Welcome to our breakdown of what rides, shows, and attractions are new and upcoming at Walt Disney World!
While this list focuses on things that are debuting, I’ll also include major closures. It makes sense that if I’m going to tell you the “new” thing you’re getting, you should also understand when something is being lost in the process. This list generally doesn’t include refurbishments, even long ones, except for significant reimaginings. We’ve got two related calendars:
Recent Updates and Closures
2026 started off with saying goodbye to DINOSAUR and Dinoland USA on February 2 at Animal Kingdom. Frozen Ever After debuted new animatronics February 12, 2026.
The big week for 2026 updates happened at the end of May, with he following debuts: new storyline at Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run (Hollywood Studios), Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets (Hollywood Studios), Bluey’s Wild World (Animal Kingdom), Soarin’ Across America (EPCOT), and Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live (Hollywood Studios).
Carousel of Progress (Magic Kingdom) closed for a substantial refurbishment on July 6, 2026.
2026 Scheduled Debuts and Closures
There’s one big scheduled debut left in 2026…
September 14, 2026 - The Magic of Disney Animation Debuts
The Magic of Disney Animation is a new, interactive family experience coming to Hollywood Studios September 14, 2026. It replaces the Star Wars Launch Bay and brings back an “animation” focus to the Animation Courtyard.
Unscheduled 2026 and Beyond
Now, onto the things that don’t have specific dates yet. We’re trying to keep this section organized by when we expect changes to occur, but until specific dates are locked in, it’s all speculation.
Major Unscheduled Refurbishments and Updates
Following the 2026 edition of D23, there are three substantial updates to existing rides that currently lack any timeline:
Spaceship Earth will be substantially reimagined
Journey into Imagination will be reimagined with the return of Dreamfinder
Expedition Everest will be refurbished to restore the moving Yeti
Once details on these are announced, they’ll be added more fully to this post.
Late Spring 2027 - Carousel of Progress Returns to Magic Kingdom
After closing July 6, 2026, Carousel of Progress will return with substantial updates in late spring 2027. You can read more about this project here.
2027 - Tropical Americas Opens at Animal Kingdom
The Dinoland USA replacement land, Tropical Americas is scheduled to open in 2027. This was the first of the four major ongoing Disney World projects that has a specific opening timeframe, but the pace of construction has left it on a timeline similar to Monstropolis (more below).
This land will include:
A brand new Casita-themed ride
A brand new carousel
An Indiana Jones ride replacing DINOSAUR
and a restaurant.
I don’t think it pays to speculate on when in 2027 this debut will occur. It might not even be a single debut. The land closed in phases. Galaxy’s Edge opened in phases. It’s possible Tropical Americas will open in phases too. That adds a layer of complexity that should put dates beyond any reasonable speculation as I write this in 2026.
2027 - Monstropolis, But Not The Coaster, Opens at Hollywood Studios
Hollywood Studios will be getting a new land, too, themed to Monstropolis. Little is known about this land except that it will features a doors-themed coaster that (apparently) some fans have been demanding for years.
We now know the land will open in 2027 without the coaster, which will open at a later date. We still expect the coaster sometime in 2028. It stands to reason that Tropical Americas and Monstropolis will open parts throughout 2027 and 2028, while the Magic Kingdom projects continue.
To understand why the Magic Kingdom projects will take longer, lets move onto those.
Unknown - Piston Peak (Cars-themed Area) Opens at Magic Kingdom
Replacing the Rivers of America, between Haunted Mansion and Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, will be a new Cars area. This mini-land or whatever will have two brand new rides—one for taller riders and one for shorter rides.
Two rides is not itself super ambitious, but this project is likely going to take some time because, you know, there’s a bunch of water still there as of May 2025. Disney has to deal with the existing infrastructure related to the water, riverboat, and Tom Sawyer Island before building can begin. Since we’ve got 2027 and 2028 already booked above, let’s plug this one in at 2029.
Now, I’m still assuming this will get done before the “flagship” future project—Villains Land.
Unknown - Villains Land Opens at Magic Kingdom
Villains Land will be a full new land, not a mere “area” like the Cars area. It will have two brand new “major” rides, along with dining and shopping.
Fans have been begging for Villains Land for years. While, unlike the Cars area, this one will seemingly be on existing land, I still think it’s going to follow sometime after the Cars area. Simply put, this land is positioned to be the next Galaxy’s Edge or Pandora in a way the other lands on this ride are not. Disney is going to need to do a lot of things perfectly.
This is the thing we’re all looking forward to now. I expect Disney to do it well and to make it worth the wait, but I’m not expecting it until 2030, after the other projects on this list are done.
All Your Other Disney World Planning Questions Answered
Don't be overwhelmed by Disney World planning! Take a second to check out our most important content and you'll not only be an expert, but you'll save big $$$ along the way. Just starting out? Check out our Walt Disney World planning guide!
When it comes time to book we’ll help you find discount Disney World tickets. Decide whether you need a dining plan in our Complete Guide to Disney World Dining Plans! And don't forget to book those Disney World Advance Dining Reservations!
Be sure to master your Disney World Lightning Lane Guide and Strategy a few weeks in advance. Good strategy will keep you out of long lines so you can maximize the magical time in the parks! We've got park-specific guides as well: Magic Kingdom Lightning Lane Strategy, EPCOT Lightning Lane Strategy, Animal Kingdom Lightning Lane Strategy, and Hollywood Studios Lightning Lane Strategy.
Know what to ride with our guides: Magic Kingdom rides, Hollywood Studios rides, EPCOT rides, and Animal Kingdom rides! Plus learn about the water parks with our Guide to Blizzard Beach and our Guide to Typhoon Lagoon! And for some fun prep, check out our Ranking of Every Ride at Walt Disney World.
Finally, before you head out, be sure to check out our to-the-point packing list, 10 essentials you forget to pack for every Disney trip.