LEGOLAND Florida Resort has a new aquarium attraction with marine life and interactive exhibits.
LEGOLAND Florida Resort has a new aquarium attraction with marine life and interactive exhibits.Handout
Orlando hosted a record-setting 75.3 million visitors in 2024, according to the folks at www.visitorlando.com, making it the most-visited tourist destination in the United States. What else is popping, besides the first new theme park in a quarter-century?
Walt Disney World (https://disneyworld.disney.go.com) offers two new shows, “The Little Mermaid — A Musical Adventure” and “Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After,” at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Over at Magic Kingdom Park, check out the first-ever nighttime parade, Disney Starlight.
At SeaWorld Orlando (https://seaworld.com/orlando/), discover the new Expedition Odyssey, billed as “the world’s first fully immersive Arctic-themed flying theater.”
At LEGOLAND Florida Resort (www.legoland.com/florida/, check out Sea Life Florida, a new aquarium attraction with marine life and interactive exhibits.
Orlando’s vibrant food scene continues to shine, with 11 new additions to the 2025 Michelin Guide Florida. Sorekara (https://sorekarafl.com), in Baldwin Park, received Orlando’s first two Michelin stars, while ÔMO by Jônt (www.omobyjont.com) in Winter Park garnered one star. In the Bib Gourmands category, heralded restaurants include Smokemade Meats + Eats (www.smokemade.com), Bánh Mi Boy (@banhmiboycafe), Coro (www.cororestaurant.com), and UniGirl (www.unigirlfl.com). For the complete list, visit www.visitorlando.com/blog/post/orlando-michelin-restaurants/.
Tip: To experience some of the best bites in Orlando, head to Mills Market (www.mills-market.com), a local hub for Asian eats and shops. Set within the Vietnamese-American community of Orlando, these chef-owned eateries offer an excellent DIY tasting menu, including Michelin sweethearts Bánh Mi Boy Café & Bakery (four words: caramel pork fish spread) and UniGirl, Orlando’s first onigiri shop. Fun fact: The culinary director of Mills Market is “Top Chef” season 3 winner Hung Huynh, owner of Bánh Mi Boy. Check out his new dessert shop at Mills Market, Saigon Snow. Eat your way around Asia here — it’s a theme park for your palate.
Diane Bair and Pamela Wright can be reached at bairwright@gmail.com