International Drive Continues to Expand in 2012/2013

Expansions, expansions, and more expansions. Central Florida's attractions will all be bigger in just a few more years. The new Fantasyland, Avatar Land, Antarctica - Empire of the Penguin, LEGOLAND's Waterpark, Despicable Me, TurtleTrek, Freshwater Oasis... All these new addition will come to Orlando by the end of 2013 (with the exception of Avatar Land).

This does not mean, though, that the only attractions to expand will be only major theme parks. Indeed, some attractions found along International Drive, one of the best tourist corridors in Central Florida, will soon undergo some major changes in the next two years. Here are some of the future projects, as well as some of the new restaurants and hotels that were recently opened:

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Development Updates for the International Drive Resort Area

This update reflects approximately $2 billion in new development and redevelopment between 2010 and 2012.

Coming Soon:

1. Paragon Outlets (formerly Festival Bay Mall)

• To be redeveloped into an open‐air complex of shops, entertainment & hotel

• Plans are to keep: Bass Pro Outdoor World, Vans Skatepark, Ron Jon Surf Shop & Sheplers Western Wear. Current mall is 1.1 million square feet

• Project to be completed over the next 2 years (2012 – 2013)

• Estimated construction costs undisclosed

• Master Plan is expected by mid 2011

2. Fun Spot Action Park (soon becoming "Fun Spot America")

• Purchased 10 acres that will triple the size of the current park

• Conceptual new attractions to could include: New multi-level go kart track.

• The park is currently working with WTI (Water Technology, Inc.) and SplashTacular to design a small, but fun-packed water park. The water park is in the early stages of design.
• The park will possibly have a 150' SkyCoaster.
• The park will also add a classicly styled wood roller coaster, but with the latest hybrid wood/steel engineering & technology, as well as a steel suspended family coaster.
• There will also be many other additional rides, new landscaping, and all new theming. The new park will be rebranded as Fun Spot America.

• Portions of the expanded park are projected to be open in 2013.

3. Orlando Thrill Park - PROJECT ON HOLD

• Outdoor amusement park planned to include 8 extreme roller coasters, 6 thrill & free fall drops, shopping, entertainment & restaurants.

• Located on North International Drive

• 77+ acres

• Planned opening is Spring 2013

• Partnership development between the OTP Group LLC & International Drive Investors LLC

• Project costs unknown at this time

4. Megastron Office & Commercial Center

• 19+ acres

• 650,000 square foot – multi phased project to include: office space, retail space & restaurant space

• $7.0 million estimated project costs – Phase I

5. I‐Drive Live Orlando (formerly the Mercado Village)

• 20 acre project

• Companies include: Unicorp, Merlin Entertainment & Circle Entertainment

• Currently announces projects: Orlando Eye 425 ft observation wheel, Madame Tussauds Wax Museum, Sea Life Aquarium

• Project costs – $100 million

• Proposed opening date in 2013

Recently Completed Projects:

6. Joe’s Crab Shack Restaurant (COMPLETED)

• 7000 square foot dining

• $1.5 million estimated project costs

• Opened January 2011

7. Brick House Tavern (COMPLETED)

• 7000 square foot dining

• $2.0 million estimated project costs

• Opened January 2011

8. Dave & Busters Orlando (COMPLETED)

• 80,000 square feet dining & entertainment complex

• $8.5 million estimated project cost

• Opened Summer 2011

9. Peabody Hotel Orlando (COMPLETED)

• $450‐million Expansion Project

• 1,641 luxurious rooms, including 120 suites

• 210,000 square feet of meeting space, all conveniently located on three levels, featuring the pillar‐free 55,000 square‐foot Peabody Grand Ballroom

• 80 deluxe breakout rooms with full multi‐media capabilities

• Three new and unique swimming pools, including a heated Olympic style swimming pool, tranquil grotto pool, each with pool bar, fully‐equipped poolside cabanas featuring high‐speed Internet access, and a children’s pool with cascading waterfall

• New Napa Valley wine‐themed restaurant with an enclosed patio overlooking the grotto pool

• An express restaurant in the convention area, offering a variety of light fare selections to go

• 15,000 square‐foot, full service, luxury spa

• 2,200 parking garage

• Opened Fall 2010

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Here's a map that sums up all the projects that were just mentioned in the article:

In addition to that, International Drive is also always improving the roads and the transportation system, to make sure that visitors can freely move from a place to another without having to use the car.

It sure looks like International Drive will have a quite interesting future. Stay tuned for more information regarding the projects that were mentioned before. We will post some interesting artworks about I-Drive Live and the infamous Orlando Thrill Park very soon.

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