Have you ever seen a picture of Disney’s Hollywood Studios from the ’90s? It looked like a COMPLETELY different park (R.I.P. to the Lights, Motors, Action! Stunt Show, Studio Backlot Tour, and The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights). The truth is, all it takes is a few short years for Disney World to transform itself, reinvent the parks, and increase the price of a park ticket. It’s pretty wild to think about! So, that got us thinking, “What will Disney World look like in a few years?”
There’s a great, big, beautiful tomorrow just a construction project away!
While many Disney World projects remain a mystery (looking at you, U.K. Mary Poppins attraction!), there are several major attractions, resorts, and experiences coming soon to Florida. When they arrive, Disney World will NEVER be the same, so let’s talk about 10 places in Disney World that will look totally different in a few years.
Magic Kingdom
Tomorrowland
Thanks to a new attraction speeding into Disney World, Tomorrowland might soon look TOTALLY different! Remember when Space Mountain marked the outer edge of Tomorrowland? Not anymore! TRON Lightcycle Run will soon be the newest roller coaster in the Magic Kingdom, featuring futuristic (this is Tomorrowland, after all!) bike-style ride vehicles, bright, colorful lighting, and highspeed thrills.
It’s still a work in progress at the moment
The attraction is expected to be pretty similar to the existing TRON attraction in Shanghai Disneyland, though we’re still waiting for more details on the final ride! The good news is that ride vehicle testing started in early 2022, and eventually, after the trial weight testing is approved, team members will be able to participate in test runs. It’s a lengthy process, but we’re getting closer to the grand opening!
TRON: Lightcycle Run in Shanghai Disneyland
Once it’s complete, guests will be able to walk past Space Mountain to the TRON attraction, which will feature a massive light-up canopy that will totally transform the space. We can’t wait to see what Tomorrowland is like in a few years!
Click here to learn more about TRON Lightcycle Run!
Frontierland
Frontierland might soon have a little bayou adventure of its own! Back in 2020, Disney announced that Splash Mountain will someday receive a complete transformation, eventually becoming a Princess and the Frog-themed attraction!
©Disney Princess and the Frog concept art
Since the original announcement, Disney hasn’t shared many major updates on the redesign. We do know that the new attraction will take place “after the final kiss, and join Princess Tiana and Louis on a musical adventure – featuring some of the powerful music from the film – as they prepare for their first-ever Mardi Gras performance.”
©Disney Princess and the Frog attraction Concept Art
The project will be led by Charita Carter, an Imagineer who helped bring Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway to life in Hollywood Studios. For now, we’ll have to wait for Disney to share an opening timeline, but it’s fun to imagine what Frontierland might look like in a few years! We’re ready for a little New Orleans flair in the Magic Kingdom!
Read more about the re-theming of Splash Mountain HERE!
EPCOT
This is a big one, people. The old EPCOT circa the early-mid 2000s has been completely demolished, making way for a huge EPCOT transformation. The old area known as Future World has been rebranded into three neighborhoods called World Celebration, World Discovery, and World Nature. Within these new neighborhoods, Disney will introduce new attractions, dining, and interactive experiences!
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
First up, in World Discovery, the new Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind attraction is now one of the longest indoor roller coasters ever built! This attraction has the first-ever reverse launch into space, plus 360-degree turning ride vehicles!
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Ride Vehicle
The attraction will open on May 27, 2022, marking an important milestone in the EPCOT transformation. After all, the old EPCOT certainly didn’t have any Nova Corps Starblasters or talking raccoons!
Learn MORE about Cosmic Rewind here!
Journey of Water
It’s time for Moana to shine with Disney’s new Journey of Water attraction! This isn’t your typical ride-style attraction; instead, Disney described it as a “lush exploration trail” where guests can “play with magical, living water.” Basically, think of it like an immersive walk-through attraction.
Journey of Water Concept Art as seen in The EPCOT Experience
The new Journey of Water will be located in the World Nature neighborhood in EPCOT, though currently, the area is under construction, and Disney has not shared an opening timeline.
Learn all about this Moana-inspired interactive experience HERE!
PLAY! Pavilion
Disney has kept us in the dark for a while, but that doesn’t mean we’ve forgotten about the PLAY! Pavilion! The large new PLAY! pavilion will live in the old Wonders of Life pavilion, though the previous pavilion will look totally unrecognizable by the time the construction is finished!
PLAY! Pavilion sign in Future World
In short, the PLAY! Pavilion has been described as a space for kids (and adults) to, well, PLAY, with innovative opportunities in a bright city setting. We’re picturing a Ralph Breaks the Internet-style atmosphere with games, characters, and interactive experiences.
Click HERE to learn more about the PLAY! Pavilion.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Toy Story Land
Even Hollywood Studios is set to get an upgrade! A new Table Service dining experience called Roundup Rodeo BBQ is coming to Toy Story Land!
©Disney Roundup Rodeo BBQ concept art
The restaurant is set to open in 2022, along with Jessie’s Trading Post — a gift shop full of the “coolest toys and finest souvenirs handpicked by the rootinest, tootinest cowgirl.”
Learn more about the Roundup Rodeo BBQ HERE!
Disney Resorts
There are some MASSIVE changes planned for Disney’s Boardwalk Resort! We’re talking a new table service restaurant, a new sandwich shop, a new coffee bar, AND a new lobby, lounge, and guest rooms. WOW — they’re practically starting from scratch!
This resort is getting a TRANSFORMATION!
There’s a lot to discuss with all these new changes; look for some “light and airy touches” in the hotel lobby and guest rooms in the future! Does this mean the terrifying nanny chairs will disappear?! We’ll have to wait and see!
Click here to learn more about all FOUR major changes!
Even the classic Polynesian Village Resort, which recently had a small makeover, is set to receive a HUGE update! New Disney Vacation Club villas will be coming to Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, with a projected opening date in late 2024.
©Disney
The new rooms will be inspired by “the early concepts for Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort,” featuring more rooms, new recreation offerings, and new dining options.
Click here to learn more about the new Polynesian addition
Disney Springs
Brightline Train
Eventually, you might be able to ride a high-speed train right to Disney Springs! Brightline is planning to construct a rail station at Disney Springs that will connect all the way from the Orlando International Airport to Miami, Florida.
©Brightline
When complete, the Disney Springs train station will become a major transportation hub for Disney World guests! We still don’t know when the train station will be complete, but we will let you know as soon as we do!
Click HERE to read more about the Brightline train.
Salt & Straw
Salt & Straw (which you may recognize from Downtown Disney in Disneyland) will soon bring its unique ice cream flavors to Disney Springs this April!
Salt and Straw ice cream flight in Disneyland
Once this ice cream shop is complete, guests will have ANOTHER fabulous dessert option in Disney Springs!
Click HERE to learn more about Salt & Straw
WOW — that’s a lot of huge projects! Imagine what Disney World will look like in another 10 years (and how much it will COST!) In the meantime, we’re always on the lookout for the latest Disney news, so stay tuned for more!
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Unfortunately, for the traditionalist, nothing sounds great. A thrill coaster at Magic Kingdom and Epcot is great for the spin and puke fan, but not for me. Boardwalk already has plenty of restaurants on the beat, and the current ones seem to come and go like the wind, The Britelime Train is a pipe dream that will cost guests time no money so there is nothing great there… the Polynesian is loosing its quaintness, the Luau and will be woefully over crowded with the new high rise expansion, The Water feature at Epcot will be a walking tour nd a letdown as compared to what Epcot is loosing…the fountains, Communicore learning sequence and viola…a lot of nothing except higher prices for everyone. Not impressed