Orlando Science Center’s big-dome theater will reopen Monday after a nine-month refurbishment that replaced its curved screen, seats and sound system and installed 8K laser projectors.
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The space also gets a new name, changing from CineDome to the Dome by Dr. Phillips Charities.
Its arrival signals the return of the Loch Haven Park museum’s big-screen presentations plus planetarium shows and laser-light shows. There also will be live presentations that focus on the cosmos from multiple locations, angles and timelines.
“Orlando Science Center is a home for bold experiences that inspire curiosity and wonder,” JoAnn Newman, president and CEO of the science center, said in a news release. “The Dome by Dr. Phillips Charities is a step forward in how we present storytelling that educates and inspires contemporary audiences.”
Images to be seen on the new seamless NanoSeam screen will feature wildlife on Earth and far reaches of outer space. An introductory video includes views of the planet before zooming down to the Space Coast, flying over to downtown Orlando and zipping into the Dome.
The first films to be seen in the new theater include “Serengeti,” “Moonbase: The Next Step”, “T. Rex” and “Ocean Odyssey.” The presentations are included with regular science-center admission.
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Laser-light shows will not be staged daily, but visitors can expect them during the science center’s Stellar Nights promotion in July and August. That will include extended hours on Friday and Saturday nights, with a closing time of 10 p.m.
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Pink Floyd-driven laser light shows were a staple in Orlando in the 1970s and ‘80s, and they will return with the revamped theater, which now has 315 seats. The repertoire will be modernized and expanded.
“There’ll be Pink Floyd plus Taylor Swift. It’ll be a nice cross-section of musical tastes,” said Jeff Stanford, vice president of marketing.
A scene is projected on the massive screen of the newly renovated domed theater, now called the The Dome by Dr. Phillips Charities, at the Orlando Science Center, Tuesday, May 26, 2026. The $7 million renovation features state-of-the-art 8K digital projection, immersive surround sound, and all-new seating. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
A staffer runs the projection in the newly renovated domed theater, now called the The Dome by Dr. Phillips Charities, at the Orlando Science Center, Tuesday, May 26, 2026. The $7 million renovation features state-of-the-art 8K digital projection, immersive surround sound, and all-new seating. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
The newly renovated domed theater, now called the The Dome by Dr. Phillips Charities, at the Orlando Science Center, Tuesday, May 26, 2026. The $7 million renovation features state-of-the-art 8K digital projection, immersive surround sound, and all-new seating. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
A scene is projected on the massive screen of the newly renovated domed theater, now called the The Dome by Dr. Phillips Charities, at the Orlando Science Center, Tuesday, May 26, 2026. The $7 million renovation features state-of-the-art 8K digital projection, immersive surround sound, and all-new seating. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
A scene is projected on the massive screen of the newly renovated domed theater, now called the The Dome by Dr. Phillips Charities, at the Orlando Science Center, Tuesday, May 26, 2026. The $7 million renovation features state-of-the-art 8K digital projection, immersive surround sound, and all-new seating. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
“Now with the technology, we’ve got such an expanded library, so we have about 35 different titles to choose from, from classic rock to current hits,” he said.
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