Walt Disney World: All The New And Upcoming Attractions (And What We Know About Them)

Whether it's your first trip to Walt Disney World or you've been there a hundred times before, there's always going to be something you've never experienced before. Between its four theme parks, two water parks, and nearly two dozen resort hotels, it's nearly impossible to do it all.

But with a resort twice the size of the Island of Manhattan, simply keeping track of what's new can be an undertaking all its own. From refurbished attractions gaining new life to entirely fresh experiences, here's a look at everything that has changed recently and everything that's been officially announced in the future of Disney World.

It's A Small World Update - Magic Kingdom (July 17, 2025)

July 17, 2025, marks the 70th anniversary of Disneyland, but the original Disney park's birthday will be celebrated by its larger successor as well. Before Richard Sherman passed away, he penned a new verse to the famous It's a Small World song he wrote with his brother Robert. The versions of the attraction on both coasts will see their music updated on the same day with the new verse.

Disney Starlight Parade - Magic Kingdom (July 20, 2025) 

Ever since the Main Street Electrical Parade said goodbye to Magic Kingdom a number of years ago, fans have wanted a brand new nighttime parade in the park. Prayers have been answered as at D23 the Disney Starlight parade was officially announced to be coming to the park in 2025.

Test Track 3.0 - Epcot (July 22, 2025) 

In the summer of 2024, just after Epcot’s five-year construction journey was complete, Test Track closed. The ride is going down for a significant refurbishment. The core attraction structure is expected to remain, but a new story will be built around it. What that story will be we still don’t know, but fans won’t have to wait too long to experience it as the update is scheduled to be done in 2025.

The Beak And Barrel - Magic Kingdom (Late 2025) 

Magic Kingdom, like Disneyland itself, opened as a dry park, in accordance with the wishes of Walt Disney. Since then, however, alcohol has made its way into the park, and beer, wine, and cocktails are now available at every Magic Kingdom table service restaurant. However, what Magic Kingdom has not had, that all other domestic parks do have, is a dedicated lounge. That will change as the Beak and Barrel, located near Pirates of the Caribbean, will be coming later this year. The Barker Bird, previously outside the attraction, will be moving into the lounge as well.

Zootopia: Better Together - Disney’s Animal Kingdom (Winter 2025) 

After Zootopia received its own land at Shanghai Disney Resort many fans wondered if a version of that land may be on its way to Disney’s Animal Kingdom. That won’t be happening, but Zootopia will get a new attraction in the park. Zootopia 2 is set to open in November 2025 and shortly thereafter a new 3D show, Zootopia: Better Together is set to debut in the theater currently housing It’s Tough To Be A Bug.

The Mandalorian & Grogu Join Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run - Disney’s Hollywood Studios (May 22, 2026) 

When Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge was originally conceived it had a set time within Star Wars canon, during the sequel trilogy. Over time however, that idea has faded as new characters have been added from all over the Star Wars timeline. Now a big change is in store for one of Galaxy’s Edge’s major attractions.

At D23 Dave Filoni revealed plans to add a new mission to Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run, one that will include The Mandalorian & Grogu. While the new version of Smugler's Run is still years away, we know exactly what day it will arrive as it will launch at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World day and date with the Mandalorian & Grogu movie.

Piston Peak - Magic Kingdom (TBA) 

One of the biggest changes to one of Magic Kingdom’s original lands began in early July 2025. The Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island closed in order to make way for Piston Peak, a new part of Frontierland dedicated to the Cars franchise. The land will get a National Park style theme and is expected to be home to two major driving attractions, one greared toward younger riders and another a bit more thrilling.

Monsters Inc. Land - Disney’s Hollywood Studios (TBA) 

The announcement at D23 2024 of a new Monsters Inc. land, and by Billy Crystal himself, was met with cheers. Construction is set to begin in 2025, and the new land will include the “Door Coaster” Disney’s first hanging coaster, styled after the door chasing scene in the original Monsters Inc.

Grand Avenue, the area known as the Muppets Courtyard, will be closing on June 7, 2025, so that construction will begin on the new land.

Tropical Americas - Disney's Animal Kingdom (2027)

At the 2022 D23 Expo Disney Parks admitted what fans already knew, that Dinoland U.S.A. was in need of replacement. For a year we were in limbo as to what the new land would be, but we now have a bit of clarification. A new land, The Tropical Americas, focused on the area of Central and South America, will take over the space. At D23 2024 it was confirmed the land will include a carousel made up of animals from various Disney and Pixar films. It will also include an Encanto attraction set inside the magical Casita, and an Indiana Jones attraction that will be an original adventure that will see Indy on the hunt for a mysterious creature in a South American temple.

 Villains Land- Magic Kingdom (TBA) 

Back in 2023 Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro began to tease something called “Beyond Big Thunder.” It would be an entirely new land at Magic Kingdom, an expansion rather than a replacement. Several different themes for the land were teased, so fans didn’t know what we were getting.

Recently Added Attractions

Geo-82 - Epcot (June 4, 2025) 

When Spaceship Earth was first built, it included a VIP lounge meant to be used by the attraction’s sponsor. For the last several years, Spaceship Earth has been without a sponsor, and Disney World has apparently decided that location could be used more efficiently. The new lounge, which has been named GEO-82, will open this spring and will be a 21-and-over-only location.

The Little Mermaid - A Musical Adventure - Disney's Hollywood Studios (May 27, 2025)

While nearly everything that had closed during the global pandemic has since re-opened, one attraction conspicuous by its absence was Voyage of the Little Mermaid, a live stage show that presented a condensed version of the animated movie. In late 2023 Disney World finally confirmed that the show would not reopen when it announced that a freshly updated version of the show, The Little Mermaid - A Musical Adventure, was set to debut. Originally set to arrive in Fall 2024, the new show finally opened in May of 2025 and based on the early response it's a significant upgrade.

Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After (May 27, 2025)

Disney World will be debuting an entire land at Magic Kingdom dedicated to its classic villains in a few years at magic Kingdom, but before that happens, Disney Villains were given their own show at Disney's Hollywood Studios. The show includes Cruella de Vil, Captain Hook, and Maleficent live on stage, with more villains joining through the magic mirror.

Typhoon Lagoon And Blizzard Beach Both Open (May 21, 2025)

Walt Disney World has two full water parks in Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon, but we haven't seen both open since 2019. Following the global pandemic, Disney World has had them on a six-month rotating schedule, closing one as the other opens. However, this May, both water parks opened simultaneously for the first time in years. This is likely because, as the weather warmed up, more people are taking advantage of the fact that Disney World resort guests get free water park access on their day of check-in.

Disney’s Polynesian Island Tower (December 17, 2024) 

Just like Walt Disney World theme parks are always getting updated, the same is true of Disney World resort hotels. Disney’s Polynesian Village was one of two resorts to open on day one at Walt Disney World in 1971, and in 2024 it saw a new Disney Vacation Club tower open.

The Cake Bake Shop - Disney's Boardwalk (October 2024)

There's no shortage of sweet treats on offer at Walt Disney World, but Gwendolyn Rogers' Cake Bake Shop promises to offer truly unique cookies, French macaroons, and more when it opens its new location at Disney's BoardWalk. Initially planned for a late 2023 opening, things moved slowly, but the location opened in October 2024

Country Bear Musical Jamboree - Magic Kingdom (July 17, 2024) 

Over the last several years there were numerous rumors that the Country Bear Jamboree may get replaced. The opening day attraction at Magic Kingdom hasn't been closed, but it recently saw a major overhaul. The new show, which debuted in July, as The Country Bear Musical Jamboree redesigned all the animatronic characters, and now has them singing a medley of songs from Disney movies in various country music styles.

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure - Magic Kingdom (June 28, 2024) 

One of the most high-profile updates coming to Walt Disney World is the complete retheme of Splash Mountain. The ride previously based on Disney’s controversial film Song of the South has been completely redesigned with a new story set to be a sequel to The Princess and the Frog. The ride is now open and has been getting rave reviews.

The future certainly looks bright, and very busy, at Walt Disney World. While many of these projects won’t be coming in the short term, Disney World will be transformed by the time they’re all done.