Theme park industry veterans said the wave of new attractions opening across Central Florida in 2026 isn’t just about competing with each other, but about meeting evolving guest expectations.
Now retired and teaching at the University of Central Florida, spent 35 years across numerous roles with Walt Disney Imagineering Florida, the creative design arm for The Walt Disney Co. “At one point during my career at Imagineering, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster was right outside of my office,” Hoffman said. “I would start my day by riding it. As part of my show quality role, I had to make sure it was show-ready.”