This year brought with it Florida's biggest theme park news in years: Universal Orlando opened the doors — or portals — to its newest park, Epic Universe, this summer. There are five immersive worlds, over-the-top themed environments, crazy new rides, film franchise-inspired eats — truly a theme park-goer's dream. Our only gripe? I-4 was absolutely not ready for the onslaught of parkhoppers now jamming up Central Florida roads on Saturday mornings (and every other hour on all the other days). Traffic was bad; now it's worse. But hey, what other city can say it has a designated neighborhood for riding dragons?

universalorlando.com

1st Place: Lake House Apartments, lakehouseapartmentsorlando.com

2nd Place: The Ivy Residences at Health Village, theivyorlando.com

3rd Place: The Gallery at Mills Park, thegalleryatmillspark.com

1st Place: ette hotel, ettehotels.com

2nd Place: The Alfond Inn, thealfondinn.com

3rd Place: The Wellborn, thewellbornorlando.com

1st Place: Best Real Estate Company

2nd Place: Best Paddleboard Company

3rd Place: Best Bathroom

1st Place: Runway to Hope Spring Soiree, runwaytohope.org

2nd Place: White Party, Guys With Ties Philanthropy, guyswithties.org

3rd Place: Paws in the Park, secure.qgiv.com/event/2026pawsinthepark

1st Place: Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, drphillipscenter.org