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'Sup! Welcome to Tad's toadally awesome list of what's new at Disney World and Universal in 2017 and Beyond! As the Frog Family’s resident thrill seeker, tech junkie and head Frog Videographer—thank you very much—I’ve been keeping score on all the attractions and experiences headed to the Orlando theme parks over the last few years.
Things were really hopping at Disney World and Universal in 2013 and 2014 . 2015 was laid back—like yours truly on a weekend—but 2016 saw some sweet additions all across the 407 ( AKA Orlando). I had a blast riding Mako at SeaWorld Orlando—check out my video. Disney World gave us Frozen Ever After at Epcot and great projection shows popped up at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and the Magic Kingdom. The big guys were in charge at Universal’s Islands of Adventure, where we welcomed back The Incredible Hulk Coaster and met the big ape himself—no, not my dad—King Kong on Skull Island : Reign of Kong. #bigguy
Be sure to swing by here often as you get closer to your trip, because we'll be adding to this list! You'll love seeing what's new at Disney World and Universal in 2017 and beyond! See you in the parks!
What's New at Disney World in 2017
Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Pandora - The World of Avatar—Now Open— Inspired by James Cameron’s 2009 movie, this new land will transport guests to the world of Pandora, home of the Na’vi. Full of bioluminescent plants and centered by the impressive floating mountains, the area will feature two attractions. On the Na’vi River Journey, guests will travel down a sacred river hidden within a bioluminescent rainforest. The attraction's finale has an “unforgettable encounter” with a Na’vi Shaman. The other attraction, the Avatar Flight of Passage, will send guests soaring over Pandora on a flying Banshee. Sweet.
Rivers of Light—Now Showing—Animal Kingdom's first nighttime show celebrates the beauty of all living things and features water, sound, dramatic lighting and special effects.
Epcot
Epcot International Festival of the Arts—Running from Jan. 13 through Feb. 20, this new festival celebrates visual, performing and culinary arts. There were appearances by Disney artists and celebrity chefs, as well as performers singing hits from Disney's Broadway shows.
Choza de Margarita—Fall 2017—An authentic outdoor tequileria offering hand-crafted margaritas and classic Mexican cuisine will open outside of the Mexican Pavilion in World Showcase.
Magic Kingdom
Happily Ever After Nighttime Spectacular—Now Playing - This new show lights up the night sky above Cinderella Castle. Projection mapping will combine with Disney storytelling, pyrotechnics and classic Disney characters in a show that will inspire guests to find their own "Happily Ever After". Two unique parts of this show will be an original score and original, hand-drawn animation of characters like Ursula, Aladdin and Tiana.
Disney's Hollywood Studios
Star Wars Guided Tour—Fans of the force may now blast off on a seven-hour VIP guided tour of everything Star Wars. Special seating for Jedi Training - Trials of the Temple (ages 4-12 may participate in the show) and priority boarding on Star Tours - The Adventure Continues are just a few of the perks on this premium tour. (Darth Vader Voice) We would be honored if you would join us.
The Music of Pixar LIVE A Symphony of Characters—No more scheduled performances in 2017— This show features a live symphony orchestra playing music from Disney•Pixar films.
NEW DESTINATION - Star Tours — The Adventures Continue - Nov. 17. The planet Creit — seen in the trailers for the upcoming "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" — will be added to this popular attraction.
Disney's Typhoon Lagoon
Miss Adventure Falls—Now Open—A splashing good time is in store aboard this family-style raft attraction. Guests slide down on a white water rafting adventure past the lost and glittering treasure of the fabled Captain Mary Oceaneer. With a ride time of two minutes, this is one of the longest water attractions at both Disney Water Parks. Kowabunga!
Disney's Wilderness Lodge
The Villas at Disney's Wilderness Lodge are now the Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney's Wilderness Lodge. New name=new amenities! The former quiet pool, Hidden Springs, is getting reimagined to tell the backstory of Boulder Ridge. Fashioned after an old quarry, the Boulder Ridge Cove pool area will feature an expanded sun deck and zero-depth-entry pool. The new Geyser Point Bar and Grill and a new quick-service restaurant will give all guests more dining options. #allthefrenchfries
ESPN Wide World of Sports
A new cheerleading and dance venue will debut in 2017 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports. This one-of-a-kind venue will accommodate 8,000 fans and has the ability to be configured for events such as volleyball, basketball and concerts. A large number of cheerleading competitions are held at Disney World, and the ESPN complex hosts the Cheerleading World Championships each April. Lily, the resident jumper, will certainly enjoy this.
Disney Springs
New dining, drinking and entertainment venues will be hopping up in 2017.
Planet Hollywood Observatory—Now Open—Reimagined as an observatory, the familiar Hollywood-themed restaurant returns with a fresh look inside as well as on the menu. Celebrity chef Guy Fieri lends his culinary flair to the menu's burgers and sandwiches. I liked this place from my last visit so much that ... I'll be back. If my parents want to go.
Paddlefish—Now Open—The former Fulton's Crab House (and Empress Lilly before that) floats back with an upscale modern-yacht interior design. On the menu, there will be returning Fulton's favorites along with new bites, such as table-side guacamole with Maine lobster and a “build-your-own” lobster boil. Mom gave a "Here, take my money!" remark when she heard about this one.
The Polite Pig—Now Open—Local owners and James Beard award nominees James and Julie Petrakis bring wood-fired smoked and grilled items along with innovative beverages and craft beer to the Town Center area of Disney Springs. The Polite Pig will be a sister restaurant to The Ravenous Pig in nearby Winter Park.
The Edison—Late 2017—Resembling a 1920's electric company power plant, The Edison will feature food, cocktails, live entertainment, cabaret and music. It will feature distinct areas, with the Lab Performance room featuring entertainment such as palm readers, DJs and (ooh) contortionists. The Edison will be a sister restaurant to its Los Angeles location.
Maria And Enzo's—Winter 2017/Early 2018—Located next to The Edison, this Italian restaurant will be designed as speakeasy feel, matching the feel of its neighbor. This table service and fast casual restaurant will be run by the Patina Group, operators of Morimoto at Disney Springs and Via Napoli at Epcot.
Terralina Crafted Italian—Fall 2017—Themed as an Italian home, this new restaurant will serve authentic Italian meals and cocktails. Overseen by James Beard Award-winner and Top Chef Master Tony Mantuano, this restaurant replaces Portobello Country Italian Trattoria.
Wine Bar George—Fall 2017—Master Sommelier George Miliotes returns to Disney (he helped open California Grill in 1995) with an intimate wine bar that will resemble a winemaker's home estate. I'm a teenager and don't know what any of that means, but mom says it's fancy, so, cool. Yay, wine people.
Transportation
"Minnie Vans"—A ridesharing "Lyft"-like service will transport guests on-demand around the Walt Disney World resort. The vehicles are red with polka-dots and feature Minnie's bow on the side. ADORBS
Minnie Van Service Locations
- Animal Kingdom Lodge
- Boardwalk Resort
- Grand Floridian
- Polynesian Village
- Wilderness Lodge
- Yacht and Beach Club
What's New at Universal Orlando in 2017
Universal's Volcano Bay—Now Open—Universal Orlando Resort's third theme park features Krakatau—the fire and water volcano—that looks over this water playground full of thrills and relaxation. The park features all kinds of water rides, from slides to wave pools and rafting adventures to smaller places for your tadpoles. Don't worry about long lines or having to carry tubes around. Volcano Bay's unique TapuTapu wearable takes care of those hassles.
Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon—Now Open—Visitors follow Jimmy Fallon—Host of NBC's The Tonight Show—on board a "flying theater" that zooms you around famous New York City landmarks. Pre-show activities let guests interact with Hashtag the Panda, listen to The Ragtime Gals and send their very own Thank You Note.
Christmastime at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter—Nov 18—Yes, you want to spend your winter break at school. This year, muggles and students will be able to experience Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley trimmed with festive holiday decorations on the buildings and within the shops of the Wizarding World. There will also be holiday-themed food and drinks, as well as entertainment. The highlight of Christmastime at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter will be a holiday show taking place on Hogwarts Castle. This new experience will use mapped-projection technology to "cast a spell" onto the castle and feature iconic moments from the films.
Universal's Holiday Parade—Nov 18—A re-imagining of the park's long-running Macy's Holiday Parade, this extravaganza will feature Dreamworks favorites such as the Minions, Shrek and Madagascar. Yes, Santa will be there as well. Brand new balloons will also premiere.
LEGOLAND Florida Resort
LEGOLAND Ninjago World—Now Open—Inspired by the popular LEGO building sets and the “LEGO NINJAGO: Masters of Spinjitzu” TV show, this new land will let aspiring ninjas practice their Spinjitsu and battle enemies on LEGO NINJAGO THE RIDE.
LEGOLAND Beach Retreat—Now Open—Surf's Up LEGO fans! Located inside the LEGOLAND Florida resort, this family-friendly hotel features 83 beach-themed bungalows and 166 total rooms. The guest bedrooms feature plenty of amenities and decorated with beach-themed LEGO artwork and details. The bungalows offer outdoor play areas and shaded patios.
SeaWorld Orlando
Seven Seas Food Festival —Runs Feb 11 through May 13—Expanding to 14 weekends in 2017, this popular food festival is inspired by street food from Asia, the Caribbean, South America and the Mediterranean. New foods will expand the festival's food offerings and various craft beers will be available.
Dolphin Nursery—Now Open—A redesigned nursery will give guests an up-close experience of the care SeaWorld employees give to dolphin mothers. Multiple-level viewing through acrylic windows will give visitors a close-up view of mothers and their calves. People LOOOVE dolphin videos. ALL. THE. YOUTUBE. LIKES.
Electric Ocean—Now Playing— SeaWorld Orlando's new end-of-day spectacle event will immerse guests in a sea of wonder with bioluminescent lighting, music and pathway entertainment.
Kraken Virtual Reality (VR) Roller Coaster—Now Open—SeaWorld's thrilling coaster is landing a digital upgrade. Visitors will wear VR headsets and be plunged into a deep sea mission where they will encounter creatures inspired by extinct and legendary animals of the past. This will be Florida's first VR coaster (and really hard to get on-ride footage of).
What's New at Disney World and Universal in 2018
Universal Studios Florida
Fast & Furious: Supercharged—2018—Based on the popular film franchise, the new Fast & Furious: Supercharged will put guests in the middle of the action, where they'll explore the headquarters of Dom Toretto's underground racing world and be part of a high-speed chase with some of the films' stars. This will be similar to Fast & Furious: Supercharged that opened at Universal Studios Hollywood. Check out the video here. Fast & Furious at Universal Studios Florida will be located in the San Francisco area of the park.
Disney's Hollywood Studios
Toy Story Land—Summer 2018—An 11-acre land will rise up around Toy Story Mania, offering a Buzz-sized perspective on Andy's backyard. Look for oversized building blocks and game board pieces, plus a brand new family coaster aboard the Slinky Dog and an alien saucers spin based on the little green aliens—and the claw! Big fan of the little green guys.
SeaWorld Orlando
Infinity Falls—2018—Just when you think you know raft rides, SeaWorld changes the rules. This new ride will take you through the remains of an ancient civilization, past fountains, and waterfalls. World class rapids will spin and soak you, but that's nothing compared to the end. Your raft will enter a lift and be elevated to the top of Infnifty Falls. From there, you'll plunge down the tallest drop of its kind into the churning water below. The journey ends at Harmony Village, where you'll be informed and inspired to spread the message of conservation.
Aquatica Orlando
Ray Rush—2018—At nearly 60 feet tall, this new raft ride will send families on three exciting thrills as they slide, splash and soar like never before. Riders will be launched at 33 feet per second with water jets designed to propel rafts into the first of several enclosed tube sections. Next, riders will swirl into a colossal translucent sphere which spins the raft around the slide walls before entering another enclosed tube section. Finally, riders will drop into an open-air halfpipe that resembles the shape of a manta ray. Rafts will soar back and forth on the wings of the manta before entering the final enclosed tube section that ends with a splash.
What's New at Disney World and Universal Orlando in 2019 and Beyond
Disney's Hollywood Studios
Star Wars - Galaxy's Edge—2019—This can't come here fast enough. At 14 acres, Star Wars -Galaxy's Edge will be the largest land at Disney World. It will transport guests to a never-before-seen planet, with two new attractions. One will be based around a secret mission aboard the Millennium Falcon and another that will place guests into the middle of a battle between the First Order and the Resistance. Read full details about Star Wars - Galaxy's Edge here.
Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway—date TBD—Starring everyone's favorite pair, this new attraction will put guests inside the wacky and unpredictable world of a Mickey Mouse Cartoon Short where they're the star and anything can happen. This new ride will feature "2 1/2 D," a new no glasses required experience. This new experience will replace The Great Movie Ride.
Magic Kingdom
New Main Street, U.S.A. Theater—date TBD—A new entertainment venue, based on the iconic Willis Wood theater in 1920s Kansas City, where Walt lived after he left Marceline, will be built to showcase world-class Dentertainmentanment. We expect this theater will house entertainment showstoppers, similar to Frozen Live at the Hyperion at the Disneyland Resort.
Tron Lightcycle Power Run—Before 2021—NOW YOU'RE EXCITED. Imported from Shanghai Disneyland, Tron Lightcylce Power Run is a coaster-style attraction where riders board a train of two-wheeled Lightcycles. The ride pushes you into the energy, lights and excitement of TRON’s high-tech universe.
Epcot
Guardians of the Galaxy-inspired attraction—date TBD—Marvel's heroes will touch down into Future World in a new attraction that will replace Ellen's Energy Adventure.
Space-themed restaurant—date TBD—Guests will have the opportunity to dine in the stars in a space-station themed restaurant to be located next to Mission-Space.
New film in China—date TBD—This World Showcase pavilion will receive a new film.
“Ratatouille”-inspired attraction—date TBD—The France pavilion will be receiving an imported favorite. Similar to the popular 4-D ride Ratatouille: The Adventure that opened at the Walt Disney Studios Park in Paris, guests will shrink to Remy’s size and scurry to safety within Gusteau’s legendary Parisian restaurant.
Disney World Hotels and Resorts
Star Wars-inspired immersive resort—date TBD—Debuting as part of the new Disney 360 vacation concept, this is being billed as a living adventure that allows guests to immerse themselves in an entirely new form of Disney storytelling. From the second you arrive, you will become a part of a Star Wars story! You’ll become a citizen of the galaxy and experience all that entails, including dressing up in the proper attire. Once you leave Earth, you will discover a starship alive with characters, stories, and adventures that unfold all around you. It is 100% immersive, and the story will touch every single minute of your day, and it will culminate in a unique journey for every person who visits.
Disney Riviera Resort—date TBD—Disney Vacation Club’s 15th property will have a rooftop restaurant and views of nighttime shows at Epcot and Hollywood Studios.
Disney World Transportation
Walt Disney World Skyliner—date TBD—A new gondola system will connect Disney’s Art of Animation, Pop Century and Caribbean Beach resorts and other locations with Disney’s Hollywood Studios and the International Gateway at Epcot.
Disney Springs
NBA Experience at Walt Disney World - Summer 2019 - Located in the space formerly occupied by DisneyQuest, this NBA fan's dream will include interactive games, immersive experiences, a retail store and an adjacent restaurant.
Universal Orlando Resort
- Universal has announced a new generation of thrill ride coming to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Hogsmeade in Universal's Islands of Adventure for 2019! This "highly themed coaster experience" will more fully immerse guests in the Wizarding World, where they will encounter favorite characters and other creatures. It will be located where Dragon Challenge was located.
- Super Nintendo World—date TBD—Universal has partnered with Nintendo to bring to life experiences based on Nintendo's games, characters and worlds. The first new addition—Super Nintendo World—will open at Universal Studios Japan in 2020. Orlando and Hollywood versions are set to follow.
I hope you've enjoyed this look at what's new at Disney World and Universal in 2017 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 in 2017 & 2018
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