Orlando, Florida is a city with seemingly endless activities to enjoy - and they just don't seem to stop adding even more! Residents who call Orlando home get to experience world-renowned 'things to do' year-round right at home.
Looking to learn about the newest and most noteworthy additions to our 'City Beautiful?' Here's the list of our 5 favorite new things coming to Orlando:
1. À La Cart Orlando
Photo: alacartorlando.com
With an expected opening of mid-summer 2018, we should be able to start enjoying the delicious treats found at À La Cart Orlando very soon! Branding itself as an 'indoor/outdoor social dining experience,' À La Cart is essentially a food truck park that will be located in Orlando's popular Milk District. Open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner hosting a variety of food trucks, craft beers on tap, and a courtyard for gathering, the eatery will satisfy a local love for food truck dining full-time. "SwedeDish Foodtruck," "PokeKai," and "Vinny & Kory" are among some of the trucks announced to be serving up delicious eats at À La Cart.
2. Colonial Pedestrian Overpass
Set to be located just East of I-4, the Colonial Pedestrian Overpass will help provide the needed connection between the Orlando Urban Trail and Downtown Orlando's Gertrude's Walk, along with the SunRail and the LYNX station. Created to provide a safe connection between Downtown Orlando and the North for pedestrians and cyclists, the project is set to be complete in early 2019 but construction is already well underway. The overpass comes along with the Orlando Bicycle Beltway project as the City of Orlando continues to focus on quality of life and safety for residents.
3. The Yard at Ivanhoe
Situated along the Northern edge of Downtown Orlando, the district of Ivanhoe Village is getting a new development set to open Fall 2019. The Yard at Ivanhoe is a brand new living and mixed-use building that will take up 3 blocks nearby the corner of Orange Avenue and Virginia and is set to fit right in with the eclectic vibe of this popular district. In addition to apartments, the building is also set to provide space for new restaurants, retail, and grassy gathering spaces in the neighborhood.
4. The Next Phase of the Lake Nona Town Center
Lake Nona is set to add about 80 shops and restaurants to the Lake Nona Town Center, along with a movie theater, brewery, and potentially even more. No retailers have been officially confirmed, however, retailers including Dicks Sporting Goods, DSW, H&M, and Barnes and Noble are among some that have reportedly expressed interest for the Lake Nona space. The center's new additions will not only bring more retail to the residents of Lake Nona, it will also help generate more jobs in the area. It has been mentioned that we could expect to see some openings in this new phase of the Town Center by the end of 2018.
5. New Magic Coming to Disney World
With Disney World's 50th Anniversary approaching in the year 2021, the world-famous theme park has announced a number of new attractions coming to the parks. A few of the most noteworthy include:
- Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge: a new land featuring two major attractions that offer visitors the opportunity to experience the Star Wars universe at Disney's Hollywood Studios. Expected to open in 2019.
- Star Wars Resort: in addition to Galaxy's Edge, a new Star Wars themed resort has also been announced. The resort will connect with Galaxy's Edge and will completely immerse guests into the Star Wars experience and allow them to become 'citizens of the galaxy.'
- Epcot's 'Guardians of the Galaxy' Roller Coaster: expected to open in 2021, the announced "Guardians of the Galaxy" roller coaster at Disney World's Epcot will be one of the longest enclosed roller coasters in the world!
- Space Restaurant coming to Epcot: a new restaurant has been announced for Disney's Epcot located nearby the existing Mission: Space attraction that will offer a unique dining experience featuring views from space.
- Tron: also set for a 2021 opening, Walt Disney World is getting the highest-rated attraction at Shanghai Disneyland - Tron. Coming to the Magic Kingdom, Tron is a coaster-style ride and 'one of the most thrilling adventures' Disney Parks offer!
Whether you're into local dining experiences, recreation opportunities, shopping, or enjoy visiting the world-famous Disney attractions, the new additions to Orlando are surely exciting to say the least!