By Jim Carchidi
The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) brought its 2025 Expo to Orange County Convention Center, November 17-21, with all the pomp, circumstance, and spectacle of any theme park-related event. The convention supports the worldwide attractions industry and Orlando-area parks take advantage of the spotlight with special announcements and debuts.
SeaWorld Orlando
SeaWorld Orlando unveiled the vehicle for its SEAQuest: Legends of the Deep dark ride on Tuesday, Nov. 18. The submersible-style ride car is suspended from an overhead track, seats four-to-five riders, rotates 360 degrees, and offers built-in speakers to enhance the rider experience.
SeaWorld Orlando's SEAQuest: Legends of the Deep ride vehicle was developed by the same company that worked on Walt Disney World's TRON Light Cycle Run. Photos by Jim Carchidi
The ride, set to open in 2026, will take guests into, “glowing undersea worlds filled with extraordinary creatures, sweeping environments, and powerful stories drawn from the heart of the ocean,” according to the SeaWorld website. The company partnered with ride manufacturer, Vekoma Rides, which also worked on Walt Disney World’s TRON Light Cycle Run at Magic Kingdom.
Legoland Florida
Merlin Entertainment Group announced on Wednesday, Nov. 19, the details for Legoland Florida’s Galacticoaster, opening in 2026. The space-themed dark ride will challenge pilots to destroy an “asteroid of probable destruction” with a starship they can customize with different nose cones, wings, tails, and color schemes. The ride track is 1,473 feet in length and more than 50 feet high. And the ride vehicles will travel at 40 mph.
Legoland's new character, Space Creature, will help riders prepare for their Galacticoaster adventure. Guests can digitally customize the spacecraft they will use during the dark ride.
Merlin Entertainment also owns Icon Park’s Orlando Eye, Madame Tussauds Orlando, and Sea Life Orlando Aquarium. Company COO Rob Smith said the personalized aspect is key to the Galacticoaster experience, adding that guests will be able to watch their adventure unfold on projection screens while they operate the vehicle.
All work and all play
The IAAPA exhibit hall is open Tuesday-Friday and is the expo’s main attraction. More than 1,100 companies and more than 40,000 industry professionals are looking to inform, educate, sell, and purchase the products that make the family entertainment world go around. Full-size midway rides, digital gaming innovations, food service and concessions, and the latest in animatronics and robotics are on display and ready for testing.
Attractions industry professionals enter the 2025 IAAPA Expo exhibit hall at Orange County Convention Center.
Guests are inverted on rollercoaster simulator by DOF Robotics.
Riders test bumper cars that spin and flip.
Some traditional midway rides can be found in the exhibit hall, like this water gun skill challenge.
Guests walk through a colorful display by the Illuminated Trees company.
A giant crochet playground and climbing course by the Ropeland company.
A statue of Ozzy Osbourne by Unique Rabbit Studios. The Pompano Beach manufacturing company specializes in large-scale character sculptures.
A nearly life-size Godzilla portrait by Daniels Wood Land, Inc.
Fountains dance to music in this display by Waltzing Waterworks, Inc.
A representative of Wolong Amusements takes a break by one of their bounce houses.
A selection of hyperrealistic Santa masks by Oneail FX Studios.
The staff of Vistar foods serve up samples of BBQ beef, mac & cheese, and fried chicken.
Big show, big impact
IAAPA represents members from more than 100 countries. Events are held around the world with big crowds spending big money on hotels and other services. Locally, the expo set a record in 2024 with 41,429 attendees and created more than $100 million in economic impact from lodging, food, entertainment, and transportation. And there’s more to come as the Orlando-based organization has a commitment to host the expo at Orange County Convention Center through 2030.
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