All the new Florida theme park attractions expected to open in 2024

Just about all of Florida’s major theme parks have new and updated attractions opening this year.

From Disney World’s new The Little Mermaid musical and Country Bear Jamboree revamp to SeaWorld’s Penguin Trek coaster and Legoland’s Ferrari Build and Race, there are 10 new rides and attractions across five theme parks and water parks in Central Florida.

Opening in spring 2024:

Penguin Trek — SeaWorld Orlando
The thrilling family launch coaster takes riders on a penguin research mission through the chilly landscape of Antarctica. Ride cars are inspired by snowmobiles and reach up to 43 mph through icy twists, turns and crumbling caverns. The indoor/outdoor coaster’s grand finale is a habitat of real penguins.

Tassie’s Underwater Twist — Aquatica Orlando
Dubbed “Florida’s most immersive waterslide,” the new family thrill attraction is a 129-foot journey through Australia’s Shark Bay in a two-person inner tube. The climax of the slide is a “super bowl” that swirls riders around a basin of seagrass, fish and a few sharks — elements brought to life through video projections and a musical score. Like all attractions at SeaWorld’s parks, Tassie’s Underwater Twist has a mission to educate and inspire guests about marine life and environments.

Phoenix Rising — Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
One of the coaster kings of Florida (we see you, too, SeaWorld) is getting another roller coaster. Phoenix Rising is a family coaster with suspended seats that take riders soaring over the park’s Serengeti Plain. Inspired by the legendary creature, the coaster flies riders through twists and turns and reaches speeds up to 44 mph.

Castaway Falls — Adventure Island
The Tampa water park is getting a new kids play area — one that expands and updates the old Splash Attack space. Castaway Falls doubles the size of Splash Attack, but features several slides, a multilevel water jungle gym, 100 interactive elements, splash space and giant buckets that dump more than 1,300 gallons of water over guests. This is the second new kids area for the water park, which is undergoing a major update. Shaka-Laka Shores opened in 2023.

Ferrari Build and Race — Legoland Florida
The interactive attraction combines Lego-fied racing history with a “build zone” for guests to create their own Lego Ferrari race car. After making a custom Lego car, there’s a test zone with “three extreme tracks” to test your car through different obstacles. Then, digitally customize the build and take on other racers in the virtual race zone. The youngest guests can play in the Lego Duplo Build Zone and design Ferrari cars with bigger bricks. The upcoming attraction also features a life-sized Ferrari 296 GTS Hybrid made out of Lego bricks.

Opening in summer 2024:

Country Bear Jamboree revamp — Magic Kingdom
The iconic musical show is getting a major update this year, with its new style set to pay homage to the “Opry-style shows of Nashville.” When the reimagined attraction opens later this year, it will have the beloved Country Bears singing reinterpreted Disney songs set in different country genres. But don’t worry, original Jamboree fans, there will be plenty of Easter eggs and a twist on a classic tune. Grizzly Hall closes on Jan. 27 to make way for the new show opening later this summer.

Opening in fall 2024:

The Little Mermaid: A Musical Adventure — Disney’s Hollywood Studios
The Hollywood Studios park is revamping its Animation Courtyard, starting with a new Little Mermaid stage show. The Little Mermaid: A Musical Adventure tells Ariel’s story along with “stunning new set pieces, cutting-edge effects and a bold new design.” It also features reimagined musical numbers and twists on beloved songs from the animated film. The show replaces Voyage of the Little Mermaid, which ran from 1992 until 2020, when it closed due to the pandemic.

TBA openings in 2024:

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure — Magic Kingdom
The most anticipated ride opening at Disney World this year is Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, which will transform the shuttered Splash Mountain attraction into a celebration of 1920s New Orleans food, culture and community. Inspired by The Princess and the Frog, the log flume ride is set after the events of the animated film and brings back Princess Tiana, Prince Naveen and more beloved characters. As a musical attraction, the ride features a new score of jazz and zydeco-style music.

DreamWorks land — Universal Orlando
While all eyes are still on the construction of Universal’s next theme park, Epic Universe, the resort also shared a surprise announcement last summer that a DreamWorks Animation-themed land would open later this year. The immersive area is set to feature characters and theming from Shrek, Trolls, Kung Fu Panda and Gabby’s Dollhouse. The new land replaces the KidZone attractions near the E.T. Adventure ride. No further details or an opening date have been announced, but we can hope for and expect at least one ride and plenty of character meet-and-greet opportunities.