What’s New at Florida’s Theme Parks

Arctic adventures, kung fu lessons from a panda, live rain forest animals and jazz-loving alligators are all in store at Florida’s theme parks. These give families even more reason to travel to Florida for a fun-filled vacation.

Opening July 7 at SeaWorld Orlando, Penguin Trek is a coaster adventure through an icy Arctic landscape. Race through ice caves and escape crumbling ice slides as you follow a twisting route at speeds reaching more than 40 mph. At the end of this immersive adventure, the snowmobile glides through a real penguin habitat, where riders learn about penguin conservation. The minimum height requirement is 42 inches, so this ride is more suitable for younger kids than most roller coasters.

Water rides and a thrill ride with a big drop are in store at Disney World as Tiana’s Bayou Adventure opens this summer. Inspired by Disney’s The Princess and The Frog, this magical bayou is a lush world inhabited by musically talented animals that entertain visitors as they glide through the wandering waterways. A thrilling 50-foot drop ends the ride in a musical festival.

Also opening this summer, at Universal Orlando, the new Dreamworks Land is filled with interactive play spaces with favorite movie characters from Shrek, Trolls and Kung Fu Panda. Kids can splash through Shrek’s swamp, ride the Trollercoaster and practice kung fu moves with Po.

Get ready for next year’s opening of the new Daytona Aquarium and Rainforest Adventure in Daytona Beach, where families can move through a variety of land and sea ecosystems and meet their inhabitants.