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2027 will bring some new changes to Walt Disney World! We’re excited to share what you can expect at WDW throughout the year. This includes new and reimagined attractions in the Orlando Florida theme parks. So let’s take a look at what we’ll be seeing in 2027 and beyond!
2027 (Confirmed)
Carousel of Progress
The Carousel of Progress will be reopening at the Magic Kingdom in late spring 2027 with brand new scenes! You’ll also hear new voices as well. For example, Mom and Dad will be voiced by actress Jamie Lee Curtis and actor Bryan Cranston.
This Disney attraction has a long history, as it actually first premiered at the 1964 New York World’s Fair. It later had a run at Disneyland from 1967 to 1973, before reopening in Tomorrowland at the Magic Kingdom in 1975. The last time the Magic Kingdom version of the ride had been updated was 1993.
Here’s what we can expect from the 2027 updated version:
- Act 1 – the summer of 1969 (the moon landing)
- Act 2 – Halloween Night of 1985
- Act 3 – New Year’s Eve 1999
- Act 4 – the possible future
Monstropolis
Monstropolis, a new area in Disney’s Hollywood Studios park, will also be opening in 2027!
Now, only parts of the section will open to guests. The door coaster attraction will not be one of those parts. But hopefully, as much of the rest of Monstropolis as possible will be open to guests. And that could include:
- Welcome to Monstropolis – a new show at the Glob Theater (and a song with the same name by Randy Newman)
- Harryhausen’s Restaurant – the Japanese sushi restaurant from the Monsters, Inc movie, which will feature the animatronic sushi chef (but more than just sushi on the menu)
- Archie’s Scare Pig Pizza – a pizza place (with Archie being the mascot of Fear Tech)
- Monsters University Alumni Club – where you can check out sororities, fraternities, and student clubs of MU, including the Scarer’s Club which honors scarers from previous years
- Scareporium – a gift shop (because what would a Disney area be without one?)
2027 and Beyond
In addition to what’s been confirmed for 2027, we know of several more changes heading to the parks. Once we get a firm timeline of when we can expect these new and updated attractions, we will let you know.
Magic Kingdom
Villains Land
Back in 2024, it was announced that a villains-themed area would be coming to the Magic Kingdom. Disney has now announced its official name: “Villains Land”. (The idea is that it should end with “land”, like Tomorrowland, Fantasyland, Adventureland, etc.)
Villains Land will include a couple of attractions (we’ll get to those next), shopping, dining, and a Wishing Well. The backstory behind the Wishing Well is that once upon a time, it was full of good energy. But after someone made a particularly evil wish, the structure broke open and the poisoned magic spread throughout the forest of Villains Land.
Maleficent Coaster
The Maleficent roller coaster ride is one of the two attractions in Villains Land. During this coaster experience, you’ll ride through enchanted briar that surrounds Maleficent’s mountaintop fortress and even come face to face with Maleficent herself.
Mirror Realm Dark Ride
The other attraction in Villains Land is a dark ride, during which the Magic Mirror will transport you to his Mirror Realm. There, you’ll see many iconic Disney Villains, conjured by the Magic Mirror.
Piston Peak National Park
This new part of Frontierland, themed to the Pixar movie franchise Cars, will include a visitor lodge, trails, Ranger HQ, and two attractions, which we’ll get to right now.
Cars Ridge Run Rally
This racing attraction gives you a taste of the striking beauty of the US national parks while of course providing thrills. The ride includes going up (and down) Piston Peak as well as around the Old Tankfull geyser. The ride vehicle is meant to be an actual off-road car instead of just simulating one. This means you’ll feel the rocks, drops and bumps. For someone like me who gets motion sickness, this doesn’t sound appealing. But for anyone looking for a more authentic experience, this is great news.
Miss Fritter’s Daredevil Spin-Along
The second ride in Piston Peak National Park is Miss Fritter’s Daredevil Spin-Along, starring Miss Fritter from Cars 3.
Epcot
Spaceship Earth
The reimagined version of the Spaceship Earth ride (aka the ride in the giant golf ball) will focus on the broader theme of human connection while including the internet age and beyond. This will be the fourth major update of the attraction. The others took place in 1986, 1994, and 2007.
Journey into Imagination
This is probably the change I am most excited about. Journey into Imagination was one of my favorite rides as a child. And by that, I mean the original version, which ran from 1983 to 1998. It featured a couple of main characters: Figment, who you can see in the current version of the ride, and Dreamfinder, who for some reason did not make it into the later versions of the attraction.
Luckily, Disney World is reuniting Dreamfinder with Figment in a new version of the ride! Once more details are released (such as a closing date for the current version), we’ll let you know.
Animal Kingdom
Tropical Americas
In this new 11-acre area in Animal Kingdom, you’ll find fun things to do inspired by the magic and myths of the rainforest. This includes three attractions (we’ll get to those next), a play area where younger guests can unearth Mayan artifacts, a large quick service restaurant, and places to shop.
Indiana Jones and the Myth of the Jade Serpent
Guests will join Indiana Jones beneath an ancient temple ruin. The story of the ride involves a passageway leading to the Maya Underworld, protected by the Tsukán, a giant serpentine creature. Guests will be sucked through a portal to the Underworld (naturally), where they will encounter the Tsukán as well as huge scorpions, fire, snakes, and bats.
The attraction combines elements of Maya culture with terrifying thrills and Indiana Jones himself. Speaking of, Harrison Ford is the model for the Indy animatronic. (Which may sound sort of obvious, but apparently this is the first time Harrison Ford’s face has been used in a Disney attraction anywhere.)
Antonio’s Fiesta de Encanto
Personally, I am especially looking forward to this new attraction. First of all, it has no height requirement, which means it should be family friendly. And secondly, you get to go inside Casita (from the movie Encanto) and ride through the different rooms! The finale is Antonio’s room, with representations of many different animal species you’d find in Colombia (since Antonio’s gift was communication with animals and it is, after all, Animal Kingdom).
Fans of Encanto will be happy to know that voice actors for the movie will also be voicing roles during the ride. This includes Stephanie Beatriz (Mirabel), Diane Guerrero (Isabella), and Jessica Darrow (Luisa).
El Carrusel de los Animalitos
This beautiful carousel includes 22 hand-carved animals inspired by some favorite Disney and Pixar characters. Think Simba, Kuzco, Eeyore, Pascal, Scuttle, Pua, Heimlich, and Squirt, to name a few.
Expedition Everest
The Yeti is coming back to the Expedition Everest attraction!
You see, the 25-foot-tall Yeti was the largest audio-animatronic figure built by Disney Imagineers when it was originally constructed. But only a few months after the ride opened back in 2006, the framing split. After that, the Yeti no longer moved but instead appeared to move thanks to a strobe-light effect. (Some fans have nicknamed this “Disco Yeti,” which is actually a pretty cool nickname if you ask me.)
Twenty years later, and it looks like the Yeti is finally returning! We’ll keep you posted with more details.