15 new non-Disney things coming to Orlando in 2022

Orlando has become a major vacation destination that continues to evolve and expand. While many people visit Walt Disney World, there are a number of new experiences outside the theme park coming to Orlando in 2022.

From new Michelin chef dining options to a new acoustically perfect theater to a new deep-space launch complex, to new hotel options.

“Travelers in 2022 are prioritizing vacation plans to reconnect with family and friends through new experiences that create unforgettable memories, and Orlando is the perfect destination to do that,” Casandra Matej, president and CEO for Visit Orlando, said in a news release.

Here’s a look at what’s coming:

1. Steinmetz Hall at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts: This new facility in the heart of downtown Orlando will Jan. 14, 2022. The facility achieves an N1 sound rating – the lowest level at which humans can detect sound. 

2. Ice Breaker at SeaWorld Orlando: This will be the park’s first launch coaster. Opening February 2022, the ride features four launches, both backwards and forwards, culminating in a reverse launch with a 93-foot-tall spike with 100-degree angle, the steepest vertical drop in Florida.

3. Peppa Pig Theme Park at LEGOLAND: The world’s first Peppa Pig Theme Park will open on Feb. 24, 2022 at LEGOLAND Florida Resort. The standalone theme park will feature multiple rides, interactive attractions, fun live shows, themed playscapes and water play areas. 

4. Reef Plunge water slide at Aquatica Orlando:  Opening in spring 2022, the slide will let guests zoom past a vibrant array of marine life such as Commerson’s dolphins, leopard sharks and a variety of other cold-water fish.

5. Orlando International Airport Expansion: The South Terminal Complex, called Terminal C, the largest construction project in airport history is now underway. Phase one of the $3.82 billion, multi-year project is expected to be substantially completed in the first quarter of 2022. The project will add 15 gates and includes features such as interactive digital media, a state-of-the-art radio frequency baggage system, numerous shops, restaurants, lounge facilities and the Intermodal Terminal Facility (ITF), which is designed to accommodate up to three train systems including the Brightline train with service to Miami.

6. Art² (“art squared”), Orlando: This new urban park in downtown Orlando will open in spring 2022. The park will feature a two-story shipping container structure incorporating a café, art gallery, stage, seating, digital video walls and a gift shop, as well as an artificial turf courtyard, a concrete patio, picnic tables and hammocks and two food truck spaces. 

7. Gateway: The Deep Space Launch Complex at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex: This new 50,000-square-foot, multi-level attraction opens in March 2022. It will feature a showcase of NASA and commercial spacecraft hardware with immersive displays, as well as a “journey” through space, unique launch viewing opportunities and more.

8. New York Beer Project in Winter Garden: Built to resemble a 1900’s indoor beer garden in New York’s lower East Side, this area will open in March 2022. The brewery will feature a gastropub, indoor beer garden, tap room, brewery, sidewalk bistro, as well as three New York City-themed event spaces. 

9. The BANDBOX – Orlando: Central Florida’s first alcohol-free speakeasy cocktail tasting lounge and collectibles/vintage shop, will open in spring 2022 at Ivanhoe Village in Downtown Orlando. 

10. ette Hotel Orlando: This 126-room Tuscan-inspired hotel opens in spring 2022 near Walt Disney World. Focusing on wellness as an alcohol-free property, the hotel offers culinary experiences in partnership with Michelin Star Chef Akira Back, along with The Spa at ette, with services for everyone from the modern minimalist to the unruly naturalist. 

11. Pirate River Quest at LEGOLAND: This family-friendly treasure hunt adventure will allow guests to journey through the uncharted waters of the legendary Cypress Gardens and discover the secrets protecting its canals, as this all-new story unfolds brick by brick. This will open sometime in 2022.

12. Pointe Orlando:  This outdoor shopping center will open two new restaurants including Kavas Tacos & Tequila in spring/summer 2022 and JoJo’s Shake Bar in fall/winter 2022. Kavas features a menu paying tribute to Mexico’s rich culinary history, featuring savory comfort food, fresh tableside experiences, and recipes hand-crafted from the freshest ingredients

13. AVA MediterrAegean in Winter Park: A new Mediterranean restaurant and lounge from executive chef Hung Huynh, Top Chef’s season 3 winner will open in early 2022 on Park Avenue.

14. Café-Boutique PIANO in Winter Park: A new restaurant featuring European cuisine and live nightly piano shows, is coming to Hannibal Square in 2022. 

15. 4Roots Farm Campus, Orlando: The founder of 4 Rivers Restaurant Group, John Rivers, will open the first phase of the 4Roots Farm Campus in late 2022. When complete, the 18-acre urban farm, located in The Packing District, will include classrooms, a community green space, a farm-to-table restaurant, and more than 49,000 square feet of greenhouses and a diverse range of growing systems focused on innovation, sustainability and education.