Two Big Attractions Headed to Our Neck of the Woods
Plans for New Entertainment District and Waterpark Tease Fresh Thrills
Horizon West is full of exciting options for a day out on the town, but one of the best things about living here is what surrounds us. Two major projects are now underway within a short drive of our community: a large-scale entertainment and dining district and a branded indoor waterpark from one of the most beloved toy companies in the world. Neither is inside our borders, but both are close enough to feel easily accessible to residents.
Read on to learn more what's coming to the neighborhood.
Not Your Neighborhood Ovation: An Abandoned Resort Gets a Marketplace Makeover
Horizon West residents may already be familiar with "Ovation" as the name of one of our own developing villages (also known as Village I), but a different Ovation is taking shape about 15-20 minutes to the south of HW, and it's worth knowing about.
Accesso Partners, a South Florida-based commercial real estate firm, recently closed on a $70 million acquisition of the long-abandoned Orlando Sun Resort and Convention Center site in Kissimmee. The 77-acre property, located at the northeast corner of Interstate 4 and U.S. 192, just minutes from Celebration and roughly a mile east of Walt Disney World, will be redeveloped into Ovation Orlando, a large-scale mixed-use entertainment district in Osceola County.
Once a sprawling 900-room luxury resort, the Orlando Sun shut its doors around 2012 and spent more than a decade sitting vacant, becoming known as an eyesore and a magnet for crime along the 192 tourism corridor. The Ovation deal closed December 30, 2025, with Cushman & Wakefield's brokerage team arranging the sale.
According to The Orlando Real, Ovation's 670,000 square feet of mixed-use space will be divided roughly equally among restaurants (33%), entertainment (33%), and retail (34%), featuring a blend of local businesses and national brands. The project will also include three hotels totaling 740 rooms. The project's website indicates guests can expect "live music around every corner" alongside an array of dining, retail and exclusive attractions. The development is organized around three themed districts: Waterfront Garden, Gallery and Vibe.
Accesso is no stranger to large-scale redevelopment, with a portfolio spanning Florida, North Carolina and Texas, including the transformation of a 200-acre former IBM campus in Charlotte into a thriving multi-tenant office park.
Demolition of the existing structures is underway, with groundbreaking expected within the first half of 2026. The company is currently marketing retail and restaurant space to prospective tenants.
For Horizon West families looking for dining, entertainment and retail options beyond what's available locally, Ovation Orlando has the potential to become a go-to destination once it opens. So, it's one to watch! Keep it on your radar for a 2028 opening.
Splashing Into the Neighborhood: Mattel to Build an Indoor Waterpark Near Horizon West
Horizon West families with young kids may want to keep their eyes on this development news!
As the nerve center for Florida’s amusement parks, Orlando is no stranger to themed attractions. Perhaps that's what attracted Toy giant Mattel to bring a branded indoor waterpark to the area. Building off of the massive success from properties like Barbie, Polly Pocket and Hot Wheels, Mattel is bringing themed aquatic attractions ranging from thrilling waterslides to relaxing lazy rivers into Central Florida — and at roughly 25 to 30 minutes from parts of Horizon West, it could become a go-to destination once it opens.
The Mattel Wonder Indoor Waterpark is confirmed for 15845 State Road 535 in the Lake Buena Vista area, on a 75-acre property already owned by Sam Sutton and his St. Petersburg-based investment firm Countyline Properties LLC. The site is already home to the Lake Buena Vista Factory Stores outlet mall and the Lake Buena Vista Resort Village & Spa.
While an indoor park may seem like an unusual choice for this area, Growth Spotter reports that the lot will include a 90,000-square-foot indoor water park with a retractable roof, an outdoor water park, event lawn, a "slide zone" spanning roughly 42,000 square feet, and over 11,000 square feet of retail space.
Orlando’s Mattel Wonder Indoor Waterpark will be operated by the American Resort Management company and is planned to be the first of the company's five waterpark locations across the country. Mattel recently announced parks in Nebraska and Illinois, but the final two spots are still up in the air.
It will take some time before the 11-acre property is transformed into full-fledged entertainment zone. This project is currently in the design phase with construction planned to begin late this year for an opening date sometime between 2027 and 2028.
While this site will be Mattel’s first indoor waterpark, the future property is not Mattel’s first theme park. The major attractions of the Orlando site remain under wraps as the center heads into development, leaving only speculation about what future experiences may entail. Some inspiration could come from their themed adventure park in Arizona, featuring a to-scale Barbie Beach House, Hot Wheels Bone Shaker and Hot Wheels Twin Mill Racer coasters. Mattel also owns intellectual Property like Thomas & Friends and Polly Pocket, which could find a home here as well.
Mattel joining our family of local themed waterparks seems to be a sign that Orlando’s tourist crowd is only strengthening, and for Horizon West families, that brings more and more local opportunities for family fun!
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