What’s New & Coming to Disney World in 2025 & 2026

New rides, eating places, leisure, and extra is coming to Walt Disney World in 2025 & 2026. Right here’s what’s rumored and official: development data, enlargement plans, and opening dates so you recognize what to anticipate when planning your WDW trip. (Up to date January 2, 2025.)

Walt Disney World is mainly in-between improvement cycles proper now, which is both a very good or unhealthy factor relying upon your perspective or while you final visited. The excellent news is that many main additions have opened inside the final 5 years, so there’s so much on the “what’s new” aspect of this record at Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and the resort motels.

The unhealthy information is that there’s not as a lot on the “coming quickly” aspect. A minimum of, not in 2025 or 2026. There are additions, however the subsequent new experience doesn’t open till 2027. Within the meantime, there might be lots of closures and development. See Building & Openings Timelines for New Lands & Rides at Walt Disney World. Within the meantime, there’s nonetheless so much coming within the subsequent 2 years, together with experience reimaginings, new eating places, and rather more. In case you’d wish to have extra Walt Disney World information & rumors about what’s on the horizon, join our FREE Walt Disney World E-mail E-newsletter to obtain updates.

Relating to what’s new, a number of of the most important issues don’t contain development in any respect, however quite, are adjustments to the visitor expertise. Final summer season, Walt Disney World killed off Genie+ and changed it with Lightning Lane Multi-Cross, one other new paid FastPass service. Paradoxically, that is similar to FastPass+ (so fairly actually, paid FastPass). See our Information to Lightning Lane Multi & Single Cross at Walt Disney World for solutions to widespread questions and every part it’s good to know.

Along with that, Early Entry and Prolonged Night Hours have changed Further Magic Hours within the morning and at night time. These have their very own professionals & cons, from being solely obtainable to on-site friends (or a subset thereof) to requiring individuals to rise up early or keep late. In case you’re unfamiliar with the ins and outs of every, be taught extra in our Information to Early Entry at Walt Disney World and Information to Prolonged Night Hours at Walt Disney World.

One other change is the return of the Disney Eating Plans. Along with the paid model of the DDP returning, Free Eating can also be as soon as once more obtainable for Summer time 2025. This is only one of a number of promotions that Walt Disney World has launched because it prepares for the opening of Common’s Epic Universe.

Talking of which, Epic Universe is likely one of the huge drivers behind Walt Disney World not having any main additions in 2025 or 2026. That is the third theme park down the street at Common Orlando, opening on Could 22, 2025. Epic Universe accommodates revolutionary sights and main lands based mostly on Harry Potter, Nintendo, Common Monsters, Find out how to Prepare Your Dragon, and extra.

Working on the idea that new lands and rides can’t compete head-to-head with a wholly new theme park, Walt Disney World opted to stagger its main additions earlier than and after Epic Universe. Regardless, we’re extremely excited for Common’s Epic Universe–it’s far and away what we’re most excited for in 2025. New parks are at all times a deal with, showcasing the newest improvements, traits, and the place the themed design business is heading subsequent–together with Walt Disney World’s subsequent main improvement cycle.

A bit off-topic, but when we’re speaking about what’s coming quickly to Walt Disney World, we’d be remiss if we didn’t at the least give passing point out to Epic Universe, because it’s the elephant within the room and the huge addition opening in Orlando in 2025. Anybody taking a Walt Disney World trip this yr or subsequent ought to give severe consideration to spending a day or few over at Common to expertise the brand new park and extra. See our 2025 Common Orlando Planning Information for every part it’s good to know.

Right here’s a park by park have a look at every part new and coming quickly to Walt Disney World…

EPCOT

The entrance of EPCOT is trying good because the reimagined park entrance undertaking is completed. Redesigned landscaping, flags, topiaries, and an iconic prismatic pylon fountain in entrance of Spaceship Earth have all been put in. These are additional enhanced at night time by an upgraded lighting bundle, together with the mesmerizing Beacons of Magic synchronized shows.

Between Spaceship Earth and World Showcase, the brand new World Celebration gardens at the moment are open. That is primarily simply walkways, seating areas, and planters. It’s a significant enchancment as in comparison with the previous few years, when it was development partitions surrounding the Large EPCOT Filth Pit™️. However it’s additionally not something of substance and it’s laborious to see what took so lengthy. You’ll go via and perhaps cease for a photograph with the Walt Disney statue, earlier than persevering with in your method. At night time it seems good.

Proper behind Spaceship Earth, Creations Store, Membership Cool, and Connections Cafe & Eatery are all open. Along with a counter service restaurant, Connections is now EPCOT’s everlasting Starbucks location. Throughout from all of that is CommuniCore Corridor, which is likely one of the most disappointing additions to Walt Disney World in latest reminiscence.

The largest latest addition at EPCOT is Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, which is a hybrid curler coaster. Cosmic Rewind is superior–the most effective new experience at EPCOT in a long time.

Experiencing the curler coaster is a bit sophisticated, so if you wish to expertise it (and it is best to!), take a look at our Find out how to Journey Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind & Digital Queue Pace Technique to enhance your possibilities of success for becoming a member of the free digital queue.

One other various is shopping for line-skipping entry through the Lightning Lane Single Cross. We preserve hoping that Cosmic Rewind will drop the digital queue, because it hasn’t been obligatory for nearly 2 years at this level. Perhaps as soon as Check Monitor 3.0 debuts?

Area 220 Restaurant adjoining to Mission: Area is now open. We’ve dined right here a number of instances, and share extra in Pictures & Video Inside Area 220 Restaurant in addition to our Area 220 Lunch Evaluate that appears at whether or not the meals is definitely worth the price ticket.

At Area 220 Restaurant, friends board a particular area elevator that ascends to the celebrities. Upon arrival, you get pleasure from a celestial panorama from the area station, with the flexibility to see out and revel in daytime and nighttime views of Earth from 220 miles up.

In Spring 2025, the Spaceship Earth Lounge will open. It is a smaller-scale eating choice, however one which needs to be highly regarded with EPCOT followers.

The subsequent undertaking on the horizon in World Discovery is a Check Monitor 3.0 Journey Reimagining. This attraction is at the moment closed to obtain an replace impressed by World of Movement! That’s thrilling information that’s aimed squarely at longtime Walt Disney World followers.

Whereas it stays to be seen precisely what which means, it’s trigger for optimism. Check Monitor 3.0 is a low-floor, high-ceiling sort of undertaking…and one being paid for by another person, so it’s not even coming on the expense of one other (increased precedence) Walt Disney World undertaking! Win-win!

Walt Disney World has revealed that Check Monitor 3.0 will open by late Summer time 2025, however has not introduced a precise date. Usually, late summer season would imply someday between Independence Day and Labor Day, however we might see this undertaking slipping to October 1, 2025–that’s EPCOT’s anniversary.

One other addition on the entrance of EPCOT is Moana: Journey of Water. That is the first-ever attraction based mostly on the Walt Disney Animation Studios hit movie, Moana. This interactive water exploration path in World Nature is now open.

Subsequent door within the Creativeness pavilion, you’re as soon as once more discover Figment. The not-so-little purple dragon is assembly within the ImageWorks space, which is the exit of Journey into Creativeness. You’ll be able to both experience the attraction and see him in your method out, or enter via the present store. We extremely suggest assembly Figment!

Turning to World Showcase, you may at the moment catch Luminous The Symphony of Us, has now formally debuted as the brand new nighttime spectacular. This replaces Harmonious, which was supposed to be a everlasting lagoon present however failed, and the interim EPCOT Eternally. Luminous is superb, and may stick round for years to come back.

Try our Greatest Fireworks Viewing Places at EPCOT for suggestions on the place to look at. One in all our favourite fireworks areas in EPCOT is the Japan pavilion (pictured above), can also be residence to a brand new restaurant. Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakaya has changed Tokyo Eating, and is now open.

The most recent E-Ticket attraction to open in World Showcase is Remy’s Ratatouille Journey. This family-friendly trackless darkish experience is a part of an enlargement of the France pavilion.

Along with Remy’s Ratatouille Journey, this space options La Crêperie de Paris. This crêperie gives each desk and quick-service choices that includes a menu from celeb chef Jerome Bocuse.

Magic Kingdom

Subsequent up is Magic Kingdom, the place Fortunately Ever After is now again and being carried out nightly. The beloved nighttime spectacular options enhancements, reminiscent of projections on Foremost Avenue and extra. Walt Disney World followers love Fortunately Ever After and are popping out in full drive to see it.

Our Viewing Information to the Fortunately Ever After Fireworks at Magic Kingdom covers the most effective & worst spots to see the nighttime spectacular. Maybe most significantly, it shares just a few nice low-crowds areas for individuals who don’t wish to be within the crush of crowds. (Critically, don’t underestimate the chaos and congestion, which could be downright uncomfortable, particularly for these with strollers or ECVs.)

Magic Kingdom can also be residence to the most important and new experience at Walt Disney World: TRON Lightcycle Run Curler Coaster in Tomorrowland behind Area Mountain. The Walt Disney World Railroad, which was beforehand closed as a result of TRON development, has additionally returned.

TRON Lightcycle Run is likely one of the hottest rides at Walt Disney World. Nevertheless, it’s additionally a really brief curler coaster, and arguably not value an hour-plus wait in line. (Each minute in line interprets to at least one second on the experience, give or take.) To that finish, learn our Journey Evaluate: Is TRON Lightcycle Run Value Your Time or Cash? to find out if the trouble or costly is justified.

Lastly, there TRON Lightcycle Run has some points with bigger friends not becoming into the experience automobiles as a result of weight, top, and extra. In case you’re tall, have muscular legs, or are plus-sized, you would possibly have points with the traditional lightcycles. We cowl every part it’s good to know in TRON Lightcycle Run Issues for Bigger Visitors. In case you assume you could possibly have issues becoming into the lightcycle, we’d strongly suggest studying that for steerage.

The most recent attraction to open at Magic Kingdom is Tiana’s Bayou Journey, which is the reimagining of Splash Mountain in Frontierland. The reimagined experience brings friends into the world of “The Princess and the Frog” after the occasions of the film.

As mentioned in Tiana’s Bayou Journey Journey Evaluate: Failure, Flawed or Unbelievable?, the attraction is a combined bag. It’s additionally essentially the most polarizing attraction in a very long time, with most followers both loving or hating (with how they felt about Splash Mountain being a powerful predictor of their opinion of Tiana’s Bayou Journey).

That is one more attraction that makes use of a digital queue…for now. By the point you go to in 2025, there’s a very good probability it’ll be retired (fingers crossed). See Find out how to Journey Tiana’s Bayou Journey for every part it’s good to learn about its (lack of) standby line, Lightning Lane, and digital queue.

Magic Kingdom has “plussed” a few sights lately, together with Haunted Mansion with the addition of the Hatbox Ghost. It’s only one Audio Animatronics ghost in an out-of-place location, so it didn’t precisely reinvent the experience.

Alternatively, Nation Bear Musical Jamboree is a wholly reimagined stage present. The Bear Band now performs favourite Disney songs in numerous genres of nation music. Imagineers made this an homage to the traditional musical revues and labored with Nashville musicians to supply the newly-reimagined present.

Talking of the classics, a Pirates of the Caribbean Tavern is coming in some unspecified time in the future to Adventureland (close to the attraction). Count on this to be like Oga’s Cantina in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, besides themed to pirates.

It’ll be an intimate setting, that includes the Barker Chook Audio Animatronics determine. Walt Disney World has revealed that the Pirates of the Caribbean Tavern will debut in Late 2025.

Saving the most effective for final, the most important 2025 addition in all of Walt Disney World is Disney Starlight: Dream the Night time Away, a brand new nighttime parade in Magic Kingdom.

Disney Starlight will use the newest expertise to inform new tales concerning the characters you like. All of this is dropped at life by the magic of the Blue Fairy, along with beloved characters from Walt Disney Animation Studios movies “Peter Pan,” “Encanto,” “Frozen,” “Moana” and extra.

It’s been nearly a decade since Magic Kingdom has had any night time parade, and for the reason that 1991 that the park bought a brand-new one. Starlight sounds superior, and we can’t wait. It’s going to be an enormous draw for followers and first-timers alike. Walt Disney World has indicated Disney Starlight Night time Parade will debut in Summer time 2025 (listed below are our greatest guesses as to a extra particular date/timeframe).

Wanting additional into the long run, Walt Disney World introduced two all-new Vehicles sights in a reimagined space of Frontierland and Villains Land enlargement at Magic Kingdom, primarily behind Vehicles Land, and between/behind Large Thunder and Haunted Mansion. These are probably pluses from a experience roster perspective within the long-term as soon as they debut between 2028 and 2030.

To get there, the Rivers of America might be stuffed in, which means that Tom Sawyer Island and the Liberty Sq. Riverboat will completely shut. That has lots of followers upset, fearful about the way it’ll negatively impression the environment of Magic Kingdom. Even when it does handle to be a web constructive long-term, it’s nonetheless going to be a tough few years of development partitions.

Since this submit largely revolves round 2025 and 2026, our expectation is that the near-term will contain partitions. Walt Disney World has not introduced closure dates for Rivers of America or Tom Sawyer Island, however our hope is that they’ll be capable to use coffer dams and work on the back-half of this undertaking earlier than closing something–there’s lots of web site improvement to be executed, and that would take till 2026. Within the meantime, Large Thunder Mountain Railroad may also be closed till 2026.

Animal Kingdom

There’s not likely that’s new at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

The newest addition is Discovering Nemo: The Large Blue…and Past, which is only a reimagined model of Discovering Nemo: The Musical. The present is considerably related, nevertheless it’s a tighter manufacturing with a shorter runtime. Nonetheless has the songs and puppets that made the musical a winner!

In Winter 2025, Zootopia: Higher Zoogether will debut within the Tree of Life, changing It’s Powerful to Be a Bug.

The idea for Zootopia: Higher Zoogether has friends visiting the completely different biomes you solely glimpse within the movie, touring together with Judy Hopps, Nick Wilde and different characters. That’s all Disney has revealed so far.

Usually, a winter opening timeframe would imply someday between January and early March. Nevertheless, on condition that Disney hasn’t mentioned a lot in any respect about Zootopia: Higher Collectively, a lot much less shared a cut-off date for It’s Powerful to Be a Bug, suggests to us they really imply Late 2025. Count on it to debut between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Animal Kingdom can also be the park that’s first up for additions through the subsequent improvement cycle. Primeval Whirl completely closed and the corporate has confirmed that Dino-Rama will shut in early 2025 for development to start on Tropical Americas at Animal Kingdom.

Tropical Americas will characteristic three mini-lands, in essence. One might be residence to the Encanto Magical Madrigal Casita Darkish Journey, and one other might be Indiana Jones Journey. In between might be Pueblo Esperanza or the “Village of Hope” together with a critter carousel and large-scale counter service restaurant.

Whereas Dino-Rama is on its method to extinction early in 2025, the parts of this land which can be thought of Dinoland USA are secure for longer. This consists of the Boneyard, Restaurantosaurus, and–most notably–DINOSAUR. Walt Disney World has indicated that DINOSAUR gained’t shut till 2026. Our guess is that each one three will shut at roughly the identical time.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Lots has occurred at Disney’s Hollywood Studios within the final a number of years. On the entrance of the park, you’ll discover Mickey & Mickey’s Runaway Railway, which was impressed by cartoon shorts and brings friends via the display to take a experience inside a zany cartoon world.

The most recent addition to Disney’s Hollywood Studios is Toy Story Roundup Rodeo BBQ Restaurant. This desk service restaurant serves household model, all-you-can-eat barbecue, and is extremely widespread. Disney has been making different, most inconsequential adjustments to Toy Story Land, too.

Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge can also be now 5 years outdated, and is the most important addition to Walt Disney World in a few decade. It consists of the next:

There have been different additions to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, the most well-liked of which is the Mandalorian and Child Yoda walk-around characters who meet and greet friends. The insanely widespread dynamic duo doesn’t have particular look instances, nor have they got a devoted location. You’re most certainly to identify them round Black Spire Outpost between 10 am and 5 pm.

A lot much less widespread is Batuu Bounty Hunters, an interactive sport that may be performed with the MagicBand+, which is itself is one other comparatively new addition to Walt Disney World. (See our MagicBand+ Evaluate: The Good, Unhealthy & Ugly! for extra–together with whether or not you can purchase the MB+.)

On one other Star Wars word, Ahsoka is now a part of Star Excursions: The Adventures Proceed at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. It’s good to see Star Excursions persevering with to get love even after Galaxy’s Edge, and the brand new locations have all been rather well executed. Don’t sleep on Star Excursions.

Long run, the Mandalorian and Child Yoda have a brand-new mission coming to Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run in celebration of the brand new Star Wars movie “The Mandalorian and Grogu” coming to theaters. It’s unclear when the brand new mission will debut, however 2026 alongside the film is a secure guess.

Parks Chairman Josh D’Amaro introduced through the D23 Expo {that a} brand-new Monsters, Inc. mini-land will come to life at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Selecting up after the occasions of Pixar’s beloved movie, people have now been invited to go to the world of Monsters, Inc.

The monsters want laughter to energy the town and preserve it operating easily, so that you’ll be capable to go to the Snort Manufacturing facility, hear the laughs and zoom via the constructing identical to Sulley and Mike Wazowski, through a door. The Monsters, Inc. Doorways Coaster will put you proper in the midst of the monster motion. Building on the Monstropolis land undertaking is slated to start in 2025.

After not initially sharing a location for the brand new Monsters miniland, Walt Disney World revealed that MuppetVision 3D is closing to make method for the Monsters, Inc. Doorways Coaster and Monstropolis. As an olive department to followers, the corporate additionally introduced that the Muppets are taking on Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster and changing Aerosmith.

WDW Resort Lodges

A number of resorts have opened at Walt Disney World inside the final 5 years. The primary of those was Gran Destino Tower at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort. Our evaluation of this property was combined, with our final conclusion being that it provided sturdy bang for buck and was very interesting for a sure sort of traveler.

Subsequent got here Disney’s Riviera Resort, the newest DVC Resort. This property is adjoining to Caribbean Seashore and gives direct Skyliner entry to EPCOT. Our Disney’s Riviera Resort Evaluate covers the professionals & cons of those Disney Trip Membership lodging.

This DVC resort, together with Caribbean Seashore, Pop Century, and Artwork of Animation are linked to EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios through the recently-added Disney Skyliner gondola system, which opened just a few years in the past. We’d go so far as recommending a Skyliner resort in your subsequent journey to Walt Disney World, because it gives an enormous benefit by way of transportation.

Extra just lately, the Island Tower at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort and the brand new DVC Cabins at Fort Wilderness debuted inside the final yr. There’s one more Disney Trip Membership property being constructed, the long-delayed Disney Lakeshore Lodge, which is slated to open in 2027.

All through 2025, a number of resorts are present process refurbishment, development, and enlargement initiatives.  We might suggest consulting our record of Building & Refurbishments at Walt Disney World Lodges, which we replace recurrently for perception into adjustments at present motels.

Disney Springs

Then there’s Disney Springs. That is the leisure and procuring district beforehand often known as Downtown Disney. Producing a complete record of what has opened right here within the final ~5 years could be daunting, as round 75% of this space has been overhauled.

Cirque du Soleil: Drawn to Life is the newest leisure providing to debut, performing in iconic white circus tent on the Westside. Along with that, Salt & Straw scoop store has opened, as has Gideon’s Bakehouse. There are additionally a bunch of latest shops, from M&M’s to Corkcicle to Lululemon.

By way of main additions, Summer time Home on the Lake has been constructed on the positioning that was slated for Beatrix. This California coastal delicacies in a contemporary setting truly seems higher than Beatrix to us. Summer time Home on the Lake is now open!

One other new Disney Springs restaurant is EET by Maneet Chauhan, a contemporary Indian restaurant that changed Wolfgang Puck Specific location within the Market. We’re actually trying ahead to this one, which can also be now open.

As you may in all probability inform, there’s a lot that’s new and coming quickly to Walt Disney World within the subsequent few years.

With that mentioned, don’t fret an excessive amount of concerning the development–even with an unprecedented quantity, should of its out-of-the-way of visitor areas, and there are nonetheless a ton of sights to do at Walt Disney World regardless of while you go to!

Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Find out about motels on our Walt Disney World Lodges Critiques web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Critiques. To save cash on tickets or decide which kind to purchase, learn our Ideas for Saving Cash on Walt Disney World Tickets submit. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys submit takes a singular have a look at intelligent objects to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Journey Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the most effective place to start out is our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information for every part it’s good to know!

Your Ideas

Which sights coming to Walt Disney World in 2025, 2026 or past are you most excited to expertise? Are you delaying your subsequent go to to maximise seeing ‘new stuff’ or transferring it ahead to keep away from the crowds? Any questions we may also help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even while you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!