Disney Experiences has announced updates to parks around the world. The Disney Experiences Showcase was held at D23 The Ultimate Fan Event on Saturday, August 10, 2024.

According to Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Chairperson Josh D’Amaro, everything announced was in development, not blue sky.

Disneyland Resort

Disneyland

Opening Date for Tiana

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will open on November 15, 2024. Critter Country will be renamed to Bayou Country.

Attraction poster for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at Disneyland (Image: Disney)

New Mission on Smugglers Run in 2026

In 2026, a new mission featuring Mando and Grogu will be added to Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run. The new mission will be available in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland and Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

New mission on Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run (Concept art: Disney)

Walt Disney Animatronic

Walt Disney – A Magical Life will debut at the Main Street Opera House for Disneyland’s 70th Anniversary in 2025 and feature a Walt Disney Audio-Animatronic. After the 70th Anniversary, the show will rotate with Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln.

Walt Disney – A Magical Life (Concept art: Disney)

Disney California Adventure

Avatar Confirmed for DCA

The new Avatar-themed land will be based on “Avatar: The Way of Water.” The concept art features a boat ride. Disney first announced the expansion at IAAPA Expo 2023. No construction date was announced.

Avengers Campus Expansion

The Marvel-based land will double in size with two new attractions. Construction on the expansion will begin in 2025.

Avengers Infinity Defense is the name for the previously announced E-Ticket ride featuring King Thanos. The attraction was first announced at D23 Expo 2019.

Get ready for a multi-world adventure experience with Avengers Infinity Defense. Technology that allows the Avengers to jump between worlds has gone missing, and King Thanos is using it to wreak havoc everywhere. Recruits will travel to iconic locations like Asgard, Wakanda, and New York City alongside the likes of big, and small, heroes. You also just might find yourself face-to-face with King Thanos, too.

Stark Flight Lab will be a new attraction with a Kuka arm-style ride system.

With the just announced Stark Flight Lab, you’re going to sit in two-person pods and deploy to a test station. Then a robot arm grabs your pod and starts whirling you around in a simulated flight.
And, a familiar face will join you at the Stark Flight Lab — Mr. Stark himself. Robert Downey Jr. reprises his role as Tony Stark for the attractions in the land.

New Coco Ride

Construction on a new Coco boat ride will start in 2026.

The attraction will be filled with the characters — and music! — you know and love from the beloved movie, as you join Miguel on a trip to the land of the dead. This marks the first-ever “Coco” ride in a Disney park!

Walt Disney World Resort

Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Tropical Americas Opening in 2027

Construction on the Tropical Americas land will start in fall 2024 and open in 2027. The area will replace DinoLand U.S.A. It will feature two signature attractions and a new carousel featuring Disney animals.

A new Encanto-themed attraction will take guests through Casa Madrigal. The ride will be themed to Antonio’s connection with animals.

Inside the Casita, Antonio has just received his special gift — the ability to communicate with animals — and his room has transformed into a rainforest. It’s time to go explore alongside him, and you never know what member of the family you might bump into…

The Indiana Jones attraction will feature a new story set inside an ancient Mayan temple. DINOSAUR will close in late 2024, giving guests a final chance to ride.

In this new venture, the man with the hat has recently discovered a perfectly preserved Maya temple, and that can only mean one thing: it’s time to explore it. He’s heard rumors about a mythical creature deep within the temple — and he’s got to see it for himself. So, he brings us along on the adventure… but will there be snakes? We’ll just have to wait and see.

Zootopia Tree of Life Show Opening Next Winter

Zootopia: Better Zoogether! will open in the winter of 2025 in the Tree of Life theater, replacing It's Tough to be a Bug! The new show was first announced at Destination D23 2023.

Attraction poster for Zootopia: Better Together! (Image: Disney)

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Monsters Inc. Land

A brand new Monsters Inc. Land will feature a suspended roller coaster through the door vault. No construction date was announced.

As mentioned in the Disneyland updates, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run will add a new mission featuring Mando and Grogu in 2026.

EPCOT

New Lounge

A Spaceship Earth lounge will open to the public in 2025, replacing the former sponsor lounge.

Taking inspiration from the geometric sphere, the zen space for families to gather and enjoy refreshments will be draped with rich textures and warm metallic tones, giving it a mysterious and elegant intimacy.

Spaceship Earth lounge (Concept art: Disney)

Test Track Opening in 2025

The reimagined Test Track will open in 2025 with an updated queue and new show scenes. Test Track closed for the update on June 17, 2024. The retheme was announced at Destination D23 2023.

New show scenes will be added showcasing technological advances and how our lifestyles and relationships to mobility connect everyone. Enjoy a joy ride through scenes focusing on onboard technology, customization and personalization. Followed by a trip through a scenic outdoor route reminding us all of the joys of driving, taking in the world around us and spending quality time with friends and family.

Magic Kingdom

Cars Coming to Frontierland

Frontierland will be expanded with a new Cars-themed area featuring two new attractions. Construction on the new area will start in 2025. Based on its concept art, one attraction resembles Radiator Springs Racers from Disney California Adventure.

Take on wild terrain as you race across the landscape climbing mountain trails, dodging geysers and — Mater’s favorite — splashing through mudholes.

In a follow-up Disney Parks Blog post on Monday, August 12, 2024, the Cars area was confirmed to replace the Rivers of America (featuring the Liberty Belle Riverboat) and Tom Sawyer Island.

New Nighttime Parade in 2025

Disney Starlight will be a brand-new nighttime parade debuting in the summer of 2025.

Villains Land Confirmed

A new Villains Land will have two major attractions, shopping and dining. No construction date was announced.

Villian’s Land at Magic Kingdom (Concept art: Disney)

Pirates Lounge Opening in 2025

The Pirates of the Caribbean lounge, first announced at Destination D23 2023, will open in 2025.

Pirates of the Caribbean Tavern (Concept art: Disney)

Disneyland Paris Resort

Disneyland Park

A new nighttime spectacular will debut in January 2025, featuring songs from Disney and Pixar. The show will debut projections on Main Street for the first time at the park.

Walt Disney Studios Park (Disney Adventure World)

The World of Frozen will open in 2026.

A new nighttime show featuring drones, water screens, fountains, and special effects will debut at Adventure Bay in 2026.

A new Lion King-themed area will feature dining, shopping, meet-and-greets, and a log flume attraction themed to Simba’s journey from cub to king. No construction date was announced.

Lion King attraction (Concept art: Disney)

Hong Kong Disneyland

A Spider-Man attraction was announced for the Stark Expo land. No construction date was announced.

Tony Stark has invited his friend, and new Stark Industries intern, Peter Parker to showcase some new inventions, but unfortunately, that also means this has also caught the attention of one of Spidey’s most formidable villains. While trying to help Spider-Man protect the new tech, guests caught in the middle of the action!

Hong Kong Disneyland’s Spider-Man attraction (Concept art: Disney)

Shanghai Disneyland

A new Spider-Man roller coaster attraction was announced. No construction date was announced.

Peter Parker has gotten himself — and us — in a bit of a tight spot. We’re going to follow HIM – at very high speeds – to get us out of trouble.

Disney Cruise Line

Four new ships will be added to the fleet between 2027 and 2031, bringing the total to 13.

Disney Hercules will be the featured production on the Disney Destiny, setting sail in November 2025.

The previously announced “Disney The Tale of Moana” will be performed on stage by a giant puppet on the Disney Treasure, which will set sail in December 2024.

Disney Parks D23 2024 News Roundup