Caribe Royale Orlando added 37,500 SF of convention space to their existing convention center during their phased renovation project. This project was completed in early 2025.
cariberoyale.com
North I-Drive will welcome a new coffee shop, Juan Valdez, which is a multinational, Columbian coffee chain, completed January 2025.
Live! at the Pointe will introduce their newest entertainment space in 2025, Sal's Pizza. The Pointe will also be welcoming new tenants Dick's Last Resort, a southern style restaurant and bar chain known for its rowdy environment and gruff staffers it was completed in 2025. As well as, Taffer's Tavern, an elevated restaurant and bar concept from 'Bar Rescue' host Jon Taffer in 2025, and Activate Games, the world's first active gaming facility, completed in 2025. Later in the year they will welcome two more tenets, Sandbox VR, an immersive VR complex and Zukka Sushi a innovative sushi restaurant. Both will be completed in late 2025.
ICON Park will be constructing a new, 28,833 SF, 589-seat entertainment venue, located at the base of the Orlando Eye, which will be home to the Blue Man Group's new show. Completion is 2025. ICON Park will also welcome a new dining concept, Sushi Saint, which will be housed in a 3,000 SF restaurant. Completion is 2025.
South I-Drive will be receiving a new apartment complex.
Town Vineland Apartments, is a 396 unit luxury garden-style, multi-family development with sixteen 3-story buildings, a clubhouse, pool, 5 detached garages and 600 surface parking spaces. Completed 2025.
The $250M-$300M
Kirkman Road Extension will be a 1.7-mile extension of south Kirkman Road with an elevated traffic circle and dedicated bus lanes. This is a public-private partnership with FDOT, Orange County, and Universal. The north-south stretch, and it was completed in 2025.
www.cflroads.com
Universal Orlando Resort is building a new, fourth, theme park to be called
Universal Epic Universe. The park will also feature an entertainment center, hotels, shops, restaurants and more. Hotel rooms will total 2,000 rooms and will include: Universal Stella Nova, 750 rooms, Universal Terra Luna, 750 rooms and Universal Helios Grand, 500 rooms. Construction is underway, and it was announced that the park will be ready to open May 2025.
universalorlando.com
SeaWorld Orlando will introduce a new attraction in spring 2025, Expedition Odyssey, will be the World's first-of-its kind fully immersive flying theater transporting guest to the Artic.
Orlando Crossings will welcome another new tenant in 2025, Hocca Bar, a Brazil-based restaurant chain.
Villatel Orlando Resort is a
mixed use development will include 516 single family vacation homes, condos and townhomes, multiple lakes, a community clubhouse with a resort style pool, lazy river, restaurant and water park. Phase I includes 96 condominiums, 34 single family homes and 120 townhomes. Phase II includes 80 townhomes, 36 single family homes and 5 condominium lots. Villatel has started a phased opening with the first phase completed in fall 2023 and full completion in summer 2025.
Villatel.com
Grand National Drive will be undergoing roadway improvements, which will include widening from Oak Ridge Rd to Vanguard St to four lanes. It will also include new street lighting and pedestrian improvements. Completion is winter 2025.
orlando.gov
Fun Spot will be constructing two new rides, Mach Fun, a 50ft tower ride and a new kiddie Teacup ride. Completion is 2025 for both.
To meet surging demand, the newly opened Corazon by Baires will be adding a 4,000SF dining room, Kali Dining Room, to accommodate more guests. This will be completed in May of 2025.
Bainbridge Apartments are opening
Bainbridge Sand Lake, a 100,000 SF multi-family apartment building with 4 stories, 330 units, a clubhouse and resort style pool. The expected completion of the project is 2025.
bainbridgecompanies.com
Bora Bora Smoothie Cafe, a smoothie and juice bar concept, completed its first Florida location in 2025.
boraborausa.com
The Orange County Convention Center will begin building a new 3,000SF tasting room. Completion will be 2025.
South I-Drive will soon be home to a new apartment complex Grande Pointe Apartments will be a five-story multifamily complex with 225 units, an attached parking garage and rooftop amenity deck. Completion is 2025.
Bainbridge The Grand located at the site of the old Mystery Fun House, will be a 13,700 SF new construction with 390 apartments. Phased opening will being August 2024, and it was completed in 2025.
bainbridgethegrand.com
The Pointe Orlando welcomed six new venues from Live! Hospitality and Entertainment group. It will be a 36,000 SF immersive indoor and outdoor space featuring many new entertainment assets.
Sports & Social, will be a restaurant focused on sports entertainment, live music and social games.
PBR Cowboy Bar, is a professional bull riding bar with a mechanical bull, multiple signature bars, and VIP booths. Live! will also include the
Houndsmen English Lounge, a craft cocktail lounge,
Shark Bar, an endless summer themed bar,
Palm Tree Club, a miami-themed upscale bar and
Sal's Pizza, a late night pizza restaurant. All
Live! at the Pointe venues will be opening in 2024. The Pointe Orlando welcomed a new retro candy and soda shop, in 2024,
Rocket Fizz.
PointeOrlando.com
A new Chipotle Mexican Grill will be coming to Lake Cay Commons, with a 2,000 SF drive-thru restaurant. It was completed early 2025.
Target at Vineland Pointe added 52,460 SF to the existing store with their expansion, completed in 2025.
Vineland Pointe will new welcoming another new tenant,
The Salty, a artisanal donut shoppe and coffee bar. Completion is 2025.
saltydonut.com
I-Drive dedicated transit lanes from Sand Lake Road to the Beachline is scheduled to complete construction in Summer 2026. Approximately three miles of dedicated transit bus lanes from Sand Lake Road to the Beachline. New sidewalks, landscaping, and signage.
orangecountyfl.net
ICON Park and Build-A-Bear Workshop will be constructing a new 31,000SF, 3-story state-of-the-art flagship story, located between the Orlando Sling Shot and Ole Red. Completion is early 2026.
I-4 at Daryl Carter Parkway Interim Interchange began construction in 2023 and will include three new ramps: two I-4 exit ramps from both directions, eastbound I-4 entrance ramp and will include converting the existing overpass to a diverging diamond interchange. Expected completion is early 2026.
www.cflroads.com
Even Hotels and StayBridge Suites will join Universal Blvd. with a 7-story, 288-room, dual branded hotel, on 4.5 acres. Completion is 2026.
A new
Marriott branded W Hotel on Universal Blvd. will consist of a 22-story tower hotel, 400-rooms and a 3,000 SF live music venue. Completion date is 2026
w-hotels.marriott.com
A developer has been chosen for the housing community,
Housing for Tomorrow now named Catchlight Crossings, which will be built on donated land from
Universal Orlando. The project is expected to break ground in late 2023, and will include an additional 1,000 units, 16,000 SF of retail space, a Bezos Montessori Academy, health care clinic, a transportation station and space for a University of Central Florida classroom. This project will begin a phased opening in 2026.
housingfortomorrow.com
The interchange between
Sand Lake Road and I-4 will be reimagined into a diverging diamond configuration to assist in creating better traffic flow. Construction will also include reconstructing the general I-4 lanes as well as adding a barrier separated express lane from Sand Lake Rd to Epcot Center Dr. Construction is estimated to be complete by 2027.
i4beyond.com
The former Wyndham Orlando will be demolished in the next coming months to make way for new hotels including the InterContinental Orlando Hotel, a 784 room hotel with 5 restaurants, 15,000 SF spa, wellness center and pool, and 106,000 SF of meeting space. Completion for this hotel is 2028.
The
Orange County Convention Center will be finishing their 5A Expansion plan in the coming years, with the addition of 40,000 SF meeting spaces, 100,000 SF ballroom and the Convention Center Way Grand Concourse in the North-South Building. Construction is expected to begin in 2026 with completion in 2029.
occc.net/expansion
Tradeshow Boulevard will be receiving some improvements i early 2027, including widening from 2 lanes to 4 lanes from Universal Blvd. to Destination Pkwy. The project will also include 2 transit lanes, and a multi-use path on both sides of the road for pedestrians and cyclist. Improvements will also be made to lighting, landscape and signalization. Expected completion is early 2029.
orangecountyfl.net
Awaiting details
South I-Drive will be welcoming
Fairmont Orlando, a new luxury hotel that will be 7-story, 550-rooms with 5,000 SF rooftop lounge, 12,000 SF wellness center and 44,000 SF of meeting/ event space. The hotel will also welcome seven food/ beverage concepts. Completion is TBA.
fairmont.com
Phase 2 of Dezerland Apartment's, Revel Apartments, has begun construction which will add an additional 365 units to their portfolio is estimated to be complete in TBA.
Sushi Kingdom, an all you can eat sushi restaurant, will be replacing the former Flapjack Johnny's on Westwood Blvd. completion is TBA.
North I-Drive will be getting a 303,372 SF. 300-room hotel tower, GZ Universal Tower. More details to come with the expected completion TBA.
Universal Blvd. will welcome White Castle, a 5,000 SF quick service hamburger restaurant. Estimated completion is TBA.
The former Magical Midway, is being redeveloped and will bring two new restaurant pads to North I-Drive. Completion as well as the tenants are yet to be known.
43W Townhomes at Westwood will bring 31 new townhomes to South I-Drive, with a community clubhouse, gym and pool. Completion is TBA.
South I-Drive will be receiving a new apartment complex, Davis Vistana Apartments, will have 6 buildings, 4-story each with 400 units total. Completion is TBA.
SeaWorld Orlando will be moving forward with their plans to build 2 themed hotels. The first which will be located at International Drive and Central FL Parkway will be a 15-story, 504-room hotel, with conference center, ballroom and a walkway to the theme park. Completion is TBA.
seaworldorlando.com The second hotel will be located at Discovery Cove and will be a 250-room hotel with a spa, meeting spaces and a large amenity area. Completion is TBA.
Raising Cane's is furthering its Orlando presence with a 3,619 SF drive-thru on International Drive, replacing the former Friendly's. Completion is TBA.
raisingcanes.com
South I-Drive will also welcome a new Extended Stay America, with 138-rooms. Expected completion is TBA.
Cambria Hotel by Choice Hotels will be adding another I-Drive location, this time south I-Drive. The hotel will be a prototypical design Cambria Hotel, which consist of 4-story and 151 rooms. Completion is TBA.
The Hollywood Plaza Garage will soon be home to
Baires Grill, a Miami-based Argentinean steakhouse, located in the former Mooyah. Completion is TBA.
bairesgrill.com
South I-Drive will also be getting a pair of Home2 Suites by Hilton. Each hotel will be 139-rooms and will have an
outdoor amenity area and surface parking. Completion is TBA.
home2suites.com
South I-Drive will be welcoming a new 40,000 SF entertainment complex,
Senso Beach Club, complete with two pools, multiple bars and a roof top area, estimated completion is 2025.
sensobeachclub.com
South I-Drive will soon be home to a new extended stay hotel brand,
Everhome Suites by Choice Hotels. This will be a 6-story, 109 room extended stay hotel and completion is TBA.
everhomesuites.com
The
Brightline Train is coming to Orlando and making a stop near Universal Boulevard.
The Brightline/Sunshine Corridor Station is the proposed stop and possible Sun Rail link. It will be built on land donated by Universal. Estimated completion date TBA.
orlandosrightrail.com
Taking over the old Marriott Grand Pines Golf Club is the
Paradiso Grande Resort Orlando, a 157 vacation home community to include townhomes and single-family vacation homes from 3 to 15 bedrooms. This will also feature a community clubhouse, resort-style pool with a lazy river and walking trails. Phase 2 is currently under construction with estimated completion is TBA.
paradisograndehomes.com
Carrier Drive will be undergoing roadway improvements at Carrier Dr. / Universal Blvd. and Carrier Dr. / Kirkman Road. These include a mixed-use path along the south side of the roadways, landscaping and a possible roundabout. Right now the project is still in the design phase, and construction is expected to begin TBA.
orlando.gov
Universal Blvd. will welcome a new hotel, the Grand Hyatt Orlando, a luxury resort, on 45-acres, developed in multiple phases, with the first phase having 1,200- 1,300 rooms and ending with a grand total of 2,500 rooms. This resort will be located adjacent to the Hyatt Regency.
I-Drive 2040 Vision Plan - Recognizing the importance of creating a shared vision for the International Drive Area, Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs appointed a Steering Review Group (SRG) composed of I-Drive-area stakeholders and landowners who are committed to maintaining I-Drive as the world’s premier global destination for tourism and family entertainment. She envisioned a vibrant International Drive corridor that would be a dynamic gathering place for visitors and residents alike. See the plan
here.
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Contact: Luann Brooks, Executive Director
International Drive Business Improvement District
www.IDriveDistrict.com
P: 407-248-9590
lbrooks@idrivedistrict.com
Orlando's Most Dynamic Destination!
Updated: May 2025