The latest Orlando happenings updated weekly using information provided by partners and destination press releases. Stay up-to-date on Orlando's most recent announcements and openings from accommodations and attractions to restaurants and more.
ACCOMMODATIONS
The Kimpton Orlando, a new 11-story boutique hotel featuring 216 rooms, indoor meeting space, a full-service restaurant, lobby bar, café, and pool bar, is slated to open in early 2027 in downtown Orlando’s mixed-use sport and entertainment district across from the Kia Center. The property will feature perks such as morning coffee and tea service, a social hour every evening, in-room yoga mats and pet-friendly options.
ATTRACTIONS:
Primark, the Ireland-based retail store, will open its first Orlando location inside The Florida Mall on Aug. 29. The two-story, 36,200-square-foot store will feature an entire floor dedicated to Disney merchandise with products ranging from Walt Disney Animation Studios' The Lion King, Lilo & Stitch, Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and more.
Walt Disney World Resort unveiled news and updates coming to the parks in 2025 and beyond:
- At Magic Kingdom Park, Pixar Animation Studios’ Cars franchise will become a
reimagined area in Frontierland, with two all-new attractions. Work will begin on
a new Villans Land, complete with two attractions, dining and shopping. Finally, a new Pirates of
the Caribbean-themed lounge will debut in 2025 and “Disney Starlight,” a new
nighttime parade, will debut in 2025. - At Disney’s Hollywood Studios, construction begins next year for the first full land dedicated to
Monsters, Inc., featuring the first suspended coaster in a Disney park. - Tropical Americas at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, set to open in 2027, will feature two new
signature attractions – an Indiana Jones-themed adventure and a journey through the
Casita Madrigal from “Encanto.” - At EPCOT, the newly re-themed Test Track presented by Chevrolet and a new lounge,
inspired by Spaceship Earth, will debut in 2025.
Universal Orlando Resort unveiled the final Halloween Horror Nights scare zone theme, Blumhouse. The walk-through experience will be packed with frights from Blumhouse characters like The Grabber, M3GAN, the baby mask-wearing slasher from Happy Death Day and more.
DINING & NIGHTLIFE
Before It Melts, a new ice cream shop by Tavistock Restaurant Collection, will open on Aug. 10 in the Lake Nona Town Center. The concept, previously found inside Boxi Park, will now have an expanded brick-and-mortar location next to Park Pizza & Brewing Co., offering premium farmstand ice cream made from Wisconsin dairy with a menu of 12 diverse flavors, including two dairy-free options to cater to all tastes and preferences.
Palm Tree Club, a new dining and nightlife concept from International DJ, songwriter, and record producer, Kygo, will open this fall at Live! At The Pointe. The coastal-inspired spot will feature handcrafted signature cocktails and menu items including Hamachi carpaccio, A5 wagyu dumplings, Thai snapper and a selection of sushi and nigiri.
City Food Hall, a new dining concept in Ivanhoe Village, will open next month in the same space previously occupied by the Hall on the Yard. The two-story space will house three eateries concocted by Danilo's Pasta Bar chef, DJ Tagalin, in partnership with Soseki's Michael Collantes - Chez Les Copains, a classic French brasserie; Asin, a Filipino chef's tasting counter; a reimagined version of Collantes' Taglish, which will have a new menu overseen by Tagalin; and additional vendors, including Ramen Takagi and EggDose.
EVENTS & FESTIVALS
SeaWorld Orlando will host its inaugural Howl-O-Sprint, a nighttime terror 5K experience, on Friday the 13th (Sept. 13). The run will commence at midnight, offering an immersive, heart-pounding course surrounded by relentless characters whispering curses and promises of spine-tingling fear, harrowing scare zones, a post-race celebration exclusive to brave racers and more.
Nosferatu, Orlando’s re-vamped adult vampire experience, returns to Renaissance Theatre Company Sept. 13 – Nov. 10. Inspired by vampire lore from literature including Bram Stoker’s Dracula and TV shows and films such as Twilight, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and True Blood, the event will feature a vampire-themed nightclub, traditional vampire ceremony, live performers, drag performers and dancers.
Orlando Fringe’s Fringe ArtSpace will introduce The Collective Incubator Program: SOUL POP: Summer of Soul produced by Sonflower Joy Music, Aug. 9-25, offering live music performances, food, vendors, art and more throughout the Fringe ArtSpace lobby.
Goblin Market, the traveling art festival, will return to the Audubon Park Main Street District on Sept. 1. The event will include a bargain and barter art mart, featuring damaged, misprinted, bundled or out-of-season products from local artists at discounted prices; food trucks; vintage clothing; and a trading tent.
The second annual Downtown Orlando Field Day will be held at Seneff Arts Plaza on the Dr. Phillips Center lawn on Nov. 7. The fundraising event will blend health and wellness, friendly competition, and camaraderie within the community, featuring throwback nostalgic games, food, prizes and more.
Café Tu Tu Tango will host its Art & Sip: Butterfly Bliss & Brushstrokes event on Sept. 30. Guests attending the separately ticketed guided painting event will create a butterfly masterpiece while sipping their choice of beer, house wine, or sangria, and enjoying light bites to snack on throughout the experience.
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex will host its annual event, Taste of Space, Sept. 30 – Nov. 3. Guests can expand their palates with out-of-this-world flavors through several experiences including:Taste of Space: Fall Bites! (Sept. 30-Nov. 3); Marstini Shake-Off (Oct. 4); and Taste of Space: Celebrity Chef Edition (Nov. 2).
The Orlando Magic released its schedule for the 2024-25 basketball season, including the team’s home opener game on Oct. 25 vs. Brooklyn at Kia Center.
ÔMO by Jônt will host a one-night event in collaboration with IWA Sake on Sept. 15. Guests can indulge in the flavors of Dom Pérignon and four unique expressions of IWA Sake, paired with a six-course tasting menu curated by Chef Ryan Ratino. Richard Geoffrey, founder of IWA 5, will simultaneously share the stories of the world class brand.
Walt Disney World Resort unveiled new details on featured offerings for this year’s EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival presented by CORKCICLE, taking place Aug. 29 – Nov. 23, including returning fan-favorites and new versions - from a Liquid Nitrogen Frozen Sweet Potato Mousse at the Swirled Showcase to a Tostada de Camarones at the Mexico pavilion and more.
Downtown Orlando’s DTOLive! initiative will display a new unique art installation, Big City Bird, showcasing 16-foot-tall, neon inflatable pigeons until Oct. 17. Created in partnership with United Arts of Central Florida and The Creative City Project, the display invites visitors to rethink urban wildlife and join the conversation about birds.
Enzo’s on the Lake will host its Jimmy Buffet Under the Stars event, offering an evening of Jimmy Buffett hits performed by the Legendary Landsharks Band, on Oct. 6. The separately ticketed concert for ages 21 and up will include one drink, lakefront views and a relaxing garden feel under the stars.
The Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts will showcase a series of events, from star-studded concerts to joy-sparking events including the beloved holiday classic Elf™ in Concert, November 29; The Nutcracker presented by the Orlando Ballet, Dec. 6-22; Home for the Holidays presented by the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, Nov. 30; a new Winter Wonder Shoppe, featuring world-renowned aerial and acrobatic artists of Cirque Mechanics, Dec.12-29; and more.
Asian Lantern Festival: Into the Wild, presented by Publix, will return for its fifth year at the Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens select nights Nov. 15 – Jan. 19. The festival will feature larger-than-life handcrafted lanterns lit by more than 10,000 LED lights. Situated on a quarter-mile loop around the zoo, the event combines color, light and sound to deliver an authentic experience celebrating traditional Asian lantern festivals.
Orlando Fringe will host the inaugural Orlando Out Fest at Fringe ArtSpace, Sept. 20-22. The curated festival will celebrate exclusively LGBTQIA stories, artists and history, showcasing a lineup of creativity and diversity with acts including Truth-or-Dare With P. Sparkle, A Big Gay Variety Show, Alphabet Soup! An A-Z Guide to the LGBTQIA+, The Odd Ball! and Drag Queen Story Hour: After Dark.
Orlando's Luminary Green Park will host a Vegan Block Party to celebrate veganism on Sept. 14, featuring over 60 local vendors, delicious plant-based food, drinks, music and more.
TRANSPORTATION
Delta will launch new nonstop service from London Heathrow (LHR) to Orlando (MCO) in partnership with Virgin Atlantic. The seasonal route will occur four times a week from Oct. 28, 2024 - March 29, 2025.