Updates Coming to Disney World & Disneyland
D23 the Disney fan event that occurs every 2 years in Anaheim just wrapped up. At this event, Disney provides exclusive announcements about new entertainment projects from all of their brands as well as upcoming park updates. This year, the announcements were not in the “blue sky” phase (just ideas they were kicking around). The announcements were projects already in production, development, permits applied, or even breaking ground.
These announcements are very exciting for Disney parks fans and show how the parks continue to evolve and change. Let’s go over the new attractions, lands, and experiences coming to Disneyland and Disney World.
Disneyland & Disney World
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run will be updated at both parks to include a new story featuring the characters we’ve come to love from the Mandalorian. The update to the ride is inspired by the upcoming film The Mandalorian and Grogu. The new story is set to debut in 2026 once the film hits theaters.
Disney World: Magic Kingdom
Arguably the biggest announcement of D23 was the addition of Villains Land at the Magic Kingdom. This land has been rumored for YEARS and fans have been begging for more villains in the parks. This new land will feature at least 2 attractions (including a rollercoaster that is suspected to be themed for Maleficent) and a dining experience.
The permits filed show the land to be nearly half the size of Magic Kingdom itself and to be placed behind Big Thunder Mountain, and construction is planned to begin in 2025. This is the largest expansion in Magic Kingdom history. We are finally going to see what lies beyond Big Thunder!
Once upon a nightmare… A place where poison apples are aplenty and magic potions can ruin your whole day. For all those things hiding in the shadows, it’s time to join them as we lift the veil on a forthcoming Villains Land at Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World.
Cars will join Frontierland in the Magic Kingdom as well. Tom Sawyer Island and the Rivers of America will be replaced with 2 new Cars attractions. These will be new attractions and not be a redo of Radiator Springs in Disneyland. One ride will be a thrilling rally race through the mountains and the second ride will be for smaller children and the whole family to enjoy.
The Magic Kingdom will also welcome its first-ever lounge. This tavern will be themed for the Pirates of the Caribbean and will open in 2025.
Magic Kingdom was a dry park, not serving any alcohol until Be Our Guest opened in 2012. All sit down restaurants at Magic Kingdom now serve alcohol, but this new tavern will be the first lounge where guests will be able to also be served adult beverages.
And finally, the Magic Kingdom will bring back a nighttime parade. The new parade will be called “Starlight”. This parade will be brought to life by the Blue Fairy from Pinocchio and will open summer 2025.
Disney World: Animal Kingdom
Tropical Americas will replace Dinoland USA, but it will be completed in phases starting in 2024 with a scheduled completion date of 2027. So, you still have a chance to ride DINOSAUR and Triceratops Spin before they become extinct.
The new land will feature 3 new attractions:
Carousel - the first animal known will be Kevin from Pixar’s Up.
Encanto - themed attraction: This ride will bring you to the Casita on the day Antonio receives his gift. You’ll explore his new room that has transformed into a rainforest while riding on enchanted furniture.
All new Indiana Jones attraction: This original ride will feature Indy discovering a Mayan temple with a mythical creature rumored to be deep within.
It’s Tough to be a Bug will be replaced with a Zootopia show “Better Zoogether” in winter 2025. No word on the closing date for the current show yet.
Disney World: Hollywood Studios
A first of its kind Monster’s Inc. Land will be coming to Hollywood Studios. Construction will begin in 2025 on the first attraction which will be based on the hanging doors scene from the movie. It will be the first suspension coaster at any Disney park.
Disney World: EPCOT
EPCOT has gone through A LOT of construction in the last 5 years and has debuted 3 new attractions in that time, but the park will be getting a brand new Spaceship Earth lounge. This is set to open in 2025.
Disneyland
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will officially open (finally!) on November 15 at Disneyland.
The first-ever Walt Disney animatronic will be featured in the new Walt Disney - A Magical Life in the Main Street Opera House in 2025. After it’s debut run, the show will alternate with Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln. I’m sure there will be plenty of tears in the audience from Disney fans getting to see Walt come to life before their eyes.
Disneyland turns 70 in July next year. The 70th anniversary celebration will be celebrated in 2025.
Disneyland: California Adventure
Avengers Campus will DOUBLE in size with 2 new attractions. The first attraction was announced at D23 in 2022, but we hadn’t heard a peep since. I was getting worried that it had been quietly canceled, but the attractions name was announced to be Infinity Defense. This E-ticket attraction will take recruits to iconic locations like Asgard, Wakanda, and New York City as King Thanos wreaks havoc across worlds. Construction on this attraction begins in 2025.
The second attraction will be known as Stark Flight Lab and Robert Downey Jr. is reprising his role as Tony Stark for this attraction. He and Bob Iger were even shown in a video testing out the attraction vehicle model.
Pandora will be landing in California Adventure as well. This new experience will be based on Avatar: The Way of Water, Avatar: Fire and Ash, as well as future films. Fire and Ash will be released in 2025 in theaters. No word on the expected date of this land and attraction.
Coco will be getting its own dark, boat ride. This attraction will break ground in 2026, so we’ll still have a wait to experience the world of Coco.
Disney Cruise Lines
This isn’t about the theme parks, but another big announcement had to do with the cruise ships. With the Disney Treasure making its maiden voyage this December, the Disney Adventure and Disney Destiny will make their first trips in the next couple of years as well, but Disney has even more ships coming. They will debut 4 new ships between 2027 and 2031. This will bring the Disney fleet to 13 ships.
The parks are always changing, and there’s so much to do that you can’t get it all done in one trip. Disney World is booking out through October 31, 2025. Disneyland is booking out through December 31, 2024. The cruise ships are booking out into 2026. Let’s book your next trip! Remember that my services are free when you book a room and tickets package or a cruise reservation.
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