ORLANDO — There are big things in store for Orlando this year, from new rides and attractions at top theme parks, to brand new hotels in the heart of the city.

Casandra Matej, president and CEO of Visit Orlando, says that new experiences, unique places to stay and diverse dining are usually always on offer for travellers in a destination that’s ever-growing.

“With major new attractions opening at our theme parks, several brand new hotels ranging from luxury to budget, and increased accessibility for travellers to arrive in Orlando, 2023 is the perfect time to visit our unbelievably real destination,” she adds.

Making it easier to get around the city, Brightline Orlando Station, located at Orlando International Airport’s Terminal C, will connect domestic and international visitors travelling between Orlando and Miami, with stops in Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach. Riders will enjoy touchless ticketing, premium in-station lounges, complimentary Wi-Fi and bars and restaurants at every Brightline station. 

Here are new theme park offerings debuting this year:

WALT DISNEY WORLD RESORT

• TRON Lightcycle/Run: Based on the Disney sci-fi film ‘TRON: Legacy,’ this new attraction will open at Magic Kingdom Park in spring, taking guests on a high-stakes race in their very own Lightcycle.
• Happily Ever After: Magic Kingdom Park’s updated nighttime spectacular will feature the return of ‘Happily Ever After.’
• Journey of Water, inspired by Moana: Opening in late 2023 within World Nature at EPCOT, this new attraction allows guests to engage with water as it travels from the skies to the oceans and back again.

UNIVERSARL ORLANDO RESORT

• Universal’s Great Movie Escape: Located at Universal CityWalk, this escape room experience is inspired by Universal Pictures’ and Amblin Entertainment’s blockbuster films ‘Jurassic World’ and ‘Back to the Future.’
• Illumination’s Villain-Con Minion Blast: Opening this summer inside a new Minion land at Universal Studios Florida, this game-based adventure allows guests to encounter nefarious villains and mischievous Minions from Illumination’s blockbuster films.

SEAWORLD ORLANDO PARKS & ENTERTAINMENT 

• Pipeline: The Surf Coaster: Debuting this spring at SeaWorld Orlando, the world’s first ‘Surf Coaster’ offers a dynamic surfing launch and ‘wave jumping’ motions.

LEGOLAND FLORIDA RESORT

• Pirate River Quest: This family-friendly treasure hunt adventure takes guests through the uncharted waters of the legendary Cypress Gardens to discover the secrets protecting its canals, starting early 2023.

Here are new hotel and resort offerings for 2023:

• Conrad Orlando: This new 433-room hotel will debut this fall with 40,000 square feet of indoor meeting space, a spa, numerous dining options and a signature rooftop experience. The property marks the first phase of Evermore Orlando Resort, a massive 10,000-bedroom resort complex.
• Drury Plaza Hotel Orlando – Disney Springs Area: The newest official Walt Disney Partner Hotel, this property will be completed in the spring with 604 guestrooms, a resort-style pool, splash pad, extensive marketplace and dining, complimentary hot breakfast and evening snacks, a shuttle service to all four Walt Disney World Resort theme parks and more.
• Cambria Hotel Orlando Universal Blvd: Opening in winter in the International Drive Resort area, this 118-room property offers amenities including a rooftop pool and lounge, state-of-the-art fitness center, the Veer Kitchen & Bar restaurant, and more.
• Aloft Lake Nona: Opening this fall, this six-storey, 205-room, music-themed property features a 10,000 square-foot conference centre and full-service restaurant.
• JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes: After completing several multimillion-dollar renovations, this hotel now boasts new amenities and offerings, including an expansive waterpark, refreshed rooms/suites, elevated executive family suites and a redesigned lobby lounge. 
• Grand Bohemian Hotel Orlando: Visitors staying at this hotel will experience new additions, including the upscale Altira Rooftop Pool Lounge and reimagined guestrooms and spaces like the signature restaurant, The Boheme, and Bösendorfer Lounge.
• The Alfond Inn at Rollins: This award-winning boutique hotel will complete renovations of 112 existing rooms/suites, plus add 71 luxury guestrooms and suites, meeting space and a lobby café this summer. A new spa will also feature seven treatment rooms and a fitness area.

For more information on travel to Orlando, go to www.VisitOrlando.com or www.OrlandoMeeting.com.