There Will be Glee in 2023!

It’s hard to believe that another year has flown past, but here we are on the verge of 2023 and there are another action-packed 12 months to look forward to.

You might have heard us say this before, but Orlando is the destination that never stands still. There is always something new on the horizon to keep people coming back time after time, and that is especially true of next year.

And, for once, we don’t need a crystal ball to predict what we’ll see and enjoy in the New Year; it will be fun and excitement all the way!

There are major new attractions in store for Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, SeaWorld, Busch Gardens and Legoland Florida. There will be some exciting new places to dine, and Orlando will finally see the opening of its game changing high-speed rail line to Miami.

Yes, there is a LOT in the pipeline for the happiest of new years in Central Florida, so let’s get right to it.

What’s New at Disney in Orlando

As ever, the House of Mouse will have some of the biggest and brightest developments with which to tempt visitors back to their theme parks in 2023, starting with one much anticipated opening and the end of another grand transformation.

The Magic Kingdom will be front and centre this spring for the eagerly awaited debut of the TRON Lightcycle/Run ride. This dynamic coaster takes riders into the world of the TRON films, with a high-speed adventure racing against The Grid’s menacing programs. It should be a five-star thrill as well as an iconic new look for the park’s Tomorrowland area.

Epcot won’t be far behind, though, as it completes the four-year transformation of its former World Showcase area into three dramatic reimagined sections, World Celebration, World Discovery and World Nature.

Highlighting the latter area in late 2023 will be Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana, an innovative interactive walk through attraction that features the importance and playful nature of water that Moana discovered for herself in the 2016 movie.

Other new features include an elaborate gardens area that will change with the park’s different festivals, a Disney character meet-and-greet location, a live entertainment venue and an exhibition centre that will offer more festival experiences, including a demonstration kitchen.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios will debut an attraction of a different kind, with the opening of the Roundup Rodeo BBQ restaurant in the Toy Story Land area, where guests will dine among “play sets” of a Western town and train station with a lip-smacking menu featuring house-smoked meats, classic side dishes and miniature “sweet surprises.”

Elsewhere in Walt’s World, look out for the opening of the Cake Bake Shop at The Boardwalk resort area. This dazzling tea-and-pastries emporium will be making its Florida debut with an impressive array of elegant dining and decadent dishes, and is definitely somewhere you’ll want to have on your “To Do” list in 2023.

More Park fun at Universal and Co in Orlando

More rides and other attractions will also be the story at each of Universal, SeaWorld, Busch Gardens and Legoland, with plenty of high-speed thrills to boot.

SeaWorld will offer the most eye-catching experience with the spring opening of their Pipeline: The Surf Coaster ride. This stand-up roller-coaster will be a first-of-its-kind ride for Florida, with seats that allow riders to feel the thrill of “riding the surf” at up to 60mph!

Equally, Universal is preparing to unveil its first Minion Land at the Universal Studios park, a dramatic reworking of its entrance area that will include the existing Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem simulator ride and the forthcoming Villain-Con: Minion Blast interactive adventure, as well as a Minion Café and some extensive theming.

Busch Gardens will join the parade of the ‘Latest & Greatest’ with their Serengeti Flyer in the summer. This gigantic swing ride will reach speeds of 68mph at up to 135ft above the ground as it soars out and over the Serengeti Plain area (where the old Rhino Rally attraction was, for those with long memories!).

However, Legoland Florida will beat everybody to the punch as they plan to open their new Pirate River Quest boat ride on January 12. A gentle scavenger-hunt-type journey on the trail of pirate treasure, it will still feature mischievous monkeys, squabbling pirates and the surprise menace of a Kraken, as well as giving visitors another view of the extensive Cypress Gardens section of the park.

Great Food Will be Coming in 2023 too

Stand by for another welter of great new food and drink possibilities in our ever-expanding restaurant universe

Rosa Mexicano opens its first Orlando area location in the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin resort in early 2023. The menu showcases a contemporary take on authentic Mexican cuisine, including classic and innovative dishes that pay tribute to the country’s varied culinary regions. The restaurant will feature an extensive drinks list boasting more than 100 varieties of tequila and agave-based spirits! 

On International Drive, Pointe Orlando’s newest addition will be KAVAS Tacos + Tequila, a restaurant concept by the owners of Tapa Toro and Taverna Opa that also deals in Mexico’s rich culinary history, with fresh comfort food, tableside experiences and recipes hand-crafted from the freshest ingredients.

Also new at Pointe Orlando, the eye-catching JoJo’s ShakeBAR will offer a modern, yet familiar diner experience featuring some truly decadent desserts, milkshakes and smashburgers.

Dizzy Donuts, from Pizza Bruno’s Bruno Zacchini, is scheduled to open by early 2023 in the College Park District of downtown Orlando. Tapping into Zacchini’s love of cake donuts, Dizzy Donuts will serve hot, made-to-order donuts tossed in different toppings, as well as already prepared donuts dressed in more elaborate flavour creations. 

Brew Theory Marketplace, an all-new food hall coming to Apopka, just north of Orlando, in summer 2023, will feature a full liquor bar, Brew Theory taproom, beer garden and various retail tenants. 

Here comes the train across Florida!

Finally, Florida’s first high-speed rail company, Brightline, is due to open up its full daily Orlando-Miami service in 2023, offering an alternative to the long, boring drive to the state’s southern city, as well as West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale. You can look up all the details at Brightline.com.

Hopefully that gives you plenty of reason to start planning your next (or first) Orlando adventure in 2023. In truth, that is only a snapshot of the excitement in store for every visitor, and we sincerely hope you’ll want to book with us to set the ball rolling.

With that, it’s time for us to sign off on the Debbie’s Villas blog for 2022, but we wish you a sincere, prosperous and peaceful New Year – with a great holiday to look forward to!

What are you most looking forward to in 2023? Give us your thoughts on our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages… and don’t forget to interact with us on Pinterest, too!.