If your family has been on the fence about when to plan your next Disney World trip, the answer is becoming very clear: the next two years are going to be extraordinary. Disney World is in the middle of one of the most exciting expansion periods in its history, with new rides, new lands, reimagined classics, and entirely fresh experiences arriving across all four parks in 2026 and 2027. This complete guide to every confirmed new Disney World attraction covers what is opening, when it is opening, and why your family should care.
Here is everything coming to Walt Disney World, organized by park and timeline so you can plan around the experiences that matter most to your family.
What Is Opening at Disney World Right Now in 2026
Several major additions are landing at Walt Disney World in the coming weeks, centered around a massive May 26, 2026 opening date that Disney has been building toward all year.
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run Gets a Mandalorian Makeover (May 22, 2026)
One of the most exciting updates happening at Hollywood Studios is the transformation of Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run. Starting May 22, 2026, the ride adds entirely new mission content starring the Mandalorian and Grogu, taking families to new Star Wars locations including Tatooine, Cloud City on Bespin, the ruins of the Death Star, Coruscant, and more.
The biggest gameplay change is that the Engineer role now has new responsibilities related to Grogu and also gets to choose the crew’s destination for the first time ever. For families who have already ridden Smugglers Run and found the original missions somewhat repetitive, this update makes the attraction feel genuinely fresh and gives Star Wars fans enormous new material to discover.
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets (May 26, 2026)
Aerosmith is out and The Muppets are in. Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster officially reopens May 26, 2026 with a complete Muppets retheme, joining The Electric Mayhem band on a wild VIP road trip to their biggest concert ever. The attraction features a revamped guitar courtyard, penguin audio engineers, and the same high-speed launch that made the original coaster one of the most beloved at Hollywood Studios.
For families with children who love The Muppets, this retheme makes an already thrilling coaster significantly more accessible from a theming perspective. The Muppets’ humor and warmth bring a completely different energy to the ride than Aerosmith did, and early reception has been enthusiastic.
Soarin’ Across America at EPCOT (May 26, 2026)
EPCOT’s beloved Soarin’ attraction is getting a new film to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary. Soarin’ Across America replaces the Around the World film with a journey across the natural beauty and iconic cityscapes of the United States. The new film is being shot across more than a dozen locations and is expected to stay through at least the summer of 2027.
For families who have ridden Soarin’ multiple times and have the current film memorized, this is a genuine reason to ride it fresh again.
Bluey’s Wild World at Animal Kingdom (May 26, 2026)
Bluey and Bingo make their Disney World debut at Conservation Station in Animal Kingdom on May 26, 2026, and the experience is staying beyond the initial opening. Families can meet the Blue Heeler sisters, play games inspired by Bluey episodes with an Australian animal twist, and discover real animals native to Australia as part of the experience.
For families with young children who are devoted Bluey fans, this is one of the most genuinely exciting additions to Animal Kingdom in years. The combination of beloved characters and real animal education makes it a natural fit for a park built around wildlife and conservation.
The Walt Disney Studios Area and New Shows at Hollywood Studios (May 26 and Summer 2026)
Animation Courtyard at Hollywood Studios is being reimagined into The Walt Disney Studios, a new area where Disney Animation characters leap off the screen into the real world. The first elements open May 26, including Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live!, a new interactive show where Mickey and Minnie bring all their friends together for a party. The Magic of Disney Animation, a new interactive family experience, follows later in summer 2026.
The Big Picture for 2027: Disney World’s Biggest Year in Decades
If 2026 is an exciting warm-up, 2027 is the main event. Multiple new lands and attractions are all targeting 2027 openings at Walt Disney World, making it potentially the most significant single year of new additions the resort has seen since the opening of Animal Kingdom in 1998.
Tropical Americas at Animal Kingdom (2027)
This is the headline attraction of 2027 at Walt Disney World. Tropical Americas is a complete replacement for DinoLand U.S.A., which officially closed February 2, 2026, and it brings two brand new ride-through attractions to Animal Kingdom for the first time in years.
The first is an Encanto-themed dark ride set inside the Madrigal family’s Casita. The story begins right after Antonio receives his gift of communicating with animals, transforming his room into a rainforest. Families will ride through the enchanted space encountering other Madrigal family members along the way. For families with Encanto fans, this is genuinely thrilling news.
The second attraction is a brand new Indiana Jones adventure set inside an ancient Mayan temple where Indy is tracking a mythical creature. The storyline is completely original and not a copy of the Disneyland version, which makes it a genuinely fresh experience for families who have visited other Disney parks.
The land itself is anchored by a fictional village called Pueblo Esperanza, featuring a large central fountain, a Disney animal-themed carousel, and one of the biggest quick service restaurants at Walt Disney World.
Monsters, Inc. Land at Hollywood Studios (2027)
Monstropolis is coming to Hollywood Studios in a new themed land replacing the former Muppets Courtyard area, which began closing in 2025. The new land will bring the world of Monsters, Inc. to life with themed streets, dining, shopping, and a new theater show. The headline attraction is a doors-themed roller coaster that takes riders through the monster factory’s legendary door vault system.
For families with children who love Monsters, Inc. and Monsters University, this land represents a genuinely exciting new anchor experience for Hollywood Studios that complements the Star Wars and Toy Story offerings already in the park.
Disney Lakeshore Lodge (2027)
A new Disney Vacation Club resort called Disney Lakeshore Lodge is under construction in the Bay Lake area between Fort Wilderness and Wilderness Lodge, with a 2027 opening targeted. For families who love the atmosphere of Wilderness Lodge, this new property in a nearby location is worth watching as details continue to emerge.
Further Out: What Families Should Know Is Coming Eventually
Beyond 2027, Disney has confirmed two major expansions at Magic Kingdom that will reshape the park significantly over the coming years.
A Cars-themed land called Piston Peak is coming to Frontierland with two new attractions including an off-road race experience. This project requires filling in the Rivers of America, which means the Liberty Square Riverboat and Tom Sawyer Island are now permanently closed. Construction walls will be a reality at Magic Kingdom for several years before the land opens, most likely in the 2028 to 2029 timeframe.
A Villains Land is also confirmed for the area behind Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, described by Disney as the largest expansion in Magic Kingdom history. Two major attractions, dining, and shopping are planned with Art Nouveau-inspired architecture throughout. No official opening timeline has been set, but this project is expected to follow the Cars land in the park’s long-term development sequence.
What This Means for Your Family’s Trip Planning
If your family is deciding between visiting in 2026 or waiting for 2027, here is the honest breakdown. A 2026 visit gives you the Mandalorian update on Smugglers Run, the Muppets coaster, Bluey’s Wild World, and a refreshed Soarin’, all in a park environment without the construction disruption that comes with a major new land opening. A 2027 visit puts your family inside Tropical Americas, the Monsters, Inc. land, and everything else arriving in what is shaping up to be a genuinely historic year for the resort.
Both years are excellent times to visit. The Disney World your family will experience in either window is extraordinary, and the additions coming on both sides of that calendar are the kind of generational expansions that Disney fans talk about for decades.
Start planning now. The magic is only getting bigger.
