Though not many brand-new attractions are opening at Disney Parks this year, some classic rides are being significantly updated and other new experiences are coming to the parks. Plus, several attractions are closing to be replaced and construction continues on new lands.
Disney Parks 2026
Walt Disney World Resort
Magic Kingdom
Cinderella Castle will be repainted to restore its classic color scheme, removing the 50th anniversary makeover it received in 2021. For five years, it has had a pink top half and royal blue turrets. The “new” color scheme will make it light gray with cerulean turrets. The repainting project will begin in January 2026 and finish in late 2026.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad will reopen in spring 2026 after an over year-long refurbishment. The coaster has been closed since January 2025. It received new track and will have an updated opening scene with a transformation of the Rainbow Caverns, plus more updates.
Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin will also open in spring 2026 with new ride vehicles, blasters, targets, and robot character Buddy. It has been closed since August. We got to playtest the new blasters and targets back in March. Buddy will be part of a new opening scene.
Though Disney has announced an update to Carousel of Progress that will include the addition of a Walt Disney Audio-Animatronic, they have not announced a timeframe for the ride’s closing or reopening. Work could begin this year.
The Cars area (Piston Peak National Park) and Disney Villains Land remain under construction with no projected opening year announced and it’s unlikely either will come close to opening in 2026.
EPCOT
Frozen Ever After will be closed beginning on January 26 and reopen in February with new animatronics featuring physical faces. Anna, Elsa, and Kristoff have all had projected faces since the ride’s 2016 opening. The update will be bring in new figures based on those introduced in 2023 with the Hong Kong Disneyland version of Frozen Ever After.
Soarin’ Across America will debut by Memorial Day on May 25, 2026 in honor of America’s 250th anniversary. An exact opening date was not announced. This new version of Soarin’ will showcase the United States from sea to shining sea, highlighting some of the country’s natural beauty and iconic cityscapes. It will run for a limited time.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
The last day to ride Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith will be March 1. The ride will reopen as Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets in the summer. The revamped ride replaces Aerosmith with the Electric Mayhem. They’re late for a concert, caught up practicing in the studio at G-Force Records. Guests arrive on a VIP tour and then speed through the city in a limo enhanced by Muppet Labs, passing Muppet-inspired scenery. The ride’s pre-show is already closed.
The Mandalorian & Grogu mission of Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge will debut on May 22, the same day as the new film. Guests will visit Tatooine, the Cloud City of Bespin, and the remnants of the Death Star.
Animation Courtyard will reopen with a new Disney Jr. show and The Magic of Disney Animation in the late summer. It closed in September 2025, marking the end of Star Wars: Launch Bay. The courtyard will be re-themed to the Walt Disney Studios lot. It will be a place to “play, relax, or snack on tasty treats under lush trees.”
The Magic of Disney Animation is a new version of an opening-day Disney-MGM Studios experience that took guests behind-the-scenes of Disney’s animation process. Partially inspired by Once Upon A Studio, the experience will be set in a studio moments after the animators have left and characters have come to life. It’s a “place where kids and kids at heart can laugh, draw, dream, and explore animated new experiences.” There will be six character meet and greets as part of “Off the Page!” and a Mary Blair-inspired Alice in Wonderland playground.
Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live! replaces Disney Junior Dance Party. The stage show first debuted at Disney California Adventure in May 2025. It’s inspired by Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and the revival Mickey Mouse Clubhouse+.
Monstropolis, a new Monsters, Inc. land, remains under construction with no opening year announced.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom
DINOSAUR and Restaurantosaurus will close permanently after February 1, 2026. This is the final phase of the DinoLand U.S.A. closure and the land will become a Tropical Americas land opening in 2027.
Harambe Market will reopen around the time Restaurantosaurus closes to be the park’s new burger and fries restaurant.
A Bluey experience will open at Conservation Station in summer 2026. Guests will get to play and dance with Bluey and Bingo, including games from Bluey episodes. There will be a meet and greet and animals native to Bluey’s home country of Australia.
Disney Springs
LEVEL99 will open in 2026, but a more exact timeframe hasn’t been announced. The adult-oriented interactive social gaming experience will have over 60 “challenge rooms” and “duels.” It replaces the NBA Experience.
Resorts
The Garden View Lounge at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort will reopen after six years. It never reopened following the COVID-19 shutdown. It’s currently undergoing refurbishment and will reopen on March 19 with a new Alice in Wonderland-inspired tea experience.
Disneyland Resort
Disneyland Park
A 3D printed prop canoe made by Haddy will be added to Jungle Cruise.
Bluey’s Best Day Ever will open in Fantasyland Theatre on March 22, 2026. It’s an immersive celebration set on the grounds of Bluey’s school. Bluey, Bingo, and a troupe of comedic actors and musicians will appear throughout the day for musical performances and games.
A nostalgic hard-ticket Disneyland After Dark event celebrating 70 years of the park will take place on Tuesday, March 3, and Thursday, March 5.
The Disneyland 70th anniversary celebration will end on August 9.
Disney California Adventure
Soarin’ Across America will debut at Disney California Adventure on July 2, 2026.
Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue! will close permanently in early 2026 to make way for a new Avatar land.
Opening dates haven’t been announced but construction will continue on Avengers: Infinity Defense and Stark Flight Lab in Avengers Campus. Work began this month on the first-ever Coco ride and will begin soon on the new Avatar land.
Downtown Disney District
Multiple new shops and restaurants are under construction at Downtown Disney District. None of these have opening dates but they are largely expected to open this year:
- Earl of Sandwich and Gordon Ramsay at The Carnaby (the pop-up location will remain until the new Earl of Sandwich opens)
- Arthur & Sons Steak and Bourbon
- Pearl’s Roadside BBQ
- Porto’s Bakery
- Bopo Go!
Disneyland Paris
Disneyland Park
New scenes are coming to the Rivers of the Far West in Frontierland by the end of summer 2026. These draw inspiration from the original sketches of Disney Legend and Imagineer Marc Davis and will feature redesigned figures like buffalos and small critters.
Disney Adventure World
Walt Disney Studios Park will be renamed Disney Adventure World on March 29, 2026 with the opening of a major expansion. Adventure Way will be the park’s new main avenue with Raiponce Tangled Spin, 14 culinary experiences (including La Terrasse Panoramique, Café Luminosity, kiosks, chalets, mobile carts, and Regal View Restaurant & Lounge), and themed gardens featuring live music and character greetings.
At the end of Adventure Way will be Adventure Bay, home to the new Disney Cascade of Lights nighttime spectacular. A rendering of the show’s infrastructure hints at an Avatar land.
Along the water is World of Frozen, which will feature a walking Olaf animatronic, Frozen Ever After, a boat show, exclusive merchandise, and dining experiences.
Construction will be underway on the park’s new Up ride and The Lion King land, but opening timeframes have not been announced.
Ratatouille: L’Aventure Totalement Toquée de Rémy closed for refurbishment in October. It will reopen sometime next year with technical and scenic updates, as well as the switch to 2D projections.
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror will open a new covered outdoor queue in spring. The queue will resemble a once-luxurious patio and outdoor pool littered with props that deepen the ride’s story.
Near Tower of Terror, a new merchandise location inspired by 1930s flower shops will open in early 2026.
Disney Village
Annette’s Diner will close on January 5 for a months-long refurbishment. A reopening date has not been set.
The Disney Store will be transformed into Disney Wonders. A timeframe for the reimagining hasn’t been announced.
Early this year, a second reception and security booth will open between Annette’s Diner and the TGV station esplanade.
A new McDonald’s, the largest in France, will also open in early 2026. The Pelé Soccer boutique will open “soon.” Italian restaurant Casa Giulia is set to open by the end of the year.
More renovation work will continue throughout Disney Village.
Resorts
Disney Sequoia Lodge will go through an intensive refurbishment beginning this month to “elevate the overall experience while preserving the cozy, woodsy charm.”
A seventh hotel is in development to replace the Events Arena but details, including an opening timeframe, haven’t been announced.
Tokyo Disney Resort
Tokyo Disneyland
The new Wreck-It Ralph shooting ride and its adjacent fit shop are scheduled to open in 2026. They replace Buzz Lightyear’s Astro Blasters and the Planet M store, which closed in October 2024.
A new Space Mountain and Tomorrowland plaza will still be under construction, set to open in 2027.
Tokyo DisneySea
Tokyo DisneySea will mark their 25th anniversary with a Sparkling Jubilee from April 15, 2026 through March 31, 2027.
Shanghai Disneyland
Shanghai Disney will celebrate its 10th anniversary in 2026. Dates and details will be announced later.
A new Spider-Man land, including a Spider-Man roller-coaster, is under construction in Shanghai Disneyland. An opening date hasn’t been announced.
Hong Kong Disneyland
A Tower of Terror-like Spider-Man ride is coming to Hong Kong Disneyland but an opening year has not been announced. The attraction is part of the delayed Stark Expo attraction.
Hong Kong Disneyland is also developing an “all-new, exclusive Pixar entertainment experience” with few details available.
Disney Cruise Line
After a delay, the Disney Adventure cruise ship’s maiden voyage will begin March 10, 2026. The ship will have a Storybook Castle, Captain Jack Sparrow show, a Duffy and Friends show, Marvel rides, and more.
What new or updated Disney experience are you most looking forward to in 2026? Let us know in the comments.
For the latest Disney Parks news and info, follow WDW News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
