Orlando Resort Pools Locals Can Use - Four Seasons Orlando

With Mickey Mouse in our backyard and thousands of visitors flocking to Orlando each year, there’s no shortage of family and kid-centric attractions throughout the city. But who says kids get to have all the fun? Dive a little deeper and you'll discover so many things to do in Orlando for adults. Here’s our guide to experiencing the best of Orlando for grown-ups!

Things to do in Orlando for adults

  • Resort pools without an overnight stay
  • Sunset dining in Orlando
  • Leu Gardens Movie Night
  • Quantum Leap Winery
  • SAK Comedy Lab
  • Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts
  • Cooking classes
  • Unique restaurants
  • Orlando bars
  • Orlando Museum of Art
  • Orlando resorts and spas
  • Orlando Beer Spa
  • Disney for adults

Keep reading for the best things to do in Orlando for adults including nightlife, dining, spas, live entertainment, and more fun things.

Updated throughout the year, most recent update March 2024 by Meghan Roth and Dani Meyering

What is there to do in Orlando for adults only?

READ MORE: Adults Only Pools in Orlando

1. Enjoy some pool time

Remember the summer days of your childhood spent lounging by the pool and eating concession stand snacks? Reconnect with those youthful memories by spending the day at an Orlando resort pool that’s just for adults. Relish in relaxation at the tranquil (and completely renovated) Ritz-Carlton Spa pool. With a spa reservation, select pools welcome non-resort guests for the day.

Prefer to feel like you’re on vacation for the whole day? The Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress features a stunning grotto-style pool worthy of exploring with your date. Purchase a day-use pass with ResortPass or plan a luxurious weekend staycation.

ResortPass for Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress
Image credit: Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress

How can I spend evenings in Orlando?

2. Sunset Dining in Orlando

What’s more romantic for date night than pulling up a seat to feast while watching the sun dip below the horizon? Here are a few of our go-to's for a romantic sunset dinner:

Canvas Restaurant in Lake Nona

3. Leu Gardens Movie Night

On the first Friday of most months, Leu Gardens sets up an outdoor movie screen and invites you to cuddle up on the lawn to watch a Hollywood flick. Fill a picnic basket with food, wine, and beer, and stake out your spot on the lawn before watching a movie under the stars. Movies typically begin around 7:30pm, but the gardens open at 6pm. Most movies are PG-13.

Food trucks and concessions with freshly-made popcorn are usually on the scene.
Check the events page for upcoming movie nights.

Orlando for Grownups - Leu Gardens movie night
Image credit: Leu Gardens

READ MORE: Year-round Guide to Outdoor Movies in Orlando

4. Visit Our Downtown Winery

Wine enthusiasts have endless sipping options in Central Florida. In the Mills 50 District, Quantum Leap Winery produces sustainable wines with grapes from around the world. Check their calendar, which is always packed with unique events, or join the wine club. If you’d rather sip at a wine bar, VINIA Wine + Kitchen and Imperial Wine Bar are a few local favorites.

The Thornton Park District's monthly 2nd Thursday Wine & Art Walk provides another unique way to savor wine. For $15 (or $10 if you get your tickets ahead of time), you'll get a glass and a map detailing more than 20 businesses offering samples throughout the evening.

5. Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts

One of our favorite swanky dates is getting dressed up for a show at Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. This stunning arts center features multiple theaters, a Broadway show lineup, grand lobby, and more. Plus, it’s within walking distance of some of our favorite downtown restaurants, including Kres Chophouse and The Boheme.

A new addition to the Dr. Phillips Center is one of the best things for adults to do in Orlando, without a doubt. Judson's Live is a gorgeous and intimate live music venue with delectable food and drinks. Brunch at Judson's Live is now offered on select weekends, and practically every night of the week this incredible room comes alive with live music – not just jazz – while cold drinks and fresh food makes for an unforgettable night.

sophisticated bar at Judson's Live in Orlando
Bar at Judson's Live – image by Dani Meyering

We've got the latest Broadway in Orlando schedule and helpful tips for date night at Dr. Phillips.

6. Laugh it Up at SAK

Laugh the night away as you watch a live Improv comedy show at SAK Comedy Lab! In collaboration with audience participation, onstage comedians invent characters and scenarios on the spot. Attend one of the weekly signature shows, or put your own skills to the test by signing up for an 8-week Improv course.

Important note – SAK Comedy Lab will be moving from Orange Avenue to Church Street.

Unique dining and experiences for adults

7. Foodie Events

Escape to Italy for the evening while sipping wine and feasting on gourmet food samples at Loews Portofino Bay. Harbor Nights is a foodie-friendly event that takes place at the Universal Orlando Resort a few times per year. In addition to food and wine, enjoy the romantic setting and live music.

Other notable foodie events for adults:

Magical Dining Returns to 80+ Orlando Restaurants Aug 27 – Oct 3
Image credit: Visit Orlando

8. Dinner + A Show

Teatro Martini is an adults-only dinner and a show experience on International Drive featuring dancers, an aerialist, comedians, and more. There's also an option for just drinks and the show if you want to grab dinner somewhere else before or after. Showtimes are Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 7:30pm.

After the show, explore the speakeasy bar, Jewel, which has dueling pianos and a fun atmosphere.

Also, check out HAÖS on Church located downtown on Church Street for burlesque and variety shows. Or head to ICON Park with exciting restaurants and live music.

READ MORE: 50 Exciting Things to Do on International Drive

9. Couple's Cooking Classes

Ready to heat things up? In the kitchen, that is! Add a little spice to your at-home date nights by picking up new skills at a local cooking class.
Check our guide to local cooking classes.

Happy Hours and Bars in Orlando

10. The Happiest of Hours

Date night doesn’t need to be reserved for the weekend. Meet up midweek for nibbles and cocktails during a budget-friendly happy hour date. Many local restaurants offer robust happy hour menus with signature cocktails and shareable dishes priced at $10 or less.

Here are our picks for the best Orlando happy hours.
You can also find a few Happy Hour spots at Disney Springs.

11. Unique Bars

We love our local dives and watering holes, but it’s fun to change things up every once in a while.

Sip craft cocktails at a true speakeasy after obtaining the day’s password at Hanson’s Shoe Repair or impress your date by heading to one of the hidden bars in Orlando. Immerse yourself into the world of Indiana Jones at Jock Lindsey's Hangar Bar or sip on movie-themed cocktails at Universal CityWalk.

The options are endless!

Upstairs Bar at Universal's Great Movie Escape - Dani Meyering
Upstairs Bar at Universal's Great Movie Escape – Dani Meyering

If you're cutting back on alcohol, there are plenty of mocktails at Walt Disney World (no theme park ticket required), and other alcohol-free date ideas.

READ MORE: Unique Bars in Orlando

12. Channel Your Inner Mixologist

Ready to make your cocktail dreams come true? Several bars in Orlando and beyond regularly invite curious cocktail lovers to grab a seat at the bar and learn the art of mixology. Not only will you learn new skills, but you'll also get to experience Orlando bars in a unique way.

How do I spend a day in Orlando?

13. Orlando Art Museums for Adults

Orlando has quite the art scene. Visit the rotating exhibitions at the Orlando Museum of Art or make your own art.

Fun art options: 

READ MORE: 10 Must-Have Art and Performance Experiences in Orlando

The Dirty Pour Project

14. Unwind at a Local Spa in Orlando

Leave the kids at home and check into a local hotel spa for some pampering together! Indulge in a couples massage, book half-day treatment packages, soak in a hydrotherapy tub, and more. Check out our guide to the Best Orlando Spas for Couples for our top picks.

Make it a getaway, without going very far. Westgate Lakes Resort and Spa has a lovely spa, and it is relatively affordable.

Hot Tub at Serenity Spa Westgate Lakes Orlando Resort - image by Dani Meyering
Hot Tub at Serenity Spa Westgate Lakes – image by Dani Meyering

Plus the resort has large accommodations including units that have multiple bedrooms, and there is a water park on site. Adults will love the tiki bar surrounded by the relaxing lazy river!

Lazy River and Tiki Bar Westgate Lakes – image by Dani Meyering

15. Orlando Beer Spa

International Drive is full of things to do in Orlando for adults. Most importantly, it has a one-of-a-kind spa experience you've got to try at least once. At Orlando Beer Spa, sink into a relaxing tub for a blissful beer soak while you treat yourself to self-serve craft beer on tap.

Couples can choose a private room with one tub or two, and the experience lasts for one hour.

We Visited the New Orlando Beer Spa! Here's What to Expect
Orlando Beer Spa is a great date idea | Image credit: Dani Meyering

16. Disney, Grown-Up Style

Theme parks may be primarily geared towards kids and families, but there are plenty of opportunities for things to do in Orlando for adults at Disney. Pause for a date at adult-centric spots inside the parks, such as Nomad Lounge (Animal Kingdom), BaseLine Tap House (Hollywood Studios), or Tutto Gusto Wine Cellar (EPCOT).

You don't need a park ticket to dine at these romantic restaurants at Disney hotels or to have brunch at Disney Springs and hotels.

Of all the parks, EPCOT has a reputation for being the most adult-friendly, especially when it comes to the annual Food and Wine Festival. Feast (and sip) your way around the world to experience a multitude of flavors from the world’s diverse cultures. During the spring and summer you can Plan a Blossoming Date at the EPCOT Flower And Garden Festival and late summer into fall is the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival.

Alternatively, conduct your own pub crawl or progressive dining experience while bar hopping at Disney Springs or resort hopping via the Disney monorail on a DIY pub crawl. Or, opt for a resort hopping Disney Skyliner Gondola Crawl.

Weekend Getaways in Orlando and Spas

Taking advantage of all the great resorts nearby is one of our favorite things to do in Orlando for adults.

For the ultimate romantic getaway, check into the beachside Hard Rock Hotel Daytona Beach. You'll feel like a rockstar while checking out regular outdoor concerts on the hotel's main stage, indulging in music-inspired spa treatments, brunching on the weekends, lounging by the beachfront pool, or hanging out on the beach. Cars aren't allowed on the strip of sand in front of the resort.

If an epic pool is part of your perfect staycation criteria, book a room at Reunion Resort. Float down the lazy river, splash and play in the waterpark, dine at multiple restaurants (stop for sushi in the Grande Lobby Bar and do date night at the rooftop bar and restaurant, Eleven) and enjoy close proximity to all of the theme parks. Villas are available for the ultimate getaway.

Image credit: Reunion Resort

Lastly, The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes offers a multitude of options for local couples looking to get away from it all. Participate in onsite eco experiences like kayaking and falconry school, or dine at one of the hotel's renowned restaurants. Date nighters will love the dry-aged steaks at Knife & Spoon and farm-to-table fare and cocktails at Highball & Harvest. Book a spa treatment and then retire to the relaxing spa pool for the day.

Other getaways we love:

  • Orlando World Center Marriott
  • Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin
  • Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center

Feature image credit: Four Seasons Resort Orlando


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