Universal Orlando introduced a flood of summer entertainment this year — including the nostalgic Mega Movie Parade and superb "DreamWorks Imagination Celebration" — but none flew higher than their new nighttime spectacular, "CineSational: A Symphonic Celebration," which features 600-plus choreographed drones amid the fireworks and fountains. After all the wartime news reports of drones causing devastation, it's heartwarming to see Universal's fleet forming friendly faces like E.T. in the sky instead.
6000 Universal Blvd., universalorlando.com
Best of Orlando 2024: Attractions and Recreation
Winner: Arcade Monsters, arcademonsters.com
2nd: Player 1 Video Game Bar, player1orlando.com
3rd: Andretti Indoor Karting & Games, andrettikarting.com
Winner: Gatorland, gatorland.com
2nd: Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens, centralfloridazoo.org
3rd: Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour, scenicboattours.com
Winner: The Axe Trap (The Trap Winter Park), theaxetrap.com
2nd: Axe Hole, facebook.com/theaxeholeapopka
3rd: Keg Social Orlando, keg.social
Winner: New Smyrna Beach, visitnsbfl.com
2nd: Siesta Key, visitsarasota.com/siesta-key
3rd: St. Pete Beach, stpetebeach.org
Winner: Splitsville Luxury Lanes Disney Springs, splitsvillelanes.com
2nd: Primrose Lanes Restaurant and Bowling Club, primroselanes.com
3rd: Boardwalk Bowl Orlando, alomabowlingcenters.com/boardwalk
Winner: Wekiva Island, wekivaisland.com
2nd: Wekiwa Springs, floridastateparks.org
3rd: King's Landing, kingslandingfl.com
Winner: Lake Eola Park, orlando.gov
2nd: Mead Botanical Garden, meadgarden.org
3rd: Cranes Roost Park, altamonte.org
Winner: Dubsdread Golf Course, historicaldubsdread.com
2nd: Arnold Palmer's Bay Hill Club and Lodge, bayhill.com
3rd: Disney's Magnolia Golf Course, disneyworld.disney.go.com
Winner: Icon Park, iconparkorlando.com
2nd: WonderWorks Orlando, wonderworksonline.com
3rd: Fun Spot Orlando, fun-spot.com
