What’s New in Orlando: Attractions, Hotels & Restaurants

2026 is set to be another big year for Florida holidays. Orlando is riding high off the wave of new attractions at Universal Orlando Resort, following the opening of the incredible Universal Epic Universe park in 2025. And there’s a whole range of brand-new attractions, hotels, and dining venues set to land in the Theme Park Capital this year.

Better yet, the whole of Florida is set to ignite with football fever this summer, as the USA co-hosts the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Are you ready to plan your new favourite holiday?

New Attractions in Orlando’s Theme Parks

If you didn’t make it to Orlando in recent years, your next Florida family holiday will deliver more magic, more thrills, and more memories than ever before. Walt Disney World Resort has a host of sparkling new and reimagined attractions.

Our favourite new attractions in recent years are Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure stage show, and Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away parade.

In 2026, Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith at Disney's Hollywood Studios is being rethemed to Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets. The ride is expected to close in March 2026, and reopen in Summer 2026 with a slapstick Muppet storyline but all the high-speed intensity of the original ride.

Even bigger expansions are scheduled or rumoured for launch by 2027, such as the Tropical Americas Land at Animal Kingdom, Monsters, Inc. Land called ‘Monstropolis’ at Hollywood Studios, and Cars Land and Disney Villains Land in the Magic Kingdom – so get ready for a truly epic trip!

Universal Orlando Resort enjoyed a spectacular 2025 with the grand opening of its most ambitious park yet: Universal’s Epic Universe. Centred around a stunning entertainment hub, Celestial Park, this huge park features five themed lands with over 50 new experiences featuring cutting-edge technology, immersive storytelling, and out-of-this-world thrills.

You can also look forward to second-generation, interactive wands at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and a whole host of new spell locations in Diagon Alley, Hogsmeade, and Place Cachée, with the latter in the all-new Ministry of Magic at Epic Universe.

Looking ahead to 2027 at Universal, you can expect a new indoor/outdoor coaster to replace the beloved Rip Ride Rockit at Universal Studios Florida. And Volcano Bay is set for a makeover during its seasonal operational changes, between Oct 2026 and Mar 2027, including upgrades and replacements of current slides.

Meanwhile, SeaWorld Orlando debuted an incredible new attraction in 2025. Expedition Odyssey presents the world’s first-ever fully immersive Arctic experience, combining real-life footage, unrivalled, state-of-the-art ride technology, and up-close Arctic wildlife encounters. This mind-blowing journey will take you on an adventure like no other!

New Hotels in Orlando

Orlando is forever expanding, not only in its theme parks but also in its fantastic accommodation options. The construction of two new resort hotels - Universal Stella Nova Resort and Universal Terra Luna Resort - beautifully complements the Epic Universe park and is distinctly on-brand with the park’s cosmic theme. With space-age design and modern comforts, these Prime Value hotels are ideally located on-site within Universal Orlando Resort, so you’ll be close to all the action.

Away from the theme parks, Evermore Orlando Resort opened in 2024 and redefines what it means to stay in Orlando. As the city’s first beachfront retreat, the resort boasts villas, townhouses, flats, and the luxury Conrad Hilton Hotel, all set within 20 pristine acres of sandy beaches, a crystal-clear lagoon, and two 18-hole golf courses, designed by Jack Nicklaus, no less! Its perfect location adjacent to Walt Disney World Resort makes this stunning resort one of our favourite picks for 2026 and 2027 Orlando holidays.

Open since 2022, you’ll find the good-as-new Drury Plaza Hotel Orlando – Disney Springs located less than a mile from Disney’s amazing shopping, dining, and entertainment district, offering all the charm of a Disney Resort hotel without being positioned directly on site. Smart rooms, excellent facilities, and a free hot breakfast make this a top choice for a budget-conscious stay that’s as close to the magic as you can get!

Villatel Orlando Resort is the latest hotspot just off International Drive that combines the beauty of a peaceful villa community and the fun of an exciting hotel resort. Fully open since 2025, you can choose from 4- to 9-bedroom villas, and enjoy a range of splendid on-site amenities, including a huge water park and splash playground, sports courts, fitness centre, and restaurant.

New Restaurants in Orlando

Orlando’s culinary scene is growing faster each year, and there’s a restaurant for every type of cuisine you could think of. In the mood for Mexican? Salivating over seafood? Vying for vegan? No problem!

From the expanse of well-known eateries on International Drive to the world-class offerings within the major theme park resorts, you can dine somewhere new every night of your stay, and still not even scratch the surface of what’s available. For 2026, there are more amazing restaurants to choose from, but the question is: what takes your fancy first?

Universal’s Epic Universe brought with it a catalogue of splendid restaurants in the heart of Celestial Park, including Atlantic, which serves seafood and surf-and-turf cuisine. You’ll also find fusion fare at The Blue Dragon Pan-Asian Restaurant, and excellent pizzas at the casual, quick-service Pizza Moon eatery. Several more dining venues are planned for Epic Universe in 2026, so watch this space!

Universal is not the only hotspot for new restaurants as Disney Springs has a rather special addition coming its way for 2026. LEVEL99 is an interactive gaming, social, and entertainment space with more than 60 challenge rooms, and this latest instalment is the USA’s largest to date - and Florida’s first. Its signature, award-winning Detroit-style pizza will be served alongside a chef-crafted food and drinks menu, making this a one-stop shop for fun, food, and frolics in the heart of Disney.

Over at the popular ICON Park, a second Orlando location of Sushi Saint is due to open in 2026. This Michelin-recognised sushi and temaki bar brings fresh hand rolls, inventive sushi dishes, and delicious cocktails to the International Drive entertainment district.

Further along International Drive at The Pointe Orlando shopping centre, let loose at the city’s hottest new nightspot: Still Lounge by Dre and Snoop. Yes, that’s right, two of the world’s most iconic rappers - Dr Dre and Snoop Dogg - are the faces of this awesome new venue, which opened in October 2025. Between Thursdays and Sundays, you can soak up the smooth sophistication of an upscale cocktail lounge alongside the cool cultural influences of hip-hop. With live DJs, premium spirits, and a fantastic atmosphere, this will be your go-to partying spot for dynamic nights out.

With so much on the horizon, it’s a great time to book your Orlando holiday and see it all with our bespoke packages.