What’s New & Coming to Disney World in 2027 & Beyond

New rides, restaurants, entertainment, and more is coming to Walt Disney World in 2027 and beyond. Here’s what’s been officially announced for Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom: construction info, expansion plans, and opening dates so you know what to expect when planning your WDW vacation.

Walt Disney World is basically in-between development cycles right now, which is either a good or bad thing depending upon your perspective or when you last visited. Consequently, the threshold question before you even begin planning might be whether you should skip visiting now and wait until 2028? The good news is that many major additions have opened within the last few years, so there’s a lot on the “what’s new” side of this list.

The bad news is that there’s not as much on the “coming soon” side. At least, not for the remainder of 2026 or first several months of 2027. There are additions, but the next new attraction doesn’t open until Summer 2027 at the earliest. In the meantime, there will be a lot of closures and construction. If you’d like to have more Walt Disney World news & rumors about what’s on the horizon, sign up for our FREE Walt Disney World Email Newsletter to receive updates.

When it comes to what’s new, several of the most consequential changes are to the guest experience. Walt Disney World killed off Genie+ and replaced it with Lightning Lane Multi-Pass, another new paid FastPass service. See our Guide to Lightning Lane Multi & Single Pass at Walt Disney World for answers to common questions and everything you need to know.

In addition to that, Early Entry and Extended Evening Hours have replaced Extra Magic Hours in the morning and at night. These have their own pros & cons, from being only available to on-site guests (or a subset thereof) to requiring people to get up early or stay late. If you’re unfamiliar with the ins and outs of each, learn more in our Guide to Early Entry at Walt Disney World and Guide to Extended Evening Hours at Walt Disney World.

Another change is the return of more aggressive Walt Disney World discounts, many of which are on par with 2019. Several have already been released for 2027, with more on the horizon. The reason for bigger and better deals is a mixture of attendance slowing, economic uncertainty, higher fuel costs, increased competition from Epic Universe, and more.

Here’s a park by park look at everything new and coming soon to Walt Disney World…

EPCOT

EPCOT has been overhauled, with a lot of additions debuting in the last few years. The new adults-only Spaceship Earth Lounge, GEO-82, is now open. We’ve had a chance to visit GEO-82, and it’s quite nice, ranking high our our list of the Top 26 Bars & Lounges at Walt Disney World.

Right behind Spaceship Earth, Creations Shop, Club Cool, and Connections Cafe & Eatery are all open. In addition to a counter service restaurant, Connections is now EPCOT’s permanent Starbucks location. Across from all of this is the World Celebration Gardens and CommuniCore Hall, which is one of the most disappointing additions to Walt Disney World in recent memory.

One of the most exciting additions to Walt Disney World is Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, which is a hybrid roller coaster. Cosmic Rewind is awesome–the best new ride at EPCOT in decades. In large part, this is owing to the Marvel characters, humor, and use of music. It’s exactly the blockbuster attraction that EPCOT needed, and is another great modern hybrid of story and fun from Imagineering. (Read our Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Ride Review for more.)

Another recently-reimagined attraction is Test Track 3.0. This attraction pulls inspiration from the original World of Motion, and brings that spirit of optimism to the next iteration of Test Track. Read our Test Track 3.0 Ride Review: Good, Bad & Ugly for more.

Another addition at the front of EPCOT is Moana: Journey of Water. This is the first-ever attraction based on the Walt Disney Animation Studios hit film, Moana. It’s a fun little walk-through that fits with the spirit of EPCOT.

Nearby, Soarin’ Across America debuted in 2026 as part of the Disney Celebrates America campaign. This is being billed as a limited time offering, but our expectation is that it sticks around for over a year. Hopefully, EPCOT will start rotating Soarin’ Across America with Soarin’ Around the World and Soarin’ Over California (or just Soarin’ as it’s known at EPCOT).

Next door in the Imagination pavilion, you’ll once again find Figment. The not-so-little purple dragon is meeting in the ImageWorks area, which is the exit of Journey into Imagination. You can either ride the attraction and see him on your way out, or enter through the gift shop. We highly recommend meeting Figment!

Turning to World Showcase, Frozen Ever After received upgraded Audio Animatronics of Kristoff, Anna & Elsa earlier this year. The other major attraction, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, ditched 3D and has added props to help blur the boundaries between the physical sets and screens.

You can currently catch Luminous The Symphony of Us, has now officially debuted as the new nighttime spectacular. This replaced Harmonious, which was intended to be a permanent lagoon show but failed, and the interim EPCOT Forever. Luminous is very good, and should stick around for years to come. Check out our Best Fireworks Viewing Locations at EPCOT for recommendations on where to watch.

Further into the future, Disney announced during D23 that EPCOT will take a new journey into imagination with everyone’s favorite purple dragon, Figment, and his longtime friend and companion, Dreamfinder.

The whimsical dream-chaser who originally brought imagination to life in the Imagination pavilion’s original attraction will return in a new adventure with Figment. This is my #1 most anticipated attraction in all of Walt Disney World. See Dreamfinder & Figment Reunited in Ride Reimagining of Journey Into Imagination at EPCOT for extensive commentary as to why.

Disney also announced at D23 that Spaceship Earth is getting an update for the first time in two decades. A reimagining is coming to the park icon, bringing the attraction storyline into the internet age and beyond. Disney Imagineers are adding new magic, broadening the iconic attraction’s focus to a theme that is still classically EPCOT: human connection.

Neither one of these projects have timelines, but we expect closures to commence sometime in 2027. It is possible that Spaceship Earth will also reopen in 2027, but we wouldn’t bet on it. Journey Into Imagination with Figment & Dreamfinder probably will not debut until much later.

Magic Kingdom

Next up is Magic Kingdom, we’ll start with what’s on the horizon in the next year followed by what’s new, and what’s coming in the longer term.

You’ll notice the first big change as soon as you step onto Main Street, with the return of the classic Cinderella Castle color scheme after 5+ years of the makeover for Walt Disney World’s 50th Anniversary. The updated paint features grays, creams, blues, and touches of gold, aiming to enhance the castle’s architecture. It looks fantastic.

Now rolling down Main Street is Starlight: Dream the Night Away, Walt Disney World’s first night parade in roughly a decade. Starlight pulls inspiration from Main Street Electrical Parade and SpectroMagic while featuring modern technology and fan-favorite characters.

We love Disney Starlight Night Parade and highly recommend making a point of watching it during your trip. The parade isn’t perfect, but it’s a worthy addition to Walt Disney World’s legacy of nighttime entertainment, and we cannot get enough of it. See our rundown of the Best Starlight Night Parade Viewing Spots & Tips to Beat Magic Kingdom’s Massive Crowds!

We’d further recommend scoring a spot that’s good for both Starlight and the fireworks, Happily Ever After. The beloved nighttime spectacular features enhancements, such as projections on Main Street and more. Our Viewing Guide to the Happily Ever After Fireworks at Magic Kingdom covers the best & worst spots to see the nighttime spectacular.

In Frontierland, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad has reopened after a year-plus closure! The iconic roller coaster received a complete re-tracking, along with new effects and more. The retracked BTMRR features a new Rainbow Caverns opening scene and gold rush finale. Thanks to the new track and refurbishment throughout, the ride looks and feels better than ever

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is the reimagined replacement for Splash Mountain right next to Big Thunder. The ride brings guests into the world of “The Princess and the Frog” after the events of the movie. As discussed in Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Ride Review: Failure, Flawed or Fantastic?, the attraction is a mixed bag. It’s also the most polarizing attraction in a long time.!

The Pirates of the Caribbean Tavern, known as the Beak & Barrel Bar, is now open in nearby Adventureland (near the attraction). This is like Oga’s Cantina in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, except themed to pirates. It’s an intimate setting, featuring the Barker Bird Audio Animatronics figure. Beak & Barrel is already insanely popular, and for good reason–it’s fantastic.

Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin has reopened after a lengthy “recharge” with enhanced scenes, a new Audio Animatronics figure, and improved gameplay. The ride has new blasters, interactive targets, clearer aiming, and vehicles with new real-time displays.

Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin has always been an enjoyable ride, but now it’s a must-do. The new blasters make shooting intuitive and satisfying, the reactive targets deepen gameplay, and the bonus modes give competitive guests something to chase. It has become an addictive attraction. Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin is now the #1 interactive dark ride in all of Walt Disney World. (Read our Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin Strategy Guide & Recharged Ride Review.)

Beyond Buzz, there are several projects rumored for Tomorrowland that were inexplicably not announced at the 2026 D23 Expo. Suffice to say, we’d recommend getting your ‘last rides’ in on this version of Space Mountain! (See Space Mountain Reimagining Rumored at Magic Kingdom.) We fully expect that to be announced at or before the 2027 Destination D23, potentially with another project or two in Tomorrowland!

Officially, the next project on the horizon at Magic Kingdom is the reimagined Carousel of Progress.

The circa 1994 version closed on July 6th, for a massive overhaul that shifts its timeline forward by 60 years. For more details, concept art, our emotional roller coaster of a reaction to the announcement, and the same from 100+ readers, check out New Decades for Carousel of Progress.

During D23, Walt Disney World announced that Carousel of Progress will reopen in late Spring 2027. We’re honestly shocked by this timeline, and wouldn’t be surprised if Disney ends up using the Astronomical seasons for this one, and Carousel of Progress doesn’t reopen until June 2027.

Looking further into the future, Walt Disney World is building two all-new Cars attractions in a ‘Piston Peak’ National Park setting and Villains Land expansion at Magic Kingdom, essentially between/behind Big Thunder and Haunted Mansion.

The Piston Peak Cars Land is likely to debut in 2029, and Villains Land will follow in 2030. Those opening dates could be off by a year, with Piston Peak potentially slipping to 2030 and Villains Land in 2031. Or maybe there will be phased or simultaneous openings. This far out, it’s really hard to say. But regardless, we do not expect anything in either area to debut in 2027 or even 2028. There are expansions coming online in other parks over the next two years.

Since this post largely revolves around 2027, it’s worth noting that the near-term will only involve walls and a massive ‘crater’ in the middle of Magic Kingdom. There’s a lot of site development to be done before vertical construction even begins, and that could take until 2027. In the meantime, the Walt Disney World Railroad is operating in “shuttle mode” due to the temporary closure of Frontierland Station.

Animal Kingdom

The first addition at Animal Kingdom is Zootopia: Better Zoogether, which replaced It’s Tough to Be a Bug late last year. See our Zootopia Better Zoogether Review: Walt Disney World’s Zoorst New Attraction of 2020s.

Not only will you see Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde at Zootopia: Better Zoogether, but the pair is greeting guests at Discovery Island near the Tree of Life at the Zoogether Day Gathering Spot.

The other addition is Bluey’s Wild World out at Conservation Station. This is an interactive dance party, which is fun for small children but also requires a time commitment to experience since you have to take the train to reach Bluey’s Wild World.

Animal Kingdom is also the park that’s first up for additions during the next development cycle. Dino-Rama closed last year for construction to begin on Tropical Americas at Animal Kingdom. This land is likely to open in phases, starting in the second half of 2027 and continuing into 2028. (See Walt Disney World Quietly Drops 2027 Opening for Tropical Americas at Animal Kingdom.)

Tropical Americas will feature three mini-lands, in essence. One will be home to the Encanto Magical Madrigal Casita Dark Ride (officially Antonio’s Fiesta de Encanto), and another will be Indiana Jones Adventure (officially Indiana Jones and the Myth of the Jade Serpent). In between will be Pueblo Esperanza or the “Village of Hope” along with a critter carousel and large-scale counter service restaurant.

During the 2026 D23 Expo, Disney announced that Disco Yeti is Dying at Expedition Everest. Long Live Working Audio Animatronics at Animal Kingdom! No timeline has been announced for the demise of Disco Yeti, but our expectation is that this closure starts sometime in 2027, likely after the first or second phase of Tropical Americas opens, but before Antonio’s Fiesta de Encanto.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

There have been several additions and changes to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge over the last few years.

The most popular of which is the Mandalorian and Baby Yoda walk-around characters who meet and greet guests. The insanely popular dynamic duo does not have specific appearance times, nor do they have a dedicated location. You’re most likely to spot them around Black Spire Outpost between 10 am and 5 pm.

There’s also a new Mandalorian and Baby Yoda mission on Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run. This is a massive upgrade to the attraction, although it’s largely flown under the radar with fans.

On the other side of the park, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring the Muppets has debuted. It’s also an upgrade over its predecessor (featuring Aerosmith), and has quickly become a fan-favorite and one of the longest lines in DHS.

Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring the Muppets features Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy and the Electric Mayhem, teaming up with some of music’s biggest stars for a rockin’ ride. The premise is similar to its predecessor, complete with backstage chaos and high-speed thrills. Added to this is signature Muppets music, humor, and all-new Audio-Animatronics figures.

Although losing MuppetVision still stings, this is a fantastic reimagining that bodes well for future projects of this nature getting greenlit by Walt Disney World leadership. (Read our Review: Muppets Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Is Better Than It Had Any Right to Be.)

Towards the front of the park, Animation Courtyard has been reimagined into the Walt Disney Studios Lot. The biggest change is that the Roy E. Disney Animation Building has replaced Star Wars Launch Bay at Hollywood Studios, and houses an all-new family experience, “The Magic of Disney Animation.”

The new-look Walt Disney Studios Lot has grassy grounds and a courtyard area where families can relax under lush trees, drawing inspiration from several buildings found on the Disney campuses in Burbank, California. The Magic of Disney Animation features several all-new experiences: Once Upon a Studio Theater, Olaf Draws Animation Academy, Drawn to Wonderland Play Area, and “Off the Page” Character Meet & Greets.

In the same general areas as Animation Courtyard and Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring the Muppets, Disney’s Hollywood Studios debuted a couple of smaller-scale stage shows last year. Both “The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure” and “Villains Unfairly Ever After” are now performing.

Starting in 2027, a brand-new Monstropolis land will come to life at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Picking up after the events of the first film, humans have now been invited to visit the world of Monsters, Inc.

The Glob Theater will present “Welcome to Monstropolis” to showcase the city and introduce the Monster world to humans. An original song by Disney Legend Randy Newman will help bring the city to life, making it feel like the monster world has finally opened its doors to humans.

Quick-service restaurant Archie’s Scare Pig Pizza invites diners to college life, where the Alumni Club celebrates top scarers, student clubs, and familiar sororities and fraternities from the film “Monsters University.”

Bringing to life the iconic table service restaurant featured in “Monsters, Inc.”, Harryhausen’s will offer a menu unlike anything else at Walt Disney World, as well as an impressive new sushi chef Audio-Animatronics figure hard at work.

Scareporium will open for human tourists to purchase monstrous merchandise to commemorate their visit. The theater show, two dining experiences, and the merchandise shop will all open in 2027. The marquee addition, the Door Coaster, will not debut until 2028.

The Monsters, Inc. Doors Coaster will put you right in the middle of the monster action. Guests will be able to visit the Laugh Factory, hear the laughs and zoom through the building just like Sulley and Mike Wazowski, via a door.

Epic Universe

Speaking of doors, Walt Disney World’s next door neighbor is home to the biggest new addition: Epic Universe. The third theme park down the road at Universal Orlando features rides and lands based on Harry Potter, Nintendo, Universal Monsters, How to Train Your Dragon, and more.

A bit off-topic, but if we’re talking about what’s coming soon to Walt Disney World, we’d be remiss if we didn’t at least give passing mention to Epic Universe, as it’s the big addition. Anyone taking a Walt Disney World vacation in 2027 should give serious consideration to spending a day or few over at Universal to experience the new park and more.

We’ve spent several days in Epic Universe already and love the new park. However, we discuss Why You Should Skip Epic Universe (for now) if you’re infrequent visitors to Florida. The good news is that the park has already made tremendous strides and should be firing on all cylinders by sometime in 2027.

WDW Resort Hotels

A few resorts have opened at Walt Disney World within the last 5 years.

Most recently, the Island Tower at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort and the new DVC Cabins at Fort Wilderness debuted within the 18 months. There’s yet another Disney Vacation Club property being built, the long-delayed Disney Lakeshore Lodge, which is slated to open in Summer 2027.

Also on the resort front, the reinvention of Disney’s BoardWalk continues. Cake Bake Shop & Restaurant debuted a couple of years ago, and next up is Hurly-Burly nightclub in October 2026. That’ll be followed by a new counter service concept sometime in 2027.

From now through 2027, several resorts are undergoing refurbishment, construction, and expansion projects.  We would recommend consulting our list of Construction & Refurbishments at Walt Disney World Hotels, which we update regularly for insight into changes at existing hotels.

Disney Springs

Then there’s Disney Springs. This is the entertainment and shopping district previously known as Downtown Disney. Producing a comprehensive list of what has opened here in the last ~5 years would be daunting, as around 75% of this area has been overhauled.

Cirque du Soleil: Drawn to Life is the most recent entertainment offering to debut, performing in iconic white circus tent on the Westside. In addition to that, Salt & Straw scoop shop has opened, as have both Gideon’s Bakehouse and Six Ravens (sweet and savory concepts by the same small business owner). There are also a bunch of new stores, from M&M’s to Corkcicle to Lululemon.

In terms of major additions, Summer House on the Lake brings California coastal cuisine in a modern setting. On the other side of Disney Springs is EET by Maneet Chauhan, a modern Indian restaurant that replaced Wolfgang Puck Express location in the Marketplace. Speaking of which, Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill permanently closed in Fall 2026.

As you can probably tell, there is a lot that’s new and coming soon to Walt Disney World in the next few years.

With that said, don’t fret too much about the construction–even with an unprecedented amount, must of its out-of-the-way of guest areas, and there are still a ton of attractions to do at Walt Disney World no matter when you visit!

Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page. For where to eat, read our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will help. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know!

Your Thoughts

Which attractions coming to Walt Disney World in 2027, 2028 or beyond are you most excited to experience? Are you delaying your next visit to maximize seeing ‘new stuff’ or moving it forward to avoid the crowds? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!