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.
ACCOMMODATIONS
Westgate Leisure Resort will offer guests a limited-time $25 Uber credit when booking eligible rates as part of a special Halloween hotel deal for visitors to experience Orlando’s Fall events.
Encore Resort at Reunion will offer an all-new Halloween vacation experience, “Stay A Spell: Broom & Breakfast,” featuring Halloween-themed vacation homes Sept. 1- Oct. 31. Guests can choose from three spellbinding options including Monster Party, Willow’s Harvest Hollow and Pumkin Palooza, as well as an array of festive activities throughout the season.
DINING & NIGHTLIFE
Victoria & Albert’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa has reopened with an enhanced and renovated interior space featuring an ever-evolving menu, world-class wine collection of over 500 different selections and three different dining options including The Dining Room, which serves a tasting menu highlighting seasonal flavors; The Queen Victoria Room, offering a more intimate dining experience allowing guests to savor a menu created by the chef de cuisine; and The Chef’s Table, a one-of-a-kind experience that allows first-hand account to the culinary craft as the team creates the tasting menu, allowing guests to interact with the chefs.
Doshi, an all-new elevated Korean-American, six-person dining experience, opened on July 27 in Winter Park. The 14-course tasting menu explores traditional Korean cuisine and seasonal ingredients reimagined through a contemporary lens.
Bang Bang Noodle Co., an all-new concept headed by Top Chef Season 3 winner Hung Huynh, will open in the Mills 50 district this fall. The new restaurant will feature handmade noodles and homemade broths, including beef noodle soup, chicken ramen, roasted garlic noodle and wok noodles.
Kura Sushi, a Japanese chain out of Osaka, will bring its brand of conveyor-belt sushi to the Vineland Pointe shopping center later this summer. The innovative and tech interactive concept, focusing on high quality and fresh ingredients, will feature a two-layered conveyor belt system, one of which is an “Express Belt,”as well as robot servers.
Fat Tuesday® will open an all-new, 660-square-foot location to serve its premium frozen cocktails in Old Town by the end 2022.
Brother Jimmy’s is now at ICON Park. The new North Carolina-style BBQ joint features menu items including flaming hot Jumbo Chicken Wings, BBQ Nachos, St. Louis-style ribs, country catfish and a legendary Carolina pulled pork sandwich along with a variety of mason jar cocktails.
Hyatt Regency Orlando announced the renovation of the Rocks Bar and a new social and entertainment lounge, Descend 21. Named for the number of steps in its curved staircase entrance, Descend 21 will have a centrally located bar with communal tables, lounge seating and an updated terrace with fire pits, creating a seamless indoor-outdoor experience. Located on the hotel’s lobby level, Rocks will receive an entirely new look featuring a modern color palette, new banquette and lounge chair seating, refreshed finishes and additional communal tables to allow for a variety of increased seating and flexible space.
Bacon Bitch, the Miami breakfast and brunch concept, will open in Orlando on August 26. The 200-seat restaurant will be located near the University of Central Florida, featuring a crave-worthy and photo-ready menu with a focus on locally and responsibly sourced ingredients, including 100% gluten-free, MSG-free, nitrite-free bacon, made using old world charcuterie techniques by independent family farmers, who raise livestock humanely and sustainably, and ethically produced, pasture-raised egg from Vital Farms.
EVENTS & FESTIVALS
The Vegan BBQ Festival hosted by Orlando Bearded Vegan will be held at Lake Eola Park on August 13. The free, pet-friendly, event will feature over 25 vegan vendors with food and drink offerings and live music.
Ivanhoe Brewing will host the 407 Food Fair.on August 13. The monthly food and craft festival is on the second Saturday of every month.
Avalon Park will host Moon Over Avalon Mid-Autumn Festival on September 10. The free, family-friendly event will feature children's arts and crafts; Food Trucks; a Night Market and live performances.
Long & Scott Farms will host the 20th Annual Long & Scott Farms Corn Maze weekends Oct. 1 – Dec. 11. The event will feature a farmer’s market, food vendors and family-friendly activities.
Scream n' Stream the haunted Halloween drive-thru event, returns for its third year for select nights in October. The event will feature seven horrifying zones to drive through complete with monsters, music, lighting and special effects.
Universal Orlando Resort will celebrate the holiday season with the return of Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, The Grinchmas™ at Universal’s Islands of Adventure and Universal’s Holiday Parade featuring Macy’s from Nov. 12 – Jan. 1. Guests can experience holiday-themed performances along with holiday projections on Hogwarts Castle during Christmas at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter; enjoy a hilarious retelling of Dr. Seuss’s holiday classic in the “Grinchmas Who-liday Spectacular” during Grinchmas at Universal’s Islands of Adventure; watch as characters from Illumination’s Despicable Me and DreamWorks Animation’s Shrek and Madagascar, along with larger-than-life balloons, take the streets of Universal Studios Florida during Universal’s Holiday Parade featuring Macy’s; and enjoy the iconic sounds of the season with live performances by holiday artist, Mannheim Steamroller, at Universal Studios Florida on Dec. 3, 4, 10 and 11.
The Milk District will host a “Sandwich Week” Aug. 20-28. The celebration will include deals, giveaways and activities at various restaurants around the Milk District, including Itsa Chicken, BadAs’s Sandwich, Stasio’s Italian Deli, Sideward Brewing and Kelly’s Homemade Ice Cream.
DoubleTree by Hilton Orlando at SeaWorld will host the 5th Annual Orlando African Fashion Show: Celebrating African Heritage Month on Sept. 4. The event will be a cultural entertainment experience featuring creative African designers, live performances, entertainment and more.
SeaWorld Orlando’s Howl-O-Scream will return this year will all-new frights, chills and thrills, including an all-new haunted house, all-new scare zones, an all-new bar and all-new shows joining fan-favorites from the Inaugural Haunt for pulse pounding entertainment.
