'Sup! Welcome to Tad's toadally awesome list of what opened at Walt Disney World Resort, Universal Orlando Resort and the other Florida theme parks in 2024! You can consider me to be the Frog Family's historian, as I like to keep track of all the theme park hoppenings (both future and past). In this post, I'll go over everything that took place in 2024, but you can even check out last year's and the year before that. Without further ado, let's hop to it!
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What Opened at Disney World and Universal Orlando in 2024
Magic Kingdom Park
Tiana's Bayou Adventure — June 28, 2024 — Splash Mountain transformed into Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, which debuted in summer 2024 at Magic Kingdom (along with Disneyland Park later in the year). Inspired by "The Princess and the Frog," the popular log flume ride's new storyline picks up after the final kiss, and follows Princess Tiana, Naveen and Louis on a musical adventure. Enjoy lively Mardi Gras celebrations with familiar faces as guests travel through the bayou with original music inspired by the film. Splash Mountain permanently closed Jan. 23, 2023, to prepare for this retheming.
Country Bear Musical Jamboree — July 17, 2024 — The beloved bears are performing a new act, featuring favorite Disney songs in different genres of country music. The last day to see the original show was Jan. 26, 2024.
Disney's Animal Kingdom
30th Anniversary of "The Lion King" — June 10 to Sept. 6, 2024 — We celebrated the iconic film with limited-time merchandise (including a Pumbaa popcorn bucket) and a special Timon and Rafiki meet and greet at Rafiki's Planet Watch.
EPCOT
CommuniCore Plaza and CommuniCore Hall — June 10, 2024 — This new multi-use facility and outdoor event space supports EPCOT's festivals. The plaza has an outdoor stage to host musical performances, and the hall is an exhibition and gallery space, featuring experiences that highlight art, live music and food. Also, a permanent Mickey & Friends location has a new home in CommuniCore Hall.
¡Celebración Encanto! — June 10, 2024 — At the all-new CommuniCore Plaza Stage, an "Encanto" sing-along show premiered, featuring Mirabel and Bruno. Upon opening, it was announced as a limited-time experience, but as of Dec. 19, 2024, it is now a year-round entertainment offering!
Disney's Hollywood Studios
New Star Tours Adventures — April 5, 2024 — Get ready to make the jump to lightspeed because frog favorites Ahsoka Tano, Cassian Andor, Din Djarin and Grogu began to appear in new adventures at the Star Tours attraction, as of April 5. With these additions, you'll have the opportunity to experience one of more than 250 variations aboard your Starspeeder 1000, including a visit to the planet of Peridea from the "Ashoka" series. This is the Way.
Meet Joy at Pixar Plaza — June 10, 2024 — Just in time for the release of "Inside Out 2," Joy found a new home at Pixar Plaza to greet guests.
Walt Disney World Resort Hotels
Island Tower at Disney's Polynesian Villas & Bungalows — Dec. 17, 2024 — Island Tower is the new Disney Vacation Club property at Disney's Polynesian Village Resort. The tower transports you to the Polynesian Islands and offers rooms that sleep two to nine guests in either duo studios, one- and two-bedroom villas or even new two-bedroom penthouse villas. Reservations are open for booking (and psst ... your favorite frogs offer these new villas at a discount! Ribbit!).
The Cabins at Fort Wilderness — July 1, 2024 — The Cabins at Fort Wilderness underwent refurbishment to become a new Disney Vacation Club property. Save extra green on your stay when you book through Undercover Tourist!
Disney Springs
"Disney Dreams That Soar" — May 24 to Sept. 2, 2024 — An all-new drone show debuted at Disney Springs! Over the summer, guests enjoyed a late-night show over Lake Buena Vista, showcasing Disney stories that celebrate the "joy of flight." The show ran nightly on the West Side.
Universal Orlando Resort
Wicked: The Experience — Nov. 16, 2024 — Get ready to "defy gravity" as Universal Orlando celebrates the cinematic event based on the beloved Tony Award-winning musical. You can step into the fantastical land of Oz in the most magical way! Wicked: The Experience (housed in the former location of the UNIVRS store and adjacent retail locations in Universal Studios Florida) whisks you along the yellow brick road and into a variety of memorable moments and iconic locations film, from Shiz University to the Emerald City. Here you'll find fanciful costumes and props created by the designers of the film alongside a frogciting variety of merchandise including elevated apparel, home goods, accessories, toys and more. It's expected to stay open through the premiere of Wicked: For Good (Part 2) in November 2025 and potentially beyond.
DreamWorks Land — June 14, 2024 — The former Woody Woodpecker's KidZone area transformed into a family-friendly space inspired by DreamWorks Animation. Hop on the caterpillar, Caterbus, and join Poppy, Branch and more as you try to escape from spooky spiders on Troll's Trollercoaster. Visit Panda Village and learn the ways of the Dragon Warrior at Po's Kung Fu Training Camp. Hang out with Shrek, Fiona and Donkey at Shrek's Swamp Meet. Sit back, relax and enjoy a new live show at DreamWorks Imagination Celebration and prepare to meet some of your favorite characters at DreamWorks Character Zone. Feeling famished? Silence your roaring stomach at Swamp Snacks and Trolls Treats. And don't froget to grab some fun souvenirs at High Five Hideaway!
Universal Mega Movie Parade — July 3, 2024 — Witness the biggest daytime parade at Universal Orlando to date. Featuring 13 brand-new floats and nearly 100 performers — including dancers, skaters, stilt walkers, poi performers and more — this spectacular celebration at Universal Studios Florida lets you relive classic moments from beloved movies, such as "E.T.," "Back to the Future," "Jaws," "Ghostbusters," "Jurassic World," Illumination's "Minions" and "Sing" and DreamWorks' "Trolls" and "Kung Fu Panda," in a whole new way. Watch in awe as the massive 16-foot Stay Puft Marshmallow Man towers atop the "Ghostbusters" float, the colorful Caterbus and giant rainbows shimmer on the vibrant "Trolls" float, a live marching drum line performs the iconic movie score of "Jaws" alongside a float themed to the film and Raptors and the fierce Tyrannosaurus rex stalk their prey beside a Gyrosphere aboard the "Jurassic World" float — the largest figure ever featured in a Universal Orlando daytime parade. It will return in April 2025.
Hogwarts Always — June 14 to Aug. 25, 2024 — An all-new nighttime extravaganza apparated into The Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Hogsmeade in Universal Islands of Adventure. On select nights, wizards, witches and Muggles alike gathered around the famed School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for a visually stunning experience that took them on a journey through iconic moments of a Hogwarts school year. Get ready to go supply shopping in Diagon Alley, hop aboard the Hogwarts Express, participate in the Sorting Ceremony, crown the House Cup winner and so much more. This show had four different endings that celebrated each Hogwarts house and culminated in a colorful pyrotechnic display above the castle. Keep your ears open for dialogue from beloved characters, such as Professor Dumbledore, Hagrid, the Sorting Hat and more! It's confirmed to return in 2025.
CineSational: A Symphonic Spectacular — June 14 to Aug. 25, 2024 — A brand-new nighttime show debuted at the Universal Studios Florida lagoon. Featuring 288 fountains that reach heights up to 131 feet, incredible 4K projection mapping, an original composition and more than 600 drones(!!!), this next-level lagoon show celebrated the emotional power of music by leveraging iconic scores and scenes that have inspired attractions from Universal Orlando's past, present and future. Prepare to get swept up in the stunning sonic landscapes of Warner Bros. Pictures "Harry Potter" and "Fantastic Beasts" films, "Jurassic World," "Jaws," "Shrek," "Ghostbusters," "Trolls," "Back to the Future," "Universal Monsters," "Transformers," "How to Train Your Dragon," "E.T.," "Fast and Furious," "The Super Mario Bros. Movie," "Minions," "The Mummy" and "King Kong." It has since returned, as of Nov. 22, 2024.
What's Coming to Other Florida Theme Parks in 2024 and Beyond
SeaWorld Orlando
Coasters After Dark — Christmas Edition — Select nights from November to December 2024 — SeaWorld Orlando is hosting Coasters After Dark – Christmas Edition on select nights in November and December, starting Nov. 8. For this separately ticketed event, guests can enjoy seven of the park’s top rides, such as Mako, Kraken and Pipeline, all while surrounded by festive Christmas lights. Select retail and food locations were also open.
Penguin Trek — July 7, 2024 — A new family-friendly launch coaster has landed at SeaWorld Orlando! Penguin Trek takes guests on an Antarctic adventure with two launches along a 3,020-foot indoor and outdoor track, reaching speeds up to 43 mph on snowmobile-style vehicles. Once riders complete their penguin rescue mission, they'll end up in SeaWorld's very own penguin habitat.
Aquatica Orlando
Tassie's Underwater Twist — March 15, 2024 — The newest addition is an immersive waterslide that journeys through Australia's Shark Bay seagrass meadow. The reimagined slide measures 129 feet long and features a unique super-bowl element, a synchronized video display and an orchestral score.
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay & Adventure Island
Phoenix Rising — July 21, 2024 — The newest roller coaster at Busch Gardens Tampa features family-friendly thrills with speeds up to 44 mph. The suspended coaster swings riders from side to side above the Serengeti Plain and features on-board audio with a one-of-a-kind soundtrack.
Castaway Falls — May 3, 2024 — This all-new, multi-level interactive water-play attraction at Adventure Island has four exciting waterslides, soakers, jets, water shooters, sliding buckets and more, doubling the size of the former splash area.
LEGOLAND Florida Resort
LEGO Ferrari Build & Race — March 8, 2024 — Start your engines! You'll get to see a life-size Ferrari made from LEGO bricks, enter a "build zone" to create your own LEGO Ferrari race car, test it out on obstacle courses and digitally customize your car in a virtual race.
I hope you've enjoyed this look at what's coming to Disney World and Universal in 2024 and beyond. Make sure to come back to see what's been added as you get closer to your visit. Hop on over to our When to Visit Orlando page for more planning tips, part of our Orlando Planning Timeline!
Related: Best Time To Visit Disney World
Related: Best Time To Visit Universal Orlando Resort
Stay cool!
