Orlando is one of the entertainment capitals of the world, and it’s not just because of our theme parks. Plenty of music and entertainment acts work their way into town too. We’ve already taken a look at how you can make the most of your show at Universal CityWalk’s Hard Rock Live, so now we’ll do the same with The House of Blues at Disney Springs.

The House of Blues in Orlando quickly became one of our favorite places to see a concert because no other venue in Orlando gets you as close to your favorite bands as HOB.

The House of Blues isn’t unique to Orlando, the restaurant/entertainment venue is a chain across the country, so while Orlando is the primary focus of this guide, plenty of these tips can translate to a House of Blues near you.

Getting to the House of Blues

The House of Blues in Orlando is located on the West Side of Disney Springs across from the Cirque Du Soleil tent. This is great news for concert-goers because it means the parking is absolutely free.

It doesn’t matter if you’re parking in a garage or on the surface lot, there is never a cost associated with Disney Springs parking. Most people immediately think of going into one of the garages because the parking is covered, but if you’re confident in good weather, the surface lot actually puts you closest to the venue.

Dining

If there is one thing we can say about Disney Springs, it’s that food is a priority. There are so many great restaurants and bars for a variety of pallets and price points.

The House of Blues features two dining options – a sit-down restaurant and a quick service window. If you have the time to enjoy a nice, sit down meal you should definitely do it and take advantage of the House of Blues’ Pass the Line incentive.

(We’ll explain more in the tips section, but if you spend $40 in food — unfortunately alcohol isn’t included — you’ll have the ability to stand in the priority line and be one of the first to get into the venue.)

If time is an issue, the quick service window, The Smokehouse serves the same delicious BBQ without the wait. Unfortunately, the Pass the Line incentive doesn’t work at the window.

If you’re really in a hurry, or running late to the show, there are two food options inside the venue: A snack bar and a small menu of House of Blues staples.

The snack bar is fine if you’re in a pinch (or absolutely starving) but it only sells hot pretzels and small snack items; it’s not really worth it for the price you pay and the food you get. The better option is to order off the mini menu.

The mini menu is found at the railings around the venue and at the bars and features BBQ sliders, chicken tenders and more. The price point for these items are higher than the snack bar, but you get MUCH more of a bang for your buck. The food is good and it’s convenient to have hot food right where you’re seeing the show.

Inside the House of Blues Orlando

The House of Blues venue is set up very differently than the Hard Rock Live. Between the smaller venue size, the general admission ticketing and the lack of a lobby, when you arrive and how you find a place to watch the show takes a bit more strategy.

The Venue

The House of Blues isn’t nearly as large as the Hard Rock Live, so finding the perfect place to stand can be difficult, and finding an actual seat can be downright impossible. The venue is set up in a series of squares. There’s a standing-room-only square which is bordered by raised railings and behind the railings are the bars. The very back of the standing area has a wall where the sound level machine is. There is a second floor available for very limited standing room and the VIP area.

Where you end up watching your show is heavily dependent on when you walk into the venue. This is where being a VIP of having a Pass the Line pass is important. If you can guarantee yourself an early entry, you have a better chance of snagging a stool or being by somewhere you can lean.

Arrival/Standing in Line

If you aren’t spending the money to get a Pass the Line pass or VIP entry, your best bet to get a good seat is to get there as early as you can. The House of Blues doesn’t have a lobby area, so the line to get in starts beside the venue and wraps around back. The closer you are to the front of that line, the closer you’re going to get a good spot to stand. Depending on your show, we suggest arriving to stand in line an hour before the doors open. That may seem like a long time, but you’ll thank us when you have a wall or railing to lean on.

Sitting and Standing

Since the seating is immediately taken by the VIPs and Pass the Line passes, our favorite spot to watch a show is the far back of the general admission area right by the stairs to get to the bar. Since the stairs have railings, it gives us a place to lean against and sit for a bit between sets.

If your show is sold out, getting a Pass the Line pass is a must. We didn’t realize one concert we attended was sold out until we couldn’t find a comfortable place to stand and ended up stranded in the middle of the floor and surrounded by people.

Another option for seating is being a VIP because it gives you the option of sitting on the couches/chairs on the second floor of the venue in a private viewing area. Your preferred seating area will be roped off from the general audience and you also have easy access to a second floor bar.

Tips

• Want to jump the line but already ate? You can spend $40 in the gift shop and have the same discount as the restaurant goers. It’s a great way to be first in line and have your Christmas shopping done at the same time.
• Wear ear plugs! Even the furthest standing locations are only about 20 yards away from the band and it gets LOUD. We all want to be cool and listen to the music without any restrictions, but trust us when we say you can hear the show perfectly fine with ear plugs. Plugs are only about three bucks a box at a grocery store and make a world of difference once the show is done.

We saw our first show at the House of Blues in Orlando and we’ve seen more shows there than at Hard Rock Live, so the House of Blues will always hold a special place in our hearts. Arriving so early to stand in line and potentially missing out on a good place to stand pales in comparison to the awesome experience of seeing one of your favorite bands up close and personal.