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2017 Florida Theme Park Guide: A look at this summer's top attractions

 
The newest fireworks presentation at Magic Kingdom uses lasers, lights, projections and pyrotechnics showing characters and scenes from more than 25 Disney films. [Walt Disney World]
The newest fireworks presentation at Magic Kingdom uses lasers, lights, projections and pyrotechnics showing characters and scenes from more than 25 Disney films. [Walt Disney World]
Published May 24, 2017

Florida's theme parks are getting ready for their busiest season with new rides, shows and perks, and we have rounded up a guide to the best new things to see.

With more than 112 million visitors in 2016 (a record), Florida remains the top travel destination in the world. We have some of the world's prettiest beaches and waterways, but also five of the 10 most-visited theme parks. Record sales have inspired the industry to spend millions on ever-more-exciting attractions.

Two of the year's most expensive new attractions are opening for Memorial Day weekend. Read on for our previews of what to expect at Pandora — The World of Avatar, based on the 2009 James Cameron film. The huge new land at Disney's Animal Kingdom is estimated to cost $500 million. Meanwhile, Universal Orlando opens its third theme park, a new water park named Volcano Bay with an estimated $200 million investment.

We're also taking a look at Florida's other theme parks and attractions, from Busch Gardens in Tampa to Legoland's new ride based on the TV show Ninjago, to the zoos and aquariums around Tampa Bay. They are all clamoring for a piece of the more than $67 billion in vacation dollars spent in the Sunshine State, so we keep an eye out for what that money gets you. And just for good measure, we've thrown in an insider tip in all our previews.

Keep your arms and legs inside the vehicle and check out our special report as we venture into this summer's top attractions.

READ OUR SPECIAL REPORT: 2017 guide to Florida's theme parks