As Walt Disney once predicted, Disneyland will “never be completed,” and will continue growing “as long as there is imagination left in the world.” The theme park in Anaheim, California, is celebrating its 70th birthday this year, and there’s a lot of new rides, experiences and shows on the horizon — both at Disneyland and at its 53-year-old counterpart in Florida, Walt Disney World.
Disney’s California Adventure, already home to the Spider-Man Web Slingers and Guardians of the Galaxy attractions in the Avengers Campus area of the park, will be getting two more Marvel attractions.
Avengers Campus will double in size to make room for Avengers Infinity Defense — a King Thanos ride where you’ll travel the multiverse between Asgard, Wakanda and New York City to fight him — and Stark Flight Lab, where you’ll sit in a two-person pod and go on a flight with Robert Downey Jr. reprising his role as Iron Man.
Construction begins this year on the Avengers Campus additions.
California Adventure gets a Coco attraction
An aerial shot of the Avatar-themed area coming to Disneyland Resort.
It’ll likely be part of the enormous Disneyland expansion coming to the theme parks that will push the boundaries past Downtown Disney and into the nearby parking lots. While Disney was short on details and dates, the Avatar experience will be “dynamic, intense and emotional,” with a dark boat ride much like Pirates of the Caribbean “taking guests all the way to the wide-open seas of Pandora.”
Disney World’s Magic Kingdom: Villains Land
The new Cars rally race ride.
Disney
The Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island at Disney World’s Magic Kingdom are being repurposed to add an area themed around Pixar’s Cars movies. This expansion of Frontierland, which currently encompasses Tiana’s Bayou Adventure and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, will see it get a Route 66 companion.
“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,” Disney said in a blog post Monday.
The rally race ride will take you through mountains, past geysers and along trails, Disney said, adding that there will be a second Cars-themed attraction, too. Cars Land, which was added to Disney’s California Adventure back in 2012, remains popular in the west, so it was only a matter of time before it was added to the east. Work is set to begin this year.
Monsters Inc. Land at Hollywood Studios
Watch this: Disney Parks Announcements at D23
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Tropical Americas land at Animal Kingdom
Disney’s Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World is replacing its DinoLand USA area with Tropical Americas. Though this had been previously announced, Disney confirmed a few more details in August: Pueblo Esperanza will feel like you’re walking through a real village and will have a huge quick-service dining location, a fountain and a carousel.
Tropical Americas will also have a new Indiana Jones ride through a Maya temple and an Encanto-themed attraction where you’ll explore Antonio’s rainforest room inside the Casita.
Construction began in fall 2024, but DinoLand USA is closing down in stages. The Dinosaur ride (which will become the Indiana Jones ride) remains open, but TriceraTop Spin and the midway area closed down on Jan. 13.
Tropical Americas is planned to open in 2027.
Mando and Grogu are joining in the Millennium Falcon fun.
Disney
Here’s what else is new and coming to the theme parks:
Disneyland’s Tiana’s Bayou Adventure opened on Nov. 15, with Critter Country rethemed to Bayou Country. The area still includes the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh ride and Davy Crockett’s Explorer Canoes, as well as Pooh Corner and the Hungry Bear Barbecue Jamboree. Two merchandise stores, called Ray’s Berets and Louis’ Critter Club, are also now open.
Animal Kingdom will be replacing its old It’s Tough to be a Bug show inside the Tree of Life with a Zootopia-themed show. Zootopia: Better Zoogether will feature Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde taking you through several different areas from the city, and it’ll open next winter.
