There’s no doubt about it – Orlando, Florida, continues to be one of the top vacation destinations for families year after year.
And it’s easy to see why: The city has some of the best dining and shopping experiences in Florida and is home to theme parks such as Walt Disney World Resort and Universal Orlando Resort.
If you’re planning a trip to Orlando in 2024, tons of fun new attractions await you. Let’s dive right into our top list of new Orlando attractions 2024 so that you can begin planning the ultimate Florida getaway!
New Orlando Attractions 2024: Brand New Theme Park Rides Await!
The best part of an Orlando, Florida vacation? The parks! Universal, Disney, Busch Gardens, and more offer tons of activities, rides, and shopping to fill up more than one day. Plus, with the parks constantly adding new rides and attractions, there is always something new to experience! Here’s an updated list of the new Orlando attractions 2024 brings to the parks:
Universal Orlando Resort:
Step into the prehistoric wilderness and brace yourself for a heart-thumping ride amidst Jurassic World’s raptor paddock.
A spellbinding journey through the mystical grounds of Hogwarts Castle inside of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter awaits.
Replacing the iconic Shrek 4D, this new attraction is a haven for Despicable Me aficionados, offering a hilarious adventure with the mischievous Minions. Blast your way to victory in this new family-friendly adventure.
DreamWorks Land
Coming to Universal Studios Florida in 2024, DreamWorks Land is an ode to some of the most cherished DreamWorks animated films like Shrek, Despicable Me, and How to Train Your Dragon. From heart-thumping rides to delightful encounters with your favorite DreamWorks characters, this new land promises a whirlwind of excitement and nostalgia.
COMING IN 2025! Universal’s Epic Universe
Visit in 2024 to glimpse the first work on a brand new park – including Super Nintendo World, DreamWorks Animation, and Illumination Entertainment.
Walt Disney World Resort:
The cybernetic realm of TRON comes to life in this high-speed chase through a digital frontier.
Embark on an intergalactic rollercoaster ride with Star-Lord and the crew.
Meander through a lush, Moana-inspired landscape in this unique water-themed expedition.
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, the newest attraction in Magic Kingdom’s Frontierland, invites guests on a musical boat ride through the vibrant world of “The Princess and the Frog.” Join Tiana, Naveen, and Louis as they search for a missing Mardi Gras ingredient, encountering a colorful cast of critter musicians along the way. This immersive experience features beloved characters, original music, and the authentic sights, sounds, and even scents of New Orleans, bringing the magic of the bayou to life.
Everyone’s favorite family of bears is coming back with a brand new musical experience for the entire family.
SeaWorld Orlando:
Hold onto your parkas! SeaWorld Orlando’s newest thrill ride, “Penguin Trek,” is now open, inviting families to embark on an exhilarating Antarctic expedition right in the heart of sunny Florida.
This innovative family launch coaster transforms riders into intrepid researchers, whisking them away on snowmobile-styled cars through a thrilling 3,020-foot track. The journey seamlessly blends indoor and outdoor experiences, reaching speeds of up to 43 mph and featuring two heart-pounding launches.
But “Penguin Trek” isn’t just about the thrills – it’s an immersive adventure that combines excitement with education. As riders twist and turn through meticulously crafted Antarctic landscapes, they’ll learn about the continent’s unique ecosystem. The grand finale? A stunning arrival at SeaWorld’s live penguin habitat, offering an up-close encounter with these charismatic creatures.
Designed by renowned coaster engineers Bolliger & Mabillard, “Penguin Trek” stands out with its family-friendly appeal. The ride accommodates adventurers from 42 to 77 inches tall, making it perfect for a wide range of ages.
As SeaWorld Orlando’s eighth coaster, “Penguin Trek” joins an award-winning lineup that includes favorites like “Mako” and “Ice Breaker.” It further solidifies the park’s reputation as a premier destination for both thrill-seekers and animal enthusiasts.
Busch Gardens:
Prepare for an exhilarating journey on Busch Gardens Tampa Bay’s Serengeti Flyer! This thrilling attraction sends riders soaring over the park’s vast 65-acre Serengeti Plain, offering breathtaking views and heart-pounding excitement. As the twin dueling arms swing higher and higher, reaching a dizzying height of 135 feet, riders will experience the rush of multiple negative-G moments before plummeting back towards earth at speeds of up to 68 mph. With its unique back-to-back seating arrangement accommodating 40 thrill-seekers at once, Serengeti Flyer promises an unforgettable adventure that combines the majesty of the African savanna with the adrenaline rush of extreme heights and speed.
Legoland:
Newly opened in 2023, this family-friendly voyage has you sailing alongside a charismatic crew of LEGO pirates, ensuring a jovial journey for the young and the young at heart.
Orlando Attractions 2025 and Beyond
Disney•Pixar’s Cars franchise races to Magic Kingdom
As Orlando continues to evolve and expand its entertainment offerings, there’s plenty to look forward to in the coming years. Here’s a glimpse of what’s coming to the major theme park resorts, organized by year:
Walt Disney World Resort 2025
Magic Kingdom
- Disney Starlight Parade A brand-new nighttime parade will debut in summer 2025, featuring characters from various Disney animated films. This dazzling spectacle will illuminate the night with innovative floats, captivating music, and stunning special effects, creating a magical experience for guests of all ages.
EPCOT
- Spaceship Earth-Inspired Lounge This new lounge will offer a relaxing space themed around EPCOT’s iconic geodesic sphere. Guests can unwind in an atmosphere that celebrates the park’s optimistic vision of the future, enjoying unique cocktails and light bites inspired by human innovation and progress.
Animal Kingdom
- “Zootopia: Better Zoogether!” show Debuting at the Tree of Life Theater in winter 2025, this new show will feature beloved characters from the animated film in a lively and entertaining performance.
Walt Disney World Resort 2027
Animal Kingdom
- Tropical Americas This new 11-acre section will transport guests to a vibrant world inspired by South and Central American cultures and wildlife. Highlights include:
- A new Indiana Jones experience different from any other in the world, inviting guests to join the adventurous archaeologist on a thrilling expedition.
- The first-ever “Encanto”-themed ride-through attraction, allowing visitors to step into the magical world of the Madrigal family and their enchanted casita.
TBA (To Be Announced)
Magic Kingdom
- Villains Land A new area themed around Disney’s most infamous antagonists. This dark and mysterious land will feature two major attractions, themed dining, and shopping experiences. Guests will be immersed in a world where happily ever after feels like a distant dream, surrounded by the iconic villains from classic Disney animated films.
- CARS Land Construction starting in 2025, this new area will bring the world of Pixar’s “Cars” to life in a reimagined section of Frontierland. It will feature:
- A thrilling rally race attraction through the mountains, allowing guests to take on wild terrain and dodge geysers.
- A family-friendly attraction geared towards younger racers.
Universal Orlando Resort 2025
Universal Epic Universe
Universal’s ambitious new theme park will feature five immersive worlds:
- Celestial Park The heart of Epic Universe, featuring:
- Stardust Racers: A dual-launch racing coaster that sends guests rocketing through the skies at speeds up to 62 mph, reaching heights of 133 feet along 5,000 feet of track.
- Constellation Carousel: A grand centerpiece where explorers of all ages can take a fantastical whirl aboard constellations that move in multiple directions through a choreographed dance of music and starlight.
- Astronomica: An interactive wet-play area that doubles as a giant compass rose, featuring crystal blue fountains that spring to life and dance around guests.
- Various themed dining and shopping experiences, including full-service restaurants and unique retail locations inspired by the celestial theme.
- The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic Set in 1920s wizarding Paris and 1990s London, this area will expand the beloved Harry Potter universe with new experiences:
- “Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry” attraction: An innovative ride that combines massive environments, powerful storytelling, and groundbreaking technology to immerse guests in a thrilling chase through the Ministry of Magic.
- “Le Cirque Arcanus” live show: A spectacular performance featuring live actors, aerialists, amazing puppetry, and brilliant special effects that bring fantastic beasts to life before guests’ eyes.
- Super Nintendo World An immersive land that brings beloved video game characters and experiences to life:
- Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge ride: A groundbreaking attraction that fuses augmented reality and projection mapping technology to recreate the thrill of racing in the Mario Kart universe.
- Yoshi’s Adventure: A family-friendly ride that takes guests on a colorful journey through the Mushroom Kingdom alongside everyone’s favorite dinosaur companion.
- Interactive experiences with Power-Up Bands: Wearable technology that allows guests to collect digital coins, play mini-games, and interact with the environment throughout the land.
- Donkey Kong Country A separate area within Super Nintendo World, featuring:
- Mine-Cart Madness: A thrilling family coaster with innovative technology and unique design that sends riders careening through the jungle, recreating iconic moments from the Donkey Kong video games.
- Tropical-themed dining and merchandise offerings inspired by the Donkey Kong Country video game franchise, immersing guests in the lush, vibrant world of DK Island.
- How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk A vivid recreation of the world from the popular DreamWorks Animation films:
- Hiccup’s Wing Gliders: A family thrill coaster that launches guests into the sky for a dragon’s eye view of Berk, reaching speeds up to 45 mph.
- The Untrainable Dragon: A spectacular live show featuring beloved characters, puppetry, and special effects that bring the world of dragons to life.
- Fyre Drill: A wet-and-wild boat battle where teams compete to outscore and out-soak each other while practicing their dragon fire-fighting skills.
- Dragon Racer’s Rally: Two Viking-made dragon-riding trainers that allow guests to perform high-flying, gravity-defying maneuvers reaching heights of up to 67 feet in the air.
- Dark Universe A world where classic Universal Monsters roam and new legends are born:
- Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment: Universal Orlando’s most terrifying attraction yet, taking guests on an intense dark ride through Frankenstein Manor as they try to evade a horde of classic movie monsters.
- Curse of the Werewolf: A family coaster that sends guests racing through a moonlit forest, trying to escape the curse of the werewolf before it’s too late.
These exciting additions ensure that Orlando will continue to be a premier vacation destination for years to come, offering new and innovative experiences for visitors of all ages.
Booking a Vacation Rental
Planning your adventure to Orlando? Make it memorable by booking one of our cozy and convenient Orlando vacation rentals. Offering more space, privacy, and amenities than traditional hotels, our vacation rentals provide a home away from home. Plus, they often come with a more attractive price tag, especially for larger groups.
Here are a few quick tips for securing your ideal vacation rental:
- Start your planning early, particularly if your travel coincides with peak seasons.
- Book directly through a reputable vacation rental company to get the best deals.
- Opt for travel insurance to safeguard your trip against unforeseen events.
Ready to dive into the magic? Secure your theme park tickets now and get a head start on an unforgettable Orlando adventure! With the plethora of new attractions in 2024, there’s no better time to visit and make lasting memories with your loved ones.
