HOME Travel Guide Common Sense Travel
decorative font style
    Travel >> Holiday Travel >  >> Travel Notes

Orlando 2017: New Theme Park Attractions, Sports Events & Resort Openings

See what's coming to Orlando in 2017 and beyond.

Explore Orlando’s 2017 lineup of attractions, events, and resorts. From brand‑new theme‑park rides and a fresh water park to major sports events, the city is poised to deliver a fresh wave of family entertainment.

NFL Pro Bowl Returns to Orlando

The NFL Pro Bowl game brings the classic NFC vs. AFC showdown back to the Sunshine State. The inaugural 2017 game is set for Sunday, Jan. 29 at Camping World Stadium in downtown Orlando. In addition, the NFL will launch a new Pro Bowl Week featuring team practices at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, as well as youth football clinics and family‑friendly activities across the city.

Pandora: The World of Avatar at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Disney’s Animal Kingdom is expanding with the largest addition in its history: the AVATAR‑inspired land of Pandora. Guests will wander floating mountains, bioluminescent rainforests, and glide on the towering Banshees. A highlight is the family‑friendly Na’vi River Journey, a canoe tour through a glowing rainforest that culminates in an encounter with a Na’vi shaman.

Universal’s Volcano Bay: A Tropical Water Park Experience

Universal Orlando Resort is constructing a new water park that will open in 2017. Volcano Bay promises innovative attractions, serene relaxation zones, and a fully immersive island theme. The park will sit just south of Cabana Bay Beach Resort within the resort complex.

Universal’s Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon

Universal Orlando will launch a new ride in 2017: Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon. Guests will join The Tonight Show’s studio audience for a high‑speed journey through New York City’s subway tunnels and skyscrapers, guided by Jimmy Fallon’s colorful characters and iconic landmarks.

SeaWorld Orlando’s Immersive Expansions

SeaWorld Orlando is pioneering virtual reality on a roller coaster. Starting next summer, guests can don custom headsets for a digitally immersive deep‑sea mission featuring mythical creatures, including the Kraken. The ride vehicle will also receive a fresh redesign for its 2017 debut.

SeaWorld is also upgrading its Dolphin Nursery with new acrylic windows that offer above‑water and underwater views of baby dolphins and nursing mothers, complete with educational and conservation elements.

The Edison: A 1920s Industrial Gothic Dining Experience

Disney Springs’ upcoming The Edison draws inspiration from the famed Los Angeles venue. The 1920s power‑plant themed restaurant and bar will serve classic American cuisine, craft cocktails, and live entertainment—including cabaret and musical performances—under a lavish industrial gothic roof.

Miss Fortune Falls: A New Raft Adventure

Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon introduces Miss Fortune Falls, a family‑friendly raft attraction. Guests board treasure rafts at the entrance, follow Captain Oceaneer’s past, and then plunge into a white‑water rafting voyage that showcases rare artifacts from Miss Fortune’s global treasure hunts.

LEGO NINJAGO World: An Interactive Adventure

LEGOLAND Florida will open a new immersive land and dark ride, LEGO NINJAGO World. Visitors can unleash fire, lightning, and ice powers in a hands‑on experience that brings the LEGO ninja universe to life.

LEGOLAND Beach Retreat: New Overnight Accommodations

Launching spring 2017, LEGOLAND Beach Retreat adds 83 single‑story duplexes, a themed pool, sandy play area, and a new restaurant, offering guests a convenient stay within the resort.

Orlando City Stadium: Home of MLS

MLS’s Orlando City Soccer Club is set to open a 19,500‑seat multipurpose stadium in downtown Orlando near the Amway Center ahead of the 2017 season. The new venue will serve as the club’s home and a hub for soccer enthusiasts.

Margaritaville Resort Orlando: A Waterfront Destination

The sprawling Margaritaville Resort Orlando opens to the public with a 175‑room hotel, 700 themed vacation homes, 30,000 sq ft of function space, 200,000 sq ft of retail, a dining and entertainment district, a 12‑acre water park, a wellness center, fitness trails, and a water‑taxi system. Weddings and events will be hosted in this vibrant setting.

SKYPLEX Orlando (Opening 2018)

On I‑Drive, SKYPLEX Orlando will debut the world’s tallest roller coaster in 2018—a 570‑ft (174‑m) tower featuring the first Polercoaster, a vertical ride weaving along the tower’s perimeter. An observation deck, restaurant, and lounge will provide panoramic city views. A second ride, Skyfall, will offer the world’s tallest drop at 460 ft (140.2 m) and 90 mph.

Fast & Furious – Supercharged (Opening 2018)

Universal Orlando will add an action‑packed ride inspired by the Fast & Furious franchise: Fast & Furious – Supercharged. Scheduled for 2018, the attraction will amplify the resort’s thrill‑ride lineup.

Stay Connected to Orlando!
Never miss a moment—follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube for the latest offers, exclusive tips, and live feeds from new attractions. Subscribe to our eNewsletter for insider info from the Theme Park Capital of the World.

Travel Notes
  • -

    Seattle is flourishing with public parks and picturesque viewpoints, from Kerry Park’s jaw-dropping view of the skyline against Mount Rainier to Gas Works Park’s abandoned gasification plant overlooking Lake Union. While those are some of the best views of the city, there are so many other destinations to take in the sights of Seattle and the surrounding environment. On your next visit, take the road less traveled and head to one of these seven locations with views that are just as captivati

  • Discover What s New and Exciting in Houston: Splashy Debuts and Cultural Highlights

    Its time to reconsider the city you thought you knew for the splashy debuts and cultural highlights that could easily fill a weekend.HOUSTON, Texas — The sun is back out in Houston. In fact, it’s hard to believe that just over a year ago, Hurricane Harvey’s destructive path ripped through the city, as it now seems more vibrant than ever. I’ve been visiting H-Town to see my sister and her family for more than a decade and in many ways

  • Best Hiking Trails in and Around Kansas City: Your Ultimate Guide

    There’s more to Kansas City than high-tech streetcars, pre-Prohibition cocktail bars and world-renowned art museums. You’ll find that hiking paths and trails await all throughout the metro, ready to be explored at a moment’s notice. North and south, east to west, a clear blue sky looms overhead while your next adventure extends further into the wilderness. Nature beckons. Here are some great places for hiking in and around Kansas City: