Live From PCMA CL 2025: What's New in Orlando
From a new 100,000-square-foot ballroom at the Orange County Convention Center—among other improvements as part of an expansion breaking ground by 2026—to property updates such as the addition of 120,000 square feet of meeting space at The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin, there’s lots going on in Orlando.
Tyler Davidson sat down with Casandra Matej, president and CEO of Visit Orlando, and Mark Tester, executive director of the Orange County Convention Center, to discover what’s new and coming down the pike in what is perennially the most popular meetings and conventions destination in North America.
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Following are major destination highlights in Orlando, according to Visit Orlando:
New at the Theme Parks
Universal Orlando Resort
- Universal Orlando Resort’s highly anticipated theme park, Universal Epic Universe, will open May 22. This expansive park features over 50 attractions across five immersive worlds, such as Celestial Park, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, SUPER NINTENDO WORLD, How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk, and Dark Universe. Select multi-day tickets and packages are available for attendees to bring their families and turn their meeting into an adventure.
- Universal Helios Grand Hotel, with a dedicated entrance into the new Universal Epic Universe, will open May 2025. This Loews hotel, already available for booking meetings and events, will offer 4,648 square feet of versatile space, 500 rooms and 35 suites, and feature tablets for guests to digitally control elements of the room from lighting to room service. This regal hotel will also feature a rooftop bar, a three-meal restaurant, a pool bar and a grab-and-go station.
- Universal Stella Nova Resort, opening Jan. 21, and Universal Terra Luna Resort, opening Feb. 25, will add 1,500 guest rooms to Universal Orlando Resort’s hotel portfolio, raising the total to 11,000 rooms across 11 hotels. The new properties feature 750 double-queen guest rooms with spaceship-styled windows, a variety of dining options and amenities including resort-style pools, fitness centers, game rooms, recreation rooms and more.
Walt Disney World Resort
Renovated accommodations and new meeting services:
- The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin is embarking on the largest renovation and expansion in the property’s history highlighted by the addition of 120,000 square feet of event space to its current meeting and convention floorplan. The hotel’s existing meeting space at the Swan and Dolphin will be enhanced with a modern look and new capabilities in event technology. All guest rooms in the Walt Disney World Swan have undergone remodeling and have been available to book since late 2024.
- Disney Meetings & Events is unveiling new meeting products and resources including signature team building and networking sessions, general-session openers and a creative studio at Walt Disney World Resort where meeting professionals can collaborate with Disney and Disney Meetings & Events experts.
New attractions
- Debuting at EPCOT later this year, Test Track presented by Chevrolet will feature new scenes that highlight technological advances.
- Two new Walt Disney World lounges will make their debut:
- At Magic Kingdom Park, an all-new Pirates of the Caribbean-themed lounge will open in Adventureland.
- A lounge inspired by Spaceship Earth featuring breathtaking views of the World Showcase and firework shows will open at Epcot.
- Also at Magic Kingdom Park, “Disney Starlight,” a nighttime parade using state-of-the-art technology, will debut this summer as the first nighttime parade since 2016.
- The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure, a fully reimagined theatrical production inspired by the classic film will debut at Disney’s Hollywood Studios’ refreshed Animation Courtyard theater this summer.
SeaWorld Orlando
- SeaWorld Orlando unveils the all-new Immersive Experience, the world’s first fully immersive Arctic flying theater, this spring. Building on the park’s Penguin Trek family coaster, the new attraction will transport guests to the Arctic by soaring over icy landscapes, diving beneath frozen waters and encountering Arctic wildlife.
New and Coming Soon to the Convention District
- The Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) is targeting to break ground by 2026 with enhancements to the North-South Building which will include an additional 44,000 square feet of meeting space and a 100,000-square-foot ballroom, along with a new entry to the North-South Building along Convention Way.
The OCCC recently added high-speed electric vehicle (EV) charging to its campus with the opening of Orlando Utilities Commission’s (OUC) ReCharge Mobility Hub. Located near its North Concourse, this hub provides seamless, hassle-free charging for visitors and guests in the Convention Center District. With user-friendly interfaces and lightning-fast charging, this new EV charging station makes it easier than ever to stay on the move sustainably.
- Blue Man Group return to Orlando April 3 with a new residency show featuring its signature mix of art, live music, comedy and non-verbal storytelling. The multi-sensory performance will take place in a custom-built 578-seat theater located beneath the towering 400-ft. Orlando Eye, as the centerpiece of ICON Park’s entrance. Single show tickets are available, and group packages and add-ons including VIP Experiences and Meet & Greets will be shared at a later date.
- Fun Spot Orlando is bringing a mix of fresh adventures and experiences planners can incorporate into private new rides debuting in 2025. At their Orlando location on I-Drive, attendees will be able to spin themselves silly on Tea Cups, while MACH FUN will deliver the thrill of flight with barrel rolls and spiraling dives. And at their Kissimmee location adjacent to Old Town, new additions will include an inverted pendulum ride with twin gondolas called Up and Overboard, and Swing Around in the Kids Spot section, perfect for attendees who are bringing their families.
- Villatel Orlando Resort, situated within the iconic International Drive area, began a phased opening in late 2023. Upon full completion early this year, the private villa rental resort, with group options available, will have 526 units with apartment-style suites and single-family homes, as well as an adventure waterpark with multi-story slides and a lazy river, a fully equipped fitness center, a full-service restaurant and children’s playgrounds.
New Dining and Nightlife Experiences
Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort
- Epilogue, a new adult-only speakeasy, opened at Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort this past October. The new intimate lounge, open on select nights to guests 21 and older, features a library-inspired theme and offers a variety of specialty, on-theme cocktails. It is available for private events ranging from 2-4 hours for up to 30 guests.
Downtown Orlando
- The Downtown Orlando Food & Art Tour, hosted by Wandering Palm Adventures and available for corporate groups, incentive travel, client engagement, and team building, offers a guided journey through Orlando’s vibrant art scene, featuring contemporary galleries, iconic landmarks like Lake Eola and CityArts, and outdoor sculptures. Along the way, participants indulge in tastings from top local eateries like Papi Smash’d Burger, while exploring the history and culture that define Orlando’s creative identity.
- Oza Izakaya by Tim Liu, an omakase-style eatery, will open in downtown Orlando in early 2025. The dining experience will showcase a blend of the Japanese izakaya setting and omakase style of dining. The upscale eatery will be the second Oza location in Orlando as it follows the 2024 opening of the first location near SeaWorld Orlando and the Orange County Convention Center.
Lorelai Wine Bar opens in February in the Thornton Park neighborhood district in downtown Orlando, offering European wines by the bottle or by the glass along with shareable plates for snacking. Lorelei will house a 10-seat bar, lounging areas and two rooms with tables that will play host to wine storytelling events with winemakers.
Winter Park (near downtown Orlando)
- Moso Nori, a concept by James Beard Award finalist and Michelin-recognized chef Henry Moso, opened in November 2024 in Winter Park. The new restaurant features a hand-roll bar, serving a variety of temaki, sake, beer, wine and sake-based cocktails. Reservations are not required allowing a group’s sushi aficionados to walk up and dine.
- The Glass Knife will open a second location this spring along Winter Park’s Park Avenue, with its signature array of pastries, cakes, and baked goods. The bakery can cater events or host small groups of 6-10 people.
Lake Nona (near Orlando International Airport)
- The Lake Nona Wave Hotel introduced Garni Café and Nectar Room as the newest offerings to the hotel’s award-winning food and beverage scene. Garni Café is an all-day French bistro serving breakfast, brunch seven days a week, light fare, and dinner. The upscale Nectar Room is a cocktail lounge concept offering inventive mixology and creative takes on small plates.
Recently Opened or Renovated Venues and Hotels
- Live! at The Pointe Orlando opened in late 2024 and is a new 73,000-square-foot immersive indoor and outdoor dining and entertainment destination at Pointe Orlando located in the Convention District. Anchored by several restaurants including Sports & Social, a PBR Cowboy Bar, Shark Bar, and the Houndsmen English Lounge, the area also includes Live! Plaza, a 37,000 sq. ft. space for special events.
- Judson’s Live debuted in early 2024 to bring a low-key, 150-seat, cabaret-style music space with unparalleled sound to the spectacular Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. Smaller groups can experience all types of music genres during scheduled 50-minute performances while enjoying specialty cocktails and a seasonal scratch-kitchen menu of shareable bites.
- Evermore Orlando Resort and Conrad Orlando begin their second year of operations. Evermore Orlando Resort is Orlando’s first beach-like property and features a 20-acre sandy beach centered around the 8-acre crystalline Evermore Bay and includes a range of 2- to 11-bedroom vacation homes and The Boathouse, a 2,500 square foot meet venue.
Located at Evermore Orlando Resort, the Conrad Orlando is the destination’s first Hilton luxury brand and features 433 rooms, a spa, numerous dining options – including its signature rooftop experience – and 65,000 sq. ft. of flexible indoor-outdoor meeting space.
- Renaissance Orlando Resort & Spa came onto the scene in Summer 2024 after a complete transformation and rebranding. The first Marriott brand in the Disney Springs Resort area, the hotel features 394 newly renovated guestrooms and suites, and over 25,000 sf of flexible meeting and event space.
Caribe Royale Orlando debuted Stadium Club in 2024, a 500-seat, sports-themed entertainment venue that features eight pro-level sports simulators, two bars and several areas for private events.
