During the D23 2026 convention, Disney announced a series of innovations intended to transform its parks in the coming years, including new attractions, themed areas, shows, restaurants, and modernization of existing rides.
Although Orlando was the focus of many announcements, with projects covering all four Walt Disney World parks, the list of novelties extends to locations such as California, Paris, Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Shanghai.
New additions at Magic Kingdom
At Magic Kingdom, two new themed environments were revealed: Piston Peak, inspired by Cars, and Villains Land, dedicated to Disney villains.
Piston Peak will be installed in Frontierland and aims to replicate the atmosphere of American national parks, featuring mountains and forests. This area already has two confirmed attractions: Miss Fritter’s Daredevil Spin-Along and Cars Ridge Run Rally.
On Miss Fritter’s Daredevil Spin-Along, visitors will participate in a demolition derby where cars collide with each other. The attraction will feature a large Audio-Animatronic version of Miss Fritter, the Cars 3 school bus, which will guide participants through the track.
Cars Ridge Run Rally will be an off-road race, with a route that crosses mountains, snow, mud, forests, and a field of geysers. The vehicles used will have adaptive technologies to handle the obstacles of the uneven terrain.
Villains Land
Villains Land will be similar in scale to Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge. The setting begins in a forest corrupted by the magic of an ancient Wishing Well, featuring characters such as Maleficent, Cruella, the Evil Queen, and Dr. Facilier.
The area will include a Maleficent-themed roller coaster that traverses the villain's fortress and enchanted thorns. Another attraction will be the Mirror Realm, an enclosed ride guided by the Evil Queen's Magic Mirror, transporting visitors to a universe gathering various Disney villains.
The Carousel of Progress will also receive a renovation. This ride takes a family through different eras to illustrate technological evolution in daily life. In its new version, the narrative will extend over four more decades and gain a new scene, which will feature Disney's first Audio-Animatronic figure in Florida. This update is scheduled for late spring of the Northern Hemisphere in 2027.
At Epcot, two classics will undergo significant updates. Spaceship Earth will receive its biggest modernization in nearly twenty years. While it continues to tell the story of humanity through innovation, its story will be expanded to cover the internet age, reinforcing the theme of human connection.
The park will also reunite two iconic characters from the Imagination pavilion. Figment, the purple dragon already present in the current attraction, will have a new adventure alongside Dreamfinder, the character who introduced the concept of imagination in the original version of the attraction.
New additions at Hollywood Studios
Hollywood Studios will gain a new section inspired by Monsters, Inc., called Monstropolis. Scheduled to welcome visitors in 2027, this area will present the city of monsters to the human public for the first time.
Monstropolis will feature the Welcome to Monstropolis show, starring Mike and Sulley, as well as establishments like Harryhausen’s, a meeting spot between Mike and Celia, a shop, and other spaces inspired by the Monsters, Inc. and Monsters University universes.
New Area at Animal Kingdom
At Animal Kingdom, the new Tropical Americas area will be based on the landscapes and cultures of South America, Central America, and Mexico. One of the attractions will be Antonio’s Fiesta de Encanto, which immerses visitors in the Casita during Antonio's gift celebration.
Another addition is El Carrusel de los Animalitos, a carousel decorated with 22 hand-sculpted animals. The Tropical Americas area will also include an Indiana Jones attraction titled Indiana Jones and the Myth of the Jade Serpent. In this adventure, visitors follow the archaeologist in exploring an ancient Mayan temple, guarded by a mythical serpentine creature, the Tsukán. Indiana Jones will be represented by an Audio-Animatronic figure inspired by Harrison Ford.
Additionally, the Expedition Everest roller coaster will feature the return of the Yeti in Audio-Animatronic form.
Disney California Adventure will receive its first Coco-based attraction in a Disney park. The plot takes place one year after the film, in a house-museum dedicated to Héctor Rivera, where visitors sail boats to relive Miguel's memories in the Land of the Dead. The attraction is still under construction and has no set opening date, but it will have no height restriction.
Avengers Campus will also be expanded. In 2028, two new attractions will double the size of the area: Avengers Infinity Defense, where visitors participate in a mission against Thanos in settings like Wakanda, Asgard, and New York; and Stark Flight Lab, which will offer two-person capsules connected to robotic arms simulating flight.
More news in California includes changes to show schedules starting in 2027. In February, the nighttime spectacular Remember… Dreams Come True will return reformed, occupying not only Cinderella Castle but also the Main Street facade and the Rivers of America area, with fireworks on specific nights.
World of Color will also have a new edition in February, presenting stories from films such as The Little Mermaid, The Lion King, and Finding Nemo. In the summer of 2027, the Magic Happens parade will return to Disney with Mickey and his friends.
News in Paris and Tokyo
Disney Adventure World in Paris will gain a new section dedicated to The Lion King. The main attraction will be a water ride that narrates Simba's story, featuring a drop of about 16 meters, incorporating Audio-Animatronics, visual effects, and the film's soundtracks. The area will also include restaurants, shops, and character meet-and-greets, although the opening date has not yet been announced, construction has already begun.
Disneyland Paris also plans to renovate Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain. The attraction will close at the end of 2027 to return as Space Mountain From Earth to the Moon, reviving the original concept inspired by Jules Verne's work.
At Tokyo Disneyland, Tomorrowland will receive two new attractions in 2027. Sugar Rush Sweet Rescue will be inspired by Wreck-It Ralph, taking visitors to the world of the Sugar Rush game. Furthermore, Space Mountain Earthrise will be an entirely new roller coaster, with its own structure, vehicles equipped with an audio system, and an unprecedented narrative. The transformation will also include new dining and retail spaces.
Expansions in Hong Kong and Shanghai
At Hong Kong Disneyland, the Avengers will receive a new pavilion, the Avengers Research Testing Labs. This attraction will provide visitors with an adventure alongside Spider-Man and other heroes, and will feature a Quinjet landing area, serving as a backdrop for character encounters. The opening date has not yet been announced.
Finally, in Shanghai, Disney is preparing the company's first park area dedicated exclusively to Spider-Man. This space will feature a roller coaster and over 20 murals created in collaboration with local artists, but the project does not yet have an official opening date.