It was nothing short of a newsworthy year in the City Beautiful, filled with ups, downs and plenty of surprises. We said goodbye to iconic eateries while we welcomed in some new big bites. We saw storied theme park rides close while we geared up for new magical worlds to come. We cheered on abortion-rights groups, labor unions and community-centered organizations, while we faced business struggles and legislative changes.
But through it all, we remained strong. Here are 20 of our stories on the biggest W’s and L’s Orlando took home in 2024.
COMMUNITY:
W: “New peer respite center opens in Orlando for mental health, a first for Central Florida” (July 12)
Eva’s Casita, a peer respite center run by the local nonprofit Peer Support Space, officially opened its doors this summer — the first of its kind in Central Florida, and the first and only in the nation designed and led by LGBTQ+ mental-health advocates. Peer Support Space was formed five and a half years ago, in the wake of the mass shooting at Pulse nightclub. The center is named after the late Eva Fajardo, a local advocate for queer, Hispanic and migrant communities who passed away 18 months ago, as she and the nonprofit were working hard to make the new respite a reality. Fajardo was a “therapist for therapists” after the Pulse tragedy that killed 49 people, says Yasmin Flasterstein, executive director and co-founder of Peer Support Space.
L: “Orange County decides to sell property intended for scrapped Pulse Museum project” (Sept. 26)
In contrast to the space honoring Fajardo, a Pulse-related downer: The Orange County board of commissioners decided to sell a piece of land formerly owned by the dissolved nonprofit OnePulse Foundation, which had been bought for a proposed Pulse Museum. The museum, a project that never happened, was intended to commemorate the mass shooting that occurred at Orlando’s Pulse nightclub in 2016 that killed 49 people and wounded over 50.
L: “Orlando officials confirm Lake Eola swans are dying from bird flu” (Feb. 29)
City of Orlando officials confirmed early this year that several birds at Lake Eola Park had been infected with avian influenza, also known as bird flu. The announcement came after officials found several birds had died at the park. Within two weeks, four swans had been found dead.
W: “Orlando’s Lake Eola Park welcomes six new swan residents” (Aug. 26)
Turning that L around, the waters of Orlando’s Lake Eola Park were ruffled by some new feathers with the addition of six new swans: Two Australian black, two whooper and two trumpeter swans were the city’s newest winged residents this summer. The two Australian black swans were said to replace two of the same species that were allegedly killed by, respectively, a river otter and bird flu.
L: “Orlando remains one of the most cost-burdened metros in the U.S.” (Dec. 6)
While Orlando has in the past been crowned a leading foodie destination and LGBTQ-friendly city, it appears the City Beautiful can’t escape its designation as one of the most cost-burdened metro regions in the U.S., where a majority of its renters spend more than 30 percent of their income on rent. According to a report from Apartment List, the number of cost-burdened renter households is at a record high, with the Orlando metro ranking No. 4 nationwide, closely trailing the Tampa, Miami and Cape Coral regions.
W: “Eskamani files to run for Orlando mayor” (Dec. 16)
State Rep. Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando, has officially filed paperwork to run in 2027 to replace Orlando’s longtime Mayor Buddy Dyer. Already boasting a number of early endorsements from local, state and federal elected officials, Dr. Eskamani said she intends to bring a “people-centered approach” to city leadership if elected. Based on her local work and outreach in her district, it seems fair to say Eskamani will work hard on affordable housing.
BARS + RESTAURANTS:
W: “Orlando restaurants burned rubber at the 2024 Michelin Guide ceremony” (April 19)
Chefs and restaurateurs under the blinding spell of a company responsible for contributing a good many skid marks around the world were handed Michelin stars, Bib Gourmands and other awards at this year’s Michelin Guide ceremony. Natsu, Victoria & Albert’s, Camille and Papa Llama were the new Orlando restaurants to earn one Michelin star, while other accolades went to Capa, Soseki, Kadence, Kaya, Otto’s High Dive and more.
By September, stars or not, Orlando saw a slate of long-beloved restaurants announce permanent closures. We’ve lived the final days of Pom Pom’s, Farm + Haus, Ethos Vegan Kitchen, Hamburger Mary’s and Graffiti Junktion (to name just a few).
W: “Maitland mainstay Kappy’s Subs announces new lease deal after wave of public support” (Sept. 17)
Another reversal! Among this fall’s rapid-fire restaurant closings was supposed to be Maitland mainstay Kappy’s Subs, which was miraculously able to stay open after all. The sandwich shop, open since 1967, reached a lease agreement with property owner Bolen Properties — after immense community outcry and support.
L: “Orlando City Council passes permanent limits on downtown nightclubs” (Aug. 13)
Orlando City Council this year unanimously voted to pass a new ordinance, which took effect this fall, to permanently limit the opening of new nightclubs to one nightclub per block in Orlando’s downtown entertainment area, requiring a 300-foot distance between each new club. Existing nightclubs that don’t conform to this distance limit would be grandfathered in under the proposal, although they could be prevented from expanding under these rules.
L: “Orlando police charge dozens for drug sales, permit violations in ‘Operation Night Cap'” (Dec. 6)
Orlando police launched an undercover drug activity operation that resulted in dozens of charges spanning several downtown businesses. OPD ran a sting operation from July to November and altogether, they say, they found violations at 33 establishments in and around downtown Orlando. “Operation Night Cap” was spurred, police said, by complaints about illegal activity downtown — not only drug sales, but also alcohol sales after permitted hours, improper or absent ID scans, and improper or absent weapons searches.
L: “Five downtown Orlando clubs close, including Ember, Chillers and Irish Shannon’s” (Dec. 6)
In another loss, announced on the same day as Operation Nightcap but apparently unrelated, five downtown Orlando clubs — Chillers, Irish Shannon’s, Cahoots, High Tide and Ember — closed their doors in the same week in December. Church Street Entertainment, legally known as Downtown Entertainment LLC, owned all five spots.
THEME PARKS:
W: “Disney shares a first look at Tiana’s Bayou Adventure” (June 5)
Four years after Disney announced the attraction, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure finally opened this summer. The new log flume ride is themed after the characters, stories and setting of The Princess and the Frog and is set a year after the events of the 2009 film. It replaces Splash Mountain, which garnered complaints due to its ties to the controversial film Song of the South. Tiana’s completely transforms the area in Frontierland into a celebration of New Orleans culture, music and food. The ride’s story follows Princess Tiana, Prince Naveen, Louis the jazz-loving alligator, and a whole cast of new characters and critters created for the ride on a peaceful float through the Louisiana bayou.
L: “Big mistake, huge: Disney will remove Muppet*Vision 3D to make way for Monsters, Inc. land” (Nov. 22)
Along with new attractions, alas, come the closures of old ones. Disney actually crossed the line and announced they will remove Muppet*Vision 3D and the surrounding Muppet Courtyard to make way for a Monsters, Inc. land. The Muppets won’t be gone for good, but closing Muppet*Vision 3D and the courtyard irrevocably taints the legacy of Hollywood Studios as a once-great park themed around the magic of Disney moviemaking, if you ask us.
W: “Universal Orlando reveals opening date for Epic Universe, tickets available soon” (Oct. 17)
After years of development and construction, Orlando’s newest theme park has an opening date, and it’s soon. Universal’s fourth park in Orlando, Epic Universe brings five immersive worlds to life. Towering portals will transport guests to Super Nintendo World, Ministries of Magic in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, the monster-filled Dark Universe, an island of dragons inspired by How to Train Your Dragon and a futuristic steampunk realm known as Celestial Park.
ABORTION RIGHTS:
After facing an aggressive opposition campaign from anti-abortion activists and Gov. Ron DeSantis, Florida voters rejected Amendment 4 this November. (Or rather, “only” 57 percent of Florida voters approved it, not enough to meet the 60 percent requirement to pass.) The ballot question asked voters whether they wanted to reverse Florida’s six-week abortion ban and enshrine abortion rights in the state Constitution. The proposed constitutional amendment would have guaranteed the right to abortion up to the point of fetal viability — equal to about 24 weeks of pregnancy — and would have limited anti-abortion Florida legislators from restricting abortion access any further.
It’s a bittersweet win, but we’ll take it. Not enough Florida voters wanted to enshrine abortion rights in the state Constitution, but it shouldn’t go unnoticed that Orange County voted overwhelmingly to approve the amendment. Amendment 4 received nearly 65 percent of the vote in Orange County, according to unofficial election results from the Supervisor of Elections Office.
L: “Orlando abortion doctor fights to keep her license as DeSantis administration pushes for revocation” (Oct. 21)
The administration of Gov. Ron DeSantis this year sought to punish a doctor who violated the state’s 24-hour rule on abortion by stripping away her medical license. The push to revoke the license of Dr. Candace Cooley went forward even though an administrative law judge who looked at the physician’s actions suggested a $10,000 fine and a reprimand. The Florida Board of Medicine rebuffed the DeSantis administration’s push, but not without dissent. A loss for Cooley is a loss for anyone who supports reproductive rights.
WORKERS RIGHTS:
L: “Orange County teachers union sues school district over refusal to negotiate teacher evaluations” (Nov. 20)
The Orange County teachers union, representing roughly 14,000 public school teachers, psychologists and other school staff, filed a lawsuit against the school board and OCPS district superintendent, arguing they have unconstitutionally abridged employees’ ability to negotiate changes to teacher evaluations. We’re counting the union’s legal efforts as a win, but the school district’s refusal to negotiate as one big loss.
W: “Disney Springs Patina Restaurant Group workers seek to organize, ask employer for fair union process” (April 29)
Workers at five nonunion restaurants at Disney Springs in Orlando launched an effort to unionize this year, calling on their employer to allow for a fair process, free from unlawful intimidation. Unlike the tens of thousands of Disney World employees who have been unionized for decades, the roughly 300 workers at Enzo’s Hideaway, Pizza Ponte, Morimoto Asia, Maria and Enzo’s, and The Edison — all subcontracted restaurants on Disney property — are technically employed by the Patina Restaurant Group. Employees of the restaurants at Disney Springs said they felt like “second-class citizens” compared to unionized Disney workers. Like the OCTA lawsuit, it’s a mixed bag: Their treatment by their employers is a loser in our books, but their fighting spirit is a big win.
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This article appears in Dec 25-31, 2024.