Florida plans several novelties for this 2023. Among them, new hotels, attractions in theme parks, shopping centers, rides and special events that promise to make the destination even more vibrant. We select below some of the new experiences so that each person can check it out on their next visit to the Sunshine State.
NORTH REGION
Jacksonville Beach Town Center
Early 2023 | Jacksonville
With the sand, surf and shopping just a short distance away, the Jacksonville Beach Town Center is the ideal place to enjoy delicious meals with friends, search for the perfect outfit or enjoy locally created drinks against the backdrop of the ocean. This shopping center, whose construction is scheduled for early 2023, will be located on the Jacksonville beach, one of the city's 35 kilometers of coastline. All in one place!
Fountain of Friendship
Early 2023 | Jacksonville
The St. Johns River Park in downtown Jacksonville, where the Friendship Fountain is located, is undergoing a $6 million transformation, scheduled for completion in early 2023. Plans include a botanical garden, a theme park, an area with water fountains for children and improvements in each of them. In the center of the park there will be a fountain with dancing jets choreographed to music and colored lights. Every night these shows will entertain residents and visitors alike.
Hotel Indigo
May 2023 | Panama City Beach
There will soon be a Hotel Indigo in the historic Waterfront District of downtown Panama City Beach, with direct views of the city's marina and beautiful St. Andrews. This boutique hotel of more than 30 million dollars is scheduled to open in May 2023 and will have 124 rooms, the Steam sky bar, outdoor space with a restaurant called Tarpon's and a boardwalk along the waterfront. The rooms will offer stunning views of St. Andrews. Indigo hotels are designed to be as unique as their surroundings and reflect the local culture.
CENTRAL REGION
Pirate River Quest
January 2023 | LEGOLAND Florida | Winter Haven
Embark on a journey to find Captain Redbeard's lost treasure in an all-new LEGOLAND park adventure. The quest to recover treasure stolen by a troop of mischievous apes unfolds as guests tackle a variety of exciting sequences, built brick by brick amidst lush gardens. The journey takes you through the uncharted waters of the legendary Cypress Gardens waterways, a treasure hunt that will delight the whole family.
Pipeline: The roller coaster of surfing
Spring 2023 | SeaWorld | Orlando
SeaWorld Orlando will open the park's new roller coaster, "Pipeline: The Surf Coaster," in spring 2023. This ride will be the world's first "Surf Coaster." Visitors will experience the power of the ocean in a whole new way, and "Pipeline" will surely be the ultimate visitor obsession. Innovative design elements that make this roller coaster unique are: the launch of the surf and the "wave curl" movements, which imitate an "aley-oop", a maneuver that only the most experienced surfers can perform. The unique surfboard-shaped vehicle will provide an immersive experience from the start of the ride, with speeds of up to 60 mph. "Pipeline" will take you on a journey like no other and everyone will leave wanting more.
Spring 2023 | Busch Gardens | Tampa Bay
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay has announced that the Serengeti Flyer will be the park's new attraction in 2023. The Serengeti Flyer will be a giant swing, expected to be the world's tallest and fastest ride of its kind. With each swing, guests will fly higher and higher over the vast area of the park, admiring the animals and vegetation while experiencing several moments of negative gravity before returning to the starting point. The swing will reach a speed of 109 km/h and a height of 41 meters above the ground. Riders will be seated next to each other in rows of 10 in two gondolas, allowing 40 people to experience the attraction at once.
TRON Lightcycle /
Spring 2023 Race | Magic Kingdom - Walt Disney World | Orlando
At Magic Kingdom's Tomorrowland, the TRON Lightcycle/Run attraction, opening spring 2023, will be one of the fastest roller coasters in the Disney parks. Guests will hop on their very own Lightcycle, a motorcycle-shaped vehicle that moves in the dark, for high-speed adventure and high-octane thrills. The goal is to outrun fierce opponents until you cross all eight Energy Gates and win the competition.
Water Trip - Moana
End of 2023 | Epcot | Orlando
Stroll through a self-guided outdoor trail where you can play and interact with the water in this attraction inspired by the character Moana from the Disney animated film. Along the way, you learn about the importance of the water element to life on the planet and discover her playful personality, just as Moana did on her heroic journey. Epcot's new attraction will be at World Nature and is aimed at visitors of all sizes and ages.
Roanoke Hotel
March 2023 | Sebring
A 10-room boutique hotel and Irish pub will occupy a historic building in downtown Sebring. With Gavaghan's Irish Pub on the ground floor, the Roanoke Hotel will be on the second floor. This is a hotel that was originally on the site when the building was built in 1917, and had the same name. The project bears the signature of the team responsible for the famous restaurant Faded Bistro & Beer Garden, in the center of Sebring.
Pratical Arts Resort Campus – The PARC
Spring 2023 | Sebring
It will be a 60,000-square-meter resort complex dedicated to offering "treetop chalets" for short-term vacation rentals. The complex will open with six units, but the goal is to add another 24 in the next five years. Visitors will be totally immersed in nature, without sacrificing comfort, with air conditioning in the chalets, indoor and outdoor showers and organic mosquito repellent.
SOUTHERN REGION
LIVE ART! Festival
Until May 31, 2023 | Naples and Marco Island
A celebration of Hispanic art and culture is the proposal of ¡Arte Viva! Festival, with a program of more than 50 events, exhibitions, presentations, conferences and seminars until May 31, 2023 in Naples and Marco Island. Among the most outstanding events are two tributes to the Mexican artist Frida Kahlo: the recreation of La Casa Azul, the artist's iconic residence in Coyoacán, Mexico City, transported to the Botanical Garden of Naples, with monumental sculptures representing animals that they influenced his life and artwork; and the Frida Fest, a giant, colorful mural in the Art District of Naples. In the same place there will be works by local artists inspired by the color palette, style and life of Frida Kahlo.
Sugarloaf Key / Key West KOA Vacations
May 2023 | Lower Keys | Florida Keys
In the Lower Keys, at Sugarloaf Key/Key West KOA Holiday Campground, non-RV travelers will be able to rent accommodations located in both buildings on the property beginning in May 2023. Apartments feature one bedroom with double bed, a living area with sofa bed and private bathroom, kitchen and balcony. Four units have access for those guests who use a wheelchair. Campsite attractions include a swimming pool, private beach, sports field, water sports and a pub with live music.
Banyan Cay Resort & Golf
Fall 2023 | West Palm Beach | The Palm Beaches
Banyan Cay Resort & Golf will become Florida's first "Destination by Hyatt" hotel and the first full-service Hyatt-branded property in Palm Beach County. This newly built luxury resort will feature a unique West Indies style imagined by leading hotel designers at Adache Architects. Guests will have 150 large rooms and suites and a wide range of services. Among them, a lush spa inspired by the rituals of the West Indies, three restaurants, two swimming pools and 18 holes of golf designed by Jack Nicklaus. Banyan Cay's prime location, just minutes from downtown West Palm Beach, allows guests endless options for adventure,