay bar experience than Hank's (5026 Edgewater Dr.), where darts, pool, and cold beers are king. BarCodes (4453 Edgewater Dr.) is tucked away from the action of the city, but its lively crowd, friendly bartenders and fun theme nights make it a hub of action all on its own. Be sure to visit The Store @ BarCodes, located inside the bar, featuring clothing, gay pride flags, and other novelties.

If you're looking for a Sunday brunch spot that guarantees you will be seen in the community, you must go to Ember (42 W. Central Blvd.). Hamburger Mary's (110 W. Church St.) also has a fun and delicious brunch, consisting of your Broadway faves performed by The Minx and RuPaul's Drag Race fave Ginger Minj. Leigh Shannon's Saturday shows are so wildly popular that she has sold out the restaurant every week for over five years!

Pulse (1912 S. Orange Ave.) is a dance club that brings in local and national entertainment for your enjoyment every single week. The Brink (47 W. Amelia St.) has returned to the Orlando nightlife scene after being closed for a short time; now Florida-based and internationally-known DJs play to packed houses every Friday and Saturday nights. St. Matthew's Tavern (1300 N. Mills Ave.) is gay-owned and very gay-friendly; an eclectic bar that looks like a cave in some spots, it hosts partiers every Saturday night and actual church services on Sunday mornings. The Full Moon at Woodstock (500 N. Orange Blossom Trl.) is a new offering that seeks to attract the people who loved the dearly departed Full Moon Saloon. Check out their sexy "H20 Saturdays" and their "deck dances" on Sunday afternoons.

WHERE TO GO

Orlando Theme Parks

You can't say "Orlando" without people thinking of theme parks. The three well-known park complexes are the Walt Disney World Resort (which includes the Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney's Hollywood Studios, Disney's Animal Kingdom, and the waterparks Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach), Universal Orlando (which is made up of the parks Wet 'n Wild, Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure), and SeaWorld (comprising SeaWorld Orlando, Discovery Cove and Aquatica). Orlando is also home to Gatorland (the granddaddy of theme parks, which opened back in 1949!), and even the Christian-themed Holy Land Experience. Visit Wet 'n Wild while you can; it will be closing at the end of 2016.

Thornton Park Neighborhood

Bordering the south and southeastern corner of Lake Eola, this neighborhood is a breath of fresh air in Orlando's hectic downtown area. It's a haven for entrepreneurs, and many of them have started their own businesses in the neighborhood. Some of the houses date back nearly 100 years, and it's one of the few places in the city that's walkable any time of the day or night. Check out the numerous eateries and bars in the area; they are popular with the young and well-heeled crowd. (thorntonparkdistrict.com)

Orlando Museum of Art

Last year the Orlando Museum of Art celebrated its 90th anniversary, and this iconic museum has been quick to adapt to the changing times. There is a large collection of contemporary art, and contemporary attitudes abound as well: The OMA hosts many gay-themed or "diversity" type events. In 2014, their 90th anniversary year, The Center hosted their Black and White Gala at OMA, which was one of the museum's best-attended events for the year. OMA's presence and influence helps the Florida art community grow and thrive. (2416 N. Mills Ave., (407) 896-4231)

Amway Center

The state-of-the-art Amway Center was opened in 2010, replacing the older Amway Arena. It is the home of the NBA's Orlando Magic and hosts large-scale concerts and entertainment events. When Cher visited the Amway Center last year, she played to a packed house. Puerto Rican singer Chayanne comes to the Amway Center in early August, and Ed Sheeran and Janet Jackson will play the arena in September. (400 W. Church St., #200, (407) 440-7000)

Sleuths Mystery Dinner Shows

It's hard to avoid touristy places when visiting Orlando, but with that said, sometimes you want to do something fun "as a tourist" without being thrown into crowds of people at a theme park. In that case, Sleuths is for you. Over the span of 2 1/2 hours, your dinner will turn into a whodunnit, and it's up to you to help solve the crime. Fun fact: Orlando drag fave Ginger Minj, as a member of the Sleuths supporting cast, has played both male and female roles in their dinner shows. (8267 International Dr., (800) 393-1985)
WHEN TO GO

In addition to the upcoming Come Out with Pride celebrations (first week in October, comeoutwithpride.com), the following events are very popular in the Orlando area.

Gay Days at Walt Disney World

For a week at the beginning of June, over 150,000 people travel to Walt Disney World just southwest of Orlando to participate in one of the largest gay events in the world. Various events and parties with world-class entertainment lead up to the weekend, where LGBT people take on the Magic Kingdom all while wearing red. (First week in June, gaydays.com, https://www.facebook.com/gaydays)

https://www.gaydays.com/Orlando/gay-days-magazine-download.html

Florida Film Festival

One of the largest film festivals in Florida, the Orlando mainstay will celebrate its 23rd annual celebration in April. Over 150 films are shown and nearly 100 famous actors come to judge this year's selections or to promote their new films. Last year, Tippi Hedren and Cary Elwes were welcomed as special guests. (First and second weeks in April, floridafilmfestival.com)

Orlando International Fringe Festival

What is "fringe" exactly? Fringe is not the norm, and the performances bend over backwards to show off their creativity. The oldest fringe festival in the country, It has been named Orlando's "most unique cultural experience," and with a schedule filled with everything from Shakespeare to modern-day productions to avant-garde premieres, everyone will find something that will amuse them and make them think. (Third and fourth weeks of May, orlandofringe.org)

EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival

Currently in its 18th year, the Food and Wine Festival showcases the best in culinary delights from thedgf wine United States and from all over the world. Appetizer-sized portions of food, celebrating various cultural heritages, sell from $4 to $8, with drinks going for $3 to $6. Where else can you enjoy a Canadian seared rainbow trout with bacon, then a Floridian Key Lime wine, then French garlic and parsley escargots in brioche, finished off with an Irish chocolate pudding with Bailey's custard? (September 27-November 11, disneyworld.disney.go.com/events-tours/epcot/epcot-international-food-and-wine-festival)

To read more about Orlando, visit their official tourism website at visitorlando.com