By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2026-08-18 12:21:47 | Updated at 2026-08-18 14:44:10
3 hours ago
Brand new rollercoasters, major attractions and the restoration of a beloved ride to its original concept are just some of the updates coming to Disney theme parks.
Mickey Mouse and his friends have been hard at work thinking up innovative and magical ways to make the Disney experience even more enchanting.
A new area is set to open at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom and further details of Cars-themed rides have been announced.
Meanwhile, Lion King fans are being treated to the first ever 'Audio-Animatronics' figure of Scar at Disneyland Paris as well as a new parade.
Announcements and updates were revealed at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event last weekend – here's everything there is to know about the upcoming additions to Disney theme parks.
The D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event revealed lots of updates and surprises about what's to come across Disney's theme parks soon
Disneyland Paris
A new Space Mountain
Space Mountain was groundbreaking when it first opened at Disneyland Paris in 1995, based on Jules Verne's classic From the Earth to the Moon novel.
The popular rollercoaster has been transformed over the years, and most recently has been known as the Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain.
However, Disney have now revealed that the ride is set to close at the end of 2027 for refurbishment – a project that's set to 'bring back the Moon'.
The rollercoaster will have an enhanced queue and new effects to restore it to its original theme, and will also benefit from technical work and maintenance upgrades.
Guests will be transported to the very first travels to the Moon in steampunk style with special effects to enhance the blast sequence.
'Today, as Imagineers, it is both an honour and an exciting challenge to reimagine this iconic attraction for a new generation,' said Keith Rector, senior manager at Creative Art Direction at Walt Disney Imagineering Paris.
'While staying true to the spirit and legacy of the original voyage, this new version will make use of all the innovations and cutting-edge technology introduced over the years in the attraction, to deliver an even more exciting experience for our guests.'
The Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain is set to be refurbished and return to its original roots
A Lion King addition
An Audio-Animatronics figure of Scar is set to debut in the first immersive world based on The Lion King in Disney Adventure World.
Construction for the area began last autumn and when complete, guests will be transported to the African savanna in a whopping 30,000-square-metre space complete with a boutique and restaurant.
It will be home to a new water-based attraction too, complete with state-of-the-art visual effects and Audio-Animatronics figures of beloved characters including Simba, Timon, Pumbaa, Scar and more.
New parade
It wouldn't be a trip to Disney without seeing one of the iconic parades. And, for the first time since 2017, Disneyland Paris will get a brand-new daytime parade in 2028.
More than 10,000 hours of research and technical development has gone into the experience, as well as 225 sketches of costumes, wigs and makeup.
Fans will be treated to state-of-the-art new floats with characters including Genie and Jasmine from Aladdin, Tiana from The Princess and the Frog and Rapunzel from Tangled, as well as friends such as Miguel, from Disney and Pixar's Coco.
An artist concept of the Lion King immersive world, which will be home to an animatronics figure of Scar
Walt Disney World, Florida
Magic Kingdom's villains expansion excitement
More details have been released about the highly-anticipated 'villains' expansion in Magic Kingdom.
President and chief creative officer of Walt Disney Imagineering, Bruce Vaughn, confirmed the official name would be Villains Land.
It's set to bring a devious and dark 'magic' to the Magic Kingdom, and feature an original take on classic evil Disney characters.
After entering Villains Land, visitors will soon find a Wishing Well with a dark twist: following the making of an unspeakably evil wish, the stone has been corrupted, breaking open the structure – leading to the well's poisoned magic seeping throughout the forest.
As well as shops and restaurants, the land will also feature two new major attractions, including an exhilarating coaster experience featuring Maleficent – set to be a groundbreaking project.
Riders on the second attraction will feature all of the favourite Disney villains brought to life by the mystical Magic Mirror.
It has been revealed Magic Kingdom's villains expansion will be called Villains Land
Two new Piston Peak rides
Miss Fritter's Daredevil Spin-Along was announced by Michael Hundgen, vice president Creative for Walt Disney World, as the second new attraction coming to Piston Peak in Frontierland at Magic Kingdom.
The ride is inspired by the 'Diva of Demolition' from Cars 3, and will boast a 'huge school-bus-sized animatronic'.
While Cars Ridge Run Rally had previously been confirmed as another attraction, Imagineer Jason Grandt has now revealed further details, describing the experience as a quest to find 'the wildest racer in the wheelderness' as they compete for the 'fastest lap in the west'.
Riders will travel through America's national parks, including a climb up Piston Peak itself, where an icy, snow-covered mountaintop awaits. They will then plummet down and go on to navigate an exhilarating geyser field.
An artist's depiction of the upcoming Cars Ridge Run Rally ride
Encanto ride
New details about Antonio's Fiesta de Encanto ride, coming to Animal Kingdom, have also been released.
Voice actors from the popular film, including Stephanie Beatriz, Jessica Darrow and Diane Guerrero, playing the roles of Mirabel, Luisa and Isabela, will feature during the attraction.
Riders will enter the house and be carried through the different rooms in a vehicle meant to represent the different pieces of furniture assembled by the power of Casita.
The attraction also features a lively rainforest with more than 50 animals represented – from a toucan to a capybara receiving a haircut.
A look inside what the new Antonio's Fiesta de Encanto ride might be like (artist concept)
Indiana Jones ride
Also set to be located in Disney's Animal Kingdom, the new ride – Indiana Jones and the Myth of the Jade Serpent – will transport guests to the world of the ancient Maya.
It has been revealed that Harrison Ford is the model for the Indiana Jones animatronic that will feature in the attraction.
Visitors will also be able to ride on El Carrusel de los Animalitos – a new carousel featuring 22 hand-carved animals inspired by Disney and Pixar stories including Scuttle, Squirt, Pua, Pascal, Simba, Eeyore, Kuzco, Heimlich and more.
Monstropolis to open
It was also announced that parts of the new Monsters, Inc.-inspired land, Monstropolis, will open next year, featuring the song Welcome to Monstropolis written by Randy Newman.
Work on the vertical lift 'Door Coaster' continues, but visitors will have access to Archie's Scare Pig Pizza restaurant, as well as Harryhausen's Restaurant – the location of one of Mike and Celia's most unforgettable dates.
It's promised Harryhausen's will be 'unlike anything else on offer at Walt Disney World', and diners will be able to see the famed sushi chef brought to life as a new animatronic figure.
An artist depiction of what the entrance to Mostropolis could look like
Updates to EPCOT
Dreamfinder and Figment have both long been loved and recognisable characters at EPCOT in Florida.
As such, Disney Experiences chairman Thomas Mazloum has now announced that the theme park will be 'taking a new journey into imagination' with this beloved duo.
A new and updated Spaceship Earth will be coming to EPCOT too, with a focus on human connection. It marks the first renovation of the attraction in 20 years.
Other additions
Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress will get two voices to the show – actress Jamie Lee Curtis and Emmy-winning actor Bryan Cranston – taking on the roles of mum and dad.
The show will feature new scenes set in the 1980s and have a new theme song.
Disney's Animal Kingdom will also see a yeti animatronic come to life inside Expedition Everest.
New additions to Disney Cruise Line
Disney's new cruise ship, Disney Believe, is set to make its debut in 2027.
Disney Believe will feature stories from characters known for believing in themselves, and guests can expect experiences inspired by films such as Frozen, Encanto, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Moana and The Little Mermaid.
Exclusive artwork on the ship will include larger-than-life sculptures of Woody and Buzz Lightyear, who will be seen hitching a ride on the ship's stern.
It was also announced that Disney Believe's bow will be decorated with a delicate, hand-painted filigree of Tinker Bell as she first appeared in the Walt Disney Animation Studios 1953 classic Peter Pan.
Three new ships will launch in the future in a brand-new class, though exact details are still a secret.
