Frequently Asked Questions

The Orlando Margarita Ball is invitation-only, and each invitation is good for two people. You must receive a printed invitation from one of our Directors to attend. Each guest simply brings a new, unwrapped toy or gift valued at $50 or more, which serves as their contribution to the Ball and goes directly to children in need. No additional cost or ticket is required. See our Gift Guide for full guidance.

Invitations are printed and individually distributed by the Directors of the Orlando Margarita Society. If you have attended the Ball in the past, please contact the Director who invited you previously, or the person who originally received the invitation from a Director and shared it with you.

If you do not know a Director, a limited number of two-guest invitations may be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Requests may be submitted to invitations@orlandomargaritasociety.com Please note that there are no digital invitations, QR codes, electronic tickets, or guest lists. Only the original printed invitation is accepted at the door.

Each printed invitation admits two guests. If you would like to bring four guests, you will need two invitations. Every guest attending the Ball must be included on a valid invitation and must bring their own new, unwrapped toy or gift valued at $50 or more as their contribution. See our Gift Guide for full guidance.

The Orlando Margarita Ball is a Black Tie Optional event. The majority of gentlemen choose to wear tuxedos, although a dark suit with a dress shirt and tie is also acceptable. A tie is required for gentlemen and must be worn for admission. Ladies may wear formal long or short dresses. Elegant and formal attire is encouraged, and casual clothing is not permitted. Full details are on our Attire page.

A new, unwrapped toy or gift valued at $50 or more, suitable for a child between the ages of 4 and 18. Gifts for teens, especially teenage girls, are always in the shortest supply. See our Gift Guide for full guidance and examples.

The morning after the Ball, our Directors personally sort and distribute every gift directly to carefully vetted Central Florida institutions and organizations that provide gifts to children who are often overlooked by larger holiday toy drives, ensuring each donation goes exactly where it is intended.

As part of our commitment to accountability, individual Directors also attend the toy distribution events hosted by these organizations where the gifts will be given directly to the children. The Orlando Margarita Society is proud to be one of the few charitable organizations that follow each donation from collection to distribution, helping ensure that 100% of the gifts collected reach the children they are intended for.

Yes. The Rosen Centre Hotel offers discounted guest rooms and special dining packages for guests attending the Orlando Margarita Ball.

Staying at the hotel is not required, but many guests choose to stay overnight for the convenience. The evening of the Ball is historically one of the busiest nights of the year in Orlando, with other major events taking place throughout the city at the same time. Because of the size of the Ball and the increased activity in the area, hotel valet parking can reach capacity quickly. Guests who do not stay at the hotel may need to park in remote lots, sometimes requiring additional walking or transportation to reach the ballroom. Staying at the hotel allows you to avoid parking concerns, get ready comfortably in your room, and celebrate responsibly without worrying about driving, transportation, or late-night traffic.

Discounted rooms and dining packages are available here.

Please let the Director or person who gave you the invitation know as soon as possible that you are unable to attend, and return the invitation to them so they can give it to someone else. Invitations to the Orlando Margarita Ball are limited, and each year there is more demand for invitations than there is space in the ballroom. If you cannot attend, returning your unused invitation gives someone else the opportunity to enjoy the Ball and, most importantly, bring the gift that will go to a child in need. An unused invitation means one less gift for a child. Please do not give your invitation to someone else without first speaking with the Director who provided it. They may have someone else waiting for an opportunity to attend.

The Orlando Margarita Ball is held from 8:00 PM to 1:00 AM. Doors open at 8:00 PM, and the evening continues until 1:00 AM. We recommend arriving early, especially if you are not staying at the hotel, due to traffic and parking conditions.

The doors to the Orlando Margarita Ball open at 8:00 PM, and guests typically begin arriving at that time. A line may form at the entrance as guests arrive, so we recommend arriving early rather than waiting until later in the evening. If you are not staying at the Rosen Centre, allow plenty of extra time for traffic and parking. The Ball attracts more than 3,000 guests, and the evening is historically one of the busiest nights in Orlando, with other major events taking place at the same time. Traffic can become especially heavy around the hotel as other events let out. Hotel valet parking can also reach capacity quickly, and guests arriving after it fills may be directed to remote or off-site parking, sometimes requiring additional transportation to the hotel. If you are not staying at the hotel, consider arriving early and having dinner at the Rosen Centre before the Ball. This allows you to get to the hotel before traffic and parking become more difficult and gives you a much more relaxed start to the evening.

If you are bringing large or bulky gifts, such as bicycles, and plan to self-park, we recommend using the rear entrance to the hotel. You may drop off your guests and gifts at the rear entrance before proceeding to self-parking. The rear entrance is closer to the Ballroom and the self-parking area, making it much more convenient for large gifts. It also allows you to avoid adding to the traffic around the valet entrance and eliminates the need to carry bulky gifts a long distance from the parking area.

Absolutely not. While margaritas may be in the name, they are not the only drink on the menu! The Ball will have an open cash bar offering standard mixed drinks, wine, and beer. And, of course, if a margarita is what you're looking for, you can order one from the bar. 🍹 After all, it wouldn't be the Margarita Ball without a margarita or two!

Yes. The Rosen Centre offers discounted guest rooms and special dining packages for guests attending the Orlando Margarita Ball. Staying at the hotel also lets you skip valet backups and remote parking, and take the elevator straight to the Ballroom. See our Hotel page for full details and booking links.

Yes! A professional photographer will be at the Ball throughout the evening, providing plenty of opportunities to have your photograph taken and capture the memories of the night. Photos from the Ball will be made available online after the event, and we will post the link on our website and Facebook page when the new photos are ready. You can also view photos from previous Margarita Balls in our online gallery. The newest photos will be added to the same gallery as they become available, and past years can be found here.

The Orlando Margarita Ball is known for being a great party with great live music and a great DJ. The evening features a live band along with a professional DJ who keeps the party going throughout the night. The DJ opens the evening and gets the party started before the band takes the stage. When the band takes a break, the DJ keeps the dance floor going, and then takes over again at the end of the evening to close out the Ball. With live music, dancing, and a DJ keeping the energy going all night, there is always plenty of reason to get on the dance floor.

The Orlando Margarita Ball is a non-smoking event, and smoking is not permitted inside the hotel. The Rosen Centre does provide designated smoking areas outside the hotel for guests who wish to smoke.

Yes. The Orlando Margarita Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization under the Internal Revenue Code. The Orlando Margarita Ball is not operated as a profit-making event, and no one receives a profit from the Ball. One of the unique aspects of the Orlando Margarita Ball is that the event itself is funded by the Society's Directors and sponsors. The Directors personally contribute their own money to cover the costs of producing the Ball, allowing the gifts brought by our guests to remain focused on the children we serve. In other words, the Directors and sponsors pay to put on the Ball, while the guests' contributions of toys and gifts are collected for distribution to children in need. This is what allows the Society to provide thousands of gifts each year without using the toy donations to pay for the event.

The Orlando Margarita Society is always interested in hearing from qualified individuals and businesses who would like to become more involved with the Ball. Directors and sponsors are carefully selected by the Society. We do not simply accept anyone who applies, as both positions carry an important responsibility to the organization and its mission. If you are interested in becoming a Director or would like information about sponsorship opportunities, please contact us at info@orlandomargaritasociety.com.