Disney Parks Add 9 to 11 New Rides and Refurbishments Starting 2026

Significant upgrades and new attractions are slated for Disney's theme parks and cruise line, commencing in 2026. These developments aim to introduce fresh experiences for guests across Disneyland Resort, Walt Disney World Resort, and Disney Cruise Line. While some openings are scheduled for the immediate future, others are identified with tentative timelines or are part of broader, multi-year plans.

Scope of Planned Changes

Disney's announced initiatives for 2026 and onward involve a comprehensive update to its park offerings.

• Ride and Attraction Openings: Reports indicate a notable number of new rides and major refurbishments are planned globally. Sources cite figures ranging from 9 to 11 new rides and major refurbishments across all Disney theme parks.

• Land and Thematic Areas: Specific new lands are mentioned, including a "Villains Land" and a "World of Frozen" land. The "Tropical Americas" land is also noted as a potential future addition to Animal Kingdom, with its opening timeline marked as TBD (To Be Determined).

• Cruise Line Expansion: Disney Cruise Line is set to welcome four new ships, with the Disney Destiny already identified as its largest current vessel capable of carrying approximately 4,000 passengers.

• Resort and District Updates: Enhancements extend to resort properties and entertainment districts, such as new dining and retail locations in Downtown Disney District and the opening of a new Disney Vacation Club tower at the Disneyland Hotel.

Specific Attractions and Locations

Details regarding specific attractions and their planned locations provide a clearer picture of the forthcoming changes.

New and Updated Rides

• A Wreck-It-Ralph attraction is confirmed for Tokyo Disneyland, marking the first of its kind within a Disney park.

• The Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run attraction at both Disney's Hollywood Studios (Walt Disney World) and Disneyland Park is set to receive a new mission. This update will feature characters like Grogu and The Mandalorian.

• A Coco-themed ride is in development, with concept art available.

• A "Cars rally race attraction" is reportedly coming to Disney World.

• A "Raiponce Tangled Spin" attraction is planned for Disney Adventure World at Disneyland Paris.

• One report suggests a new ride will replace Buzz Lightyear’s Astro Blasters.

Refurbishments and Experiential Updates

• Frozen Ever After at Epcot is scheduled for refurbishment and will temporarily close in January. A Parisian version of the ride is also mentioned.

• The Oogie Boogie Bash—A Disney Halloween Party is confirmed to return to Disney California Adventure Park for an extended run.

• Interactive elements are being integrated into attractions across Disneyland Resort.

• The Walt Disney Studios area is undergoing a reimagining that will include new experiences like "Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live!".

Resort and Entertainment District Developments

• Disney's Blizzard Beach water park has reopened.

• Several Disney resorts are undergoing room upgrades, including Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge, Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort (adding a new pool), and Disney's Port Orleans Resort.

• The Disneyland Hotel now features a new 350-room Disney Vacation Club tower.

• Downtown Disney District is slated to introduce new dining and retail options throughout 2026.

Timelines and Uncertainties

While many updates are slated for 2026, some project timelines remain undefined.

• Several attractions, including a new Avatar experience at Disney California Adventure and the Tropical Americas land at Disney's Animal Kingdom, are marked with a TBD opening date.

• The Magic of Disney Animation at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and a Walt Disney Audio-Animatronic for Carousel of Progress are also noted with TBD timelines.

• The "Coco" ride and the "Cars rally race attraction" are presented alongside concept art, implying development stages rather than confirmed opening dates.

• One report suggests that new lands and attractions at U.S. Disney parks might take "another year or two" to materialize, beyond 2026.

Contextualizing the Announcements

These announcements appear to align with Disney's broader strategic plans, including a stated five-year outlook for Disneyland Resort. The timing of the reports, primarily from late 2025 and early 2026, suggests a focused release of information regarding immediate and near-term developments.

Read More: Disney Parks Add 9 New Rides and Updates Globally in 2026

"Across the global Disney theme park portfolio, Disney will debut 9 ride openings and major refurbishments, giving guests plenty to anticipate as they plan upcoming trips." - Mickey Visit, Jan 11, 2026

"While it'll be another year or two before we start to welcome all-new lands and attractions at the U.S. Disney parks, there is a lot of 'new magic' to be enjoyed in 2026, both in and out of the U.S." - The Points Guy, Jan 9, 2026

Sources

• CNET: Published Jan 15, 2026. Details new rides, lands, and cruise ships.https://www.cnet.com/tech/whats-coming-to-disney-world-and-disneyland-new-rides-lands-and-attractions-in-2026/

• The Points Guy: Published Jan 9, 2026. Discusses new rides, ship capacity, and international attractions.https://thepointsguy.com/news/new-at-disney-world-disneyland-2026/

• Mickey Visit: Published Jan 11, 2026. Lists ride openings and major refurbishments globally.https://mickeyvisit.com/new-disney-rides-in-2026-january-11-2026/

• The Disney Food Blog: Published Nov 30, 2025. Lists new rides, including a replacement for Buzz Lightyear's Astro Blasters.https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2025/11/30/disney-is-opening-11-new-rides-in-2026-heres-the-full-list/

• Disney Tourist Blog: Published 4 days prior to this report (date of publication unknown). Covers new and upcoming attractions, focusing on a 5-year plan for Disneyland Resort.https://www.disneytouristblog.com/new-next-disneyland-california-adventure/

• Travel + Leisure: Published Dec 3, 2025. Reports on park refreshes and new attractions for 2026.https://www.travelandleisure.com/disney-parks-reveal-2026-attractions-and-offers-11861070

• FamilyVacationist: Published Dec 6, 2025. Provides a timeline of changes across Disney parks and cruise line.https://familyvacationist.com/timeline-of-changes-coming-to-disney-world-disneyland-and-disney-cruise-line-2026-and-beyond/

• Visit Anaheim: Published Jan 6, 2026. Outlines new attractions and changes at Disneyland Resort for 2026.https://www.visitanaheim.org/blog/stories/post/disneyland-resort-update-2026/

• AllEars.Net: Published Oct 9, 2025. Mentions ride changes at Disneyland in 2026.https://allears.net/2025/10/09/disneyland-rides-are-changing-in-2026/