The Walt Disney Company gathered fans in Anaheim on August 15 for its latest D23 showcase. The evening carried the theme Horizons: A Carousel of Progress and centered on updates to projects first outlined two years earlier. Construction activity across Walt Disney World already stands at its highest level in the resort’s 55-year history, while Disneyland Resort received fresh details on several California projects.
Magic Kingdom Gains Two Themed Lands
Construction crews have already begun work on a Cars-themed area called Piston Peak in Frontierland. The zone will feature two attractions. Miss Fritter’s Daredevil Spin-Along places riders in demolition derby vehicles alongside an animatronic version of the school-bus character from Cars 3. Cars Ridge Run Rally sends guests over rocks, bumps, and drops on vehicles whose tires and suspension react in real time to the terrain, ending with a lap past Old Tankfull geyser. A second major addition, Villains Land, will occupy space roughly the size of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. The land centers on an evil wishing well that draws Disney’s most notorious characters. One attraction will send riders racing through Maleficent’s brambles on a coaster with previously unseen elements. The second appears to be a water-based dark ride that carries guests through the Magic Mirror’s realm, where villains gather to display their world.
Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios Add Themed Areas
Tropical Americas at Animal Kingdom remains on track for a 2027 debut. El Carrusel de los Animalitos offers 22 hand-carved figures drawn from Disney films. Antonio’s Fiesta de Encanto lets families board furniture-shaped vehicles inside Casita for a journey past more than 50 animals, with no height requirement and original voice talent reprising their roles. Indiana Jones and the Myth of the Jade Serpent will replace the former Dinosaur attraction and feature a large animatronic serpent plus a figure modeled on Harrison Ford. At Hollywood Studios, portions of a Monsters, Inc.-themed land called Monstropolis will open in 2027. A suspended coaster through the door vault arrives later. In the meantime, the Glob Theater will host a show starring Mike and Sulley, while two dining locations, including Harryhausen’s Restaurant with its full-size animatronic, provide additional experiences.
Epcot Receives Long-Awaited Updates
Spaceship Earth will receive its first significant refresh in nearly two decades. The attraction’s focus will shift from the history of communication to the theme of human connection, with every show scene updated and the timeline extended into the present and future. A second surprise announcement confirmed that Journey Into Imagination will once again feature both Figment and Dreamfinder on an all-new ride through the world of imagination. At Animal Kingdom, the long-dormant Yeti animatronic on Expedition Everest will be restored to full operation, returning the creature to its original role at the ride’s climax.
Disneyland Resort Prepares New Attractions and Returns
Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure will double in size with two new attractions opening in 2028. Avengers Infinity Defense blends physical sets and large screens as guests help reassemble the Avengers against King Thanos. Stark Flight Lab places riders in gyro-kinetic pods for varied test-flight sequences featuring multiple heroes. A boat ride through the Land of the Dead based on Coco will also debut at the resort, continuing the story one year after the film and carrying no height requirement. Several classic nighttime offerings return in 2027, including a refreshed Remember … Dreams Come True fireworks show, the original World of Color, and the Magic Happens parade. A reimagining of Tomorrowland is also in development, though specific elements remain under wraps. These updates signal a sustained period of investment that will reshape guest experiences at both resorts over the next several years.
