New Rides and Attractions Coming to Disney World in 2026 and Beyond

New Rides and Attractions Coming to Disney World in 2026 and Beyond

New Rides and Attractions Coming to Disney World in 2026 and Beyond

This article is your ultimate guide to the newest rides at Disney World! Over the next few years, we’ll see the opening of several eagerly awaited rides that will offer unforgettable experiences to Disney fans of all ages. There has never been a more exciting — or more important — time to plan your visit carefully. This guide covers every confirmed new ride, attraction, land, show, and experience coming to Walt Disney World in 2026 and beyond.

So, if you want to learn about the new rides at Disney World, keep reading!

SPECIAL NOTE: If you need help picking the best time to visit Walt Disney World for your next vacation, be sure to check out our Disney crowd calendar!

 Disney World Crowd Calendar

What’s New at Disney World Right Now?

Walt Disney World’s transformation is well underway. As of spring 2026, several major changes have already taken effect across the resort — and more are arriving every few months through summer and into fall. Here’s what is happening in the parks right now.

What are the new rides open at Disney World?

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad – Reopening May 3, 2026

• Location: Magic Kingdom Park
• After a lengthy closure for a complete track replacement and story enhancement, Big Thunder Mountain is back. Disney has added glowing Rainbow Caverns and new story elements to the classic, giving it a much smoother ride with extra visual flair. Expect it to feel like the Big Thunder you love — just with better visuals and fewer breakdowns.

Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster the Muppets – Summer 2026

• Location: Disney’s Hollywood Studios
• Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith permanently closed in March 2026, and The Muppets are officially taking over. The Electric Mayhem Band is heading out on their biggest concert tour ever, and they need your help getting there — fast. The high-speed ride experience remains, now infused with Muppet humor, new music, a revamped guitar courtyard, and penguin audio engineers. It opens May 26, 2026.

Millennium Falcon: Smugglers run – New Mission

• Location: Disney’s Hollywood Studios
• Updated in 2024, guests can now enjoy scenes from Ahsoka and updated Star Wars adventures for their Star Tours ride!
• Beginning May 22, 2026, you and your crew will join the Mandalorian and Grogu on a mission to track down ex-Imperial officers across the galaxy. For the first time ever, your Engineer on board gets to choose your destination — Tatooine, Cloud City on Bespin, the ruins of the Death Star, Coruscant, and more. It’s the same ride, with a dramatically expanded story.

Soarin’ Across America – May 26, 2026

• Location: EPCOT
• In celebration of the United States’ 250th anniversary, Soarin’ Around the World is being reimagined as Soarin’ Across America. The beloved hang-gliding experience now takes you across the scenic landscapes and iconic cityscapes of the United States. The classic elements — the flight, the music, and those signature scents — are all still there, with brand-new footage captured across more than a dozen American locations.

The Walt Disney Studios – Late Summer 2026

• Location: Disney’s Hollywood Studios
• The former Animation Courtyard is being reimagined as The Walt Disney Studios, modeled after Disney’s global headquarters in Burbank, California. It will be home to the new Magic of Disney Animation experience (including a Drawn to Wonderland playground inspired by the original Alice in Wonderland concept art), the Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live! stage show, and character meet-and-greets. The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure will continue performing in the Studio Theater.

Related post: Complete Guide to Epcot Attractions and Rides

New Lands and Major Attractions Coming in 2027

Monstropolis 

• Location: Disney’s Hollywood Studios
• Expected: 2027

Get ready for one of the most anticipated new lands in Disney World history. Monstropolis is replacing the former Muppets Courtyard at Hollywood Studios and will bring the world of Monsters, Inc. to life in a fully immersive way.

The headliner is the Monsters, Inc. Doors Coaster — Disney World’s first-ever suspended roller coaster. Vehicles will be hoisted into the air via a vertical lift before sending riders zooming through the Monster factory’s Door Vault at high speed. The land will also include a Harryhausen’s-themed restaurant (replacing Mama Melrose’s), a new Monsters, Inc. theater show in the former Muppet*Vision 3D building (now reimagined as “The Glob”), plus themed shopping and dining throughout Monstropolis. Construction is underway as of spring 2026, with a projected opening sometime in 2027.

Tropical Americas

• Location: Disney’s Animal Kingdom – new Pueblo Esperanza / Tropical Americas land
• Expected: 2027

DinoLand U.S.A. permanently closed in February 2026, and in its place, an 11-acre new land is being built: Pueblo Esperanza, the fictional village at the heart of the Tropical Americas. This will be one of Animal Kingdom’s most immersive new areas, featuring:

• Encanto Ride — Step inside the Madrigal family’s Casita! The ride begins just as Antonio receives his gift, transforming his room into a magical rainforest. Guests explore his new space and may encounter other family members along the way. The Encanto show building has already gone vertical and is making tremendous construction progress.
• Indiana Jones Adventure — Indy has discovered a perfectly preserved Maya temple and, naturally, he’s going in — and taking you with him. Rumors of a mythical creature deep inside the temple make this a thrill-seekers’ must-do. The Animal Kingdom version features a completely original storyline separate from the Disneyland attraction.
• Pueblo Esperanza Carousel — A woodcarver-themed carousel featuring fan-favorite Disney animals, perfect for families.
• A large central fountain, one of Disney World’s biggest new quick-service restaurants, and immersive village theming throughout.

Piston Peak (Cars Land)

• Location: Magic Kingdom Park
• Expected: 2028-2030

Looking further ahead, Magic Kingdom’s Frontierland is slated for a major transformation. Disney has announced Piston Peak, a Cars-themed area that will replace the Rivers of America, Tom Sawyer Island, and the Liberty Square Riverboat (both of which are now permanently closed).

Piston Peak will feature two brand-new attractions:

• An off-road race experience similar in spirit to Radiator Springs Racers at Disney California Adventure, where Lightning McQueen races through wilderness terrain at high speeds.
• A more family-friendly attraction (details TBD).

Be aware: this project is a long-term construction effort, and the near-term impact will be construction walls in Frontierland while site development takes place. Vertical construction isn’t expected to begin until late 2026 at the earliest, with the land itself not opening until likely 2028–2030.

New Villains Land

• Location: Magic Kingdom Park
• Opening date: 2027
• This land is coming to Magic Kingdom and will be opening in the Northwest corner of the park and will feature at least two new attractions, one of them being a roller coaster! An evil spell was cast to bring all of the Villains together, so your favorite foes will be together for a brand new land. This will be a part of the Beyond Big Thunder Mountain project bringing new Disney World attractions.

Related post: Complete List of EPCOT Events: Epcot Festival Guide

New Disney World Shows

New Zootopia Show: Better Zoogether

• Location: Disney’s Animal Kingdom
• Opening date: now open
• Replacing It’s Tough to Be a Bug at the Tree of Life theater, this new show will feature characters from Disney’s Zootopia and promises a unique, immersive experience. Guests will be joining Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde to explore the different biomes of Zootopia.

Disney Starlight Parade

• Location: Magic Kingdom Park
• Opening date: now open
• This new nighttime parade coming to Main Street USA and brought to life by the Blue Fairy will feature beautiful technology to bring Disney favorites to life. You can expect to see characters from Peter Pan, Frozen, Encanto, and more! This parade is meant to bring back the magic of the Main Street Electrical parade with incredible new technology to dazzle guests.

The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure

• Location: Hollywood Studios
• Opening date: now open
• This new stage show coming to Hollywood Studios will bring a new physical set, puppets, music, and more to celebrate this classic story.

Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live!

• Location: Disney’s Hollywood Studios (The Walt Disney Studios area)
• Opening: May 26, 2026

Mickey and Minnie are throwing a party — but their guests are missing! This interactive, upbeat stage production inspired by the Disney Jr. series has kids helping find Goofy, Daisy, and Pluto. A great addition for younger park-goers.

Related post: What is the Best Disney Theme Park by Age Group

What’s Coming To Disney Springs?

There have been a large number of stores that have opened recently in Disney Springs, and we don’t see them slowing down any time soon. You can enjoy the latest offering Disney Springs has to offer: Salt & Straw Ice Cream! One of our favorite locations at the Downtown Disney District over at Disneyland, this shop is known for its out-of-the-box unique flavors. They also have new flavors every month based on a topical theme.

Level99 – Coming 2026

The West Side of Disney Springs is getting a major new entertainment anchor. LEVEL99 is a real-world, challenge-based social entertainment experience with over 60 challenge rooms and duels featuring physical and mental puzzles set in artistic themed environments. The Disney Springs location will be the largest LEVEL99 anywhere, and it’s geared toward adults and older teens looking for something beyond traditional theme park fare.

Related Post: The Top 10 Restaurants in Disney Springs

What’s Coming To Disney Resorts?

A brand new resort is opening up at Disney World in 2027, Disney Lakeshore Lodge. In addition to a new resort, Disney has been investing a ton into their hotels with rennovated rooms, pools, common areas and more.

New Disney World Resorts

• Disney Lakeshore Lodge – 2027
• A brand-new Disney Vacation Club resort is coming to the Bay Lake area, situated between Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground and Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. Details are still limited, but it will offer DVC members and resort guests another lakeside option in that beloved Wilderness-area corridor.

Related Post: Complete Guide to the Disney Monorail Resorts

What’s New and Coming to Disney World FAQ

Q: Is Big Thunder Mountain Railroad open in 2026?

A: Yes! Big Thunder Mountain Railroad reopened on May 3, 2026, after an extensive refurbishment that added new Rainbow Caverns, replaced the track, and enhanced the overall ride experience.

Q: Is Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster still open at Hollywood Studios?

A: The Aerosmith version permanently closed on March 2, 2026. The reimagined Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets opens May 26, 2026.

Q: When is Monstropolis opening at Hollywood Studios?

A: Monstropolis (the Monsters, Inc. land) is currently under active construction and is expected to open in 2027, with some experts projecting the suspended roller coaster headliner may arrive in summer 2028.

Q: Is DinoLand USA still open at Animal Kingdom?

A: No. DinoLand U.S.A. permanently closed on February 2, 2026. Construction on the replacement land, Tropical Americas: Pueblo Esperanza, is now underway.

Q: What happened to Soarin’ Around the World?

A: It has been reimagined as Soarin’ Across America, featuring all-new footage of U.S. landscapes and cityscapes, opening May 26, 2026, in honor of America’s 250th anniversary.

When is The Best Time to Visit Disney World?

Our Disney  World Crowd Calendar is the best tool to help you get the most out of your time in the parks. We break down park crowds, park hours of operation, ticket prices, and average temperature. We also break down the best time to visit Disney World based on specific times of the year and special events.

 Are You Ready to Plan Your Next Disney World Trip?

Planning a family vacation to Walt Disney World? Let our Disney travel experts plan a hassle-free vacation for you with a no-obligation quote, or call us at 321-966-4300. Every family who books their Disney World vacation package through The Park Prodigy will receive a dedicated planner who manages every Disney vacation aspect. This includes help with Disney dining reservations, navigating the Disneg Genie+ system, personalized park plans based on your children’s ages and height restrictions, and price monitoring to ensure you always get the best deal! Let our team of travel experts take all of the pressure off of planning your next Disney World vacation!