New projects unveiled across all four theme parks, bringing continued investment and creativity to The Most Magical Place On Earth
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (Aug. 12, 2024) – Work is currently underway for an unprecedented amount of expansion and new projects across Walt Disney World Resort. Guests will be able to experience the stories they love in all-new ways, including “Monsters Inc.,” “Cars,” “Encanto” and the classic Disney Villains.
On August 10, 2024, at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event in Anaheim, California, Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro unveiled new details for never-before-seen Walt Disney World additions ranging from fantastical to wicked during the Horizons: Disney Experiences Showcase.
Largest Expansion in History for Magic Kingdom Park
The historic expansion of Magic Kingdom officially begins as permits are filed this week to start moving ground. Starting with Frontierland, where the American West has always been about keeping your eyes on the horizon. It’s about believing in yourself and carving your own path to your dreams, whether you’re a bear from the country, a princess from the bayou, or a racecar from the big city.
Bringing the Western charm of iconic national parks to a brand-new story inspired by Pixar Animation Studios’ “Cars,” Lightning McQueen, Tow Mater and all their friends will soon find themselves at Magic Kingdom in a reimagined section of Frontierland. To make way for this completely new frontier, the Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island will be transformed into vast and rugged terrains for a rally race with some of the world’s most iconic racers.
“We are thrilled to create this original Cars adventure and put our guests in the driver’s seat as we—quite literally—explore a new frontier in Frontierland,” shared Michael Hundgen, Walt Disney World Portfolio Executive Producer at Walt Disney Imagineering. “Part of pioneering this new story includes tapping into the themes of exploration and adventure that inspire so many of us to keep propelling forward. Anytime we touch Magic Kingdom, we recognize the massive responsibility that exists to get it right and tell stories that connect with our guests.”
Once completed, this reimagined area of Frontierland will be home to two new “Cars”-themed attractions taking guests into the wilderness beyond Radiator Springs. Guests can join some of their favorite characters, like Tow Mater and Lightning McQueen, for a thrilling rally race across the landscape – climbing mountain trails, dodging geysers and splashing through mudholes. The youngest racers will also love a second Cars-themed attraction that will be fun for the whole family. Ahead of work revving into high gear next year, guests will have plenty of time to experience the charm and nostalgia of Frontierland as it is today.
And cruising just around the bend, guests will be able to venture Beyond Big Thunder Mountain into an all-new land dedicated to Disney Villains. Inspired by the wicked characters fans know and loathe, the multi-acre expansion will include two major attractions, plus dining and shopping. Walt Disney Imagineering is pushing creative boundaries to dark and mysterious levels to bring this new, first-of-its-kind land to life.
Together, these new additions to Magic Kingdom will represent the largest expansion in park history.
New Attractions & Entertainment Across All Four Theme Parks
While Magic Kingdom is the original theme park at Walt Disney World, the massive and iconic Resort destination has so much more to offer with three more unforgettable parks that continue to captivate guests. Work is underway on all-new attractions, lounges, highly anticipated entertainment, and more across Walt Disney World Resort.
Venture into Tropical Americas at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park
At Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, guests will be invited to venture into the Tropical Americas with a new 11-acre land. Here, guests can visit Pueblo Esperanza, a lush and sprawling town featuring a large fountain where villagers like to gather and tell stories. Just like Harambe, this town is full of life with an open-air market and a large hacienda, which will be one of the largest quick-service restaurants at Walt Disney World. Walt Disney Imagineering took several research trips to some of the most biodiverse areas on the planet in the northern part of South American, stretching up into Central America. On these trips, they immersed themselves in the beautiful nature and culture of the area to find inspiration for the new stories that will be shared here.
The new land will also include three new attractions:
- An all-new adventure centered on Indiana Jones will be different from any other Indy experience around the world. Guests will venture inside a Mayan temple where Indy’s discovered a new place to explore. Amid rumors of a mythical creature living deep within the temple, this thrilling new story will take guests along for the ride with the famed archaeologist. As long as there are no snakes…
- The first-ever “Encanto”-themed attraction will bring casita to life as guests join the beloved Madrigal family on the day Antonio receives his special gift, the ability to communicate with animals. Guests will feel like part of the family Madrigal as they join the celebration and explore their magical home like never before.
- Guests will also get to enjoy a beautiful carousel featuring intricate wood carvings of animals from Disney stories, created by an Esperanza resident. This new take on a classic attraction is sure to become a favorite for young families and the young at heart.
Work on this project is set to begin in fall 2024, but guests will still have time to experience DINOSAUR. The new Tropical Americas land at Disney’s Animal Kingdom will open in 2027.
New Zootopia Show Takes the Stage at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
A new show based on “Zootopia” will make its debut in the Tree of Life theater at Disney’s Animal Kingdom next winter. In “Zootopia: Better Zoogether!” guests will have the chance to visit different biomes seen in the film, traveling along with fan-favorite characters Judy Hopps, Nick Wilde and more.
Explore the World of “Monsters, Inc.” at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
At Disney’s Hollywood Studios, guests can explore the world of Pixar Animation Studios’ “Monsters, Inc.” in an all-new land. Picking up after the events of the beloved movie, humans have been invited to visit as the lovable monsters need laughter to power the city. Guests will be able to stroll the streets of a living, breathing, and not-at-all-scary Monsters-inspired area alongside some of their favorite monsters. Plus, guests will have the chance to experience what it’s like to zoom through the door vault in the factory just like Mike and Sulley. The first-ever suspended coaster at a Disney park will put guests into the action as they race along for an adventure filled with laughs. Work on this project is slated to begin in 2025.
Experience New Adventures at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
Walt Disney Imagineering is working together with Lucasfilm and Epic Games to create a new mission for Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run featuring the Mandalorian and Grogu. Guests visiting Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios can embark on new adventures aboard the iconic ship featuring the duo, just in time for the release of their new movie in 2026.
Watch A Magical New Nighttime Parade at Magic Kingdom
Walt Disney World’s legacy of innovation in nighttime entertainment goes back more than 50 years to the “Main Street Electrical Parade.” In summer 2025, that legacy will enter a new chapter when a new nighttime parade, “Disney Starlight,” makes its debut. This dazzling parade will use the latest technology to tell new stories featuring characters fans love, including Peter Pan, Anna and Elsa, and the magical Madrigal family. It will be a star-kissed constellation of Disney dreams brought to life by the Blue Fairy.
Buckle Up for Reimagined Test Track at EPCOT
Guests visiting EPCOT are in for an exciting ride when Test Track presented by Chevrolet opens in 2025. Walt Disney Imagineering is working together with Chevrolet to push innovation forward with this reimagined attraction, celebrating the evolution of mobility over the last 100-plus years while highlighting the past, present and future. The queue will feature six distinct exhibits celebrating the vehicles and inventors who’ve pushed the envelope to bring us to where we are today.
New show scenes will showcase technological advances and how guests’ relationships to mobility connect them to each other – from onboard technology to customization and personalization. Then, a thrilling trip through a scenic outdoor route will remind guests of the joys of driving, taking in the world around them and spending quality time with loved ones. The updated attraction exterior will harken back to the original World of Motion pavilion design. Construction on this reimagined experience is already underway.
New Lounges Coming to Walt Disney World in 2025
A new Pirates of the Caribbean-themed tavern is set to open in 2025 in Adventureland at Magic Kingdom. This brand-new experience will extend the classic story and offer a welcoming haven for all pirate-kind, big and small. The rambunctious watering hole will invite bandits and buccaneers-to-be from every corner of the seven seas to join together and raise a toast to the pirate life.
For over 40 years, Spaceship Earth has welcomed visitors to EPCOT as a shining beacon of optimism and hope. A newly announced lounge will be inspired by the stories, shapes and enduring legacy of this timeless icon. Taking inspiration from the geometric sphere, the zen space to gather and enjoy refreshments will be draped with rich textures and warm metallic tones, giving it a mysterious and elegant intimacy. This new space will welcome its first guests in 2025.
The Walt Disney Company has continued to invest in incredible storytelling at The Most Magical Place On Earth. Over the last five years alone, the expansive vacation destination has debuted dozens of new attractions, characters, nighttime spectaculars and immersive experiences that only Disney can deliver. From Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at EPCOT to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, there are unforgettable moments around every corner at Walt Disney World… and there’s more to come!
More details on all of these new projects will be shared soon.
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