When you’re looking for a place to vacation where sunshine goes hand-in-hand with magical thrills, Orlando, Florida has you covered. This fantastic getaway destination is loved by solo travelers, friend groups, couples, and families alike looking for a place to relax and unwind where it’s simple to customize every day of a stay according to just about any travel style! Orlando is jam-packed with options for entertainment whether you’re looking to spend your time at theme parks, eateries, unique museums, have outdoor adventures, or get up close to wildlife as well. From gardens and zoos to roller coasters and Disney fun, Orlando truly is a place with something for everyone. And as any great vacation destination does, Orlando and its many opportunities for unforgettable adventures continue to grow! When you’re looking ahead to planning an Orlando trip in 2025, the following guide is designed to highlight just some of all that there is to look forward to enjoying in the new year.
Incredible Local Events to Look Forward to in Orlando in 2025
It doesn’t matter what time of year you make your way to Orlando in the name of fun, it’s a city designed to impress. Here, there’s always something going on, and in 2025, the city’s event calendar is brimming over with experiences you won’t want to miss out on. Between February and April, travelers who take time to unwind in Orlando will find their trip perfectly aligns with Mardi Gras celebrations across the city! Universal Studios hosts one of the most memorable Mardi Gras gatherings in town complete with a colorful parade, live concerts, and of course, plenty of mouthwatering Cajun fare to try as well. You’ll collect beads, enjoy performances from top musicians, and likely fill up on beignets before all is said and done.
The annual Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival is also on the schedule for March 2025 and is a great event to add to your list when you want to experience one of the largest outdoor art festivals hosted in the U.S. for yourself. It’s estimated that more than 350,000 visitors arrive to enjoy this Art Festival in Winter Park each year which puts everything from photography and ceramics to paintings, digital art, and woodwork on display for attendees. Art is available to purchase but will also be judged as part of a festival competition in categories like “Best of Show.” The festival is paired with live musical entertainment, plenty of on-site concessions to enjoy, and kid’s art workshops for those who are dropping to explore with little ones looking for added inspiration.
May in Orlando marks the arrival of the highly anticipated Orlando Fringe Festival. This is the longest-running festival of its kind in the country and an eclectic experience from start to finish. The Orlando Fringe Festival spans two weeks and includes truly unique theatre performances, free outdoor concerts, some adult-only shows, and a lot of dancing to top it all off. It’s a celebration of theater and art that infuses comedy, drama, and tons of fun into the mix at every turn.
If your travel plans have you heading to Disney World during your Orlando stay in 2025, be sure to align your visit with the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, typically hosted in the fall. One of the top events in Orlando sees Epcot transformed into a hub of flavor and fantastic sips as you taste your way through a stay and try wines that hail from across the globe. Fall in Orlando also means the arrival of the iconic Halloween Horror Night experience over at Universal Orlando. This spooky event isn’t for the faint of heart and includes scare zones, haunted houses to conquer, unique rides, and creepy performances to enjoy too! For those who are visiting Orlando in October and happen to have a passion for film, you’ll be delighted to find that the Orlando Film Festival will once again be coming to town this time of year in 2025. This festival is a great way to get to know industry veterans as well as up-and-coming independent filmmakers. It’s hosted in downtown Orlando and showcases everything from animation and shorts to documentaries and feature films. There are plenty of workshops, meet-and-greets, and Q&A sessions built into the lineup so you’ll want to set aside plenty of time to enjoy it all.
Celebrations only expand across Orlando as winter and the holiday season arrive in style. The annual Electric Daisy Carnival is hosted in Orlando in November and is one of the biggest electronic music festivals around! It’s held at the Tinker Field over the course of three days and is a vibrant experience packed with amazing performances, art, pyrotechnics, carnival rides, and dancing. Over at Disney World Theme Parks, the holidays mean a wide variety of themed events on the horizon across Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Epcot, and Hollywood Studios alike. If you’re traveling with little ones, you’ll want to purchase tickets to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party well in advance of your arrival. And be sure to inquire about our Orlando holiday rental homes to make your stay magical.
New Attractions on the City’s Theme Park Lineup
Because so many travelers come to Orlando specifically to enjoy time at Disney World, it’s well worth mentioning that 2025 is slated to be packed with new attractions to enjoy! Over at Disney Hollywood Studios, guests can look forward to the arrival of “Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After” which puts a unique spin on that traditional Disney empathy focused on protagonists. At this attraction, guests will hang out with the “bad guys and girls” of Disney and can enjoy a show featuring the likes of Captain Hook, Maleficent, Cruella de Vill, and more. Another highly anticipated arrival will be “The Little Mermaid-A Musical Adventure,” which brings this fan-favorite store to life on stage. There are brand-new sets involved in the production as well as puppets, stunning visuals, and live performers dedicated to making your journey under the seas as authentic and magical as possible. You’ll be invited to sing along to your favorite tunes from start to finish at this 2025 performance.
Over at Epcot, the Spaceship Earth Lounge is slated to be added to the theme park in 2025 which will give guests a place to relax, dine, and socialize that’s themed to pay homage to the history and continued exploration of Space. A Test Track by General Motors is scheduled to open at Epcot in late 2025 with a brand-new storyline that will have you feeling the wind in your hair in no time.
Magic Kingdom is scheduled to enjoy some major upgrades and additions in 2025 with the arrival of “Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away.” This will be a new and thrilling nighttime parade to enjoy featuring characters from “Moana,” “Encanto,” “Frozen,” and more. Additionally, Magic Kingdom is set to open a Pirates of the Caribbean-inspired tavern where drinks and snacks will be served up to guests by swashbuckling pirates.
If you’re planning on spending time at Animal Kingdom during your 2025 Orlando trip, you’ll be right on time to enjoy the opening of “Zootopia: Better Zoogether!.” This will be a new 4D production for guests to check out hosted at the Tree of Life Theater. You can expect the show to kick off in the winter of 2025 and it will likely feature Nick Wilde, Judy Hopps, and beyond.
Exciting Restaurants Updates in 2025
No matter when you find yourself enjoying time away in Orlando in 2025, curbing a craving in this exciting city isn’t a hard thing to do. Orlando has amazing restaurants to enjoy just about everywhere you look and whether you’re in the mood for Asian fare, Southern comfort food, seafood, steak, vegetarian options, or French cuisine, you won’t have any trouble finding exactly what you’re looking for and more. That said, there are some exciting plans getting underway in Orlando at perhaps one of the most unexpected locations in the city…the airport! Orlando International Airport (MCO) is the city’s primary landing point for travelers, and in 2025, renovations are set to get underway to add several new eateries on-site. The idea behind the upgrade is to give travelers to town a space to enjoy an authentic taste of Central Florida right upon arrival as well as on their way home. The new restaurants scheduled to be added to MCO currently include 4Rivers, Otto’s High Dive, Smoke & Donuts, as well as Kelly’s Ice Cream. The restaurants fit into the airport’s multi-year plan to upgrade over 77,000 square feet of restaurant and retail space right on-site. You can count on seeing a delightful mix of local favorites and nationally recognized brands integrated over time, making your arrival into Orlando that much more enjoyable and tasty.
Must-Try Activities
In addition to the many new and exciting events in Orlando, attractions, eateries, and festivities on Orlando’s lineup in 2025, this is a vacation destination with some tried and true favorite stops you’ll want to check out while you’re here. Be sure to set aside some quality time on your agenda to explore International Drive, which is known for its fantastic dining, shopping, and entertainment options as well. You’ll find International Drive just 10 miles Southwest of downtown and it’s home to family-friendly attractions like Ripley’s Believe it or Not!, Madame Tussauds Wax Museum, and two outlet malls when a little retail therapy would go a long way toward the fun. Cuba Libre Restaurant and Rum Bar is a must-visit in this area when you’re a night owl looking for Cuban-inspired fare and sips, while time at the Howl at the Moon dueling piano bar is equally inviting and exciting!
If you’re looking to slow things down a bit, make sure to visit the Harry P. Leu Gardens in Orlando at least once in 2025. This beautiful destination will have you feeling worlds away from the crowds as you explore gorgeous floral arrangements and foliage across grounds that span 50 acres of lush terrain. From the scenic pathways to the water features, it’s a little piece of tranquil paradise in a bustling city. Those who are heading here with the little ones in tow will also want to make sure to add a stop at Lake Eola Park to the lineup. Here, you can spend some time enjoying wide-open green spaces right downtown before hopping in a swan boat and pedaling your way along the water’s surface. It’s a unique way to spend time together that also provides some great photo opportunities!
Book Your Next Orlando Getaway Today
At Casiola Orlando, we know how important it is for travelers making their way to Central Florida in the name of a well-deserved getaway to have access to incredible accommodations that top off their stay in customized style at every turn. We’re a team of hospitality experts and property professionals who are dedicated to making sure our guests enjoy the very best stays in the city whether they’re looking for a cozy abode near the theme parks or they can’t wait to settle into luxurious vacation rental resorts in Orlando packed with upscale amenities and extras. No matter when you arrive in Orlando, our vacation rental options are a must when you want to be sure you feel right at home starting on day one.
Our properties put the options you deserve at your fingertips and depending on where you decide to stay, you might just be enjoying your downtime in resort pools and hot tubs, hanging out in luxe clubhouses, enjoying access to fitness centers, or hopping on a complimentary shuttle right over to Disney! There’s never been a better time to begin turning your Orlando travel plans for 2025 into a reality.
When you’re ready to get the process going, be sure to take the time to browse our incredible lineup of vacation rental options online. When you find the home away from home you love and can’t wait to enjoy, reserving a place for yourself and your traveling crew is as simple as the touch of a button. At Casiola Orlando, we can’t wait to help you make it an amazing getaway to remember, and we look forward to welcoming you to sunny Orlando in the upcoming year!
