Hey Thrill Seekers,
If you’re planning a trip to Orlando over the next few years, Disney has just given you plenty more reasons to get excited.
Saturday night’s Horizons: A Carousel of Progress showcase at D23 2026 delivered a huge number of announcements for Walt Disney World, covering all four theme parks.
From the long-awaited Villains Land at Magic Kingdom and the huge new Piston Peak area, to major developments at EPCOT, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom, Disney’s plans for Walt Disney World are beginning to take shape.
And there were a couple of surprises thrown in for good measure.
Here’s everything Disney revealed for its Orlando theme parks at D23 2026.
🏰Magic Kingdom
Villains Land Finally Gets More Details
Perhaps the biggest announcement of the night was the reveal of the first substantial details about Villains Land, the major expansion coming to Magic Kingdom.
Disney has officially confirmed that the area will simply be called Villains Land.
The land will be built around an intriguing story involving a mysterious Wishing Well whose dark magic has been unleashed into a forest.
Disney says the corrupted magic has attracted some of its most notorious villains, who are attempting to claim the remaining power and create their own lairs.
The scale is also impressive, with Disney comparing the size of Villains Land to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
Two Major Attractions
Disney also revealed more about the two major attractions planned for Villains Land.
The first will be a high-speed coaster centred around Maleficent.
Guests will race through enchanted briar surrounding Maleficent’s mountaintop fortress, with Disney teasing that the attraction will include elements Imagineers have never attempted before on similar attractions.
The second attraction will be a dark ride hosted by the Magic Mirror.
Guests will enter the catacombs beneath the Evil Queen’s palace before being transported into the mysterious Mirror Realm, where they’ll encounter an array of Disney villains brought to life using physical sets and special effects.
There will also be dining and shopping within the land.
And, importantly for anyone hoping to experience it, Disney still hasn’t announced an opening date.
🏎️Piston Peak Is Coming to Magic Kingdom
Cars fans are also going to have something very big to look forward to.
Disney revealed further details about Piston Peak National Park, the new Cars-inspired area being built in Frontierland.
Rather than recreating the desert environment of Cars Land at Disney California Adventure, Piston Peak takes inspiration from the Rocky Mountains, America’s national parks and the American Frontier.
Expect mountains, waterfalls, rivers, forests and geysers surrounding the Cars-themed attractions.
Cars Ridge Run Rally
The headline attraction will be Cars Ridge Run Rally.
Guests will climb Piston Peak before racing down through the wilderness, navigating a camelback descent and a geyser field before making a final dash towards the finish line.
Disney is promising something particularly interesting with the ride system.
Rather than simply simulating an off-road vehicle, the ride vehicle is designed to behave like one, with its tyres and suspension reacting to the terrain.
Lightning McQueen and Mater will even commentate on the race.
Miss Fritter’s Daredevil Spin-Along
The second attraction will be aimed more towards families and younger guests.
Miss Fritter’s Daredevil Spin-Along will feature the demolition derby-loving school bus from Cars 3 as a huge Audio-Animatronics figure hosting her latest chaotic demolition derby.
It should give families another attraction to enjoy within the new land.
🎠Carousel of Progress Is Getting a Major Update
One of Magic Kingdom’s oldest attractions is also getting a significant refresh.
Carousel of Progress will be updated with new decades, new technology and new voices.
Disney has cast Jamie Lee Curtis and Bryan Cranston as the new voices of Mom and Dad.
The updated attraction will travel through several periods, including:
- The 1960s
- The 1980s
- The turn of the millennium
- A possible future
The 1980s scene will be set on Halloween Night in 1985, while the turn-of-the-millennium scene takes place on New Year’s Eve 1999.
The finale will then leap into a futuristic world of robots and space travel.
Disney has also confirmed that the updated attraction will debut in late spring 2027.
🌕EPCOT
Spaceship Earth Is Being Reimagined
One of EPCOT’s most recognisable attractions is getting another major update.
Disney announced that Spaceship Earth will be reimagined, bringing the attraction into the internet age and beyond.
The focus of the attraction will also broaden.
Rather than concentrating primarily on the history of human communication, Disney says the new version will explore the broader theme of human connection.
Disney hasn’t yet provided an opening date for the updated experience.
💭Dreamfinder and Figment Are Returning
And then came one of the biggest nostalgia-driven announcements of the entire showcase.
Dreamfinder and Figment are returning to EPCOT.
Disney confirmed that the pair will embark on a new journey into imagination, finally reuniting the beloved characters who starred in the original Journey Into Imagination attraction.
For many long-time EPCOT fans, this was arguably the announcement of the night.
Disney hasn’t yet revealed exactly what the new experience will look like or when it will open, but more details are promised.
🎬Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Monstropolis Will Open in 2027
The transformation of the former Muppets area at Hollywood Studios continues, with Monstropolis set to open in 2027.
And Disney has now revealed much more about what guests will find once humans are finally allowed into the monster world.
The new land will celebrate H.U.M.A.N. Day – Humans Understanding Monsters Are Nice, marking a new relationship between humans and monsters.
And yes, Mike and Sulley will be there.
Welcome to Monstropolis
The land will feature a new show at the Glob Theater, where Mike and Sulley will introduce human guests to their city.
The show will also feature a brand-new song called “Welcome to Monstropolis”, written by Disney Legend Randy Newman.
Harryhausen’s
The famous restaurant from Monsters, Inc. will also become a real dining location.
Harryhausen’s will feature a new Audio-Animatronics version of the sushi chef himself, alongside a menu that Disney says will be unlike anything else currently offered at Walt Disney World.
Archie’s Scare Pig Pizza
Pizza lovers will have another option at Archie’s Scare Pig Pizza, while the nearby Monsters University Alumni Club will celebrate the school’s legendary scarers.
There will also be a dedicated merchandise location called Scareporium.
And, of course, there’s still the enormous Monsters, Inc. door vault coaster under construction.
That attraction will be Disney’s first suspended coaster and first coaster featuring a vertical lift.
🌳Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Indiana Jones and the Myth of the Jade Serpent
Animal Kingdom delivered one of the biggest new attraction reveals of the evening.
The new Indiana Jones attraction has officially been named:
Indiana Jones and the Myth of the Jade Serpent.
The ride will be located within the new Tropical Americas land and will take guests alongside Indiana Jones into an ancient Maya temple.
The story involves a mysterious cenote and a legendary serpent known as the Tsukán, which protects a passage to the Maya Underworld.
Guests will encounter bats, scorpions, fire, snakes and, ultimately, a gigantic Audio-Animatronics version of the Tsukán.
Harrison Ford Is Indiana Jones
Perhaps the biggest surprise?
Harrison Ford himself is being used as the model for the Indiana Jones Audio-Animatronics figure.
Disney says this is the first time Ford will be the face guests see on a Disney attraction anywhere in the world.
That’s a pretty impressive way to bring Indy back to Disney World.
🛋️Encanto Gets Its Attraction Name
The second major attraction within Tropical Americas has also received its official name.
Antonio’s Fiesta de Encanto will invite guests into the Madrigal family’s home to celebrate Antonio’s gift of communicating with animals.
The attraction will use ride vehicles designed to look like furniture brought to life by Casita.
Once inside Antonio’s room, guests will enter a rainforest filled with more than 50 different animals.
There’s also good news for families: there will be no height requirement for the attraction.
🐢El Carrusel de los Animalitos
Tropical Americas will also feature a brand-new carousel called El Carrusel de los Animalitos.
The attraction will feature 22 hand-carved animal figures inspired by Disney and Pixar characters.
Among those spotted so far are:
- Pua
- Pascal
- Simba
- Eeyore
- Kuzco
- Heimlich
- Scuttle
- Squirt
There’s also going to be a Maya-inspired play area, restaurants, shops and a large hacienda-style quick-service restaurant.
👣The Yeti Is Coming Back!
And then Disney dropped a surprise that many Animal Kingdom fans have been waiting years to hear.
The Yeti is coming back to life inside Expedition Everest.
Disney announced that the legendary Audio-Animatronics Yeti will once again become a major part of the attraction.
The announcement was made during the D23 showcase to huge cheers from the audience.
There’s currently no confirmed date for the Yeti’s return.
But if Disney can restore the original intensity of that encounter, Expedition Everest could become an even bigger must-do attraction.
What Does This Mean for UK Visitors?
For anyone planning an Orlando holiday over the next few years, D23 has revealed a huge amount of new Disney World construction and refurbishment.
The big attractions to watch are:
| Disney Park | What’s Coming |
|---|---|
| Magic Kingdom | Villains Land |
| Magic Kingdom | Piston Peak / Cars attractions |
| Magic Kingdom | Updated Carousel of Progress |
| EPCOT | Reimagined Spaceship Earth |
| EPCOT | Dreamfinder & Figment return |
| Hollywood Studios | Monstropolis |
| Animal Kingdom | Indiana Jones and the Myth of the Jade Serpent |
| Animal Kingdom | Antonio’s Fiesta de Encanto |
| Animal Kingdom | El Carrusel de los Animalitos |
| Animal Kingdom | Yeti returns to Expedition Everest |
Disney is effectively rebuilding large parts of Walt Disney World while continuing to add new experiences to the parks.
And for British visitors, that makes the timing of your Orlando holiday more important than ever.
So, When Should You Visit Disney World?
If you’re considering an Orlando holiday, there’s no simple answer.
Visit now, and you’ll experience the current versions of attractions such as Expedition Everest and Spaceship Earth before their transformations.
Visit from 2027 onwards, and you’ll potentially be able to experience Monstropolis, the updated Carousel of Progress and the new Tropical Americas attractions.
And further into the future, Villains Land and Piston Peak could completely change the Magic Kingdom experience.
One thing is certain: Disney World is going to look very different over the next few years.
And after what was revealed at D23, there are now plenty of reasons to start planning your next trip.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Disney announce for Walt Disney World at D23 2026?
Disney revealed major updates and new attractions across all four Walt Disney World theme parks, including Villains Land and Piston Peak at Magic Kingdom, a reimagined Spaceship Earth and the return of Dreamfinder and Figment at EPCOT, Monstropolis at Hollywood Studios, and major new attractions at Animal Kingdom.
When will Villains Land open at Disney World?
Disney has revealed more details about Villains Land but has not yet announced an opening date.
When will Monstropolis open?
Monstropolis at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is scheduled to open in 2027.
What is the new Indiana Jones ride at Animal Kingdom called?
The new attraction is officially called Indiana Jones and the Myth of the Jade Serpent. It will be located within Tropical Americas.
Is Dreamfinder returning to Disney World?
Yes. Disney confirmed that Dreamfinder and Figment will return to EPCOT for a new journey into imagination.
When will the new Carousel of Progress open?
Disney says the updated Carousel of Progress will debut in late spring 2027.
Planning your next Orlando holiday? With so many new Disney World attractions now on the horizon, it could be the perfect time to start planning. Check out our latest Disney World ticket offers and start building your next Florida adventure.
Smiles included…
Jamie
