If you’re planning a trip from the UK to Florida this year, then you’ll undoubtedly be going for the warm weather, amazing food, and of course the thrilling theme parks.

Florida is easy to get to from the UK, with a range of flights on offer from many of the UK’s airports. Flights to Florida typically take eight and a half hours from London Gatwick to Sanford International or Orlando International, both offering easy access to the theme parks.

Every year the various parks get updated, and this year is no exception with several parks welcoming new additions.

Photo: rollercoasterphilosophy, Flickr.com

Universal Studios Orlando

This film-themed park is home to a number of thrilling attractions, including the ‘Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit’ rollercoaster and ‘Revenge of the Mummy’ ride. This year another exciting ride will be added to the mix.

‘Transformers: The Ride 3D’ opens in summer 2013, and is similar to the ‘Amazing Adventures of Spiderman’ ride that’s in sister park, Islands of Adventure. It promises a 3D adventure, where guests enter a moving ride vehicle equipped with 3D glasses, before then getting transported through the world of the Transformers, turning through 360 degrees and going through a bumpy thrill ride.

Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World

Throughout 2012, the Fantasyland area of the park was partially closed to make way for New Fantasyland, which will feature new rides and attractions. It opened in December 2012, with a few new rides and restaurants, however there are still two new attractions that are yet to open.

In 2013, a new meet and greet area, ‘Princess Fairytale Hall’, will open on the site of the old ‘Snow White’ ride, and a new rollercoaster is scheduled to open in 2014. The ‘Seven Dwarves Mine Train’ will be an exciting family-friendly rollercoaster taking you through the dwarves’ mine, but further details are yet to be revealed.

SeaWorld Orlando

In 2012, SeaWorld received a new attraction in the form of ‘Turtle Trek’, which is an exhibit featuring turtles and manatees, ending with a 3D experience in a 360 degree cinema. This May, the biggest expansion in several years is coming, with the addition of the new Antarctic themed zone. The flagship ride of the new area will be ‘Empire of the Penguin’ which takes visitors through live penguin exhibits and enables guests to experience what life is like as a penguin chick.

Animal Kingdom, Walt Disney World

An expansion in the Animal Kingdom theme park has been in the works for a couple of years now, and in 2011 a deal was signed with James Cameron to create an Avatar-themed area of the park. Construction is anticipated to begin in 2013, but won’t officially be completed for three to five years.

Lifecruiser Love Florida