As we bid goodbye to 2018 and make (and break!) our New Year’s Resolutions, now is the perfect time to take a look at what is coming to the theme parks in Florida in 2019!

Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

If you love the world created in the Star Wars franchise, a trip to Hollywood Studios has to be on your itinerary for 2019. Set to open in autumn, prepare to take a journey to the planet Batuu, and the outpost of Black Spire – a busy haven for smugglers and traders, and the home to two all-new Star Wars attractions!

With the tag line ‘Live Your Adventure’ you know that you will be at the heart of the action in this new sci-fi land! Prepare for launch in Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, which will put you behind the controls of Han Solo’s pride and joy, in one of three flight crew roles for a customised secret mission. You are again at the centre of events when you find yourself slap bang in the midst of a battle between the First Order and the rebels in Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance.

There isn’t just rides to see at this new land, as you’ll find it will be brimming with creatures and characters from the Star Wars universe and features new original music from legendary composer John Williams. Explore a street market and shop at food stalls, or visit the Cantina, where if you have ever been on the original Star Tours attraction, you will see a familiar face – the droid pilot Rex in his new role as a DJ!

Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Although there are rumours of a late-spring/early summer opening, there is, as yet, no official announcement other than 2019 for the opening of Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, which is the park’s first Mickey-themed ride-through attraction. Get on board for a wild ride and listen out for the brand new theme tune prepared especially for the attraction! After watching the première of a new cartoon short, where Mickey and Minnie are preparing for a picnic and drive alongside a train manned by none other than Goofy, you will find yourself immersed in the crazy cartoon world as one of his passengers in this attraction where anything can happen!

Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Early 2019 is all that we know for the launch of Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy, a high-octane show that will park you right in the middle of the Cars universe. Over at the Sunset Showcase, Lightning McQueen himself will teach you what it takes to be a champ with the help of a state-of-the-art wraparound racing simulator. After the show you can even get a photo with Cruz Ramirez, a star of Cars 3!

Harry Potter roller coaster at Universal’s Islands of Adventure

Replacing the Dragon Challenge ride which closed in September 2017, expectations are high for something pretty special over at Islands of Adventure, where a brand new roller coaster is coming to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade early in 2019. Although details of exactly what to expect are being kept tightly under wraps, what we do know is that you are promised exciting new adventures where you will be taken further into the magical world of JK Rowling and meet with some of your favourite characters and creatures! Could it be the Forbidden Forest that they are creating behind the fenced-off area of the park, or perhaps it relates to the Fantastic Beasts stories? Either way, we’re excited to find out more!

Tigris Launch Coaster at Busch Gardens

Spring 2019 will see the opening of Tigris – which is Florida’s tallest launch coaster and is bound to be a hit with thrill-seekers who exceed the ride’s minimum height of 54” (1.37m)! As you wait in line for this thrilling ride to begin, learn more about tigers in the wild, and what is being done by conservationists to help them. After you reach the front of the queue I hope you have a good head for heights – prepare to be launched skywards 150ft (45.7m)! Your heart will be in your mouth as you find yourself catapulted along more than 1800ft (548.6m) of steel track featuring awesome loops and twists as you travel both forwards and backwards, before plunging downwards – all at a speed of over 60mph, in an attempt to replicate the agility of the tiger after which the ride is named!

THE LEGO MOVIE WORLD at LEGOLAND Florida

Exclusive to the Florida resort, THE LEGO MOVIE WORLD is set to launch in spring 2019 and is the biggest news to hit the park since it opened in 2011. After the success of the LEGO MOVIE, it was only natural that LEGOLAND would bring the world of the film (plus its sequel which will be released in February 2019) and its characters to the park. Pay a visit to Bricksburg – the home of our Master Builder hero Emmet – which features three new rides and character meet and greets in a themed surrounding. The popular boat ride – the Quest for Chi, which closed in May 2018 is set to be transformed into an integral part of this new land.

THE LEGO MOVIE Masters of Flight ride will put you aboard Emmet’s Triple Decker Flying Couch; watch a full dome virtual screen from a suspended position, which will give you the sensation of flying as you are joined by a host of familiar and new faces on a new, exciting adventure! Whizz through the air in the company of Unikitty over at Unikitty’s Disco Drop. After entering the rainbow portal you will be swept off your feet to the top of Cloud Cuckoo Land, before being dropped back to earth with a spin and a bounce! With your feet safely back on the ground you’ll need to defend Bricksburg from DUPLO aliens over at the Battle of Bricksburg – they might have come to play, but it’s your mission as a Master Builder to stop them from stealing all of the LEGO bricks – which can be achieved by spraying them with water!

After experiencing these new rides, don’t forget to meet with Emmet and his friends at Emmet’s Super Suite – which comprise of his apartment, the Taco Tuesday Everyday, where you can grab a bite to eat, and the Awesome Shop, which is brimming with some great souvenirs to help remember your day at the park!

KareKare Curl Water Slide at Aquatica

Don your swimming costume ready for the opening of KareKare Curl Water Slide over at SeaWorld’s Aquatica park. No more information has been given to date about the opening of the ride, other than 2019, but what we can tell you is that it is a raft-style ride for two passengers, where you will slide high up a vertical wave wall evoking a feeling of weightlessness. Speculation is that it may be similar to the existing Colossal Curl Ride over at the sister water park, Adventure Island. Whatever the reality of the situation, Aquatica are promising a high-adrenaline adventure! Watch this space for more information when we have it!

NEW Epcot firework show

With Epcot’s IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth set to end at the end of summer 2019 after 20 years of entertaining guests with a fantastic use of lights, music and fireworks, there is set to be a new firework show replacing it. This is part of the general transformation of Epcot taking place over the next few years, along with the Guardians of the Galaxy roller coaster ride over at Future World, and a Ratatouille-inspired attraction at the World Showcase. No more details are available yet as to the new show – though the official line is that it’ll stay close to the original vision of the park. Rumours are that the new show will be called Illuminations: Windows on the World and that it will include clips of characters from popular Disney films to represent various countries, for example Mary Poppins for the UK, and Ratatouille for France, but at this stage they are just rumours; keep checking back with us for more details as we get them!

All of the opening dates for these fantastic attractions will be announced on our social channels, so make sure to give us a follow! As you can see, there are plenty of new and exciting things to see and do in Florida next year – so maybe 2019 is the perfect time to book your tickets for the holiday of a lifetime?