Orlando Standard

The latest Orlando happenings updated weekly using information provided by partners and destination press releases. Stay up-to-date on Orlando's most recent announcements and openings from accommodations and attractions to restaurants and more.

AWARDS & ACCOLADES

Orlando has been selected as a Good Housekeeping 2023 Family Travel Award Winner. 

ATTRACTIONS

Orlando Fringe will celebrate the grand opening of their year-round performing arts space, Fringe ArtSpace, with a fun-filled open house and street party that will be free and open to the community, featuring a ribbon cutting with Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, a live DJ, strolling entertainment, drinks and two special preview performances of the Fringe Winter Mini-Fest.

Roboland, a new exhibit and interactive robot attraction, will open on International Drive on Jan. 20. From robotic shows to a virtual reality experience, the attraction will combine robotics with cutting-edge technology to create a family-friendly immersive experience.

City Works Eatery & Pour House will offer two new Athletic Brewing non-alcoholic beers, Athletic Brewing Upside Dawn and Athletic Brewing Run Wild IPA, along with limited-time mocktail, Cucumber Cure.

TRON Lightcycle / Run, scheduled to open at Magic Kingdom Park on April 4, will be one of the fastest coasters at any Disney theme park in the world. Based on the Disney sci-fi film TRON: Legacy, guests will speed across a world with no horizons in a high-stakes race in their very own Lightcycle.

Walt Disney World Resort announced updates for its nighttime spectaculars including, the return of “Happily Ever After” at Magic Kingdom Park, featuring all-new projections down Main Street, U.S.A. and “EPCOT Forever,” a limited-time spectacle of lasers, lighting, special effects and fireworks at EPCOT, on April 3. 

DINING & NIGHTLIFE

Roundup Rodeo BBQ, the world’s first “Toy Story” table service restaurant, will open spring 2023 at Toy Story Land in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The restaurant features barbecue-inspired comfort foods served family style and miniature sweet surprises.

Sampaguita Ice Cream & Desserts, an all-new Filipino-inspired ice cream shop from the owners of Greenery Creamery, has soft-opened in the Mills 50 district. The shop currently features ice cream, soft cream, halo halo, shakes and sundaes, along with vegan options, and plans to offer traditional Filipino baked goods in the future.

Haan Coffee, a Korean-style beanery, has soft-opened in the Mills 50 district, offering beverages like matcha, tea, coffee and “croffles” (croissant-waffles).

Dolly Llama, a L.A.-based waffle and artisanal ice cream shop, will open in Winter Garden on Jan.7 featuring ice cream and bubble waffles.   

EVENTS & FESTIVALS

The Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens will present a new exhibit, “All that Glitters: The Society of Gilders,” through April 16. In partnership with The Society of Gilders, this exhibition aims to preserve traditional gilding skills and techniques and to promote the highest standards in the practice of gilding.The 29th Annual Taste of Oviedo, sponsored by Oviedo Medical Center, will be held March 25. The event will feature food and beverages from local eateries, the Oviedo Roots farmer’s market, a free kids activity area, and other family-friendly performances and activities.

XFL announced its 2023 schedule in partnership with ESPN, the exclusive broadcast partner of the XFL, with the Orlando Guardians opening their home schedule on Feb. 26 by hosting the San Antonio Brahmas at Camping World Stadium.

The Zora Neale Hurston National Museum of Fine Arts will present the annual ZORA! Festival season with key offerings that include the Outdoor Festival of the Arts (Jan. 27 – 29, 2023), HATitude Cultural Flair (Oct. 15, 2023) and more.  The festival is multi-disciplinary, intergenerational series of events that include public talks, conferences, movie screenings and arts education programming.

Original source can be found here.