Disney used its 2026 D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event to offer new details on some of its biggest upcoming projects across Walt Disney World, Disneyland Resort and Disney Cruise Line.
The announcements showed off a growing lineup of attractions built around familiar Disney, Pixar and Marvel characters, along with new opportunities for immersive experiences. Here are some of the highlights to keep on the radar.
DISNEYLAND RESORT
Disneyland Resort has several major projects underway, particularly at Disney California Adventure.
Avengers Campus will double in size when Avengers Infinity Defense and Stark Flight Lab open in 2028. Infinity Defense will send guests across locations including Asgard, Wakanda and New York City as they join the Avengers in a battle against King Thanos. Stark Flight Lab will use two-person ride vehicles attached to robotic arms to create a multidirectional flight-training experience.
A new Coco attraction is also under construction. Set one year after the original film, the ride will begin in a museum dedicated to Héctor Rivera’s music before taking guests by boat into Miguel’s memories and the Land of the Dead. Familiar characters including Miguel, Dante and Héctor will appear throughout. The Coco ride will have no height requirement, making it a particularly family-friendly addition.
Disneyland is also preparing to bring back several popular entertainment experiences in 2027, including Remember… Dreams Come True, an updated World of Color and the Magic Happens daytime parade.
WALT DISNEY WORLD
EPCOT
EPCOT has several updates ahead. Spaceship Earth will receive its first major update in nearly two decades, shifting its focus from the history of communication toward human connection in the digital age.
And in a particularly nostalgic announcement, Dreamfinder will return to EPCOT alongside Figment for a new adventure at the Imagination pavilion. The characters originally appeared together in the attraction when it debuted in 1983.
Hollywood Studios
The upcoming Monstropolis land will bring the world of Monsters, Inc. to Hollywood Studios. Disney revealed plans for restaurants, shopping and entertainment, including a new show featuring Mike and Sulley at the Glob Theater and a new song written for the park by Disney Legend Randy Newman.
The land will also include Harryhausen’s, a table-service restaurant inspired by Mike and Celia’s date in Monsters, Inc., and Archie’s Scare Pig Pizza. The area is expected to begin opening in 2027, while construction continues on its signature door-themed coaster.
Magic Kingdom
One of the biggest projects coming to Magic Kingdom is Piston Peak National Park, a new Cars-themed area being built in Frontierland. Disney shared a massive model of the land at D23, giving fans a closer look at its Western-inspired setting and two attractions.
The headliner, Cars Ridge Run Rally, will take guests on an off-road race through Piston Peak, climbing toward a snow-covered mountain summit and speeding over bumps and through a geyser field. The ride vehicles are designed to react to the terrain, while Lightning McQueen and Mater provide commentary along the way.
The second attraction, Miss Fritter’s Daredevil Spin-Along, will put guests into Cars-style vehicles for a spinning demolition derby hosted by Miss Fritter, the school-bus-sized character from Cars 3. The land will also feature smaller details such as vehicle-inspired animals, including miniature frogs and mischievous “Goat Carts.”
Magic Kingdom is also getting Villains Land, which will be roughly comparable in size and scale to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. The new area will be set in a dark forest surrounding a magical Wishing Well corrupted by an evil wish. Disney villains including Maleficent, Cruella, the Evil Queen and Dr. Facilier will establish their own lairs in the area.
Two major attractions are planned: a Maleficent-themed coaster winding through the briars around her fortress and a dark ride through the catacombs beneath the Evil Queen’s palace. The latter will use the Magic Mirror to bring guests into a realm filled with Disney villains.
Animal Kingdom
Animal Kingdom’s new Tropical Americas land will bring together attractions inspired by Indiana Jones and Encanto, along with an animal-themed carousel.
Indiana Jones and the Myth of the Jade Serpent will send guests with Indy into a Maya temple in search of an ancient passage to the Underworld. The attraction will feature a massive serpent named Tsukán, along with bats, scorpions and snakes. Harrison Ford’s likeness will be used for the Indiana Jones Audio-Animatronics figures, and Disney says it is working with archaeologists, anthropologists and Maya experts on the attraction.
For younger visitors, Antonio’s Fiesta de Encanto could be an especially appealing addition. The attraction takes place inside Casita during Antonio’s gift day, celebrating his ability to communicate with animals. More than 50 animal species will appear throughout the experience, with ride vehicles made from pieces of Casita furniture. Importantly for groups traveling with youth, there is no height requirement.
The land’s third attraction, El Carrusel de los Animalitos, will feature 22 hand-carved animals inspired by Disney and Pixar characters.
Disney is also finally bringing the Yeti back to life on Expedition Everest, ending the long-running “Disco Yeti” era of the attraction.
DISNEY CRUISE LINE
Disney Cruise Line continues to expand as well. The Disney Believe, scheduled to debut in 2027, will become the fourth Wish-class ship. Its Grand Hall will take inspiration from Moana, with a centerpiece sculpture featuring Moana, Pua and Heihei. Other Disney touches include Toy Story-inspired artwork featuring Woody and Buzz and Peter Pan details incorporated into the ship’s bow.
Looking further ahead, Disney is developing an entirely new class of mid-size cruise ships, with the first three expected to begin joining the fleet in 2029. Disney says the ships could allow the cruise line to reach new destinations and audiences.
Photos courtesy of Disney Parks Blog.
