What's New at Disney World: 2026 and 2027

Last reviewed: October 2026

The biggest new things you can ride at Disney World in 2026 are Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets, Bluey's Wild World and a reopened Big Thunder Mountain. For 2027, Disney has dated Carousel of Progress (late spring), Disney's Lakeshore Lodge (July 1) and the first part of Monstropolis. Tropical Americas has no firm date.

Things are always changing at Disney World. New rides, attractions, resorts, and more are always being announced.

Sometimes I can't even keep up with it (and it's my job to keep up with it!). So this list only carries what Disney has officially announced, with Disney's own date next to each one.

Here I'll tell you what opened in 2026, what opens in 2027, what has no date yet, and what will be closed during your trip.

What Opened at Disney World During 2026?

If you visit now, you get a new Rock 'n' Roller Coaster, a new Soarin' film, Bluey at Animal Kingdom and a new animation building at Hollywood Studios. Big Thunder Mountain is back after a long refurbishment. You lose DinoLand U.S.A., which closed for good in February to make room for Tropical Americas.

Magic Kingdom

• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad reopened May 3, 2026 after a 16-month refurbishment. Your kids now need to be 38" to ride (it was 40"). It is back in Lightning Lane Multi Pass Tier 1. You can find every height and tier on my Magic Kingdom ride list.

Epcot

• Soarin' Across America replaced Soarin' Around the World on May 26, 2026. Disney calls it a limited-time film for America's 250th birthday, so you may see Around the World come back at some point.

Hollywood Studios

• Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets opened May 26, 2026. You ride the same launch coaster, with The Electric Mayhem in place of Aerosmith. Heights and Lightning Lane info are on my Hollywood Studios ride list.
• The Magic of Disney Animation opened September 14, 2026 in Animation Courtyard. You get the Once Upon A Studio theater, character meets and an indoor play area called Drawn to Wonderland.

Animal Kingdom

• Bluey's Wild World opened May 26, 2026 at Conservation Station (the old Rafiki's Planet Watch). You still get there on the Wildlife Express train.
• DinoLand U.S.A. is gone. DINOSAUR closed in February 2026, after TriceraTop Spin and The Boneyard closed in 2025. If you want to know what is still running, check my Animal Kingdom ride list.

What Opens at Disney World During 2027?

Here is what you can plan around. Disney has given 2027 timing for four things. Carousel of Progress reopens in late spring. Disney's Lakeshore Lodge opens July 1. Parts of Monstropolis open sometime in 2027. Tropical Americas was announced for 2027, but Disney took the year off its Disney World website in September 2026.

Carousel of Progress (Magic Kingdom)

Carousel of Progress closed in July 2026 for new scenes. Disney expects it back in late spring 2027. Every scene is being updated, so you will follow the family through the 1960s, the 1980s, the New Millennium and the Possible Future.

Monstropolis (Hollywood Studios)

This is the Monsters, Inc. land where Muppet*Vision 3D used to be. Disney says parts of it open in 2027, including a theater show called Welcome to Monstropolis, Harryhausen's (a table service restaurant) and Archie's Scare Pig Pizza.

The big ride is a suspended door coaster. You will NOT be able to ride it when the first part of the land opens, and Disney has not given it a date.

Disney's Lakeshore Lodge

This is a new Disney Vacation Club resort on Bay Lake, a short boat ride from Magic Kingdom. It opens July 1, 2027. You can book it now: booking opened October 6 for DVC members, October 7 for Annual Passholders and October 8, 2026 for everyone else.

Tropical Americas (Animal Kingdom)

Tropical Americas replaces DinoLand. It will have three rides: Indiana Jones and the Myth of the Jade Serpent, Antonio's Fiesta de Encanto and a carousel called El Carrusel de los Animalitos.

Disney Parks Blog still says 2027. But on September 10, 2026 Disney removed "2027" from the Tropical Americas entry on its Coming to the Parks page, and Disney has not said why. So if this land is the reason for your trip, wait until Disney gives a real date before you book.

Piston Peak and Villains Land

Disney has not announced an opening date or year for either one. Both are going in behind Frontierland at Magic Kingdom, on the land where the Rivers of America used to be. If you see a year online for these two, it is a guess, not a Disney date.

• Piston Peak National Park is a Cars area with two rides: Cars Ridge Run Rally (an off-road race through the mountains) and Miss Fritter's Daredevil Spin-Along.
• Villains Land will have two big rides: a coaster through Maleficent's thorny briars and a dark ride connected to the Magic Mirror.

Closed Right Now

Three Magic Kingdom attractions are affected this fall. Carousel of Progress is closed until late spring 2027. The Walt Disney World Railroad closed September 28 and is due back October 30 as a shuttle between Main Street and Fantasyland. Tiana's Bayou Adventure closes November 2 and is due back in December.

If you are going in November or December, check the refurbishment list in your My Disney Experience app before you plan your Magic Kingdom day.

Closed for Good

• Rivers of America, Tom Sawyer Island and the Liberty Square Riverboat (Magic Kingdom) closed in July 2025 for Piston Peak.
• Muppet*Vision 3D (Hollywood Studios) closed in June 2025 for Monstropolis.
• Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith gave its last rides in March 2026 before the Muppets version.
• DINOSAUR and the rest of DinoLand U.S.A. (Animal Kingdom) closed in February 2026 for Tropical Americas.

What Changes for 2027 Tickets?

You can already buy 2027 tickets for January through October 2027. They went on sale April 16, 2026. The lowest one-day price did not change. The top price went up: a one-day Magic Kingdom ticket reaches $219 on the busiest 2027 dates, $20 more than the 2026 peak for the same months.

If you like prepaid meals, the Deluxe Dining Plan comes back in 2027. You can only get it with a vacation package.

Ticket prices change by date, so your travel dates matter more than ever. Before you pick your park days, check what is actually running on my Epcot ride list and the other park lists.

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See you at the parks,
-Julie