UPDATED March 17, 2025

Walt Disney once said, “We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we’re curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.” And since Walt Disney World first opened on October 1, 1971, new rides, attractions, and lands have certainly added LOTS of “new things” for guests to enjoy over the years!

Here, we’ve gathered all of the new rides and attractions coming to Disney World in 2025 (and even a bit beyond) so you can plan your trips accordingly!

New and Updated Rides, Attractions, and Character Greetings Coming to Disney World in 2025

 

Magic Kingdom

Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away — OPENING SUMMER 2025!

A brand new nighttime parade is coming to Magic Kingdom in the summer of 2025. Get ready for Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away!

In August 2024 at the D23 Ultimate Fan Event in Anaheim, California, Disney shared the big news about this new nighttime spectacular, revealing that Disney Starlight will be “using the latest technology to tell new stories about the characters you love.”

Check out Disney Starlight HERE!

Disney’s Animal Kingdom

“Zootopia: Better Zoogether!” — OPENING 2025!

A transformation is coming to the It’s Tough to be a Bug! attraction in the Tree of Life Theater in Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

Get ready for a NEW show to debut in winter of 2025: Zootopia: Better Zoogether!

Guests will see Judy Hopps, Nick Wilde, and their pals from Zootopia in the transformed attraction. Disney shares that it “will take guests on an adventure through different biomes seen in the film.” 

This new show was originally set to premiere over the winter of 2025; however, that timeline has met with delays. Please be aware that the It’s Tough to Be a Bug! attraction, which was previously housed in the Tree of Life Theater is now officially closed at Animal Kingdom (as of March 17th, 2025) to make way for the new Zootopia show. We’ll keep you posted on an updated opening timeline for Zootopia: Better Zoogether!

Click HERE to check out Zootopia: Better Zoogether!

EPCOT

Test Track Reimagined — TEMPORARILY CLOSED to be Reimagined; REOPENING in Late Summer 2025

Test Track is being reimagined in EPCOT! The updated version of the ride will take inspiration from EPCOT’s old World of Motion attraction! In fact, Disney explained, “Imagineers along with teams from Chevrolet are reaching back into history for inspiration – from the original World of Motion – and bringing that spirit of optimism to the next iteration of the Test Track attraction!”

The attraction closed on June 17th, 2024 to begin the transformation. Imagineers are adding new show scenes that will showcase technological advances and show “how our lifestyles and relationships to mobility connect everyone.” You will take a joy ride through scenes focusing on onboard technology, customization, and personalization, ending with a trip through a scenic outdoor route.

At this time, a reopening date has not been announced, but Disney has shared that the attraction will reopen in late Summer 2025.

Find out more about the NEW Test Track HERE!

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After — OPENING SUMMER 2025!

Disney is bringing even more live entertainment to the stage down Sunset Boulevard, where it aims to transform the current Sunset Showcase into the “mysterious, reflective realm of the Magic Mirror.” A brand new Disney Villains show will feature appearances from the likes of Cruella de Vil, Captain Hook, and Maleficent each “breaking through the glass” where they will take the stage to perform live! Get ready for Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After!

Disney shares that the show revolves around the premise that the Magic Mirror has summoned some of Disney’s most wicked characters who will break through the glass and tell us why we’ve misunderstood them all along. “In the end, it will be on you to make the final call in a delightfully wicked finale filled with dozens of the most infamous evildoers awaiting your decision from within the Mirror’s realm.”

Please be aware that Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy took its final lap on October 7th, 2024 to make way for this new show.

Check out more about the NEW Villains show coming to Hollywood Studios HERE!

New “The Little Mermaid” Show in Disney’s Hollywood Studios — OPENING SUMMER 2025!

Disney announced in December 2023 that a NEW show — “The Little Mermaid — A Musical Adventure” — is coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios! It will make its debut in the summer of 2025. 

The new show will be a reimagined show inspired by the original animated classic from Walt Disney Animation Studios. “The Little Mermaid — A Musical Adventure” will premiere at the Animation Courtyard theater. The new version of the show will feature a combination of live actors, puppets, digital animation, and even some live motion capture seamlessly integrated together to fully replicate the underwater setting. When it opens, we can expect to hear musical numbers like “ “Daughters of Triton,” “Part of Your World,” “Poor Unfortunate Souls,” and “Kiss the Girl!”

(Please be aware that with this announcement, it’s also been confirmed that Voyage of the Little Mermaid is permanently closed in Disney World.)

New and Updated Rides and Attractions Coming to Disney World in 2026

NEW Adventures Coming to Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run — Debuting May 22, 2026!

Disney has announced Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run will soon feature one of the most popular Star Wars characters, the Mandalorian! 

New missions with the Mandalorian and Grogu are going to be added to the attraction in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.

There will also be new Star Wars destinations to explore including Tatooine, Bespin, and the ruins of the Death Star!

This new Mandalorian and Grogu storyline will coincide with the release of upcoming films on May 22nd, 2026. 

New and Updated Rides and Attractions Coming to Disney World in 2027

Disney’s Animal Kingdom

TWO Attractions Coming to The Tropical Americas Pueblo Esperanza

A NEW LAND themed to the Tropical Americas is coming to Disney World’s Animal Kingdom park in 2027. Get ready to step into Pueblo Esperanza! With this announcement, What is now DinoLand, U.S.A. will become Pueblo Esperanza, and the new land will become home to two signature attractions — an Encanto ride featuring the Madrigal family and a new Indiana Jones adventure ride!

Pueblo Esperanza will feature an all-new Encanto-themed ride with the family Madrigal inside the enchanted Casita.

The boat ride will begin just as Antonio has received his special gift and his room becomes a beautiful rainforest. You go explore with him, and according to Disney, “You never know what member of the family you might bump into…”

While some may be familiar with the Indiana Jones Adventure attraction in Disneyland, the Indiana Jones ride in Animal Kingdom will feature a brand-new story.

As described by Disney, the attraction will follow “the man with the hat” during a time when he has “recently discovered a perfectly preserved Maya temple, and that can only mean one thing: it’s time to explore it. He’s heard rumors about a mythical creature deep within the temple — and he’s got to see it for himself. So, he brings us along on the adventure… but will there be snakes? We’ll just have to wait and see.”

Click HERE to explore everything coming to Pueblo Esperanza!

Please be aware that DinoLand, U.S.A. is currently undergoing a phased closure which started on January 13th, 2025.  To begin, the last day for TriceraTop Spin, Fossil Fun Games, and Chester & Hester’s Dinosaur Treasures at Animal Kingdom was January 12th, 2025, and they are all permanently closed as of January 13th. 

Specifically in regards to the DINOSAUR attraction, Disney has stated that “2025 is your year to visit before it goes extinct!”

New and Updated Rides and Attractions Coming to Disney World — Timeline Not Yet Known

Magic Kingdom

TWO New Cars-themed Attractions Coming to Frontierland

Disney has announced that a new area inspired by the movie Cars is coming to Magic Kingdom’s Frontierland! The cars are leaving Radiator Springs to explore the West and into new frontiers. There will be two NEW Cars attractions!

One will take you on a race through the mountains and wild terrain along mountain trails, dodging geysers and splashing through mud holes.

The second ride will geared toward smaller racers and will be fun for the whole family.

Construction on this new area in Frontierland will begin early in 2025, and we will keep you posted on the projected opening timeline when we learn more.

Find out more about the NEW Cars rides coming to Magic Kingdom HERE!

TWO New Attractions Coming to Villains Land

In August 2024, Disney officially announced that Magic Kingdom is expanding the theme park with a brand new Villains Land!

TWO major attractions, along with new dining and shopping experiences will be presented “on an incredibly twisted grand scale.” Though an opening timeline has not yet been shared, Disney has stated that preparations are now underway!

Click HERE to explore Magic Kingdom’s upcoming Villains Land!

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

NEW Roller Coaster Coming to Hollywood Studios

Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Walt Disney World is preparing to open a BRAND NEW THEMED LAND featuring those lovable monsters from MONSTERS, INC.! That’s right… the monsters are inviting YOU to Monstropolis, where they need human laughter to power the city and keep it running.

Monsters, Inc. Land will feature Disney’s VERY FIRST suspended coaster, which “will put you right in the middle of the monster action. Just be sure to fill out your paperwork! Roz is always watching…”

NEW Monsters, Inc. Show Coming to Hollywood Studios

Though not many details have been released, Disney has also confirmed that the upcoming Monsters, Inc. Land will deliver  a “whole new theater show.”

Click HERE to check out the upcoming Monsters, Inc. Land!

Rock ‘n Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith RETHEME

The new Monsters, Inc. land will be taking over the Muppets area of Disney’s Hollywood Studios, BUT this isn’t the end of The Muppets in Hollywood Studios. In fact, The Muppets are being moved elsewhere in Hollywood Studios. 

Disney announced that The Muppets will be moving to Sunset Boulevard and taking over Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster! You read that right, The Muppets will be the star of the show on Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster and will be teaming up with some of “music’s biggest stars for a rockin’ music festival.” 

This will be the first Disney ride to feature The Muppets and there are sure to be “laughter, screams and new tunes for this attraction for fans to enjoy throughout the adventure.”

We will continue to keep you posted on all the latest new for these and other new additions coming to Disney World!