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Brevard • Lake • Orange • Osceola • Seminole • Sumter • Volusia
Tourism
Orlando’s theme parks, all of which suffered significant attendance losses due to the pandemic, have come back with a vengeance as new roller coasters continue to make their debuts. On the heels of Universal Orlando’s 2021 opening of its VelociCoaster are: Ice Breaker debuting at SeaWorld Orlando in February 2022 boasting the steepest beyond-vertical drop in Florida, and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind opening at Epcot in May. One month later, in June 2022, SeaWorld Orlando confirmed the construction of its seventh roller coaster, scheduled to open in 2023. And coming next spring to Disney’s Tomorrowland: TRON Lightcycle Run.
Meanwhile, construction continues on Universal’s fourth Orlando theme park — Epic Universe — which is expected to open by summer 2025. Universal remains tight-lipped about specific details related to the project; however it is believed that Super Nintendo World, which is featured at Universal Studios Japan, will be among the “lands.”
KEY PLAYERS: SeaWorld Orlando, Orlando; Universal Orlando Resorts, Orlando; Walt Disney World, Orlando.