The excitement was off the charts for D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event this year, as fans eagerly took in major announcements regarding movies, shows, attractions and theme park expansions. In fact, Disney unveiled what it is calling the largest slate of expansion projects in Walt Disney World’s history, from a new Villains Land and Monsters Inc.-themed Monstropolis to a refresh of the Carousel of Progress.
Here’s a breakdown of the biggest updates headed to the Orlando resort in the next few years.
Villains Land at Magic Kingdom
One of two completely new lands heading to the theme park will be based on the beloved Disney Villains, such as Cruella and the Evil Queen. With a scale comparable to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, the new Villains Land will feature a dark and twisted environment where guests stumble upon a corrupted Wishing Well due to a mysterious figure’s evil wish.
It will feature two major attractions: a Maleficent-themed coaster that races through her mountaintop fortress and enchanted briars, and a Magic Mirror dark ride that takes riders into a supernatural realm.
Piston Peak (a.k.a. Cars Land)
Set within Frontierland, the all-new area takes inspiration from the spirit of America’s National Parks and the Cars franchise. Revving up the family excitement, little roadsters can look forward to Miss Fritter’s Daredevil Spin-Along, featuring a giant audio-animatronic of the demolition derby legend in Cars 3.
And for the truly bold racers, Cars Ridge Run Rally will take them on an off-road racing experience up and down a snow-capped mountain and through a geyser field – the very same one from Big Thunder Mountain Railroad that will extend into the new area.
Indiana Jones and Encanto attractions at Animal Kingdom
Disney’s Animal Kingdom is transforming DinoLand U.S.A. into a vibrant new region called Tropical Americas, set in the fictional village of Pueblo Esperanza and scheduled to open in 2027. Here, guests will find the family-friendly carousel — El Carrusel de los Animalitos — featuring 22 hand-carved animals inspired by Disney and Pixar stories.
And just steps away, the first-ever attraction based on Encanto will take them inside the magical Casita to celebrate Antonio’s gift day, traveling through his rainforest room and seeing more than 50 animals.
Another highlight is Indiana Jones and the Myth of the Jade Serpent, a completely new ride featuring a hidden passage into a Mayan underworld, guarded by a massive audio-animatronic mythical serpent named the Tsukán. Not only will it feature an original Indiana Jones story, but the animatronic figures will be modeled by none other than the whip-cracking, fedora-wearing hero himself, Harrison Ford.
Monstropolis at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
An entirely new Monsters, Inc. land is targeting a 2027 opening, set during “H.U.M.A.N. Day” (Humans Understanding Monsters Are Nice). To introduce the world of monsters, Mike and Sulley will host a “Welcome to Monstropolis” show while guests enjoy new shopping and dining locations, including Harryhausen’s (complete with an animatronic sushi chef behind the counter).
Of course, the signature Door Coaster attraction will mark the park’s first suspended coaster, hoisting riders 40 feet in the air before launching them into the film’s iconic door vault.
Updates to existing rides
In one of the most celebrated announcements for longtime fans, Disney has confirmed plans to restore movement to the massive Yeti audio-animatronics figure inside Expedition Everest!
Two epic Epcot updates were also announced, including a new journey into imagination that reunites Figment with his original companion, Dreamfinder. Plus, Spaceship Earth will get a major update (for the first time in nearly 20 years) to bring its storyline into the internet age, focusing on the theme of human connection.
Over in Magic Kingdom, the Carousel of Progress will also undergo its first major update in decades, targeted to open in late spring 2027. It will feature four new decades (1969, 1985, 1999 and a possible future), the first-ever Florida-based Walt Disney audio-animatronic and new voices for Sarah and John provided by Jamie Lee Curtis and Bryan Cranston.
You can read more here about all the upcoming plans announced at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event here.
