What's New on I-Drive!

Orlando's tourism corridor: More than $5 billion of high-profile development planned for 2024 and beyond in the I-Drive Area 

 
ORLANDO, April 1, 2024 - I-Drive continues to increase its presence as a major player in Orlando's tourism industry. The past several years have brought significant changes to the I-Drive corridor: 
 
 
International Drive Development: A Look Back (2015-2023) 
 
A look at what's happening in 2024:
 
Caribe Royale Orlando is undergoing a large renovation and will be introducing two new entertainment venues this year. Stadium Club is a 9,000 SF, two-story sports bar and entertainment complex, which was completed in January 2024. The Grove, is a 20,000 SF outdoor event space, and will be completed in 2024. cariberoyale.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, will be completed in early 2024. livanograndnational.com
 
The Hollywood Plaza Garage, will receive two new restaurants Tom's Watch Bar, an 16,500 SF sports bar concept from Smashburger founder Tom Ryan will soon be occupying the roof-top space in Hollywood Plaza parking garage. Estimated completion is April 2024. tomswatchbar.com As well as Masti, a restaurant specializing in Indian street cuisine, which will be located on the ground level of the garage. Estimated completion is early 2024.
 
Vineland Pointe will be welcoming, Pinstripes, bistro, bocce, bowling, a 28,000 SF restaurant in early 2024 pinstripes.com and Torchy's Tacos, an Austin, Texas based taco chain is opening one of their first Florida locations in Vineland Pointe in 2024. torchystacos.com Fogo de Chao, has started construction on their second International Drive location, with this location being located in Vineland Pointe. The Brazilian Steakhouse will be 8,000 SF and completion is early 2024. fogodechao.com
 
South I-Drive is getting 329 unit 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 early 2024. 
 
Daskk Orlando Hotel near Universal Blvd. located at the former Quality Suites is expected to begin bookings in 2024. choicehotels.com
 
Divina Carne, a Brazilian steakhouse will be replacing the TGI Friday on North I-Drive, completion is 2024.
 
I-Drive will be home to the first Chuck Lager's American Tavern in Orlando, which will be located at the former Walk On's. This will be a classic American Tavern but with an international flair from celebrity chef Fabio Vivani, completion is 2024. chucklager.com 
 
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. Estimated completion is summer 2024.  
 
Universal Studios Orlando will be replacing the former KidZone, with a new DreamWorks Animation Land, based on some of the most popular film franchises. Expected completion is summer 2024. 
 
Hyatt House Orlando/ I-Drive is expected to start booking in 2024. hyatt.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 2024. sensobeachclub.com 
 
SeaWorld Orlando will be debuting a new family-friend launch coaster, Penguin Trek, in spring 2024. seaworldorlando.com
 
Aquatica will be debuting a new first on it's kind waterslide, Tassie's Underwater Twist, where guest will aboard a 129FT waterslide full of video projection and music. The ride was completed in March 2024. aquatica.com 
  
Bainbridge The Grand 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. bainbridgethegrand.com
 
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, all of which are set to open in 2024. The Pointe will also be welcoming a new tenant Dick's Last Resort, a southern style restaurant and bar chain known for its rowdy environment and gruff staffers. Completion is spring 2024
 
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 for phase 1 is 2024. bainbridgeworldcenter.com
 
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 estimated completion is expected 2024. www.cflroads.co
 
2025 and Beyond:
 
Caribe Royale Orlando will also be adding 37,500 SF of convention space to their existing convention center during their phased renovation project. Completion is early 2025 for this project. cariberoyale.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 2025. universalorlando.com
 
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 will be having a phased opening with the first phase completed in fall 2023 and full completion in 2025. Villatel.com 
 
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 2025. www.cflroads.com 
 
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 early 2025. fairmont.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 
 
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 2025. 
 
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 
 
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  
 
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 estimated 2026. 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. 
 
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 Orange County Convention Center will be finishing their 5A Expansion plan in the coming years, with the addition of 60,000 SF meeting spaces, 80,000 SF ballroom and the Convention Center Way Grand Concourse in the North-South Building. Completion is 2027. 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 
Orlando International Premium Outlets will be welcoming a new tenant: Ford's Garage, an American Burger Chain will be opening at the former Vinito Ristorante. Completion is TBA. fordsgarageusa.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.
 
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 TBA. bainbridgecompanies.com
 
South I-Drive will soon be home to a new apartment complex PAC I-Drive Apartments will be a five-story multifamily complex with 225 units, an attached parking garage and rooftop amenity deck. Completion is TBA. 
 
Target at Vineland Pointe will be adding 52,460 SF to the existing store with their expansion. Completion is TBA.
 
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. 
 
The International Festival Shopping plaza has started renovations with improvements to the existing building as well as new tenants, which will become the Olinda Center. Tenants already include Burlington, TJ Maxx and five Below. As well as, a new Brazilian cuisine restaurant, Pao na Chapa and Sushi Yama, a Asian cuisine restaurant. The plaza will also be welcoming two chain restaurants: Chipotle and First Watch. Completion for the shopping plaza is ongoing.
 
International Drive's first food hall Steel Chef's Market, will have 53,000 SF of retail and restaurant space and will be made up of 26 shipping containers. 
 
AxeVengers, will also be moving into International drive with a new urban axe throwing restaurant and lounge, replacing the former Gift Factory. Estimated completion 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 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.  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 
 
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  
  
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. 
 
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  
  
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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For additional information on the I-Drive area, visit www.InternationalDriveOrlando.com
 
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: April 2024