Orlando highlights new attractions, experiences for 2024

This week at IPW 2024, Orlando showcased its achievements in the past year and upcoming new attractions set to make waves in 2024.

Presenting to global media representatives and travel trade partners at IPW 2024 in Los Angeles, Visit Orlando revealed it welcomes over six million international visitors in 2023.

In 2024 and beyond, the Theme Park Capital continues to reinvent itself with an ever evolving lineup of new experiences.

These range from movie-inspired attractions, a new launch coaster with snowmobile-style cars an eight-acre crystal lagoon. Here’s what’s new for 2024:

THEME PARKS

Several new attractions will open this summer at Disney’s Magic Kingdom Park. Tiana’s Bayou will take guests on a musical adventure inspired by “The Princess and the Frog.” Guests will be goin’ down the bayou with Princess Tiana during Mardi Gras season as she prepares to host a one-of-a-kind celebration for the people of New Orleans. The Country Bear Musical Jamboree, a whole new show, will feature renditions of classic Disney tunes, reimagined across country music genres. These new attractions follow the recently opened TRON Lightcycle / Run coaster. Located in Tomorrowland, it’s one of the fastest coaster attractions in a Disney theme park.

SeaWorld Orlando, celebrating its 60^th Anniversary, will debut Penguin Trek, an indoor/outdoor launch coaster families can ride together. Guests will ride snowmobile-inspired cars going at a maximum speed of 43mph, ending up in the park’s penguin habitat. The park also debuted an all-new look and feel to their Orca Stadium this year.

Universal Orlando Resort‘s new Dreamworks Land will open June 14 at Universal Studios Florida. The new family-friendly area, inspired by DreamWorks Animation’s characters including Shrek, Kung Fu Panda and Trolls, will feature a family-friendly roller coaster, Trolls Trollercoaster; multiple interactive play areas, including Shrek’s Swamp for Little Ogres, Poppy’s Playground and Po’s Kung Fu Training Camp; character meet and greet zones; and live entertainment. The park will also debut additional experiences this summer, including CineSational: A Symphonic Spectacular – a new nighttime lagoon show debuting June 14 at Universal Studios Florida; Hogwarts Always – an all-new castle projection show debuting June 14 in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade and Universal’s largest daytime parade to date, Universal Mega Movie Parade, debuting July 3.

LEGOLAND Florida Resort opened LEGO Ferrari Build & Race in March, offering guests the experience of viewing a life-sized LEGO Ferrari car, and building and testing it in one of three test tracks. Younger drivers can enjoy the LEGO DUPLO Build Zone to design their own custom creations with larger bricks.

What’s Next

In 2025, Universal Orlando Resort will unveil its most ambitious theme park yet: Universal Epic Universe. It will transport guests to expansive worlds featuring more than 50 attractions, entertainment, dining, and shopping experiences.

NEW ACCOMMODATIONS

Evermore Orlando Resort opened Jan. 1 as Orlando’s first beach-like property, with an 8-acre Crystal Lagoon and a 20-acre sandy beach with hammocks, cabanas and recreational activities. Guests can enjoy family paddleboarding, mixology classes, sandcastle-building lessons and more. Evermore, which has the world’s first touchless sunscreen application system, is thoughtfully built for large groups and families, offering a range of 2- to 11-bedroom vacation homes.

Conrad Orlando, the destination’s first Hilton luxury brand, opened Jan. 9 with 433 rooms, a spa, numerous dining options – including its signature rooftop experience – and 40,000 square feet of indoor meeting space. Located at Evermore Orlando Resort, the property overlooks a golf course, a two-story boathouse and Evermore Bay’s Crystal Lagoon and sandy beaches.

Villatel Orlando Resort, situated within the International Drive area, began a phased opening in late 2023, offering private villa rentals with hotel-style amenities. The property will eventually include an adventure waterpark with multi-story slides and a lazy river, a fully equipped fitness center, full-service restaurant and children’s playgrounds. Upon full completion in 2025, the entire resort will have 526 units with apartment-style suites and single-family homes.

Universal Orlando Resort will add 1,500 guest rooms to the destination’s hotel portfolio, with Universal Stella Nova Resort opening January 21, 2025 and Universal Terra Luna Resort opening February 25, 2025. The new property rates will start at $147 (per night, plus tax), based on a stay of four nights or more, featuring 750 double-queen guest rooms with spaceship-styled windows, a variety of dining options and amenities including resort-style pools and fitness centers.

DINING AT MICHELIN GUIDE RESTAURANTS

Orlando’s evolving dining scene has been recognized with one of the world’s highest culinary honors. In the third edition of the MICHELIN Guide Miami, Orlando and Tampa, inspectors announced four new Michelin starred restaurants for 2024.

The MICHELIN Guide also recognized Orlando’s commitment to service and sustainability with three special awards: Michelin Exceptional Cocktails Award for Justin Levaughn of Otto’s High Dive; Michelin Service Award to Israel Perez, maître d’hôtel and sommelier of Victoria & Albert’s; and Michelin Green Star, which recognizes exceptional sustainable dining, to Kaya, led by Chef Lordfer Lalicon.

Michelin’s recognition of 48 Orlando restaurants includes seven MICHELIN starred venues, 11 Bib Gourmands and 30 Recommended eateries.

Learn more at VisitOrlando.com 

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