Here are the new attractions coming to Central Florida theme parks this year

News 6 has your must see list

The new year is officially here, and this year Central Florida’s world-class theme parks are set to open some new attractions that might interest you or your family.

From new high-speed roller coasters to family friendly attractions, there is something for almost everyone.

Walt Disney World

Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure

Emily Jacobsen, whose excitement for Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure led her to compose a song about Remy that sparked a social media phenomenon, received a sneak peek of the attraction, which will open in 2021 at EPCOT at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., on Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020 (Walt Disney World)

Originally scheduled to open in the summer of 2020, Walt Disney World is now scheduled to open Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure later this year.

The new attraction at EPCOT’s France pavilion showcases Paris’ favorite chef rat, Remy. The attraction shrinks guests down to the size of a mouse as they run around Chef Gusteau’s bustling kitchen. The attraction is said to be identical to the attraction already opened at Disneyland Paris. Along with the new attraction, the new area will also usher in new shopping experiences and small places to eat. An opening date has not been announced.

Cirque du Soleil: Drawn to Life

(Walt Disney World)

Also originally scheduled to open last year was the new Cirque du Soleil show, Drawn to Life.

Disney officials said the show is a first-ever collaboration between Cirque du Soleil, Walt Disney Animation Studios and Walt Disney Imagineering. Guests will journey into a world where an animator’s desk becomes the stage and drawings come alive. Disney said on it’s website that the show is a celebration of life, accentuated by the delightful, mesmerizing movements of Cirque du Soleil’s acrobatic mastery.

Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser

Still under construction near the once former entrance to Disney’s Hollywood Studios is Walt Disney World’s most immersive Star Wars hotel experience. The Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser will allow guests to have a two-day, two-night vacation in an all-immersive experience that will take them to a galaxy far, far away in a way that only Disney could create.

“Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser is a completely new type of experience,” said Ann Morrow Johnson, executive producer for Walt Disney Imagineering. “You’re going to live onboard a star cruiser…and you can get wrapped up in the larger Star Wars story” she described on Disney’s blog. According to the Walt Disney World website, the new experience is still on schedule to open this year, but an official opening date has not been announced.


Other exciting additions coming to Walt Disney World this year include:

Universal Orlando Resort

Jurassic World: Velocicoaster

(Universal Orlando)

Universal Orlando Resort is set to unleash and all new predator, the Jurassic World: Velocicoaster. Rising out of the jungles of the “Jurassic Park” themed area of Island’s of Adventure, this attraction will feature two intense launches and four inversions.

Check out some of the construction from a recent helicopter flyover.

“Designed for speed and engineered for the hunt, the coaster’s revolutionary ride vehicle will send riders twisting and soaring across 4,700 feet of track as they encounter near-misses, launches, 12 heart-pounding seconds of airtime and more – with just a lap bar restraint holding them in place” Universal said in a news release. Last month, Universal officials showed off the ride vehicles that are currently being tested on the track.

This will be the first major roller coaster added to Universal Orlando since the addition of Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure in 2019. The new attraction is scheduled to open in the summer of this year.

SeaWorld Orlando

Ice Breaker

(SeaWorld)

Named after the icy Arctic summits, Ice Breaker will feature four launches, both backward and forward, culminating in a reverse launch into the steepest beyond vertical drop in Florida — a 93-foot tall spike with 100-degree angle. The entire ride will last about 90 seconds and will send guests up to 52 mph.

The new attraction was scheduled to open in spring of 2020, but officials pushed the opening back following the months long closure due to the pandemic. When Ice Breaker opens to guests this spring, it will be the SeaWorld Orlando’s sixth roller coaster.

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SeaWorld Orlando shows off 'Ice Breaker' roller coaster

In November, SeaWorld shared on Facebook showing the ride in action.

Aquatica

Riptide Race

(SeaWorld)

SeaWorld’s neighboring water park, Aquatica, is set to splash down its newest attraction, Riptide Race, this spring.

The new attraction at the theme park was scheduled to open last year as Florida’s first-ever dueling racer water slide. Officials said the slide with feature three racing sections, and one head-to-head dueling section, which is a world’s first element.

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

Iron Gwazi

(Busch Gardens Tampa Bay)

Busch Gardens will be home to North America’s tallest hybrid and the fastest, steepest hybrid coaster in the world come this spring. Iron Gwazi will send thrill seekers to new heights. The new attraction will send riders plummeting from a 206 foot-tall peak into a 91-degree drop and reaching top speeds of 76 miles per hour.

According to the theme park’s website, the new coaster will feature a dozen airtime moments, including three inversions, as guests sink their teeth into a crocodile-inspired thrill.