If your 2024 Florida vacation is the first time you’ve returned to the Sunshine State in a few years, expect surprises
By: Editorial
- 12/22/2023
- 2:00 p.m.
If your 2024 Florida vacation is the first time you’ve returned to the Sunshine State in a few years, expect surprises. In addition to brand-new hotels, shopping destinations and restaurants, thrill-seekers will be some of the first to experience newly opened attractions at the state’s theme parks. With recent rail route expansions between Florida’s cities, exploring what’s new in 2024 is easier than ever.
THEMATIC PARKS
Busch Gardens
A thrilling adventure will take guests soaring over the Serengeti Plain at Busch Gardens Tampa in spring 2024. Riders will feel the rush of wind and the thrill of flight on Phoenix Rising, a suspended roller coaster that swings from side to side. another as it runs above the Pantopia region. Phoenix Rising will be the park’s first roller coaster to feature onboard audio, enhancing the ride experience with a unique soundtrack integrated with a series of twists and surprises for families traveling together.
Legoland
LEGOLAND Florida Resort in Winter Haven will launch two major attractions in 2024: LEGO Ferrari “Build and Race” Experience and Sea Life Florida Resort. The LEGO Ferrari Build and Race Experience will give visitors the chance to create their own Ferrari race car in interactive play zones, test it on three extreme courses and then race on a virtual track to the finish line. Scheduled to open in fall 2024, Sea Life Florida Resort is an immersive aquarium that offers families the opportunity to experience marine life up close and embark on “a journey of ocean exploration,” culminating in “The Theme Park Under the Sea”. This attraction will require separate admission.
SeaWorld
Coming to SeaWorld Orlando in 2024, Penguin Trek invites families to hop on a snowmobile and race along with an expedition team, navigating twists and turns and narrowly escaping the cave-in dangers of an icy Antarctic cave. The ultimate discovery is revealed at the end of the journey: a real penguin habitat!
Universal Orlando Resort
Next year, Universal Orlando Resort will launch a new themed area featuring some of DreamWorks Animation’s most beloved characters. Guests will be able to share special moments with their favorite characters, like Gabby from Gabby’s Dollhouse, and explore interactive play spaces and attractions that bring popular franchises like Shrek, Trolls and Kung Fu Panda to life.
Walt Disney World Resort
At Walt Disney World Resort, Magic Kingdom’s Splash Mountain will transform into Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. This Princess and the Frog reimagining of the iconic boat ride will transport guests to the Louisiana bayou, with appearances from Princess Tiana, Mama Odie and her friends. Also at Magic Kingdom, a new Pirates of the Caribbean-themed lounge will come to Adventureland in 2024. This first-of-its-kind experience will expand the story of Pirates of the Caribbean and will be located near the main attraction.Advertising
RESTAURANTS
The Amalfi Llama
Amalfi Llama, in Aventura, Miami-Dade County, is inspired by cultures ranging from the interior of Patagonia to the Italian Mediterranean coast. Specializing in live fire cooking using smoke, charcoal and embers to prepare meat, seafood and vegetables, the restaurant serves dishes including cedar-roasted burrata, wood-fired pizza, steaks and fish.
Tutto Mare
Tutto Mare, a Mediterranean concept from the Tutto il Giorno restaurant group, will open next year at The Royal Poinciana Plaza as Palm Beach’s first and only intercoastal oceanfront restaurant. Tutto Mare will offer delicious cuisine and an unforgettable experience for guests, with an outdoor terrace overlooking the sea.
ACCOMMODATIONS
EVEN Hotel Sweetwater – Doral
Aiming to put “well-being at your fingertips,” EVEN Hotel Sweetwater – Doral is slated to open in the summer of 2024. The hotel will allow travelers to restore, rejuvenate and maintain their personal routines while away from home. home, offering a range of workout amenities – from yoga mats to Peloton bikes and a state-of-the-art fitness studio – along with access to healthy meals, snacks and drinks from the new EVEN Kitchen & Bar and adjacent 24-hour market, 7 days a week.
The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort and Residences
The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort and Residences is scheduled to open in spring 2024, featuring a 166-room luxury hotel and three six-story residential buildings with 69 upscale condominiums. Hotel guests and residence owners will have access to top-notch amenities including multiple swimming pools, a world-class spa, a high-quality wellness center, daily housekeeping, on-site pet care and butler, concierge, chef services, and Bentley car with driver.
TRANSPORT
Brightline
Sit back, relax and see more of Florida with Brightline high-speed rail service. Brightline’s new Orlando station opens in September 2023, connecting passengers to South Florida with stops in Aventura, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, West Palm Beach and Miami. The Orlando station is conveniently located in Terminal C at Orlando International Airport, so visitors can easily expand their travel to destinations in Central and South Florida and still catch their flights. Future expansion to Tampa is currently being considered.
