Upcoming lands and attractions set to debut at Disneyland and Disney World from 2025 onwards

Every two years, throngs of Disney enthusiasts flock to Anaheim, California, not just to enjoy Disneyland. They gather to celebrate their passion for all things Disney through exclusive experiences, behind-the-scenes panels, shopping, cosplaying, and much more at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event held biennially.

The highlight of the expo is always the Disney Experiences Showcase, and this year continued that tradition. With appearances from special guests like Deadpool, Rita Ora, and Billy Crystal, Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D'Amaro took the stage at Anaheim's Honda Center to unveil the new lands and attractions headed to Disney parks soon.

The 2022 D23 event centered around what Disney calls "blue sky" concepts. These are initial ideas that Disney might introduce to the parks, which may evolve before being realized or possibly never come to fruition. This year, however, Disney grounded those lofty dreams and committed to them. At the start of the presentation, D'Amaro assured attendees that every announcement made that evening was in active development. "Plans are being drawn. Construction is underway. I want to emphasize this: We are moving forward with everything you've heard tonight," D'Amaro stated.

So, what exactly is Disney planning to bring to life? Here’s a complete rundown of what was announced for Disney World and Disneyland that you can look forward to in the upcoming months and years.

Walt Disney World updates

New 'Monsters, Inc.' area headed to Hollywood Studios

The company announced plans to create an entirely new land themed around Disney and Pixar's "Monsters, Inc." at Disney's Hollywood Studios. This land will be set in Monstropolis, the vibrant home of Mike, Sulley, and all your favorite not-so-scary monsters from the franchise. It will also feature a visit to the laughter factory that powers the city.

Alongside meeting the cutest monsters, this land will debut the first-ever suspended coaster in a Disney park. Riders will travel through the door vault, mirroring the scenes from the movies. "Remember how those claws grab the doors and lift them into the air? We're doing that too. And you’ll be part of the adventure," D'Amaro mentioned.

Construction on the "Monsters, Inc."-themed land is expected to commence next year.

'Cars'-themed section in Frontierland

Disney also announced that a "Cars"-themed section is coming to a revamped part of Frontierland at Magic Kingdom. This area will feature two attractions based on the beloved animated film franchise. One will be an exhilarating rally race through the mountains (hopefully reminiscent of Radiator Springs Racers at Disneyland), while the other will be designed for "fun for the entire family," according to D'Amaro.

Construction for this new area is scheduled to start in 2025.

Villains-themed land coming to Magic Kingdom

Disney has teased the idea of a villains-themed land for years, and it has finally confirmed that this dream will come to life. While Disney hasn't disclosed which specific stories or villains will be featured, D'Amaro did mention that the land will include two major attractions, along with dining and shopping options. An opening date will be revealed later, but preparations for this villainous land are already in motion.

Tropical Americas area coming to Animal Kingdom

During the 2022 D23 event, Disney unveiled concept art for what could potentially take the place of DinoLand U.S.A. at Disney's Animal Kingdom. They showcased several themes, including ones based on "Moana" and "Zootopia." At the Destination D23 event in 2023, it was confirmed that DinoLand U.S.A. would be reimagined as the "Tropical Americas." Now, we know exactly which worlds we can expect to explore at Animal Kingdom in the future.

D'Amaro revealed that this 11-acre section of the park will indeed undergo the Tropical Americas transformation, featuring three brand-new attractions. One of these will be themed to "Indiana Jones," and while Disney hasn't officially stated this, it's likely to replace the current Dinosaur attraction. The ride will utilize the same track and vehicles as Disneyland's Indiana Jones Adventure, making it a seamless fit for the retheme.

The other main attraction in the land will be themed around "Encanto," showcasing the family's iconic Casita. Additionally, there will be a carousel where kids of all ages can enjoy a spin with their favorite Disney animals.

Construction is scheduled to kick off this fall, with the new land set to open in 2027.

New 'Zootopia' attraction heading to Animal Kingdom

Disney also announced at Destination D23 that the "It's Tough to Be a Bug!" attraction within Animal Kingdom's Tree of Life will be reimagined with a "Zootopia" theme. The new show, titled "Zootopia: Better Zoogether!" is officially set to open next winter.

New lounges coming to Magic Kingdom and Epcot

If you love sipping cool drinks in a Disney lounge on a warm day, we have double the great news for you. Next year, new lounges will be opening at both Epcot and Magic Kingdom. At Epcot, guests will be able to enjoy a lounge inspired by Spaceship Earth, while at Magic Kingdom, they'll find "grogs and grub" at a tavern themed to Pirates of the Caribbean.

A new nighttime parade is coming to Magic Kingdom

Whenever Disney announces something new, fans often hope for a nighttime parade at Magic Kingdom. Their dreams will finally come to fruition next summer with the debut of the new parade, "Disney Starlight," featuring beloved characters from movies like "Peter Pan," "Encanto," "Frozen," and more.

A new storyline is coming for Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run at Hollywood Studios

For those who have successfully assisted Hondo Ohnaka in gathering coaxium on Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run in Galaxy's Edge, a fresh mission awaits you. Disney announced that a thrilling new adventure with the Mandalorian and Grogu will be introduced to the ride at Disney World and Disneyland in 2026.

A revamped version of Test Track is coming to Epcot

During last year's Destination D23 event, Disney revealed that Test Track would undergo a temporary closure for a redesign inspired by the former attraction, World of Motion. Construction is already in progress, and this high-speed experience will reopen in 2025.

Announcements for Disneyland

A new land themed around 'Avatar' is set to arrive at Disney California Adventure

Disney has unveiled concept art for an 'Avatar'-themed attraction intended for Disneyland, contingent on the approval of the ambitious $1.9 billion Disneyland Forward expansion. With the green light received in May, Disney has confirmed that an 'Avatar' ride is on the way to Disney California Adventure. The artwork showcases a tranquil boat ride inspired by 'Avatar: The Way of Water' and upcoming 'Avatar' films.

Walt Disney Audio-Animatronic set to debut at Disneyland

While Disney parks worldwide honor the company's founder with various tributes, Disneyland is elevating this homage with its first-ever Audio-Animatronic of Walt Disney. He will be featured in an attraction called "Walt Disney — A Magical Life" at Disneyland's Main Street Opera House. Following its premiere, the show will rotate with "Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln," which Walt introduced at the 1964 New York World's Fair before bringing it to Disneyland.

Expansion of Avengers Campus announced for Disney California Adventure

At the 2022 D23 event, Disney announced plans for a third attraction at California Adventure's Avengers Campus. This ride will feature a world-jumping adventure, immersing guests in the multiverse and challenging them to battle powerful foes like King Thanos.

We now have the name, opening timeline, and more details for this attraction. Avengers Infinity Defense will take guests on a journey through time and space to confront King Thanos. You'll explore iconic locations such as Asgard, Wakanda, and New York City, teaming up with Marvel heroes to save the universe.

In addition to this, Disney has announced plans for a fourth attraction in the land. Combined, these two rides will expand Avengers Campus significantly. The fourth ride, named Stark Flight Lab, will allow guests to board two-person pods for a test flight at Iron Man's facility. Each experience will feature different test flights and heroes, ensuring that no two rides are the same.

Construction for this expansion is slated to kick off next year.

A 'Coco' attraction is set to debut at Disney California Adventure.

Disney has also revealed that the inaugural 'Coco'-themed attraction at any Disney park is on its way to Disney California Adventure. Based on the concept art, this ride seems to be a boat journey featuring beloved characters and music from the film. However, it might take a few years before you can explore the land of the dead, as construction won't start until 2026.

Tiana's Bayou Adventure opening date revealed for Disneyland.

Lastly, Tiana's Bayou Adventure at Disneyland has officially announced its opening date: November 15. The ride has recently opened at Walt Disney World, and construction for the Disneyland version is progressing well. Additionally, Critter Country will be rebranded as Bayou Country upon the ride's fall opening.

Once it opens, guests will journey "down the bayou" with Tiana as she prepares for a grand Mardi Gras celebration. While she puts the final touches on her party plans, you'll assist in gathering a troupe of musical critters to entertain at the festivities before you take a thrilling 50-foot splash down to the celebration.

Summary

Every attraction and experience mentioned in this article is something you will encounter at Disney World or Disneyland. This year's D23 event has demonstrated that Disney is not just sharing dreams and aspirations ... it is actively breaking ground and transforming those dreams into reality.