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.
AWARDS & ACCOLADES
Orlando is named the best city to staycation, according to a report from WalletHub, that compared more than 180 cities across 42 key metrics.
Lifestyle magazine Southern Living highlighted mom-and-pop and authentic eateries for their list of “most legendary” restaurants in the South and two Orlando restaurants, Lee and Rick’s Oyster Bar in Winter Garden and Bull & Bear at the Waldorf Astoria Orlando, were featured,
Orlando is ranked among the best place to celebrate 4th of July, according to a report from WalletHub, that compared the 100 largest U.S. cities across 18 key metrics.
ACCOMODATIONS:
Meliá Orlando Celebration Hotel is offering Florida residents a 20% discount or an estimated $25 off the normal room night rate when booking directly through Melia now through Aug 31. A valid Florida driver’s license must be presented upon check-in to receive the Florida Resident discount.
ATTRACTIONS:
Fun Spot America will offer $26 single day passes, available for purchase on June 8 from midnight until 12 p.m. as part of a special birthday sale in celebration of its 26th anniversary. Single Day Passes for all three Fun Spot parks will be $26 each plus tax, and guests will be able to purchase up to 10 tickets per transaction. All Single Day Passes sold during the sale will be valid through June 8, 2025, with no block out dates.
Universal Orlando Resort announced ‘A Quiet Place’ as its first IP-themed house for Halloween Horror Nights. Mirroring the silence in the films, the haunted house will embrace unique sound design, special effects and the adept performances of the scare actors to convey the ominous sense of dread depicted in the films. This will be the first Halloween Horror Nights house to incorporate American Sign Language.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park will feature new food and drinks in celebration of The Lion King’s 30th anniversary. Specialty treats, including the the Simba Slushy, Timon’s Luau cake, and the Simba Paw cookie, will be available across eight locations throughout the park, June 10 – Sept. 9.
Universal Orlando Resort debuted the Epic Universe Preview Center at Universal CityWalk on June 13. The Preview Center features an Epic Universe model, displaying details of the theme park, merchandise from the new park, photo opportunities with unique backgrounds themed to each of the park’s five worlds and more.
SeaWorld Orlando and Aquatica Orlando will offer up to 55% off Tickets as part of the 4th of July Sale, June 17-23.
SeaWorld Orlando, in collaboration with Coca-Cola, will host “Celebration Sundays,” featuring free beverage sampling for all guests and exclusive, co-branded merchandise giveaways for pass members, in honor of the park’s 60th anniversary celebration. This event will occur on the third Sunday of each month through the end of the year.
Walt Disney World will introduce changes to their paid skip-the-line service, Disney Genie+, beginning July 24. The service will be split into two choices: the Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Lightning Lane Single Pass. The latter will be limited to two per day, while the multi-pass will allow guests to make up to three Lightning Lane selections at a park before visiting and choose the ride time. Other key differences with the new process include initial ride options when booking, online booking updates such as price and time availabilities being shown, and My Disney Experience app updates to create a more seamless experience after purchasing.
SeaWorld Orlando’s Penguin Trek coaster will open on July 7. The hybrid indoor/outdoor family friendly ride will use snowmobile-style ride cars to immerse guests in an adventure through the Antarctic on a penguin research mission. Located in the space previously occupied by the ride Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin, the ride will feature two launches and top speeds of 43 mph through more than 3,000 feet of track.
SeaWorld Orlando’s summer event, Bands, Brews & BBQ, will return on weekends, July 6 - Aug. 25. In collaboration with NASCAR’s Daytona International Speedway and Orlando Harley-Davidson, the park will display motorcycles, offer live performances from rock and country artists, and feature an array of over 130 different craft brews, cocktails and regional BBQ styles throughout the park.
Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort will reopen the revamped Country Bear Musical Jamboree on July 17. The new show will feature the same band, infusing songs from animated Disney movies including The Jungle Book and Zootopia.
Blue Man Group will return to a new theater specifically designed for their signature multi-sensory performance at a new location in ICON Park in late 2024. The new 500-seat space will be equipped with state-of-the-art acoustics, lighting and video capabilities.
DINING & NIGHTLIFE:
Mills Market, the reimagined food hub formerly known as Tien Hung Market in the Mills 50 District, will undergo a refresh of its current Bánh Mì Boy location and open UniGirl, Orlando’s first onigiri shop specializing in nori-wrapped rice balls, this summer. The market’s future concepts will include a Japanese whisky bar, chef incubation program and retail vendors.
Sparrow, a wine and tapas bar, will open this fall in downtown Orlando. The bar and lounge will feature Spanish and European-style dishes.
Garden Tiger, a sister concept to The Heavy in Winter Park, has soft-opened in a mid-century warehouse in Ivanhoe Village. In addition to plants and furnishings, Garden Tiger will offer a menu of small bites, drinks and eventually, brunch.
Ivanhoe Park Brewing will open its second location, Ivanhoe Park Lager House, near Camping World Stadium. The new location will include expanded event space, an extensive wine selection and a fully equipped kitchen to eventually offer dinner.
Coro, the new concept featuring an American-style menu with Italian and Japanese influences, opened in Audubon Park today. The eatery features dishes ranging from potato naan to Zenn pork chops to clam toast.
Perla’s Pizza, the nonconformist pie house by chef Michael Collantes of Soseki, will reopen its doors this fall in Winter Park. The pizza parlor will feature nontraditional toppings like pineapple jam and bananas and more unique combinations.
Paddlefish and Terralina Crafted Italian will offer 25% off food and non-alcoholic beverages for Florida residents through Aug. 31 with valid Florida ID.
Chroma Modern Bar + Kitchen will offer a new Happy Hour menu Monday-Friday at the restaurant’s bar and lounge area, with Happy Hour selections including an $8 Wine Collection, $5 Park Brewing Beers, $10 Specialty Cocktails, and select spirits for 25% off.
London House opened The Drawing Room Cigar Club, a private cigar club in Dr. Phillips accessible only to its members and their guests. Members of the Drawing Room can enjoy a premium selection of cigars and a sophisticated bar with indoor and outdoor luxury seating.
Canvas Restaurant & Market has introduced a food and beverage happy hour menu for guests to enjoy on weekdays beginning June 20. Beverages will range from $5-$8 with bar fare such as Buffalo Tenders, Seasoned Ricotta Spread and Mushroom Flatbread.
Jeff’s Bagel Run, known for its authentic New York-style bagels, has opened its sixth Central Florida location on Orange Ave in Winter Park.
A & W American Food Restaurant, in the Old Town Entertainment District, will offer free root beer floats for life for those over 100 years old in celebration of the restaurant’s 105th birthday.
Acropolis Greek Taverna, the Tampa-based Acropolis Greek Taverna, will open in downtown Orlando this fall. The new restaurant will feature a modern Greek aesthetic and menu classics with a touch of American fare, including lamb gyros, spanakopita, buffalo chicken wraps, cheeseburgers and more.
The Construction Zone, a new restaurant and bar concept, will open in Kissimmee in July. The one-of-a-kind dining experience will create the illusion of being on the 86th floor of a skyscraper under construction, featuring interactive touches, a gaming zone, hand crafted cocktails and menu items including flatbreads, burgers, poke bowls, wings, and more.
Eggs Up Grill will open its second Central Florida location in O-Town West on June 29. The breakfast, brunch and lunch concept will feature freshly brewed coffee, savory bacon, burgers on the griddle and more.
The Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort will introduce Epilogue, the property’s new speakeasy, in early September. The intimate space will pay homage to Florida’s mid-century modern style featuring an array of handcrafted cocktails made with local ingredients. This exclusive adult experience will be offered on select Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights, with seats at 6 and 8 p.m.
Palm Beach Meats, famous for its Japanese wagyu, will open in the SoDo district this fall. The new restaurant will offer high-end brands of Japanese beef including Matsusaka, Ōmi, Takamori, Nagasaki, Shinshu, Shimane and more. A menu of burgers, cheesesteaks, sandwiches, hot dogs, burritos and steaks will also be available.
M’ama Napoli, a new authentic Italian bakery and deli, opened in Winter Park. This new spot serves pastries such as Ferrero Rocher maritozzi, Nutella maritozzi, cannoli, bombolone and more. In addition to sweets, savory options include pizza mortadella topped with ricotta, pistachio pesto, chopped Sicilian pistachios and fresh basil.
Wyndham Orlando Resort & Conference Center/Celebration debuted, Sara, the world’s first hospitality artificial intelligence bartender devised by Casa Azul tequila, AD1Global and Cecelia AI. Sara located at the hotel's H Street Grille, will be equipped with mixology skills along with advanced voice recognition to understand and respond to guests' preferences in real-time.
The Great Southern Box Company Food Hall & Bar opened in the Packing District featuring 11 locally owned and nationally acclaimed vendors, 2 outdoor patios, 1 cocktail bar and a grand event space.
EVENTS & FESTIVALS:
ICEBAR Orlando will offer the 2024 Summer Chill Pass to guests for $21, granting unlimited access to the ICEBAR and Fire Lounge until the end of the year. The pass includes entry, a cozy jacket and gloves for enjoying ice sculpture viewing and sipping signature ice cocktails.
Saigon Night Market will host its Endless Summer Music & Food Festival June 8-9 at Festival Park in the Milk District. The event will feature more than 80 multicultural food vendors; live music and performances; and competitions and prizes. Tickets for adults are $10 for a single-day pass or $15 for access both days (children enter free).
The CommUnity Rainbow Run and Festival will host its 8th annual event to commemorate the lives lost at Pulse with a 4.9K, virtual 4.9K and Kids run on June 8 in downtown Orlando. Proceeds from the event will go toward the Orlando United Pulse Memorial.
The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art will offer free admission to its galleries on Thursday, July 4 from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. in conjunction with the City of Winter Park’s Fourth of July Celebration in Central Park. Guests will have the opportunity to view a selection of special American works and objects spanning the 18th and the 20th century.
Camping World Stadium will host two college bowl games this year including the Pop-tarts Bowl, featuring top teams from the Atlantic Coast and Big 12 Conferences, on Dec. 28, and the
Cheez-it Citrus Bowl, featuring top teams from the Southeastern and Big Ten Conferences, on New Year's Eve.
Renaissance Theatre Company (The Ren) will present a new 1920’s-style experience, ’24, June 13 – Aug. 11. The fully immersive experience will transport guests to a prohibition-style speakeasy, where they can enter an era filled with secrets, scandal and mysterious club-goers, as 7-piece live band, singers, dancers and a cast of over 50 local performers will bring this original experience to life.
The Orlando International Airport (MCO) will host the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra in celebration of the Fourth of July. The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority will celebrate in advance with its traditional Liberty Weekend concert on June 29, at Terminal C on Level 2, Departures. The free event will include patriotic favorites and American classics with a prelude performance by the Central Florida Community Arts Choir, followed by the Colonel Joe Kittinger Award which will be presented to a distinguished local veteran for service and contributions to aviation, the country, and the Central Florida community.
Gaylord Palms Resort will present a variety of summer festivities, including a new drone show and glow-in-the-dark pool parties, on select nights June 14 – Sept. 1. The “Sounds of America: A Nighttime Spectacular” drone show features over 200 drones lighting up the sky with aerial art set to an original resort soundtrack.
The Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens will offer free admission to dads and grandfathers in celebration of Father’s Day on June 16th.
Anime Festival Orlando will be held at the Rosen Plaza Hotel, June 28-30. The lineup will feature well-known cosplayers and voice actors like Dante Basco, voice actor for Zuko in 2005's Avatar: The Last Airbender; cosplayer and drag queen Oriana Perón; Howard Wang, known for voicing Broly in Dragon Ball Super; and many more.
ICON Park’s “Live at The Lawn” outdoor music series sponsored by Pepsi will begin on June 22 through Aug. 4. Live performances by local artists will take place on The Lawn underneath the Orlando Eye every Saturday and Sunday from 4 to 7 p.m. followed by DJ entertainment from 8 p.m. to midnight. Guests will also have the chance to win prizes with Pepsi’s “Taste More Summer” contest.
Walt Disney World Resort announced the return several separately ticketed holiday experiences including, Disney Jollywood Nights at Disney’s Hollywood Studios on select dates Nov. 9 – Dec. 21, offering a glamorous evening full of merry mashups, delicious tastes and sips, iconic throwback characters, and a holiday vibe full of glitz and sparkle; Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom Park on select nights from Nov. 8 – Dec. 20, featuring Mickey and friends in a merry parade, nighttime fireworks, and holiday treats; and the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays, included with theme park admission, Nov. 29 -Dec. 30, offering guests global holiday traditions, seasonal flavors from around the world, and live performances.
Red Hot & Boom, the Independence Day celebration, will be held at Cranes Roost Park in Altamonte Spring on July 3, featuring live music, food offerings, and an evening firework show.
Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts announced the 24/25 Great Orchestra Series, featuring performances by the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Orchestra and London Symphony Orchestra. The series will debut on November 18, 2024.
EDC Orlando will bring electronic dance music, full-size carnival rides, performers, and art to downtown Orlando’s Tinker Field Nov. 8-10. Guests can expect to see more than 100 performers, including Tiësto, John Summit, FISHER, Diplo, Illenium, Alison Wonderland, Dillon Francis, Steve Aoki and more.
The Florida Mall will host its first-ever Christmas in July event, Sleigh Bells in the Sunshine, throughout the month of July. Shoppers will be transported to the sunny North Pole with Santa visits, festive movies, gift card giveaways and memorable photo opportunities.
Punk in the Park, a traveling music festival, will be held at the Orlando Amphitheater on Sept. 14. The event will feature performances from punk and hardcore legends, craft beer tastings and more.
TRANSPORTATION
Breeze Airway will bring back its “Disney to Disney” flights, offering nonstop travel from Orlando International Airport (MCO) to California’s John Wayne Airport (SNA), allowing travelers to easily access both Walt Disney World and Disneyland. One-way flights to each location will start at $89, and flights will depart MCO on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Discover Airlines will introduce direct flights from Munich to Orlando starting March 2025. There will be three weekly flights on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Downtown Orlando will debut Ride DTO, a new electric shuttle service, this fall. The on-demand shuttle service will cater to individuals and small parties via a mobile app, offering exclusive rides within the downtown Community Redevelopment Area (CRA).