Recap: Everything D23 Announced About Walt Disney World
Disney Parks fans, assemble! D23 gave us some major (and very exciting) news regarding Walt Disney World.
The Disney Parks panel hosted by Neil Patrick Harris was packed with information about upcoming refurbishments, new lands, and attractions already under construction. But Disney also threw in a few brand-new surprises for some of our favorite classic attractions. Disco Yeti, anyone?
Our team was on-site at the panel, getting a firsthand look at the announcements and all the excitement surrounding what’s next for Walt Disney World.
From new attraction names and story details to the return of a beloved EPCOT character, there was a lot to take in. So, let’s break down the biggest Walt Disney World announcements from D23 2026.
Magic Kingdom
New Scenes Revealed for Carousel of Progress
Carousel of Progress has undergone several updates since its debut at the 1964 New York World’s Fair. After all, the idea behind the attraction is that technology and the culture surrounding it are always evolving.
Now, the Carousel family is moving forward a few decades once again. Disney gave us our first real look at the new scenes coming to the attraction, which will take us from the 1960s through present day and into a possible future.
- Act One: Set in the summer of 1969 as the family gathers around the television to watch the historic moon landing.
- Act Two: Set on Halloween night in 1985, with Sarah taking center stage to talk about the appliances and gadgets making family life easier.
- Act Three: Set on New Year’s Eve 1999 as the family prepares for the new millennium and the Internet begins connecting the world.
- Act Four: Set in a possible future featuring an out-of-this-world family home, robots, space travel, and other futuristic technology.
- New voices: Disney Legend Jamie Lee Curtis and Bryan Cranston will voice Sarah and John.
- Walt Disney Audio-Animatronics figure: As previously announced, Walt Disney will appear in a new opening scene inspired by the 1964 television special Disneyland Goes to the World’s Fair.
- Classic music: “There’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow” will continue to play as guests transition between scenes.
Opening Timeline: Late Spring 2027
Courtesy of Disney Parks Blog
More Details for the Cars-Inspired Expansion: Piston Peak
Construction is already underway on the new Cars-inspired area in Frontierland. Piston Peak National Park takes inspiration from America’s national parks, so the rugged terrain, mountain peaks, waterfalls, and rivers should fit nicely into Frontierland.
Naturally, this is still the world of Cars, so there are plenty of puns involved. There’s a geyser named Old Tankfull, and Disney has dubbed its new rally the “wildest racer in the wheelderness.”
Cars Ridge Run Rally
- Ride experience: A high-speed rally race across the rugged terrain of Piston Peak.
- Course: Racers will climb toward a snow-covered mountain peak before descending through camelback hills, water features, and a geyser field.
- Old Tankfull: The race course will circle the land’s signature geyser before heading toward the finish.
- Racing Sports Network: Lightning McQueen and Mater will provide coverage of the race.
- Ride vehicles: A new ride system will allow the vehicles’ tires and suspension to react to the terrain as they travel across the course.
Opening Timeline: No announcement yet
Miss Fritter’s Daredevil Spin-Along
- Ride experience: A family-friendly attraction inspired by the demolition derby from Cars 3.
- Miss Fritter: The attraction will feature a Miss Fritter Audio-Animatronics figure approximately the size of a real school bus.
- Piston Peak attractions: Miss Fritter’s Daredevil Spin-Along will serve as the family-friendly counterpart to Cars Ridge Run Rally.
Opening Timeline: No announcement yet
Courtesy of Disney Parks Blog
Villains Land Gets Its First Attraction and Area Details
Prior to D23, we had limited details surrounding the brand-new Villains-themed land coming to Magic Kingdom. We knew it would be centered around our favorite Disney baddies and feature two major attractions, dining, and shopping. But, we had yet to learn what any of that would actually look like.
And now, we have an official name. Drum roll, please…
Villains Land.
While the name may feel a little lackluster, there is a reason behind the decision. Imagineers explained that it follows the naming convention established throughout Magic Kingdom. Fantasyland, Adventureland, Frontierland, Tomorrowland…Villains Land. Fair enough.
- Backstory: The land centers around a Wishing Well corrupted by an evil wish that spreads dark magic throughout the surrounding forest.
- Disney Villains: The corrupted magic attracts Disney Villains, who use it to create their own fortresses, palaces, and environments.
- Character design: Concept art shows more realistic interpretations of characters including the Evil Queen, Cruella de Vil, and Dr. Facilier.
- Scale: Imagineers compared the size and scope of Villains Land to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
Maleficent Coaster
- Theme: The attraction will center around Maleficent and her dark magic.
- Setting: Guests will travel through enchanted briars surrounding Maleficent’s mountaintop fortress.
- Ride design: Imagineers are developing attraction elements Disney says have not been attempted on similar coaster experiences.
Opening Timeline: No announcement yet
Magic Mirror Dark Ride
- Setting: The attraction begins in the catacombs beneath the Evil Queen’s palace.
- Magic Mirror: Guests will encounter the Magic Mirror before being transported into the Mirror Realm.
- Disney Villains: The realm will feature multiple Disney Villains conjured to life by the Magic Mirror.
- Ride design: Physical sets and special effects will be combined to create the supernatural environments.
Opening Timeline: No announcement yet
Courtesy of Disney Parks Blog
EPCOT
The Spaceship Earth Refurbishment Is Back On
Back in 2019, Disney revealed that Spaceship Earth would receive a major refurbishment with new concepts and scenes. Then 2020 happened, projects were put on hold, and it became unclear whether the reimagining would ever actually happen.
Fast forward to 2026, and Spaceship Earth is officially getting its long-awaited update.
Don’t panic, longtime EPCOT fans. Disney seems well aware that you don’t mess with the giant golf ball lightly.
- New theme: The reimagined attraction will focus on human connection and how it has helped move humanity forward.
- Expanded timeline: The journey will extend through the Internet age, present day, and beyond.
- Updated scenes: Disney plans to bring new elements and technology throughout the attraction.
- Classic EPCOT: Imagineers say the updated version will remain “classically EPCOT.”
Opening Timeline: No announcement yet
Dreamfinder Is Returning to Journey Into Imagination
Probably one of the biggest crowd-pleasers for longtime EPCOT fans was saved for the very end of the Parks panel.
You heard it right: Dreamfinder and Figment are reuniting.
The original Journey Into Imagination introduced EPCOT guests to a magical purple dragon and his whimsical dream-chasing friend, Dreamfinder. The duo became iconic EPCOT characters, but Dreamfinder disappeared when the original attraction was replaced.
And Disney fans have been asking for him back ever since.
- Dreamfinder: Disney confirmed Dreamfinder will officially return to EPCOT.
- Figment: Dreamfinder will once again appear alongside Figment.
- Journey Into Imagination: The characters will be part of a new journey into imagination.
- Additional details: Disney has not yet revealed the storyline or scope of the updated experience.
After decades of fans asking for Dreamfinder to come home, sometimes one little spark of information is enough.
Opening Timeline: No announcement yet
Courtesy of Disney Parks Blog
Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Expedition Everest’s Yeti Is Coming Back to Life
Once upon a time, there was a Yeti Audio-Animatronics figure inside Expedition Everest that roared and swiped its mammoth claws at guests while they escaped the Forbidden Mountain.
Then, not long after Expedition Everest opened in 2006, the Yeti stopped moving.
Instead of shutting down the attraction for a major refurbishment, the massive figure has remained stationary while flashing lights create the illusion of movement. Thus, Disco Yeti was born, and he’s been frozen in time ever since.
Until now.
- The Yeti will move again: Disney confirmed plans to restore movement to the massive Audio-Animatronics figure.
- Expedition Everest: The restored Yeti will once again come to life as guests race through the Forbidden Mountain.
Disco is dead. Long live the Yeti!
Opening Timeline: No announcement yet
Courtesy of Disney Parks Blo
Tropical Americas Gets Major New Details
D23 also gave us our closest look yet at Tropical Americas, the 11-acre land replacing DinoLand U.S.A. at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
We already knew the land would feature major attractions inspired by Indiana Jones and Encanto, along with a new carousel. Now, we finally know what those experiences will be called and, more importantly, what we’ll actually be doing inside them.
Indiana Jones and the Myth of the Jade Serpent
Grab your fedora. Animal Kingdom’s new Indiana Jones attraction officially has a name: Indiana Jones and the Myth of the Jade Serpent.
And this isn’t a copy of another Indiana Jones attraction. Disney is creating a completely original adventure for Animal Kingdom.
- Story: Indiana Jones discovers a perfectly preserved ancient Maya temple and sets out to explore what lies inside.
- Setting: A passage near a cenote is believed to lead into the Maya Underworld.
- Tsukán: A giant serpentine creature known as the Tsukán protects the temple and will appear throughout the attraction.
- Ride scenes: Disney teased encounters with monstrous bats, giant scorpions, fire, and snakes.
- Timeline: The story is set in the 1950s, before Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.
- Indiana Jones Audio-Animatronics figure: Harrison Ford’s likeness will be used for the attraction’s version of Indiana Jones.
- Cultural details: Imagineers are working with archaeologists, anthropologists, and Maya experts on the attraction’s architecture, artwork, and cultural representation.
Opening Timeline: 2027
Courtesy of Disney Parks Blog
Antonio’s Fiesta de Encanto
From giant serpents and scorpions to capybaras!
The first-ever Encanto ride-through attraction officially has a name: Antonio’s Fiesta de Encanto. And this one sounds like it’s going to be a classic, all-ages Disney attraction.
- Story: The attraction takes place on Antonio’s gift day and celebrates his ability to communicate with animals.
- Setting: Guests will travel through Casita before eventually reaching Antonio’s rainforest-filled room.
- Ride vehicles: Pieces of furniture magically assembled by Casita will serve as ride vehicles and react to the environment around them.
- Animals: More than 50 animals will be represented throughout the attraction.
- Colombian wildlife: Imagineers are working with Disney’s Animals, Science and Environment team to accurately represent species found in Colombia.
- Original cast: Members of the Encanto voice cast will reprise their roles, including Stephanie Beatriz, Jessica Darrow, and Diane Guerrero.
- Height requirement: There will be no height requirement.
Opening Timeline: 2027
El Carrusel de los Animalitos
Tropical Americas will also put a Disney spin on a classic attraction with El Carrusel de los Animalitos.
And no, you won’t be choosing between 22 slightly different carousel horses.
- Carousel figures: The attraction will feature 22 unique hand-carved animals inspired by Disney and Pixar stories.
- Characters represented: Disney has shown figures inspired by Pua, Squirt, Eeyore, Kuzco, Pascal, Simba, Heimlich, and others.
- Family attraction: The carousel will provide an all-ages attraction in the center of Tropical Americas.
- Play area: A nearby Maya-inspired play area will allow younger guests to explore and learn more about the rainforest.
Opening Timeline: 2027
Courtesy of Disney Parks Blog
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Monstropolis Will Open Sooner Than We Thought
Things are getting monstrous over at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Construction is already well underway on Monstropolis, but Disney surprised D23 attendees with the news that parts of the land will begin opening in 2027, even as work continues on the highly anticipated door coaster.
- H.U.M.A.N. Day: The land’s story centers around “Humans Understand Monsters Are Nice,” marking the first time humans are officially welcomed into Monstropolis.
- Harryhausen’s Restaurant: The restaurant from Monsters, Inc. will become a real dining location.
- Audio-Animatronics figure: Harryhausen’s will feature the many-tentacled sushi chef seen in the movie.
- Monsters University Alumni Club: The location will celebrate MU organizations and notable scarers.
- Scareporium: A new merchandise location will open in the land.
- Archie’s Scare Pig Pizza: The new location will serve pizza in Monstropolis.
Opening Timeline: Parts of Monstropolis open in 2027
A New Show Is Coming to the Glob Theater
H.U.M.A.N. Day also comes with entertainment. Mike and Sulley will welcome humans with a new production inside the Glob Theater.
- Show: “Welcome to Monstropolis” will introduce human visitors to the monster world.
- Original music: Disney Legend Randy Newman wrote a new song, also titled “Welcome to Monstropolis,” specifically for the show.
- Randy Newman milestone: This marks the first song Newman has written specifically for a Disney theme park experience.
Opening Timeline: 2027
What About the Monsters, Inc. Door Coaster?
Of course, there is still one very large monster lurking behind those construction walls.
The suspended Monsters, Inc. coaster is still coming, but Disney has made an important distinction between the timeline for the land and its headlining attraction.
- Construction: Work on the coaster will continue as portions of Monstropolis begin opening.
- Ride system: The attraction will use a suspended coaster system.
- Door vault: Riders will be lifted vertically before racing through a recreation of the door vault sequence from Monsters, Inc.
- Opening date: Disney has not confirmed that the coaster will open with the first areas of Monstropolis in 2027.
Opening Timeline: No announcement yet
Courtesy of Disney Parks Blog
D23 Brought to Light Many Fun Updates of What’s to Come
Between entirely new lands and attractions and some much-needed love for Walt Disney World classics, the next several years are shaping up to bring major changes across all four theme parks.
And longtime EPCOT and Animal Kingdom fans may have walked away from this panel particularly happy. Dreamfinder is coming home. Spaceship Earth is getting its long-awaited update. And, after roughly two decades frozen in place, the Yeti is preparing to move again.
What a great big beautiful tomorrow, indeed.
And D23 wasn’t just about the theme parks! Disney also gave us a closer look at the newest Disney Vacation Club Resort coming to Walt Disney World. Be sure to check out everything we learned about Disney’s Lakeshore Lodge at D23.
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