What’s Next at Walt Disney World: The Biggest Announcements from D23
New Lands and Attractions, Return of Beloved Characters and Much More: Disney Gives Superfans a Glimpse at What’s Coming to Our Local Parks
Photo courtesy of Ally Golden
At D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event in Anaheim, California, Imagineers unveiled a new wave of details about the future of Walt Disney World, including new lands, attractions, reimagined classics and even a few surprises that had longtime fans jumping out of their seats. For Horizon West and Central Florida residents, the announcements offered a particularly exciting preview of how dramatically the four parks will evolve in the next five years.
Villains Land Descends on Magic Kingdom
Perhaps one of the biggest moments of the night was the announcement that Villains Land is the official name of Magic Kingdom’s highly anticipated new land. Although fans have referred to the project by that name since it was first announced, Disney confirmed the name while revealing new details about what guests can expect. Set in a dark and twisted world inhabited by Disney’s most infamous villains, the land will feature two major attractions.
One will be a thrilling, Maleficent-inspired roller coaster that will send guests racing through a twisted briar patch. The second will be an indoor dark ride hosted by the Magic Mirror, taking riders on a trip beneath Maleficent’s castle.
Imagineers teased themed dining (Hades-themed restaurant experience, anyone?), shopping and a completely immersive environment filled with cursed forests and a broken wishing well. While we don’t have an opening date just yet, there’s plenty to keep fans excited about in the meantime.
Photo courtesy of Ally Golden
Piston Peak Races Into Frontierland
The wildest rides in the "wheelderness" are on the horizon as Magic Kingdom’s epic expansion continues with Piston Peak National Park, an area inspired by Disney and Pixar’s "Cars" coming to Frontierland.
Two attractions will anchor the new land. The first will take guests on a wild rally race through a mountain wilderness called Cars Ridge Run Rally. Prepare for towering trees, snowy peaks, roaring rivers and active geysers along your route.
The second will be
Miss Fritter’s Daredevil Spin-Along, featuring the demolition-loving school bus as a massive animatronic host for a demolition derby the entire family will enjoy. The expansion is designed to connect Piston Peak with the existing story and scenery of Frontierland.
Photo courtesy of Ally Golden
Photo courtesy of Disney
A Great Big Future for Carousel of Progress
Magic Kingdom’s iconic Carousel of Progress is preparing to turn toward a new future. The fan-favorite attraction will undergo a major refurbishment introducing four new decades along with a new scene featuring the first-ever Florida-based Walt Disney Audio-Animatronics figure. The updated attraction is expected to debut in late spring 2027.
The Carousel family will also welcome two recognizable new voices. Disney Legend Jamie Lee Curtis will voice Sarah, while Emmy Award-winning actor Bryan Cranston will voice John, bringing new life to the attraction’s beloved matriarch and patriarch.
Photo courtesy of Disney
New Tropical Adventures at Disney's Animal Kingdom
Over at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Disney provided more details about the Tropical Americas-themed land coming, including two headlining attractions that are generating buzz and excitement among Disney fans.
The new Indiana Jones attraction, Indiana Jones and the Myth of the Jade Serpent, will take guests into an ancient Maya temple filled with supernatural dangers, legendary creatures and a massive serpent inspired by Maya mythology. Imagineers are working with archaeologists, anthropologists and Maya experts to ensure the attraction’s setting and storytelling are authentically developed. Disney also announced that the Indiana Jones Audio-Animatronics figures will be modeled after Harrison Ford, marking the first time his likeness will be used for the character in a Disney attraction.
The second major attraction will bring the beloved animated movie "Encanto" to life. Guests will enter the Madrigal family’s Casita and experience a family-friendly adventure featuring Antonio’s animal companions with the music and magical world of the film. This attraction will have no height requirement, which means all ages can enjoy it!
The new land in Disney’s Animal Kingdom will also be home to the vibrant and welcoming Pueblo Esperanza, where a local woodcarver has created a beautiful new family attraction, El Carrusel de los Animalitos, featuring 22 hand-carved animals from Disney and Pixar stories.
Photo courtesy of Disney
Photo courtesy of Ally Golden
The Yeti Roars Back to Life
Say goodbye to "Disco Yeti!" The news that surely delighted fans the most is that the Yeti is coming back to life inside Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain. Imagineers confirmed that the attraction’s famous audio-animatronic will once again roar into action for guests to experience.
Photo courtesy of Ally Golden
Monstropolis Takes Shape at Hollywood Studios
Construction continues on Monstropolis, a new land inspired by Pixar’s "Monsters, Inc." at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. When parts of the land open in 2027, guests will be able to explore the city, meet its citizens, taste unique cuisine and visit locations inspired by the film, including the fan-favorite Harryhausen’s restaurant. Archie’s Scare Pig Pizza will offer Monstropolis' top-rated pizza and the Scareporium will be full of souvenirs.
The land will also feature a new theater show hosted by Mike and Sulley that includes an original song from Disney Legend Randy Newman.
The highly anticipated suspended roller coaster ride through the "Monsters, Inc." door vault is still in progress, but it will open separately and no opening timeframe has been announced.
Photo courtesy of Disney
Open Now: A New Smugglers Run Adventure
We don't have to wait to experience everything announced at D23. A new collaboration between Disney and Epic Games connects the physical world of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge with the digital world of Fortnite.
Guests can now link their Disney and Epic Games accounts to unlock a custom adventure aboard Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland. The experience continues in Fortnite with Smugglers Gambit, a new Star Wars creative island that allows fans to carry the adventure beyond the parks.
Imagination and Connection Reimagined at EPCOT
Perhaps the most nostalgic announcement of the weekend came from EPCOT. Dreamfinder and Figment are officially returning together as part of a complete reimagining of Journey Into Imagination. Figment will remain at the heart of the story in the attraction, but this time, he’ll be reunited with the original Dreamfinder character, marking a major moment for longtime EPCOT fans. Purple confetti fell from the ceiling at the Honda Center!
Imagineers also announced that
Spaceship Earth will receive its first major update in nearly two decades to expand the attraction’s story from human communication to the broader idea of human connection while retaining its optimistic spirit and outlook for the future.
Photo courtesy of Disney
Disney’s Next Chapter Is Close to Home
The D23 announcements represent something bigger than a new collection of attractions and experiences. They demonstrate the balance of nostalgia with ambitious new storytelling by bringing back characters like Dreamfinder and the Yeti, which fans have asked for repeatedly, and introducing worlds like Villains Land, Piston Peak and Monstropolis.
For those of us who live just minutes from Walt Disney World, the future of these parks isn’t some far-off destination. It’s being built right before our eyes, one attraction, one land and a little bit of magic at a time.
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