All The New Disney World Rides, Lands, And Experiences Just Revealed At D23

Walt Disney World is always changing and evolving. In fact, just this year, there's been a host of refreshed attractions reopening , like Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin at Magic Kingdom and Rock 'n' Roller Coaster at Disney's Hollywood Studios. But there are even more new experiences for Disney fans to look forward to. Over the weekend at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, Disney announced a slew of new attractions and gave updates to current projects coming to Walt Disney World during the Horizons: A Carousel of Progress D23 Disney Experiences Showcase.

Whether you're a casual theme park fan or a Disney fanatic, there's plenty to be excited about. Keep reading to learn about everything coming to Walt Disney World over the next few years, from Villains Land at Magic Kingdom and Monstropolis at Disney's Hollywood Studios, to Tropical Americas at Disney's Animal Kingdom, and even a few surprises most Disney fans weren't expecting. 

Magic Kingdom

Walt Disney World's castle park is getting ready for two major expansions, plus a nod to Walt Disney. 

Villains Land

At D23 in 2024, the biggest announcement came toward the end of the Experiences Showcase when it was finally confirmed that Walt Disney World would be getting a Villains Land at Magic Kingdom. Over the past two years, the construction project has gotten well underway behind Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. But now Disney has shared more of what's coming to the sinister territory just beyond the spires of the park's Wildest Ride in the Wilderness. 

This year at D23, Disney shared more details about Villains Land, including that its official name would, in fact, be Villains Land. But beyond the twisted trees, craggy rocks, and broken Wishing Well are a host of dark secrets, the biggest being that the land will have two marquee attractions. The first is a Maleficent-themed roller coaster, and the second is a dark ride inspired by the Magic Mirror and a host of Disney baddies. 

Disney said this new land is one of its most ambitious yet, and is on a scale similar to Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge at Disney's Hollywood Studios. No date was given on when Villains Land will open.

Piston Peak

Another new addition to Magic Kingdom announced in 2024 was Piston Peak, a Cars -themed land taking over the now-defunct Tom Sawyer Island. The National Park-themed area will have two new attractions, and now we know more about them. 

The main event inside Piston Peak will be Cars Ridge Run Rally. The racing-style attraction will take riders all over the land, through snow-capped peaks and a geyser field. Imagineering said the new ride vehicles will feel like an off-road car venturing over rocks, bumps, and drops. Then, on Miss Fritter's Daredevil Spin-Along, families can take part in a demolition derby, all hosted by the wild school bus, Miss Fritter, from Cars 3 .

An opening date for Piston Peak was not announced. 

Carousel of Progress

Earlier this year, Carousel of Progress closed to get ready for a major refresh. When the ride reopens in spring 2027, it will feature a new introduction scene with a Walt Disney Audio-Animatronics figure at the center. Then, as the decades unfold, guests will experience four all-new scenes starting in the 1980s and going well into the future. At D23, it was also announced that the family's mom and dad, Sarah and John, would be voiced by Jamie Lee Curtis and Bryan Cranston, respectively. 

Disney's Animal Kingdom

Indiana Jones , Encanto , and a surprise announcement many Disney fans didn't see coming are just around the river bend at Disney's Animal Kingdom. 

Tropical Americas

Over at Disney's Animal Kingdom, new experiences in Tropical Americas are coming to life. The land is set to open in 2027. Disney did not announce an exact date or whether all the new experiences would open at the same time. 

The new Indiana Jones -themed ride will be called Indiana Jones and the Myth of the Jade Serpent. The ride starts at the entrance to a Maya temple, said to be the portal to the underworld protected by a serpent-like creature called Tsukán. The ride will also be the first to use Harrison Ford as the model for all the title character Audio-Animatronics figures. 

More details on the Encanto -themed attraction, now officially named Antonio's Fiesta de Encanto, have been shared. The no-height-requirement ride will take guests deep into the Casita from the movie and center around Antonio's gift to talk to animals. The ride will feature more than 50 different kinds of animals. Even better, the voice actors from Encanto have reprised their roles for the attraction. 

The El Carrusel de los Animalitos will feature 22 hand-carved animals from Disney and Pixar stories, including Pua from Moana , Squirt from Finding Nemo , and Pumbaa from The Lion King . 

Expedition Everest - Legend of the Forbidden Mountain

For years, Disney has claimed there's no way to fix the massive Audio-Animatronics figure that lurks in the shadows of the Himalayan Mountains on Expedition Everest - Legend of the Forbidden Mountain. Well, it seems they've found the key to reviving the Yeti; Disney shared that it will come back to life. No timeline was given for this massive undertaking, but we'll be first in line when the ride reopens. 

Disney's Hollywood Studios

Get ready to step into a beloved Disney and Pixar movie next year. 

Monstropolis

Disney's Hollywood Studios will be the new home for Monsters, Inc. at Walt Disney World. Monstropolis is taking over the old Muppet Courtyard near the entrance to Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge. The land will open in phases, starting in 2027. 

The land will also feature a new show in the former MuppetVision 3-D theater. Imagineering shared that this show, taking place in the Glob Theater, is called Welcome to Monstropolis , and will be hosted by Mike and Sulley. Visitors to Monstropolis can also buy souvenirs at Scareporium. 

And when it's time to curb a monstrous appetite, there will be two options. Disney has revealed that the iconic Harryhausen's from the movie will also be in Monstropolis. Of course, it will feature sushi, just like in the movie, but Imagineering promised the menu was more than just sushi. What makes this restaurant so unique is that it will also feature an Audio-Animatronics figure of Harryhausen, the octopus-like sushi chef from the film, inside. The former quick-service, Pizza Rizzo will now be Archie's Scare Pig Pizza, themed after the movie Monsters University .

The biggest attraction in the Monsters, Inc. land is a thrilling suspended roller coaster based on the iconic door scene from the first movie in the franchise. Disney shared that the suspended roller coaster will lift riders 40 feet in the air in four seconds before taking off into the memorable door scene from Monsters, Inc. . The new ride will not open with the rest of the attraction, and Disney did not give a timeline for its debut. 

Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run

Even though Disney just introduced a new mission featuring the Mandalorian and Grogu on Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, the attraction is getting another unique upgrade starting August 16. People who have an Epic Games account can link it to their Disney account to access a new adventure on the ride. To take part, you must accept the mission in the ride's queue through the My Disney Experience app.

EPCOT

EPCOT has seen its fair share of upgrades and new attractions over the years, but two new refreshes coming to the front of the park may be the most exciting yet. 

Spaceship Earth

When guests walk into EPCOT, one of the first things they see is the park's icon, Spaceship Earth. And for the first time in, well, forever, the park's beacon is getting an upgrade. Disney has announced the re-theme will bring the attraction's storyline into the internet age and beyond, focusing on human connection. No date was given for when this project will start. 

Figment and Dreamfinder

For years, Disney fans have been asking for an update on Journey Into Imagination With Figment, and Disney delivered one of the biggest hits of the night, announcing the attraction would welcome back Dreamfinder. This EPCOT original character debuted in 1983 with the original Journey Into Imagination attraction. No timeline was given for this new adventure with Figment and his beloved pal, Dreamfinder. 

Read the original article on Southern Living