An escape room has made its way to Universal City Walk. Universal's Great Movie Escape is two escape adventures inspired by 'Jurassic World' and 'Back to the Future'. Completed 2022.
Parrillada Familiar Da Silva, a Venezuelan Steakhouse, has taken over the former 6,000 SF CiCi's Pizzeria and opened in 2022.
dasilvasteakhouse.com
A 345 unit, 4 to 5-story apartment complex is now leasing to the Universal area called
Triton Cay Orlando - Universal Apartments. Phase I, completed December 2021. Phase II, includes an additional 165 units over 3.5 acres. Construction began in September 2021. This complex is now leasing as of January 2022.
tritoncayorlando.com
Cambria Suites formerly known as Vib Hotel Orlando is under construction on Visitors Circle. The project is a 65,130SF, 5-story, 120 room property. Bookings are expected to start December 2022.
choicehotels.com
Ice Breaker at SeaWorld Orlando is a multi-directional launch coaster boasting a 93' tall spike with 100-degree angle. Opening date was February 2022.
#BreakTheIce seaworldorlando.com
In 2022
Vineland Pointe opened a
Shake Shack in March.
shakeshack.com Kura Revolving Sushi Bar also opened in 2022. It is a restaurant serving a variety of Nigiri and rolls which travel to the customers on a conveyor belt.
kurasushi.com
One of Latin America's biggest soccer teams,
Clube de Regatas do Flamengo Store Nação Rubro Negra, opened a 1,100 SF retail store and sells merchandise such as hats, jerseys etc., in 2022.
loja-flamengo.com.br
Parson's Xtreme Golf opened a store on I-Drive in 2022. It is a 10,000 SF retail store selling custom PXG golf clubs and apparel. It also features a golf simulator and putting green.
pxg.com
Estimated to complete construction in April 2022 and pre-leasing as of April 1st 2022 is Deseo Grande, a $54M, 5-story apartment complex with 365 units. An additional 365 unites were approved to be built in 2021. Completion date of the add on will be announced at a later date.
Sand Lake Vista opened a 4-story, 122-room Woodspring Suites Orlando I-4 & Convention Center which began booking in May 2022.
Dezerland opened a 6,000 SF food hall featuring five new restaurants including
Amigo Burrito, Corner Burger, Fish & Chips, French Cafe and Pizza Time. Completed 2022.
https://dezerlandpark.com/
The former Sweet Tomatoes location on I-Drive is getting a new tenant.
Volcano Hot Pot & BBQ will be opening a second Central Florida location. It will offer a variety of meats and vegetables are cooked at table frills or boiled in hot pots. Estimated completion is 2022.
volcanohotpot.com
South I-Drive is getting 329 new upscale garden-style apartments which will be apart of the community Altis Grand at Lake Willis. The building will include fitness center and resort-style pool. Estimated completion is late 2022.
Aquatica, SeaWorld's water park opened another waterslide in 2022. Reef Plunge is 330ft of fiberglass waterslide, zooming past a vibrant array of marine life including Cummerson's dolphins, leopard sharks, sardines and a variety of other cold-water fish.
The
Hollywood Plaza Garage next to Mango's Tropical Cafe, is getting some upgrades in 2022. Right outside the garage, a
Dynamic Art Display has been constructed. It is ribbon-like and will face I-4 looking North toward Downtown Orlando. Right below the display,
Walt Disney World has opened a merchandise and ticket store. It includes a Disney Vacation Club virtual discover station with floor-to-ceiling screens that tout the properties via virtual tours,photos and videos. It was also completed in 2022.
Tom's Watch Bar, an 11,000 SF sports bar concept from Smashburger founder Tom Ryan will soon be occupying the roof-top space in Hollywood Plaza parking garage.
tomswatchbar.com
Hyatt Regency Orlando's Rocks Bar is undergoing some aesthetic upgrades including a new color palette and new banquette and lounge chair seating. It will be reopening in December 2022.
hyatt.com
The Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) Troop D, Orlando office has moved into a space on International Drive just past Central Florida Parkway. It is expected to open 2022.
2023 and Beyond:
I-Drive dedicated transit lanes from Sand Lake Road to the Beachline is scheduled to complete construction in Summer 2023. Approximately three miles of dedicated transit bus lanes from Sand Lake Road to the Beachline. New sidewalks, landscaping, and signage.
orangecountyfl.net
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 2023.
bainbridgecompanies.com
SeaWorld recently announced plans to build a new coaster, Pipeline: The Surf Coaster in 2023, SeaWorld has said that it will be a one-of-a-kind ocean adventure.
Hyatt House Orlando/ I-Drive is expected to start bookings in March 2023.
hyatt.com
Over at the
Hyatt Regency Orlando the former Urban Tide restaurant will be turned into
Descend 21. It will be a newly updated bar and lounge, have a terrace with fire pits, billiards and virtual golf. Expected completion is first quarter 2023.
hyatt.com
Vineland Pointe will be welcoming,
Pinstripes, bistro, bocce, bowling, a 28,000 SF restaurant in early 2023
pinstripes.com and
Torchy's Tacos, an Austin, Texas based taco chain is opening one of their first Florida locations in Vineland Pointe in summer 2023. torchystacos.com
Livano Grand National Apartments will be a 6.43 acre multi-family project consisting of 350 units spread over 3-apartment buildings and 1 multi-level parking garage. Expected completion is 2023.
livanograndnational.com
Las Vegas attraction,
AREA15 is coming to Orlando in 2024. Located on the southeast corner of I-4 at the intersection of Lake Street and Regency Village Drive, a 300,000 SF immersive art experience and events center will be built.
area15.com
The Grand Bainbridge Universal Major Apartments located at the site of the old Mystery Fun House, will be a 13,700 SF new construction with 390 apartments. Expected completion is Q4 2024.
The Pointe Orlando will be getting three new attractions/restaurants from Live! Hospitality and Entertainment group. It will be a 36,000 SF immersive indoor and outdoor space featuring a trio of 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! Plaza, will be the outdoor venue in between the two concepts serving as a gathering place for events and more.
pointeorlando.com
The $250M-$300M
Kirkman Road Extension will be a 1.7-mile extension of south Kirkman Road. This is a public-private partnership with FDOT, Orange County, and Universal. The north-south stretch estimated completion is expected 2025.
www.cflroads.co
Universal Orlando Resort is building a new, fourth, theme park to be called
Universal's Epic Universe. The park will also feature an entertainment center, hotels, shops, restaurants and more. As of March 2021 construction was back underway, and it was announced that the park will be ready to open in 2025.
universalorlando.com
Awaiting details
Lennar Homes has a new project being built entitled Storey Drive Resort. The mixed use development will include 157 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. Vertical construction started in February 2022, and completion date is TBA.
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 2022, and include 1,000 apartments and 16,000 SF of retail space.
housingfortomorrow.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
Sand Lake Vista is also expecting to open four restaurant pads totaling 17,500 SF, a 30,000 SF self-storage structure and the future home of Paramount Urgent Care.
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
An apartment complex is currently in the works for north I-Drive, replacing the recently demolished M Hotel will be SLX Apartments by Del American Real Estate Group. This complex will be 8-stories, 329 units with a parking garage, four courtyards, and a 7,000 SF ground floor restaurant. Expected completion is TBA.
Bainbridge also has a new project in the works for south I-Drive,
Bainbridge World Center Apartments. Phase 1 will include 342 units and construction is set to begin July 2022. Phase 2 will include 464 units. Expected completion date is TBA.
bainbridgecompanies.com
Over on Turkey Lake Road, Bayfront Sand Lake Apartments are being constructed. They are 4-story, 376 units, 16.5 acre multi-family, luxury residential apartments that sit lakefront. Expected completed is TBA.
On Daryl Carter Parkway, adjacent to the soon to be opened Altis Lake Willis, Altra Lake Willis will be built. It will consist of 230 units, a 24/7 fitness center, Starbucks cyber cafe, and a resort style heated pool.
The interchange between Sand Lake Road and I-4 will be reimagined into a diverging diamond configuration to assist in creating better traffic flow. The construction date details for this
Sand Lake Road Interchange are still waiting to be announced at this time.
i4beyond.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 2023.
orlando.gov
Tuscana PD is 273 acres of planned development on South International Drive. The plans are to develop the land for 653,400 SF of commercial land, 4,485 condo/hotel rooms and 5,114 multifamily units. Estimated completion date is TBA.
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.
Quotes from I-Drive stakeholders and partners:
"I have had the opportunity to call the Rosen Inn International (formerly the Quality Inn International) located at 7600 International Drive, my home, from 1974 to 1990. Now spanning some 42 plus years as an owner-operator of multiple hotels in the district, one can only imagine the tremendous growth and development we have had the distinct privilege of being intimately involved with.
The International Drive district features our World Class Orange County Convention Center, dozens of spectacular hotels, fine dining, and numerous exciting entertainment venues. In addition, specialty retailers and an assortment of merchants can be found on virtually every street corner. We currently enjoy a robust marketplace thanks to our diverse base of visitors; tourists, conventioneers and locals.
I remain confident that we will continue to adapt to our ever changing environment and provide the finest service and hospitality anywhere in the world. I am extremely optimistic regarding future development in the district and remain poised to do my part to ensure that I-Drive remains a legendary destination."
Harris Rosen, President, Rosen Hotels & Resorts
"Unicorp National Developments sees a very big future with International Drive. And as we are currently the largest property owner on I-Drive with 77 acres, our plan is to redevelop much of this property to take advantage of the exciting, new, urbanism vision that has been approved for the I-Drive District. This will include hotels, restaurants and even more entertainment. Thousands of Orlando Eye riders experience the landscape of Central Florida from 400 feet each day and we are excited to be part of I-Drive and the growth and future of Orange County. This is where it all happens and we are thrilled to be part of it."
Chuck Whittall, President Unicorp Companies
“International Drive is the most burgeoning entertainment district in the world, and Orange County is in the process of implementing the ground-breaking I-Drive 2040 Vision that sets the tone for the District to continue to be the most visited leisure and convention market in the world. We look forward to the future as we work toward the opening this year of our 800-space parking garage complex with a rooftop restaurant and to the future opening of Skyplex."
Joshua Wallack of Wallack Holdings, COO Mango’s Tropical Café Orlando /Managing Principal, Skyplex
“AMP Group / Perfumeland was born and raised on International Drive starting with just a 1,200-square- foot perfume shop in the mid 90’s. As Perfumeland grew, so did our company with a number of new investments into the International Drive area culminating with the addition of the Orlando Crossings Mall and I-Drive NASCAR Indoor Kart Racing facility. Our company’s expansion is a direct result of the wonderful growth we have seen to Orlando and its tourism industry in the last few years. I-Drive has been a catalyst for the growth of our region. We are truly excited over the I-Drive 2040 Vision and what the future holds.”
Alejandro Pezzini, Chief Operating Officer, AMP Group
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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: November 2022