KISSIMMEE, Fla. – Kissimmee rings in the new year with anticipation, bidding farewell to cherished moments while eagerly embracing the promise of 2024. As the city looks ahead, excitement brews for another year of welcoming visitors to experience the unique charm and vibrant attractions that define Kissimmee. With a diverse array of offerings and a commitment to exceptional hospitality, the city anticipates a year brimming with unforgettable adventures and lasting memories.

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Events and Attractions

 
SeaWorld Orlando Announces the Arrival of The Ultimate Antarctic Adventure: “Penguin Trek”
This new immersive family coaster is scheduled to open in Spring 2024. Hop on a “snowmobile” through an expedition in the Antarctic wilderness with two launches. The 3,020-foot track traverses both indoors and outside with a grand finale arrival at the penguin habitat, where riders can experience the world of these remarkable animals.

Legoland Announces New Attractions for 2024
It's race time at the new LEGO® Ferrari Build & Race Experience opening Spring 2024 at LEGOLAND® Florida Resort. See a life-sized LEGO Ferrari and create your own Ferrari race car in interactive play zones before you test drive it through three extreme test tracks. Then, digitally build and race on a virtual track to the finish line. Plus, the youngest drivers will design their own Ferrari with bigger bricks in the LEGO DUPLO® build zone.

Discover the amazing wonders of the underwater world at SEA LIFE Florida Resort, an all-new aquarium opening this Fall 2024 at LEGOLAND® Florida Resort. This family-friendly aquarium will have a diverse range of marine life, interactive exhibits and a voyage of oceanic exploration, ending in the ultimate final seascape.

Mecum Kissimmee Celebrates 25th Anniversary, Jan. 2-14
The World's Largest Collector Car Auction® is celebrating 25 years of business January 2-14 at Osceola Heritage Park. This year, the auction will have some of the rarest cars known to exist at the early consignments. With a projected 4,000 vehicle consignments expected, the annual event will continue to honor its official designation as The World's Largest Collector Car Auction®, offering a broad selection of American muscle cars, classics, Corvettes, exotics, trucks, Hot Rods, customs and more with live coverage on MotorTrendTV and MotorTrend+.

Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana, Now Open at EPCOT
Guests can explore a beautifully landscaped walking trail with fun and surprises around each turn as they engage with water in magical ways like Moana did with the ocean – from a simple greeting to a high five or even a crashing wave of fun. This lush and tropical path is the first Disney Parks experience to immerse guests into a world inspired by the hit Walt Disney Animation Studios film, “Moana.”

Toho Riverboat Adventures Adds the Pearl of the Lake, a historic paddle-wheeler
The new paddlewheel riverboat, Pearl of the Lake, will embark on its maiden voyage Dec. 2 and will become part of the everyday options for tours around Lake Toho. The paddlewheel's journey began back in June in Lake Pepin, Wisconsin. The crew sailed the Pearl for almost six months down the Mississippi, facing several challenges along the way. Now, the paddlewheel is in Kissimmee, Fla. and will have nightly Sunset Cruises for private parties, weddings and work banquets and meetings.

Minion Land Officially Open at Universal Orlando Resort
This one-of-a-kind land expands upon the wildly popular Despicable Me Minion Mayhem attraction to engage the entire family in a new collection of humorous adventures inspired by Illumination's beloved Minions franchise. In Illumination's Villain-Con Minion Blast, guests can blast their way to supervillain stardom. Blending immersive sets, interactive game-based technology and an original storyline, this first-of-its-kind attraction puts guests' villainous skills to the test to see if they have what it takes to become a member of the Vicious 6 – a notorious group of supervillains from the hit film, “Minions: The Rise of Gru.”

ASM Global's Osceola Heritage Park Celebrates 20 Years as the Most Versatile Entertainment Complex in the Southeast U.S.
What began 20 years ago as a little-known venue in Central Florida that hosted rodeos, the county fair, trade shows and a handful of other events, has now grown into the most unique entertainment and sports complex in the Southeast United States. With several facilities that can accommodate a variety of different events, from professional soccer matches and sold-out music festivals to agriculture shows and record-breaking car auctions, Osceola Heritage Park (OHP) now describes itself as the “unicorn” of entertainment complexes. 

 

Resort Offerings

Delta by Marriott Orlando Celebration Completes Renovations
The Delta by Marriott Orlando Celebration has recently concluded an extensive $35 million renovation to deliver a revitalizing experience for its guests by seamlessly blending modern amenities with stylish design. Situated close to Walt Disney World Resort, this hotel offers a fantastic choice for families and Disney enthusiasts by providing a magical experience just moments from the theme park. Whether for business or leisure, visitors can relish a renewed and upscale ambiance at Delta Hotels by Marriott Orlando Celebration.

Omni Orlando at ChampionsGate Expansion and Addition of Eagles Edge
Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate is adding a new sleeping room wing, increasing the resort's total room count to 1,005. Also, the resort added an outside feature called the Sunset Terrace. The Terrace features an event lawn area with 9,906 square feet (about twice the area of a basketball court) of artificial turf and concrete walkways. Eagles Edge at ChampionsGate is a unique golfing experience featuring TopTracer technology. This technology uses smart targets and gameplay to track the speed and distance of golf balls from a digital screen. The venue will have 30 covered hitting bays, flexible indoor and outdoor event space and serve classic American cuisine and cocktails. Eagles Edge can accommodate a minimum of 40 guests to more than 1,000 in combination with adjoining mini golf and a lighted nine-hole, par 3 course.

Embassy Suites by Hilton Orlando Sunset Walk Opening Early 2024 
Embassy Suites by Hilton™ presents a new lifestyle in Orlando, a Condo Hotel concept in the heart of Margaritaville Orland Resort's growing paradise. This is a unique opportunity to own a combination of Embassy Suites' award-winning hospitality and Sunset Walk's non-stop entertainment and amenities, all just minutes away from Orlando's world-class theme parks and excitement. 

Developer Inn – Newly Remodeled Locations in Kissimmee
Developer Inn, now part of the Wynham Hotels and Resorts, recently remodeled three of its locations – Developer Inn Maingate, Developer Inn Express and Developer Inn Highway. At Developer Inn, they focus on providing excellent care at affordable costs. Their beautiful facilities include free parking, a swimming pool and a mini market. They are located 10 minutes away from the Walt Disney World Resort and within a 5-minute walk to diverse local eateries. 

 

Food & Beverage Offerings

1881 Now Open in Downtown Kissimmee
A new restaurant where dining meets history. This new addition to downtown Kissimmee has been given its name after the year the city of Kissimmee was incorporated. The restaurant is located at the former W.B. Makinson Hardware building in the heart of Downtown. Prior to the renovation, W.B. Makinson Hardware was the oldest operating retail hardware store in Florida.

Old Town Entertainment District Kissimmee Announces Addition of Maw's Mountain Moonshine Spring 2024
Old Town, an iconic walking district of shops, food, entertainment and events for more than 34 years, announces the addition of Maw's Mountain Moonshine, coming Spring 2024.  Already extremely popular after its first year in Mount Dora, Fla., the five generations Adkins moonshine family is now bringing a second location of their Craft Cocktail Distillery to Old Town, located in Kissimmee.

Pinstripes Coming to Orlando in Early 2024 
Born in the Midwest, Pinstripes is a collection of venues that has rapidly grown across the United States, offering a combination of made-from-scratch dining, face-to-face gaming and signature service. The venue features up to 40,000 square feet- from intimate, private dining spaces to flexible ballrooms to comfortable outdoor spaces surrounding a cozy fire pit. The rustic and open design is the perfect setting to customize your event.

Lazy Dog Restaurant Now Open in Kissimmee
Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar, the casual dining restaurant known for its innovative twists on American dishes served with small mountain town hospitality, opened its doors in Orlando at 8019 W. Irlo Bronson Memorial Hwy. The opening marks Lazy Dog Restaurant's first location in the Orlando metro area. Lazy Dog offers the perfect environment for a quick weeknight dinner, a meal with old friends or a big night out. It's open for lunch, dinner and weekend brunch with a full bar program that includes specialty cocktails and a wide selection of craft beers.

  Deals and Specials

To find accommodation deals and discounted attraction tickets for Florida residents and beyond, visit https://www.experiencekissimmee.com/deals.

 

About Experience Kissimmee:
Experience Kissimmee is the official tourism authority for Osceola County, Florida. Located at the heart of Central Florida, Kissimmee is 25 minutes from Orlando International Airport (MCO), minutes from world-famous theme parks and attractions, and nestled in carefully preserved outdoor spaces so visitors can reconnect with nature. Also known as the Vacation Home Capital of the World®, Kissimmee has sprawling resorts with thousands of options ranging from two-bedroom condominiums to 15-bedroom mansions.