The most visited destination is also A Creative Hub

The companies that make Orlando one of the most visited vacation destinations in the nation also spearhead entertainment innovation used across the globe. A culmination of industry and education has exploded into a flourishing tech economy that supports not only the region’s massive theme park and attractions industry, but the expanding footprints of many other major corporations including Lockheed Martin, Darden Restaurants, Siemens and more.

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Abigail Wagner

Associate Director, Economic Development

407.902.2442

76K+ Tech Workers in Orlando

Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA), 2024
68-Acre Creative Village Supports a High-Tech Cluster in Downtown Orlando
Named a “Rising Star” City for Tech Employment and Job Growth

Brookings Institute, 2022

The home of happiness

Featured Companies

Darden Restaurants, Inc.

Electronic Arts

IAAPA

The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions represents over 5,300 amusement-industry members in more than 100 countries worldwide and…

SeaWorld Orlando

Universal Orlando Resort

Walt Disney Parks and Resorts

The Walt Disney World Resort is a Disney theme park resort located in Lake Buena Vista Florida, comprised of four theme parks,…

"Orlando’s large pool of young and diverse technical talent filled the core need of our fast-growing tech company."

– Barbara Staruk, Chief Growth Officer at Epos Now

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It’s a Smart world After All

The leading theme park companies have built specialized technical and creative teams to build the next generation of entertainment experiences. Disney and Universal Orlando employ hundreds of experts in 3D modeling, software development, computer-aided design and visual effects. Orlando’s entertainment powerhouses along with media companies such as Electronic Arts and Golf Channel create the need for a talent base with the right combination of technical and creative skills.

2,900+ Software Developers Graduated in Orlando

Lightcast (IPEDS), 2023
No. 5 Fastest Growing Millennial Population

Among 30 Most Populous Metros
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS, 2017-2022
UCF Rosen College in Top 5 Best Hospitality Schools in the World

CEOWorld, 2024

The theme here is Success

And to meet the demand for creative talent, Orlando universities are expanding their contribution to the talent pipeline for the hospitality, theme park and attraction’s technology ecosystem.

CityLab Orlando
UF Master of Science in Architectural Studies with a concentration in Theme Environments Integrations.

UCF MFA Track – Themed Experience
UCF is among the first institutions in the country to offer a degree program dedicated to the design and creation of themed experience.

Themed experience Programs

UCF and the University of Florida (UF) offer qualifications in Themed Experiences. At UCF, the degree is offered as a track in its Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree. UF offers a Master of Science in Architectural Studies with a concentration in Themed Environments Integration.

Nationally ranked for Game Development

The Princeton Review places UCF’s Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy and Full Sail University in the top graduate programs to study game design.

Full Sail University
Full Sail University is recognized by the Princeton Review as one of the best schools to study game design.

UCF’s Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy
UCF’s video game graduate program ranks No. 5 in the world while its undergraduate game design program ranks No. 13, according to The Princeton Review and PC Gamer magazine.

UCF’s Rosen College of Hospitality
The University of Central Florida’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management is one of the largest and fastest-growing hospitality programs in the nation with more than 3,500 undergraduate students.

The DAVE School
The Digital Animation & Visual Effects (DAVE) School, located in on the backlot of Universal Studios, produces skilled graduates in the fields of digital entertainment and interactive media.

fueling the creative Talent Pipeline

Additional specialized university programs include UCF’s Rosen College of Hospitality and Management and the DAVE School, which graduated a skilled labor force with direct connections to the entertainment ecosystem.

Major Developments

It’s more than fun and games here – these companies mean business.

EA Sports Moves to Downtown

Electronic Arts announced the construction of a new $62 million, 180,000-square-foot, five-story building in the heart of downtown Orlando.

Arrow Sky Media Expands to Orlando

Arrow Sky Media, LLC, a digital technology firm, is relocating its international headquarters from Nashville to Orlando’s downtown Creative Village as it grows its animation and game development operations.

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Creative Village

Creative Village is a digital media-focused district in the heart of downtown Orlando, co-located with the University of Central Florida and Valencia College’s downtown campus.

Downtown Orlando

The Central Business District, or Downtown Orlando, is home to City Hall, modern office towers, and 19th-century buildings. The sleek Dr. Phillips Center shows musicals and opera, while the nearby Amway Center features big-name concerts and Magic basketball games.