Central Florida is truly magical, with a lot of magic in Orlando – from magic shows to Magical Dining, Magic Basketball, magic theme parks & more. It seems people can’t get enough magic. Visitors to the Central Florida area often think it is a magical place. After all, Magic Kingdom is here! However, there is a lot more ‘pixie dust’ spread all around the city in various forms.
Al would like to point out that there is NO magic performed at Capone’s Dinner & Show. After the exposure to all of the other pixie dust in the area, this is often a welcomed relief. No tricks. No sleight-of-hand. No disappearing act. No straight jackets to escape out of (maybe handcuffs or cement shoes – you never know about those wise guys). Capone’s offers plain ol’ gangster fun and a speakeasy cabaret. However, there is one magical thing about Capone’s… make reservations online and bad-a-boom! Tickets are half price!
A Little History of Magic in Orlando
First, let’s start at the beginning (sort of). Magic Kingdom opened on October 1 in 1971. It was the first of four theme parks at the resort. Guests experience fairy tales and Disney characters in many magical ways. Starting with the Cinderella Castle. It was inspired by the fairy tale castle seen in the 1950 film and became real when the park was built. This Orlando theme park has created a lot of magic. In 2018, the park hosted 20.859 million visitors. This makes it the most visited theme park in the world for the thirteenth consecutive year and the most visited theme park in North America for at least the past nineteen years.
Secondly, in 1989, the Orlando Magic basketball franchise was established. Notable NBA stars include Shaquille O’Neal, Penny Hardaway, Patrick Ewing, Grant Hill, Tracy McGrady, Dwight Howard, and many others. As of 2019, the franchise has played in the NBA playoffs for exactly half of its existence (15 playoff appearances in 30 years). The team has been to the NBA Finals twice (1995 and 2009). The games are a lot of fun to attend and fans expect a lot more magic to come.
Thirdly, Universal Studios brought about its own magical world in 2010. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter opened and has now expanded its intrigue throughout both parks. Magic wands are purchased in shops. Restaurants feature entrées and drinks featured in the magic-filled Harry Potter books/movies. Rides and décor are found throughout Universal Studios offering numerous magical experiences.
The Other Magical Orlando
Once the Magic Kingdom opened, many other magical places appeared. Smaller attractions such as Magical Midway offer fun all their own. Magical hotels and diners opened their doors. Magic Castle Inn & Suites was just one of the many hotels that included the magic name. Villages, vacation homes, and timeshares came on the scene and still exist. Even Carnival Cruiseline has a ship with the magic name.
Close-up view of the magic show at Wonderworks.
Want to ‘hear magic’ in Orlando? Tune into the Magic 107.7 radio station. Feel like dining in a unique fashion? Try Magical Dining all throughout the month of September. Looking for a magical dinner show? Check out WonderWorks’ magic show. It has recently debuted a close-up stage camera. Now you can watch the magic show on large TV screens and try to catch the sleight-of-hand magic. Furthermore, you can see a magic show inside a hotel. The Wizardz Magic Theater offers a magic show most Monday nights. They are located at the Seralargo Hotel and Suites, 5678 Irlo Bronson Hwy (192), Kissimmee FL 34746.
Magicians in Orlando
Jimmy Ichihana performs on Penn & Teller: Fool Us. Photo by Jacob Kepler.
With all of the magic opportunities in Orlando, it was just a matter of time before the area produced some great magicians. Just recently, Orlando magician Jimmy Ichihana made his second appearance on ‘Penn & Teller: Fool Us.’ While he is not performing on television, Ichihana is part of the “See Magic Live” team. He has performed at Boxi Park in Lake Nona and is scheduled to appear at Christner’s Prime Steak & Lobster on September 28 at “An Evening of Magic” dinner show. This exclusive restaurant offers an Orlando magic dinner show once a month on Friday & Saturday nights. Various magicians perform. The cost is not for the average diner. Plan on spending at least $150 per person.
Spellbinding Magic
In conclusion, there is no shortage of magic in Orlando. Some magical experiences come at a higher price than others. A number of them last all day, while others for only an hour or two. Some will have you cheering and screaming – others sleeping like a baby. Despite what type of magic you are searching for, just wave your wand over Orlando. Okay…so it won’t magically appear, but it will reveal itself without a lot of hocus-pocus. Above all, the spell of great memories is certain to last a lifetime!
Kids Fringe Theatre Festival
