Orlando Science Center's longtime dome theater is in the middle of a serious comfort upgrade as crews bolt in wider, cup-holder seats as part of a full CineDome renovation. The fresh seating is the most noticeable change for visitors, but it is just one piece of a larger technical overhaul designed to update the space for movies, planetarium shows, and live events. The new rows are expected to be in place before the center welcomes audiences back.
According to the Orlando Sentinel, the new layout nudges capacity slightly upward, from 309 to 315 seats, even though each replacement chair is wider at 24 inches compared with the previous 22 and now has a cup holder. The old film projector booth that once intruded into the auditorium has been removed to make room for the additional rows. The changes are meant to improve sightlines and visitor comfort while preserving the dome's immersive scale.
Projection, speakers and a new lobby
The overhaul trades the aging film system for an 8K full-dome digital laser projection array and a NanoSeam curved screen, and several new digital projectors and speaker packages are already staged for installation, according to the Giant Screen Cinema Association. Dr. Phillips Charities also contributed $1 million to the effort as part of the Science Center's Unlock Science campaign, the charity notes on its website. The upgraded systems will allow the dome to present high-resolution giant-screen films, planetarium programs, live presenters, and dome-cast content with partner venues.
Seats, soundchecks and timing
Each batch of new seats takes roughly three days for a crew to install, and engineers say the theater's acoustic balancing cannot be completed until all the new chairs, which change the room's sound profile, are in place. The full overhaul carries an estimated price tag of about $7 million and began in August after staff ran the last film through the old projector, according to the Orlando Sentinel. “It is a top-to-bottom renovation,” Jeff Stanford, the Science Center's vice president for marketing, told the paper, explaining that the work is meant to keep the museum “relevant and competitive.”
What to expect when it reopens
Officials are aiming to reopen the dome in late May 2026 with a lineup that blends giant-screen films, revived planetarium shows, and laser-light presentations, and the public lobby is set to add a video wall, automated concessions, and a classroom carved out of the former projector room, according to the Orlando Science Center. The revamped venue is being promoted as both an educational resource for schools and a flexible event space for local presenters. Members and other ticketed guests are encouraged to check the Science Center's site for schedules and pre-sale details as the reopening approaches.
