ORLANDO, Fla. – With the news of U.S. borders reopening to vaccinated Canadian travelers in November, Orlando provides the perfect backdrop to escape the looming winter chill. The Theme Park Capital of the World offers visitors more than 25 new reasons to plan a trip when they feel comfortable traveling again, ranging from new theme park thrill rides to innovative places to stay.

“We are encouraged by the news about our borders reopening to Canada - our top international market,” said Casandra Matej, president and CEO of Visit Orlando. “Knowing there is strong pent-up demand for travel to Orlando, we are ready to safely welcome back vaccinated Canadian visitors to experience the exciting new developments that have continued taking place in The Theme Park Capital of the World.”

Home to some of the most trusted tourism brands and hotel companies in the world, Orlando takes safety extremely seriously. Updated health and safety information can be found at VisitOrlando.com/healthytravel.

Below, find some of the newest Orlando openings including:

• Theme parks – Disney's 50th anniversary and new record-breaking attractions
• Attractions beyond the parks – including outdoor adventures
• Hotels – innovative properties opening soon
• Dining – new celebrity chef establishments

WHAT'S NEW AND COMING SOON

Thrills at the Theme Parks

Walt Disney World Resort

• Walt Disney World Resort's 50th anniversary celebration brings new experiences to all four theme parks and beyond. Guests can enjoy new nighttime spectaculars, specially themed entertainment, the opening of much-anticipated attractions and more. Some of the most anticipated experiences include:
  • Disney Enchantment, an all-new nighttime extravaganza at Magic Kingdom Park, featuring captivating Disney music, enhanced lighting, stunning fireworks and immersive projection effects that extend from Cinderella Castle down Main Street, U.S.A.
  • Remy's Ratatouille Adventure attraction at Epcot, shrinking guests to the size of Chef Remy and racing through Gusteau's restaurant.
  • Harmonious at Epcot, the largest nighttime spectacular ever created for a Disney park, featuring massive floating set pieces, choreographed moving fountains, lights, pyrotechnics, lasers and more.
  • Disney KiteTales at Disney's Animal Kingdom, featuring elaborate kites and windcatchers dancing through the air to the beat of Disney songs.

Universal Orlando Resort

• Universal's Islands of Adventure opened Jurassic World VelociCoaster, Florida's fastest and tallest launch coaster, featuring intense maneuvers sending riders catapulting up to 112 kilometers and over 45 meters in the air with the swiftest of prehistoric predators.
• DreamWorks Destination, an all-new, interactive character experience, opened in the KidZone area of Universal Studios Florida. Guests can interact, dance and be photographed with multiple beloved characters from DreamWorks Animation's hit film franchises, including Trolls, Madagascar and Kung Fu Panda – all in one location.

SeaWorld Orlando

• SeaWorld Orlando's first launch coaster, Ice Breaker, will open February 2022. Riders will shiver through family-friendly adventures featuring four launches, both backwards and forwards, culminating in a reverse launch with a 28-meter tall spike with 100-degree angle, the steepest vertical drop in Florida.
• Aquatica Orlando opened Riptide Race, Florida's first-ever dueling waterslide. Starting atop a nearly 21-meter tower, guests race side-by-side at top speeds, navigating tight loops and accelerations through indoor and outdoor sections.
• The Flamingo Mingle at Discovery Cove is a new, exclusive animal experience where guests can feed and learn about flamingos in an outdoor setting.

LEGOLAND Florida

• The world's first Peppa Pig Theme Park  will open Feb. 24, 2022 at LEGOLAND Florida Resort. The standalone theme park will feature multiple rides, interactive attractions, fun live shows, themed playscapes and water play areas.
• Brickbeard's Watersports Stunt Show opened in the spring at LEGOLAND Florida Resort, featuring a new female LEGO® pirate, original music and stunts from wakeboarding to ski pyramids.
• LEGO® MYTHICA 4D Journey to Mythica, an all-new 4-D movie, premiered in the summer. Following the movie, guests can see the creatures of LEGO® MYTHICA come to life as they take part in an AR (Augmented Reality) scavenger hunt in MINILAND U.S.A. to find them!

Fun Beyond the Theme Parks

• ICON Park, located on International Drive and home to The Wheel and Starflyer attractions, welcomes two major thrill rides, an arcade and a selfie museum:
  • The Museum of Illusions Orlando features optical, photographic, holographic and interactive illusions, perfect for selfies.
  • The Orlando Slingshot™ and Orlando Free Fall™ – two world-record-setting attractions – are set to open in December. The Orlando Slingshot™ at 300 feet, will be the world's tallest slingshot. The two-tower attraction will launch two riders out of an “exploding volcano,” approximately 450 feet straight up into the sky, reaching speeds of up to 100 mph. The Orlando Free Fall™ at ICON Park will stand 430 feet, making it the world's tallest free-standing drop tower.
  • In The Game ICON Park is a new family entertainment center and arcade featuring 70 games, virtual reality experiences, themed escape rooms and more.
• Wild Florida doubled the size of its Drive-thru Safari Park this summer to be 170 acres with 4 miles of driving space. With the expansion, the attraction added gemsbok, kudu and springbok to its lineup of 150 animals.
• Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex's new Planet Play is a multiple-story interactive activity experience designed for space explorers ages 2-12.

Unique Accommodations

• Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort will open a new 14-story hotel tower, Walt Disney World Swan Reserve, this fall, featuring a restaurant, full-service health club, 27-meter-long pool and more.
• Lake Nona Wave Hotel, a new leading-edge hotel, opens this fall. Guests can expect an experience elevated by technology yet grounded in wellbeing, including the world's first Chopra Mind-Body Zone.
• For a taste of the Orlando cityscape, AC Hotel Orlando Downtown opened earlier this year with a sleek European-inspired design and the SkyBar Rooftop Terrace with 360° city views.
• Disney's Contemporary Resort will renovate all nine floors of guest rooms this fall. The rooms will receive a new look inspired by the Disney-Pixar film “The Incredibles,” featuring futuristic and modern custom artwork in guest rooms and guest corridors along with décor elements from the films.

New Celebrity-Inspired Flavors Throughout Orlando

• Celebrity chef restaurant Gordon Ramsay Fish & Chips, featuring fried favorites including shrimp, chicken, sausage and a variety of “dirty” chips, opened its first location outside of Las Vegas at ICON Park Orlando over the summer.
• Ole Red, a new restaurant by country superstar Blake Shelton, opened at ICON Park and merges southern hospitality, good food and live country music.
• AVA MediterrAegean, a new restaurant and lounge from executive chef Hung Huynh, Top Chef's season 3 winner, is slated to open early 2022 on picturesque Park Avenue in Winter Park. The menu will feature Mediterranean and Cycladic Islands cuisine.
• The Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress announced a new restaurant concept by Richard Blais, the first winner of Bravo's Top Chef All-Stars. The unnamed tropical concept, which replaces the Hemingways's restaurant, is coming later this year. It will offer nightly dinner and brunch on Sundays.

WINTER TRAVEL DEALS

With clear blue skies and year-round sunshine – along with exclusive travel deals – Orlando proves to be an ideal getaway for Canadians looking to escape frigid temperatures. Travelers can book via Visit Orlando's preferred travel partners to take advantage of some of the best Orlando travel deals for upcoming winter sun travel, including:

• 29 – Dec. 6 2021: Orlando package deal from Air Canada Vacations

Air Canada Vacations is offering rates starting at $665 per person for flight and hotel stays at Coco Key Hotel & Water Park, located on the bustling International Drive just minutes away from theme parks and shopping malls. For bookings, visit Air Canada Vacations.

• 4-10 2021: Orlando package deal from Sunwing

Sunwing is offering rates starting at $530 per person for flight and hotel stays at Ramada Plaza by Wyndham Orlando International Drive, located at the central hub of the tourist district, for a seven-night stay. For bookings, visit Sunwing.ca.

• 21-28 2022: Orlando package deal from Air transat

Air transat is offering rates starting at $509 per person (save up to $310) for flight and hotel stays at Universal's Endless Summer Resort – Surfside Inn and Suites. For bookings, visit Transat.com.

Visit Orlando's website, VisitOrlando.ca, offers the latest travel information and tools to make winter sun holiday planning easier.

SAFE TRAVEL

As the home to the most respected travel brands in the world, from attractions to hotels to dining, the Orlando destination is committed to exceptional safety practices. As we continue to work to stop the spread of COVID-19, Orlando's local government leaders are taking action, including the recommendation that visitors and residents wear facial coverings while in indoor spaces per the latest CDC guidance. Local businesses will continue to update their policies keeping the safety of guests at the forefront, so continue to check VisitOrlando.com/healthytravel for the latest updates.

The Orlando Destination

Home to seven of the world's top theme parks, Orlando is the country's No. 1 favorite family vacation destination and Theme Park Capital of the World®. Visitors create cherished memories with friends and family by immersing in the open-air adventures and lands of legendary theme parks from Disney, Universal and SeaWorld; relaxing at world-class water parks; soaring on outdoor thrill rides; exploring activities in nature; and dining al fresco at award-winning restaurants. With 450 hotels, Orlando offers a wide range of lodging choices, from wide-open expansive resorts to uniquely themed boutique hotels, many with elaborate pools featuring waterfalls, lagoons, water parks and even lazy rivers. Home to the most recognized travel brands in the world, Orlando's theme parks, attractions, hotels and other businesses have developed comprehensive safety measures and worked closely with medical experts to create safe travel experiences.