GET ready for the rides of your lives as after 18 long months the Sunshine State is once more open to Brits.
While we’ve been gone, Orlando’s mega-theme parks have opened a host of new attractions and there’s plenty more to explore.
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The official opening date has yet to be announced, but we know flights will finally take off some time around Thanksgiving, which is on November 25.
Lisa Minot discovers just what is waiting for us.
Walt Disney World
THE House Of Mouse kicks off celebrations for its 50th anniversary on October 1 with new experiences across all four theme parks — from night-time spectaculars and themed entertainment to new attractions.
Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure — already a hit at Disneyland Paris — is thrilling guests at Epcot, where you’ll shrink to the size of Chef Remy and race through Gusteau’s restaurant.
And there’s a new restaurant in the French pavilion, La Crêperie de Paris.
Two new night-time celebrations will light up the skies. Disney Enchantment in Magic Kingdom will feature fireworks and immersive projections that extend from Cinderella’s castle down Main Street, USA.
Also new for UK visitors is the second ride in the Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge area at Disney’s Hollywood Studios — Star Wars: Rise Of The Resistance.
Also new is Mickey And Minnie’s Runaway Railway.
Universal Orlando Resort
FLORIDA’S fastest, tallest launch coaster, Jurassic World VelociCoaster, opened at Universal’s Islands of Adventure in June.
The multimillion-dollar dinosaur attraction catapaults riders at 70mph more than 150ft in the air.
The Bourne Stuntacular debuted at Universal Studios Florida in spring 2020 but few of us have seen it.
This live-action stunt show based on the films blurs the lines between stage and cinema in a new exciting hybrid.
Youngsters also get a treat with DreamWorks Destination, a new interactive character experience in the KidZone at Universal Studios Florida where little ones can dance and take snaps with characters from hit films including Trolls, Madagascar and Kung Fu Panda.
Seaworld Orlando
SEAWORLD’S waterpark, Aquatica, welcomed Florida’s first-ever duelling water slide in the spring.
Riptide Race sees guests racing down from a 68ft tower side by side at top speeds, navigating tight loops and spins through indoor and outdoor sections.
And arriving in February 2022 is Ice Breaker, SeaWorld’s new coaster with four launches, both forwards and backwards, culminating in a reverse launch with a 93ft-tall spike at a 100-degree angle, the steepest vertical drop in Florida.
Legoland Resort Florida
A FEISTY female pirate is the star of the new Brickbeard’s Watersports Stunt Show, which opened this spring with original music and stunts such as wakeboarding (waterskiing on the crest of a boat’s wake on one wide “wakeboard”).
There’s also a new 4D movie, Journey To Mythica, as well as the chance to see the creatures of Lego Mythica come to life as guests go on an augmented reality scavenger hunt to find them.
Coming in 2022 at Legoland is a Peppa Pig theme park complete with rides, interactive attractions, live shows and water play areas.
Beyond the theme parks
ICON Park on International Drive, home to The Wheel and Starflyer attractions, welcomed The Museum Of Illusions Orlando, featuring optical, photographic, holographic and interactive illusions perfect for selfies.
And opening in December are two world record-setting attractions. The Orlando Slingshot will stand 300ft, making it the world’s highest slingshot ride, launching riders out of an “exploding volcano” 450ft into the sky at speeds of up to 100mph.
The Orlando Free Fall will be the world’s tallest free-standing drop tower, plunging riders from 430ft.
And for a little taste of home, Gordon Ramsay Fish and Chips has opened at Icon Park, serving up shrimp, chicken, sausage and dirty chips.
Wild Florida has doubled the size of its drive-through safari park — now featuring four miles of pathways through 170 acres and with gemsbok, kudu and springbok antelope added to the 150 animals you can see en route.
And for those looking for options on the rare rainy days, the Orlando Auto Museum has opened at the Dezerland Action Park.
Featuring one of the largest collections of privately owned automobilia in the world, there are more than 100 cars from TV shows and movies.
The indoor park also has a host of other family attractions including glow-in-the-dark mini golf, a trampoline park, bowling alley, karting track and even axe-throwing games.
For more information, see VisitOrlando.com.
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