New and Exciting Attractions
Though it is home to the Nation’s Oldest City, Florida has plenty of new and exciting offerings throughout the state! Thrill seekers will find brand new roller coasters and rides to check out; animal lovers can discover wildlife park expansions and attractions. Sports fans have multiple new outlets to try; and art fans will discover exhilarating new exhibits. Whatever your interests, here are Florida’s new and exciting attractions!
The Florida Panhandle
ZUMA Wellness Center – Alys Beach
The 15,000-square foot ZUMA campus will consist of many diverse and distinct spaces. The Lift Room, the Movement Room, the Cardio Room and the Recovery Room are core components of the facility, complemented by an indoor/outdoor pool, two treatment rooms, steam rooms in both men’s and women’s locker rooms, exterior natural spaces, a juice bar and other amenities designed to promote growth toward a better wellbeing. ZUMA will be open to all Alys Beach homeowners and resort guests, so people staying here in one of our vacation rental residences will have full access.
alysbeach.com
Panama City Beach Sports Complex – Panama City Beach
Newly opened in the Summer of 2019, the complex offers visitors a ‘play-cation’ - a place to enjoy multiple athletic pastimes including soccer, lacrosse, rugby, football, flag football, baseball and softball. Specifically, the brand new $37-million world class sports complex includes dedicated tournament buildings, two stadium championship fields with seating for 1,500 and a 13-field complex made up of nine turf and four grass fields.
playpanamacitybeach.com
The Gulf Coast
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay - Tampa
Continuing to solidify its position as Florida’s thrill leader, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay announced Tigris™, a new triple-launch steel coaster and Florida’s tallest launch coaster, which roared into the park in Spring of 2019. An innovative experience, Tigris catapults riders through an exhilarating array of looping twists with forward and backward motion, breath-taking drops, a 150-foot skyward surge, and an inverted heart line roll, all at more than 60 miles per hour. Tigris races riders along more than 1,800 feet of steel track designed to mimic the awe-inspiring agility of the world’s largest and most powerful cat –the tiger.
Marco Island Historical Museum - Marco Island
MIHS announced that the MIHS has achieved its 25-year quest to bring “home” on loan the world-famous Key Marco Cat and other rare Pre-Columbian Native American artifacts discovered on Marco Island, Florida in 1896. Several of the most significant Key Marco artifacts have been brought together on Marco Island for the first time since their discovery by anthropologist Frank Hamilton Cushing more than 100 years ago. They exhibit will be at the MIHM through April 2021.
The Sarasota Museum of Art - Sarasota
A new contemporary art museum dedicated to global art since the 1960s, has just opened this past December of 2019. In addition to a full slate of exhibitions and educational events, the museum will house a bistro, retail space and sculpture garden. The museum is part of the Ringling College of Art + Design.
ringling.edu/museum
Central Florida
Wild Florida - Kenansville
Offering adventures in Central Florida's gorgeous outdoors, this attraction will expand by more than six times its current, 13-acre size and add a two-mile, drive-through safari that will provide nose-to-snout encounters with giraffes, wild boars, and other exotic creatures. The expansion covers a total of 75 additional acres, and the safari section includes a zip line over a grazing area.
wildfloridairboats.com
Old Town - Kissimmee
Old Town, Kissimmee’s beloved family fun destination, has reopened after two years of renovation and expansion. For over 30 years, Old Town has charmed visitors with its unique walkable collection of shops, themed restaurants, rides, attractions and car cruises that harken back to an easier, simpler time. With the multi-million-dollar renovation and expansion, Old Town is bigger and better, while offering a more authentic, all-American feel than ever before. “This refurbishment has solidified Old Town’s reputation as one of central Florida’s most popular ‘must-visit’ attractions,” said Thearon Scurlock, vice president and general manager of Old Town. "We are excited that Old Town has embarked on a new era in its history and welcome both locals and tourists to rediscover its simple pleasures and classic American fun.”
myoldtownusa.com
Boxi Park - Orlando
Built with repurposed shipping containers, this unique outdoor food hall and outdoor entertainment venue is coming to Lake Nona, about 15 minutes from Orlando International Airport. The 30,000-square-foot family- and dog-friendly outdoor district will feature restaurants, bars, and a live music stage, plus a playground, fenced dog park, and beach volleyball courts.
boxiparklakenona.com
Epic Axe Throwing - Orlando
A first of its kind for the area, this unique attraction brings axe-throwing to downtown Orlando. The rustic sport is open to anyone over the age of 13, and coaches will be on hand to teach the art in a safe environment. If you would like to join other axe-throwing enthusiasts, you can join a league!
epicaxethrowing.com
Nona Adventure Park - Orlando
This unique attractions is a new watersports park featuring an inflatable, floating obstacle course and cable-assisted wakeboarding in Lake Nona. Dare to try the Nona Wake cable park, and 60’ climbing tower and ropes course, plus rock walls to provide the ultimate outdoor adventure!
nonaadventurepark.com
SeaWorld Orlando - Orlando
Wondering how to get to Sesame Street? Now you'll be able to find the iconic neighborhood at SeaWorld's main Orlando theme park! In addition to themed rides, this area features beloved characters, interactive experiences, wet and dry play areas, and SeaWorld Orlando's first-ever parade. Also new to the park is KareKare Curl; this new family thrill ride at Aquatica, SeaWorld's Waterpark, offers a high-adrenaline, weightless adventure as you "climb" a vertical wave wall.
seaworld.com/orlando
Universal Orlando Resort - Orlando
New Harry Potter Ride: Anticipated to be one of the most heavily themed coaster experiences ever created at Universal Orlando Resort, this attraction is set to debut in 2019 at Hogsmeade at Universal's Islands of Adventure, part of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. It will replace the former Dragon Challenge coaster. New Live Experience: Although details are still under wraps, this live-action experience will be based on a high-energy Universal franchise and will replace Terminator 2: 3-D in 2019. Update February 21, 2019: Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure™ will officially be opening June 13, 2019. For the first time ever, join Hagrid™ as you fly far beyond the grounds of Hogwarts™ castle on a thrilling roller coaster ride that plunges into the paths of some of the wizarding world’s rarest magical creatures.
universalorlando.com
Walt Disney World Resort - Orlando
The famous galaxy far, far away has arrived in Orlando, courtesy of the immersive Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge land at Disney's Hollywood Studios. Introducing a brand new planet to the Star Wars mythos — Batuu — Galaxy's Edge will invite Jedi and Sith alike to explore Black Shire Outpost, which is set to include two attractions (including the chance to pilot the Millennium Falcon!), themed dining and shopping, and character meet-and-greets.
Believe it or not, Mickey Mouse has never starred in a Disney ride — but that all changed once Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway arrived at the park! Using next-gen technology, the attraction transports you to the world of Mickey's classic cartoons.
Just opened in 2019 is Lightning McQueen's Racing Academy, a live show at Sunset Showcase in Disney's Hollywood Studios that stars Cars characters Lightning McQueen, Mater, and Cruz Ramirez.
disneyworld.disney.go.com
LEGOLAND Florida Resort - Winter Haven
Just recently opened in Spring of 2019, THE LEGO MOVIE WORLD, created in partnership with Warner Bros. Consumer Products, features three family-friendly marquee attractions, inspired by the characters and themes of the worldwide blockbuster THE LEGO MOVIE and THE LEGO MOVIE 2: The Second Part. The new attractions are THE LEGO MOVIE Masters of Flight, Unikitty’s Disco Drop, and Battle of Bricksburg.
legoland.com/florida
The Atlantic Coast
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex - Titusville
The Rocket Garden at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex has added a new attraction: United Launch Alliance's Delta II rocket. Following the launch of the final Delta II rocket in September 2018, it was announced by ULA CEO Tory Bruno that the last remaining backup rocket would make the visitor complex its home. Additionally, you can witness the return of human spaceflight at Kennedy Space Center. After nearly seven years, it is time for a new era of space exploration when astronauts will once again launch into space from American soil. NASA’s Commercial Crew Program is producing the next generation of American spacecraft that will launch astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) from Kennedy Space Center. Finally, NASA will mark the 50th anniversary of the Apollo Program that landed a dozen astronauts on the Moon between July 1969 and December 1972 and the first crewed mission – Apollo 8 – that circumnavigated the Moon in December 1968.
kennedyspacecenter.com
BigShots Golf - Vero Beach
This brand new two-story, state-of-the-art golf recreation facility on U.S. 1 is a family-friendly destination with driving ranges, golf activities, games and some of the best burgers and pizza around in their full service restaurant and bar. They also offer plenty of sports viewing including the NFL Sunday Ticket so you can watch the game while you sip on a BigShots Marg. Kids will love practicing on the LittleShots putting greens.
verobigshots.com
Drive Shack - West Palm Beach
Brand new to the coast, Drive Shack’s West Palm Beach venue will be the golf-entertainment attraction’s second U.S. location. Accessing the latest in technology, Drive Shack brings a new level of play to the sport, with exciting interactive range games designed for players of all ages and skills; virtual courses allowing one to tee off around the world; and state-of-the-art golf equipment for enthusiasts looking to up their game. An all-in-one golf and entertainment destination, the 60,000 sq. ft., three-story complex features 96 expansive climate-controlled bays with lounge seating; signature restaurant and bar offering elevated dining along with craft beers, wines and cocktails; live entertainment and a classic arcade game center with unlimited free play. Ideal for social gatherings and corporate outings, Drive Shack West Palm Beach boasts indoor and outdoor meeting spaces for groups of 10 to 1,000. There is also the Drive Shack Academy, which offers fun social leagues, clinics and one-on-one instruction.
driveshack.com
The Norton Museum of Art – West Palm Beach
A cultural icon in the destination since its founding in 1941, the Norton has just recently debuted transformative $100 million Norman Foster-designed expansion. The expansion and renovation, which began in November 2015, further serves visitors by enhancing its 6.3-acre campus with an additional 12,000 square feet of gallery space for exhibitions, an education center with two new classrooms and student gallery, the 210-seat state-of-the-art Stiller Family Foundation Auditorium, the Leonard and Evelyn Lauder Restaurant (which includes a garden terrace), an adjoining 9,000-square-foot sculpture garden, a 4,000-square-foot soaring Great Hall, and six restored 1920s-era historic houses to accommodate an artists-in-residence program and the Director’s home. The museum closed temporarily during part of the construction and reopened with eight new exhibitions and numerous works of art from its collection – which include world-class examples of American, European, Chinese, and Contemporary Art and Photography - that have not been on view in more than two years.
norton.org
