Disney’s 2027 Expansion: Villains Land, Tropical Americas and New Attractions

The Walt Disney Company unveiled sweeping changes coming to its theme parks by 2027 and beyond during the D23 Showcase held on August 15, 2026, in Anaheim, California. The biennial event, themed “Horizons: A Carousel of Progress,” revealed progress on projects announced at the 2024 showcase while introducing new experiences across Disney World, Disneyland and Disney California Adventure. The event featured performances from singer Sheryl Crow and actress Glenn Close, but the real excitement came from the behind-the-scenes looks at construction projects transforming Disney parks worldwide.

Magic Kingdom’s New Eras

Magic Kingdom is undergoing its most extensive transformation in the park’s 55-year history, with more construction projects than ever before. Two major themed lands will reshape how guests experience the park in coming years, with official names and detailed attraction information revealed for the first time.

Piston Peak: The Cars-Themed Adventure

Construction began last year on Piston Peak, a Cars-themed land replacing the closed Tom Sawyer Island in Frontierland. The Rivers of America has been drained and the Liberty Bell relocated backstage to make room for two new attractions featuring beloved Cars characters.

The first, Miss Fritter’s Daredevil Spin-Along, centers on the demolition derby schoolbus from Cars 3. Riders board their own demolition derby cars and experience the chaos of an off-road collision course. The second, Cars Ridge Run Rally, takes guests through an off-road adventure simulating travel through America’s national parks. The ride features all-new technology that creates realistic driving sensations. Michael Hundgen, Vice President Creative for Walt Disney World, explained: “Guests will feel every bump, drop, and rock because this vehicle’s tires and suspension are truly driving over and reacting to them.” The ride concludes with a lap around Old Tankfull geyser before Lightning McQueen and Mater greet guests at the finish line.

Villains Land: Dark Powers and Untold Stories

Disney officially named the villain-themed land announced in 2024 as Villains Land, roughly the size of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. The land centers on an evil wishing well and features Disney’s most iconic villains competing to claim its dark, mysterious powers.

Two major attractions will anchor the land. A coaster themed to Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty will take riders through brambles and briars surrounding her mountaintop fortress, using never-before-seen coaster elements. The second attraction appears to be a water-based experience transporting riders through the Magic Mirror’s Mirror Realm, where Disney villains from across the universe gather to reveal their perspective on good versus evil.

Disney World’s Expanded Horizons

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Beyond Magic Kingdom, Disney World is adding experiences across multiple parks with confirmed opening dates and new attractions that span popular film franchises and classic park attractions.

Tropical Americas: 2027 Opening with Three Attractions

Tropical Americas, with its confirmed 2027 opening date, will introduce three attractions to Animal Kingdom. The Encanto-themed attraction, Antonio’s Fiesta de Encanto, recreates Casita on the day Antonio receives his magical gift. Riders board furniture-shaped vehicles while original Encanto voice actors provide narration and song throughout the experience. Disney announced no minimum height requirement, allowing families to ride regardless of age.

El Carrusel de los Animalitos features 22 hand-carved animals including Heimlich from A Bug’s Life, Crush from Finding Nemo, Hei Hei from Moana, and Kevin from Up. Indiana Jones and the Myth of the Jade Serpent replaces the closed Dinosaur attraction, taking guests into a Maya temple guarded by the mythical serpent Tsukán. Walt Disney Imagineers based the Indiana Jones animatronic on Harrison Ford, the original on-screen Indy, creating an accurate likeness for the attraction.

Hollywood Studios: Monsters Inc and Beyond

Portions of the Monsters, Inc.-themed land coming to Hollywood Studios will open in 2027, though the headlining suspended coaster based on the door vault will debut later. The land will feature “Welcome to Monstropolis,” a show starring Mike and Sulley in the Glob Theater, formerly home to Muppet*Vision 3D. Two dining venues will open simultaneously: Archie’s Scare Pig Pizza and Harryhausen’s Restaurant, featuring a full-size animatronic of the octopus-like sushi-making creature from the first Monsters, Inc. film.

Epcot’s Restored Attractions

Spaceship Earth, an opening-day Epcot attraction, will receive its first major update in nearly 20 years. The reimagined experience shifts focus from human communication to human connection across the ages, extending its timeline into the present day and beyond with updates to every show scene. Separately, Epcot’s Journey Into Imagination will bring back the beloved character Dreamfinder alongside Figment, the precocious purple dragon. When the attraction originally opened in 1983, Dreamfinder accompanied Figment through the Imagination Institute’s Sensory Labs. Guests will soon experience an all-new journey reintroducing this classic duo.

Animal Kingdom’s Surprise Restoration

In an unexpected announcement, Disney revealed that the Yeti animatronic on Expedition Everest—broken since the ride’s opening in 2026—will be fully restored to operational status. Thomas Mazloum, chairman of Disney Experiences, shocked attendees by confirming the repair despite past statements from lead Imagineer Joe Rhode that restoration would be difficult and unsafe.

California Adventures: Avengers Campus and New Franchises

Disney California Adventure is expanding the Avengers Campus and debuting a Coco-themed attraction, with investments that will double the size of the superhero land.

Avengers Campus Expansion

Two attractions will drive the expansion. Avengers Infinity Defense positions guests as new recruits with a pre-mission briefing from Iman Vellani reprising her Ms. Marvel role. Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye, Anthony Mackie as Captain America, Chris Hemsworth as Thor and Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man all return for the attraction, which tasks riders with reassembling the Avengers to battle King Thanos. The ride blends physical sets and massive media screens as guests travel through Wakanda, Asgard and New York City.

Stark Flight Lab features Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man, Anthony Mackie as Captain America and Brie Larson as Captain Marvel. Riders sit in gyro-kinetic pods simulating high-speed test flights, with varying experiences designed into each ride cycle so no two visits feel identical.

Coco: A Year After Miguel’s Story

Disney California Adventure will debut the world’s first Coco-themed attraction at any Disney park. The boat ride through the Land of the Dead continues the story a year after the original film’s events. The queue features a “casa museo” dedicated to Héctor Rivera’s music, while the ride joins Miguel through the Land of the Dead encountering characters and songs from the film.

Entertainment Returns and New Visions

Disneyland is bringing back beloved entertainment offerings as its 70th anniversary celebration concludes. “Remember … Dreams Come True,” the nighttime fireworks spectacular originally debuting during the park’s 50th anniversary in 2005, will return in 2027. The original World of Color nighttime spectacular returns to Disney California Adventure in February 2027. The “Magic Happens” parade, which debuted in 2020 during the park’s 65th anniversary celebration, will return to Disneyland in summer 2027.

In a final surprise announcement, Disney revealed that a reimagined Tomorrowland is in development for Disneyland. The transformation will honor the land’s legacy while bringing it into the future for the next generation of visitors, though specific details remain under wraps.