2025 is a year of Florida theme parks change: What is coming to Disney, Universal, LEGOLAND and more

 New year, new theme park? While a new year typically ushers in change for many, it seems 2025 has quite a bit in store for a few in Florida.

From new themed restaurants and rides to the debut of a brand new theme park, there are dozens of changes headed for Florida's theme parks this year.

Curious about what's in store for your favorite theme park this year? Here's what changes to be aware of as of Jan. 13.

What are the 2025 changes coming to Universal Orlando?

Universal Orlando is seeing epic changes this year.

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Universal officials confirmed last year the opening date for the highly anticipated Epic Universe, highlighting Thursday, May 22, as the date of its debut.

There will be five new themed lands within the park. Altogether, these Epic Universe lands will have “more than 50 awe-inspiring attractions, entertainment, dining, and shopping experiences,” according to the resort. These lands are:

• Celestial Park – The first-world guests enter the park will feature relaxing gardens, a “wet play area,” a grand carousel, and Starfall Racers, a dual-launch racing roller coaster with 5,000 feet of track and speeds up to 62 mph. Celestial Park will also serve as the gateway to Epic Universe’s four other worlds, accessed by themed portals.
• How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk will give fans of the “How to Train Your Dragon” franchise a chance to finally soar like Hiccup, Astrid and their fellow Dragon Riders do on screen.
• Dark Universe – Guests can expect to “encounter everything from the experiments of Dr. Victoria Frankenstein to the shadowy landscape where monsters roam in a world of myth and mystery.”
• Super Nintendo World will bring guests into the fan-favorite video game franchise for adventures with Mario, Princess Peach, and more, like at Universal Studios Hollywood.
• The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic will blend "1920s wizarding Paris from Warner Bros. Pictures’ ‘Fantastic Beasts’ films with the iconic British Ministry of Magic from the Harry Potter series,” according to Universal Orlando, which is already home to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley.

Universal Orlando will also open three new resorts this year — Universal Stella Nova Resort (opening Jan. 21), Universal Terra Luna Resort (opening March 25), and Universal Helios Grand Hotel (opening May 22 along with Universal Epic Universe).

Additionally, Universal announced its concert line-up for the 2025 Mardi Gras season. This year’s performers include Joe Jonas, Coco Jones, T-Pain, and Juanes, as well as eight other acts.

What are the 2025 changes coming to Animal Kingdom, Disney World?

One themed section of Animal Kingdom will go extinct sooner rather than later. Starting Monday, Jan. 13, the park will permanently close TriceraTop Spin, Fossil Fun Games, and Chester & Hester's Dinosaur Treasures.

This will make way for the upcoming Tropical America expansion, which will open in 2027. The land will feature a new Indiana Jones attraction, Disney’s first Encanto-themed attraction, and a new carousel with characters from Disney stories. 

Disney also confirmed to USA TODAY that this will be the last year to experience Dinosaur at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, but did not share a specific closing window. 

Lastly, the "It’s Tough to Be a Bug!" show will end, replaced by "Zootopia: Better Zoogether!” The new 4D show will premiere next winter at Animal Kingdom’s Tree of Life Theater, featuring Judy Hopps, Nick Wilde, and other familiar faces from the Oscar-winning animated film.

What are the 2025 changes coming to Magic Kingdom at Disney World?

Ka-chow! Over in Magic Kingdom, a section of Frontierland will be reimagined with two new attractions based on Pixar's "Cars" franchise.

Construction will begin in 2025, so guests will only have so much time left to explore the themed land as it is. Disney confirmed the beloved Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island attractions would be reimagined.

One of the rides will invite guests on a "thrilling rally race through the mountains." The concept art shows designs similar to the "Radiator Springs Racers" at Disneyland. The second attraction will be geared toward smaller racers and the entire family.

The new nighttime parade “Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away” will debut next summer at the park.

Continuing in the tradition of the beloved Main Street Electrical Parade, USA TODAY reported the parade will feature glowing floats and costumes inspired by “Peter Pan," "Frozen," "Moana” and more, infused with magical starlight from the Blue Fairy from “Pinocchio.”