Orlando’s 2023 Highlights

Somehow, we’ve come rollicking through most of the year, and the bulk of 2023 is now in the rear-view mirror. That means it’s time to look back and remind us of the highlights of the past 12 months.

As ever, this has been a year of new attractions and new excitement in the Theme Park Capital of the World, and there has been a LOT to report on.

From the fabulous TRON Lightcycle/Run coaster at Walt Disney World to the mammoth Serengeti Flyer at Busch Gardens, there have been major developments aplenty, and they have all added to the magic and mystique that is an Orlando holiday.

And we think it is worth highlighting them all, as it just goes to underline the ever-growing appeal of Central Florida that ensures there is always something new to come back to.

Walt Disney World

Unsurprisingly, most things start with Disney, and the House of Mouse has been extremely busy this year, not just with new attractions but also with a new celebration to enjoy.

The Magic Kingdom’s TRON ride garnered a lot of headlines when it opened on April 4, and we were all suitably impressed by this fast-paced whizz through the world of The Grid, which truly felt like being immersed in the movies.

That followed hard on the heels of the return of the fan favourite Happily Ever After fireworks at the Magic Kingdom. After being moth-balled in 2021 to make way for the resort’s 50th anniversary celebration, they were reintroduced in April with all-new projections down Main Street USA.

EPCOT got in on the act in October with the long-awaited debut of Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana, a charming walk-through attraction that reveals the wonders of water and its importance in our eco-systems, providing an outdoor exploration trail where water really comes to life!

The opening of the Moana trail also coincided with the arrival of the major Disney 100 celebration, as the company looked back on a century of movie magic with new character opportunities, special décor – and an all-new special effect show at EPCOT.

Luminous made its debut on December 5 in a burst of lights, lasers, fountains and fireworks “to celebrate that we are more alike than different,” and provide a classic night-time finale that’s full of heartfelt Disney music and Pixie dust.

Universal Orlando

Fans of those lovable Minions from the Despicable Me films had plenty to celebrate, too, as Universal opened their eye-catching Minion Land in August, unveiling a novel attraction in the shape of Villain Con Minion Blast, a unique walk-through shoot-em-up that has proved fun for all the family.

That was accompanied by the fun food style of the Minion Café and three other food and beverage outlets (don’t miss the fab sweet treats of Bake My Day!), as well as the character meet-and-greet of the Illumination Theater.

The new elements all wrapped around the existing Despicable Me Minion Mayhem ride, and added some cute theming and additional touches that ensure the Mayhem is perfectly marvellous.

Universal also delivered something of a tantalising look at the future with the announcement of big changes to the Woody Woodpecker KidZone section of Universal Studios. Coming in 2024 will be Dreamworks Land, which completely replaces poor old Woody and adds exciting character elements from the likes of Kung Fu Panda, Shrek, Madagascar and Trolls.

SeaWorld, Busch Gardens & LEGOLAND

As if one major new roller-coaster in Orlando wasn’t enough for one year, SeaWorld seriously upped the adrenalin quotient with their latest offering in the shape of Pipeline: The Surf Coaster back in May.

Now billing itself as The Coaster Capital of Orlando, SeaWorld’s seventh coaster was touted as a “one-of-a-kind roller-coaster that makes you feel like you’re riding waves in a giant surfboard at up to 60mph!” And it did, too.

Sister park Busch Gardens, in nearby Tampa Bay, beat it to the new-attraction punch in 2023, though, when they took the wraps off Serengeti Flyer, the world’s largest pendulum swing ride.

This monstrous apparition opened to the public on February 27 and immediately cornered the market for swinging stimulation, reaching 68mph at up to 135ft off the ground, overlooking the Serengeti Plain area. A tall tale thrill? You bet!

LEGOLAND Florida added its own family fun attraction at the start of the year with Pirate Quest, a rollicking “sea-going adventure” (actually on the canals of the old Cypress Gardens) in the company of all manner of LEGO creatures and characters.

Other openings

There was also plenty to appreciate outside the theme parks, as Orlando continued to underline its reputation for new elements and events. They don’t come much bigger and more dramatic than Tank America, an all-action attraction that opened up just outside downtown Orlando, offering the chance to drive a British 17-ton Abbott tank – and crush cars with it!

We also saw our fair share of new restaurants, which always add to the extra appeal for return visitors. Of particular interest this year were two eye-catching openings at Pointe Orlando on International Drive, where both JoJo’s ShakeBar and Kavos Tacos + Tequila provided super-tasty options.

But perhaps the most dramatic development of all came with the long-awaited opening of Orlando’s first high-speed rail line, offering a direct link to Miami in super-smooth comfort. Brightline finally began service on September 22, and it’s a potential game-changer for Florida travel.

It is a highly stylish way to make the fairly dull journey to the state’s other big city a LOT more attractive and, with round-trip fares from $160, it makes for a great day out (or even an overnight visit). You can check out our Miami blog earlier this year for things to do!

What have been YOUR holiday highlights of 2023? Tell us about it on our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages… and don’t forget to interact with us on Pinterest and now TikTok too!