Memorial Day weekend kicks off an important time in Central Florida: The summer tourism season.

Walt Disney World opened before dawn Friday morning — even Mickey and Minnie Mouse were in their pajamas — to get an early start to its "Coolest Summer Ever" with a 24-hour event at the Magic Kingdom, which has become an annual tradition in recent years at Disney's resorts on both sides of the country.


Jerry Hume conducts a very important interview outside the Magic Kingdom.

As part of the Coolest Summer Ever, characters from the mega hit "Frozen" are heading back to Disney's Hollywood Studios as the Frozen Summer Fun Live celebration returns in June.

Elsewhere at Orlando's theme parks, Universal Orlando celebrates its 25th anniversary this summer with a concert series that kicks off Saturday. Acts include Pitbull, Kellie Pickler and the Goo Goo Dolls.

And at SeaWorld Orlando, along with a new sea lion act this year for Clyde and Seamore, the special Summer Nights celebration returns this summer with a special Shamu show.

Travel experts expect this summer to help Orlando break even more tourism records. According to AAA, this year will see the most Memorial Day weekend travelers in a decade.

"The reason we're seeing this increase in overall travel numbers is because of overall improvement in the economy," said AAA spokesman Mark Jenkins. "You've got rising wages, plus lower gas prices. That means more disposable income."

Gas prices are about $1 cheaper than this time last year, AAA said.

 
Gas Tracker

Find cheaper gas in your neighborhood now.

 

Florida will see a 5.3 percent increase in travelers this Memorial Day weekend. That's good news for Orlando, which is coming off a record-breaking year that saw more than 62 million visitors.

"We have hotel demand that has increased over last year," said Mark Jaronski, with Visit Orlando. "We look at seat capacity, both domestic and international, visitors who are planning on flying into Orlando and that, already, for the rest of the year remains very, very strong and above last year."

Tourism throughout Florida is already off to a record start to the year. The Sunshine State welcomed 28.4 million visitors in the first quarter of 2015, a 6.2 percent increase over the same period in 2014.