The Best of 2024 in Orlando!

From the re-opening of some of our favourite restaurants to brand new attractions in the theme parks, 2024 was a non-stop roller-coaster of thrills, tastes and excitement in the special part of Central Florida we are privileged to work in.

And, as we hurtle towards the end of another year of fabulous Orlando holidays, we like to look back at the highlights of all the amazing new experiences that went into a truly epic 12 months in the Theme Park Capital of the World.

Each of Disney, Universal and SeaWorld unveiled major new attractions, while there was a proliferation of restaurants in downtown Orlando and the International Drive area, plus a comeback for the Pointe Orlando entertainment complex.

But, most of all, we enjoyed another year of that special feeling we get when we arrive at Orlando International Airport and take the automated tram into the main terminal. That is our “Welcome Home” moment, and we know it is for our guests, too. You just can’t beat the Sunshine State vibe and all that goes with it.

New at Disney

It all started for Walt Disney World back in early summer when the House of Mouse debuted the transformed Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. Formerly Splash Mountain, the new-look log flume ride underwent a dramatic makeover to feature The Princess & The Frog, with LOTS of clever theming in both the queue and the ride itself. The main ride is pretty much the same, though, with that scare-ific 52ft plunge at 45mph into the big splash-down! At the same time, the Magic Kingdom also welcomed the return of those wacky country bears, as their fun animatronic show made its comeback as the Country Bears Musical Jamboree, with an all-new musical revue.

Over at the Epcot park, the grand transformation of the former Future World area was finally concluded with the completion of the new World Celebration section, which gave us the iconic Dreamer’s Point statue of Walt Disney and a new live entertainment section based around CommuniCore Hall and CommuniCore Plaza, including the Mickey & Friends character meet-and-greet attraction. It includes a pleasant seating area, two show stages and the tasty Festival Favourites counter-service eatery, serving up signature food and beverage dishes from the various Festivals the park is known for (the current menu offers Reuben Croquettes, Ham Sliders and a delicious Panettone Holiday Trifle!).

For foodie fans, Disney also produced three real gems in 2024. First up was the return of long-time favourite 1900 Park Fare at the Grand Floridian Resort, which had been closed since the pandemic but burst back into life in April with its dramatic character breakfast and dinner options, including Princess Tiana and Cinderella. At Disney Springs, we had our tastebuds tantalised by Summer House on the Lake, an indoor-outdoor restaurant with a genuine summery feel and superb coastal California cuisine (don’t miss their Gooey Lemon Cake dessert for a taste sensation!). Completing the trio, the Cake Bake Shop at Disney’s Boardwalk Resort adds some of the most eye-popping cakes and pastries we have ever seen, along with some heavenly quiches and croques.

Universal’s latest

While it hasn’t been a blockbuster year for Universal Orlando, their big opening of the year centred on the former Woody Woodpecker KidZone area. This children’s play section had been closed in early 2023 pending a complete re-working. The new DreamWorks Land opened in June and gave us the delights of the Trolls Trollercoaster, Shrek’s Swamp playground and Po’s Kung Fu Training Camp, as well as live entertainment and character meet-and-greets. The Universal Studios park also unveiled a dramatic night-time show, CineSational: A Symphonic Spectacular, featuring a musical collage of Universal films, and, our favourite of the year, the Universal Mega Movie Parade, the park’s largest ever daytime parade, with the likes of Jurassic Park, Ghostbusters, Back to the Future, ET, The Minions and the hilarious Sing.

Over at SeaWorld

SeaWorld had already given us two new coasters in the previous two years, and they made it three in a row with Penguin Trek in 2024, possibly their best to date, as it is a fully family-friendly ride with no hugely scary moments. This attraction takes over from the previous Empire of the Penguin dark ride and makes it much more dynamic, without any big drops or high speed elements. Its indoor-outdoor profile is a real winner in our eyes, while we also love the smooth nature of the ride. The park also celebrated the 60th anniversary of its original founding this year, adding some neat retro touches like the return of Shamu and Crew and a SeaWorld60 photo gallery.

Meanwhile, sister water park, Aquatica, gave us an exciting new element with Tassie’s Underwater Twist, a hugely immersive waterslide that adds a state-of-the-art projection system providing the views of being underwater in Australia’s Shark Bay!

Around Orlando

LEGOLAND Florida Resort debuted the new Ferrari Build & Race Experience in March, an interactive experience that puts guests in the driver’s seat to build, test and race their very own LEGO Ferraris. The cutting-edge digital technology brings guests’ creations from their imagination to the racetrack and inspiring creativity through the power of play. Likewise, our top International Drive hot-spot, ICON Park, boosted its appeal by adding two fab new drinking and dining choices, Helena Modern Riviera, a Mediterranean-inspired restaurant with a fresh coastal chic vibe, and The Winery & Tasting Room by Brewlando, with customizable wine flights and charcuterie board pairings as well as a selection of seven of their popular craft brews.

And, while on the subject of I-Drive, we were delighted to try out a new upscale dining experience in November when Corazon by Baires opened as part of the Mango’s Tropical Café complex just south of Sand Lake Road. This Argentinian-inspired restaurant is a real one-off for exotic décor, fine service and sensational food, and makes for a very special night out for couples.

And that was another bumper year for “new stuff” in Orlando, a destination that never stops and never takes a backward step. It remains completely original and bursting with creativity everywhere you look, and remains the UK’s favourite long-haul destination. Now, don’t miss next week’s blog, with a look ahead to everything that’s coming in 2025!

What was YOUR highlight of 2024?