D23 2026: All the news coming to Walt Disney World
Disney has once again set its sights on the future. And after everything that was unveiled at D23 2026, one thing is very clear to us: Walt Disney World is gearing up for one of the most significant transformations of the coming years.
New themed lands, completely new attractions, characters that will finally have their own space within the parks, and projects that are already beginning to take shape will change the experience of visiting Disney World.
For those who are thinking of traveling to Disney in 2027 or over the next few years, we compile the most important news announced during D23 2026 and, above all, what we can expect from each of them.
Summary of Disney World news announced at D23 2026
| Park | New | Status / opening |
|---|---|---|
| Disney's Hollywood Studios | Monstropolis – Monsters, Inc. | Scheduled opening for 2027 |
| Magic Kingdom | Villains Land | Under development |
| Magic Kingdom | Piston Peak – Cars | Under development |
| Disney's Animal Kingdom | Tropical Americas | Under development |
| Disney's Animal Kingdom | Indiana Jones and the Myth of the Jade Serpent | Coming soon |
| Disney's Animal Kingdom | Charm Attraction | Coming soon |
| Disney's Animal Kingdom | Disney animal carousel | Coming soon |
| EPCOT | News and evolution of Spaceship Earth | Announced project |
| Magic Kingdom | Carousel of Progress update | Coming soon |
But some of these projects deserve much more attention.
Monstropolis is coming to Disney's Hollywood Studios in 2027
One of the main highlights of D23 2026 was *Monsters, Inc.*
Disney confirmed new details of Monstropolis, the new themed area that will transform a part of Disney’s Hollywood Studios and allow us, for the first time, to walk through the monster city we met in the Pixar films.
And now we have essential information for those who are planning their next vacation:
Monstropolis is scheduled to open in 2027.
The story of the area will be set on what is known as H.U.M.A.N. Day (Humans Understand Monsters Are Nice), a very special celebration because it will mark the moment when we humans are finally invited to enter Monstropolis.
The Monsters, Inc. roller coaster.
The main attraction will be a roller coaster inspired by the famous door factory.
And it won't be just any roller coaster.
Disney is developing a suspended ride experience that will aim to recreate one of the most memorable moments from *Monsters, Inc.*: when the doors glide along enormous structures inside the factory.
It will also be the first suspended roller coaster at a Disney park.
For us, this is one of the attractions that can change Disney’s Hollywood Studios the most over the next few years.
What will we find inside Monstropolis?
The area will not consist solely of the roller coaster.
Disney is creating an entire city inspired by the Monsters, Inc. universe, complete with restaurants, shops, and entertainment.
Among the announced spaces we will find:
| Place | What we will be able to find |
|---|---|
| Door factory | The great Monsters, Inc. roller coaster. |
| Harryhausen's | Restaurant inspired by the famous restaurant from the movie |
| Monsters University Alumni Club | Space inspired by Monsters University |
| Scare Emporium | Themed store |
| Globe Theatre | Theater and entertainment |
| Monstropolis Pizzeria | New gastronomic proposal |
A new song by Randy Newman, “Welcome to Monstropolis,” was also announced; it will be part of the area’s experience.
For those of us who grew up watching Mike and Sulley, finally being able to walk through Monstropolis will be one of those moments that alone justifies returning to Disney.
Villains Land: Disney villains will have their own land in Magic Kingdom
If there's one project we've been following with great anticipation, it's Villains Land.
Disney had teased the concept previously, but D23 2026 provided a much closer look at what this gigantic Magic Kingdom expansion will be like.
The new land will be located beyond the current park areas and will feature some of the most famous villains in Disney history.
Maleficent, the Evil Queen, Ursula, Hades, Jafar, Cruella de Vil, Dr. Facilier, and other characters will be part of this new universe.
The story behind Villains Land
Disney Imagineering is developing an original storyline to explain why all these villains end up gathered in the same place.
The central element will be a wishing well corrupted by dark magic, capable of attracting various villains who will attempt to control its power.
The entire environment will accompany that story: dark forests, fantastic architecture and an atmosphere very different from any other land currently existing in Magic Kingdom.
Villains Land will have two major attractions
Disney confirmed that the area will feature two main attractions.
A roller coaster inspired by Maleficent
The first one will be a roller coaster that will take us to a fortress surrounded by thorns and dark magic.
Maleficent will have a central role in the experience, and Disney Imagineering announced that particularly ambitious technical elements are being developed for this attraction.
An attraction starring the Magic Mirror
The second experience will feature Snow White's Magic Mirror.
It will be an indoor walkthrough attraction where different villains will be summoned through the power of the mirror.
Everything indicates that Villains Land will not simply be a small expansion.
Disney is developing it as a completely new land, with attractions, restaurants, shops, and its own unique atmosphere.
There is still no official opening date.
Cars will also transform Magic Kingdom
Magic Kingdom is set to undergo another major transformation with the arrival of the Cars universe.
The new area, known as Piston Peak, will be part of Frontierland and will be inspired by the vast natural landscapes of the American West.
During D23 2026, we were able to get a much better look at how Disney is envisioning this new space.
It won't simply be a reproduction of Radiator Springs.
The intention is to create a different region within the Cars universe, combining mountains, roads, vegetation, water, and vehicles.
What attractions will Cars have in Magic Kingdom?
The expansion includes two main experiences.
One of them will be a great off-road vehicle adventure, while another will be specially designed for families.
One detail that particularly caught our attention is that Disney will include water features within the Piston Peak landscape as a visual reference to the historic setting of Rivers of America.
This will allow the transition between Frontierland and the new area to maintain a certain natural continuity.
Tropical Americas will transform Disney's Animal Kingdom
Animal Kingdom is also undergoing a massive transformation.
The former DinoLand U.S.A. area will make way for Tropical Americas, a new land inspired by the tropical regions of the Americas.
Within it, we'll find Pueblo Esperanza, a fictional community that will serve as a hub for new stories set in the area.
And there two huge franchises will arrive:
Indiana Jones and Encanto.
Indiana Jones and the Myth of the Jade Serpent
The new Indiana Jones attraction will finally have a name:
Indiana Jones and the Myth of the Jade Serpent.
The adventure will take us to an ancient Mayan temple where we will accompany Indiana Jones on a new expedition.
One of the biggest surprises at D23 was Harrison Ford's appearance, during which he confirmed his involvement in the project.
Your image will be used to represent Indiana Jones within the attraction, including an Audio-Animatronic directly inspired by the actor.
This will make the Animal Kingdom experience different from other existing Indiana Jones attractions in Disney parks.
Encanto will have its major attraction in Animal Kingdom
The Madrigal family will also finally have a much more significant presence within Walt Disney World.
The new Encanto attraction will let us step inside the Madrigal House and explore some of its magical spaces.
It will be a family experience and one of the great pillars of Tropical Americas.
The inclusion of Encanto makes a lot of sense within Animal Kingdom, especially because of the tropical setting and the film's connection to nature, animals, and Latin American culture.
For many Latin American families visiting Walt Disney World, we believe this will also be one of the novelties with the greatest emotional connection.
Tropical Americas will also have a carousel
Not everything will be big attractions.
In the center of Pueblo Esperanza, you'll find a carousel inspired by animals from Disney movies.
Instead of traditional horses, visitors will be able to ride recognizable characters and animals from various stories.
The idea will be to offer a quiet, family-friendly attraction that, at the same time, serves as one of the main visual points of the new land.
Expedition Everest will also have new features
D23 2026 also brought much-anticipated news for Animal Kingdom fans.
Disney is working to bring the Yeti from Expedition Everest back into the spotlight; it is one of the largest and most famous Audio-Animatronics ever built for a Disney park.
It is an especially interesting update because Expedition Everest continues to be one of our favorite attractions at Animal Kingdom and one of the park's great icons.
Carousel of Progress prepares for a new stage
Magic Kingdom will also update one of its most historic attractions.
Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress will undergo changes designed to preserve the essence of the attraction, which was originally created under Walt Disney’s supervision, while adapting it for a new generation.
Among the new features announced is the participation of Jamie Lee Curtis and Bryan Cranston as new voice actors for the experience.
For us, it is especially interesting that Disney continues to invest in a historic attraction rather than simply replacing it.
EPCOT: Spaceship Earth also looks to the future
D23 also revealed some news about Spaceship Earth, EPCOT's massive icon.
Disney continues working on the evolution of this historic attraction, maintaining its core concept related to communication and the evolution of humanity while incorporating new technologies and narrative elements.
It will be another project that we will follow very closely as Disney reveals additional dates and details.
Which Disney World park will have the most new additions?
If we look at everything announced so far, practically all the major parks at Walt Disney World will see major changes.
| Park | Main projects |
|---|---|
| Magic Kingdom | Villains Land, Piston Peak – Cars and Carousel of Progress update |
| Disney's Hollywood Studios | Monstropolis – Monsters, Inc. |
| Disney's Animal Kingdom | Tropical Americas, Indiana Jones, Encanto and news in Expedition Everest |
| EPCOT | Evolution of Spaceship Earth |
This is important when planning an upcoming trip.
We're not looking at just one new attraction, but rather several projects that will simultaneously transform different parks at Walt Disney World.
Frequently asked questions about D23 2026 and Walt Disney World news
What did Disney announce for Walt Disney World at D23 2026?
Disney presented new details on several projects for Walt Disney World, including Monstropolis at Disney's Hollywood Studios, Villains Land and Piston Peak – Cars at Magic Kingdom, Tropical Americas with Indiana Jones and Encanto at Disney's Animal Kingdom, and future updates for classic attractions.
When does Monstropolis from Monsters, Inc. open in Disney World?
Monstropolis, the new Monsters, Inc. themed land at Disney's Hollywood Studios, is scheduled to open during 2027.
Where will Monstropolis be in Walt Disney World?
Monstropolis will be located in Disney's Hollywood Studios and will be inspired by the monster city from the films Monsters, Inc. and Monsters University.
Does Villains Land already have an opening date?
No. Disney confirmed the development of Villains Land for Magic Kingdom and revealed new details about its attractions and setting, but has not yet announced an official opening date.
Where will Villains Land be in Disney World?
Villains Land will be a new themed land at Magic Kingdom dedicated to Disney villains. The project will include attractions, dining, shopping, and an immersive atmosphere.
Will Cars be coming to Magic Kingdom?
Yes. The Cars universe will arrive at Magic Kingdom through Piston Peak, a new expansion integrated into the Frontierland environment with new experiences inspired by vehicles and natural landscapes.
Where will the Encanto attraction be located in Disney World?
The new Encanto attraction will be located in Tropical Americas, the new area of Disney's Animal Kingdom that will replace DinoLand U.S.A.
Will Indiana Jones have a new attraction in Animal Kingdom?
Yes. Disney announced Indiana Jones and the Myth of the Jade Serpent, a new adventure that will be part of Tropical Americas in Disney's Animal Kingdom.
What's new at Disney's Animal Kingdom?
Disney's Animal Kingdom will undergo a major transformation with Tropical Americas, a new Indiana Jones attraction, an Encanto attraction, a carousel inspired by Disney animals, and new developments related to Expedition Everest.
What news was announced for EPCOT?
Disney announced the evolution of Spaceship Earth as one of the projects related to EPCOT. New technologies and narrative elements are expected while maintaining the historical concept of the attraction.
Is it a good idea to travel to Disney World in 2027?
2027 will be a particularly interesting year to visit Walt Disney World due to the planned opening of Monstropolis. However, other projects still do not have an official date, so the best time to travel will depend on the attractions each family wants to experience.
Is it necessary to wait for all the new attractions to be open to travel to Disney?
Not necessarily. Walt Disney World is in constant evolution and there are always future projects. The ideal date depends on each traveler's priorities, the ages of the passengers, the parks they wish to visit, and the experiences they consider essential.
Are you already thinking about your next trip to Walt Disney World?
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