Disney World's Biggest Expansion Ever: Four New Lands Take Shape Across Three Parks
Walt Disney World is undergoing a transformation unlike anything in its 55-year history. Four entirely new themed lands are rising across three parks as part of Disney's broader $60 billion investment in parks and cruise lines over the next decade.
With cranes visible on the skyline and construction walls reshaping familiar walkways, March 2026 finds the resort deep in the middle of its most ambitious building period ever.
Incoming Disney CEO Josh D'Amaro — who takes over from Bob Iger on March 18, 2026 — will oversee 12 major new attractions and experiences that are all funded and in progress. Here's the latest on each of the four new lands.
1. Tropical Americas — Animal Kingdom (Opening 2027)
The first of the four lands to open, Tropical Americas replaces the former DinoLand U.S.A. with an 11-acre immersive village called Pueblo Esperanza (Village of Hope). The land features Spanish-style architecture, lush tropical landscaping, and a central fountain where villagers gather to tell stories.
Confirmed attractions:
- Encanto Boat Ride — The first ride based on the hit film, where guests explore Antonio's rainforest room and encounter the Madrigal family. In January 2026, Animal Kingdom cast members signed a steel beam inside the ride building — a major construction milestone.
- Indiana Jones Adventure — Built within the former DINOSAUR ride building using its trackless vehicle system, this original storyline sends guests into a perfectly preserved Maya temple. Expected to debut in Fall 2027.
- Critter Carousel — A wood-carved animal carousel in the central plaza.
- Hacienda Restaurant — A large quick-service dining location anchoring the village.
DINOSAUR permanently closed on February 1, 2026 after 28 years of operation. All DinoLand structures are now being demolished to make way for Tropical Americas.
2. Villains Land — Magic Kingdom (Targeting ~2029)
The most ambitious of the four, Villains Land will be the biggest expansion Magic Kingdom has ever seen. Rising on the former footprint of Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island (both permanently closed July 2025, fully demolished by Christmas 2025), the land will feature Art Nouveau architecture from the 1800s.
Disney officially confirmed "two major attractions, dining and shopping all on an incredibly twisted grand scale" at D23 2024. Recent permit filings and industry reports from February 2026 suggest the scope may have grown even larger.
Reported attractions:
- Maleficent Indoor Water Ride — A boat ride similar in spirit to Pirates of the Caribbean, traveling through dramatic villain scenes. New permits show a larger dark ride building than originally planned.
- Emperor's New Groove Coaster — A family-friendly roller coaster themed to Yzma's Secret Lab, reportedly featuring a vertical drop-shaft and multi-launch sequence.
- Ursula Spinner Attraction — A spinning ride themed to The Little Mermaid's villain.
- Hades Dinner Show — A prix-fixe dining experience where Hades plays host and villains appear throughout the meal.
Reports suggest Disney leadership ordered Imagineers to "dream bigger and bolder" late in 2025, though some insiders dispute that plans changed significantly. Infrastructure work for Villains Land is expected to be completed by 2028, with the guest-facing land targeting approximately 2029.
3. Piston Peak National Park — Magic Kingdom (Targeting 2028-2029)
Adjacent to Villains Land in the expanded Frontierland area, Piston Peak National Park brings the Cars universe to Magic Kingdom with a rugged national park setting inspired by Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado.
Confirmed features:
- Off-Road Rally — A high-speed thrill ride racing through mud, rocks, and forest.
- Family-Friendly Cars Ride — A gentler attraction designed for younger guests.
- Old Tankful — A geyser feature inspired by Old Faithful.
As of January 2026, construction has moved from dirt-moving into the foundational phase, with the first concrete forms now visible in aerial photos. Piston Peak may open ahead of Villains Land, potentially in 2028 or 2029.
4. Monstropolis — Hollywood Studios (Late 2027)
The Monsters, Inc.-themed land replaces the former Muppets Courtyard area (Muppet*Vision 3D permanently closed June 2025) and will feature Disney's most technologically ambitious coaster yet.
The headline attraction is a Suspended Door Coaster — Disney's first-ever suspended coaster and first-ever vertical lift at a Disney park. Guests "ride a door" through scenes inspired by the iconic door vault from the film.
The attraction building will span approximately 103,000 square feet, making it the largest ride facility at Hollywood Studios — even bigger than Rise of the Resistance.
The ride is believed to use a Vekoma Suspended Family Coaster system, with four loading areas and two sets of vertical lifts operating in tandem for high throughput. The land will also include themed dining inspired by Harryhausen's restaurant from the film.
As of February 2026, foundation work continues but the building is not yet vertical and no track has been spotted on-site, suggesting a late 2027 opening at the earliest.
Meanwhile: Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Gets the Muppets Treatment
In a faster-paced project, Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets closed for transformation on March 1, 2026 and is targeting a summer 2026 reopening.
The ride is being rethemed from Aerosmith to Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem, featuring a new Scooter Audio-Animatronic — the character's first-ever AA figure.
The iconic guitar outside is getting a psychedelic makeover, and Disney has called it one of its "fastest attraction transformations" ever attempted.
What's Closed Right Now
The construction boom means March 2026 visitors should plan accordingly. Currently closed or affected:
Magic Kingdom
- Big Thunder Mountain — Major refurbishment with new Rainbow Caverns scene; targeting spring 2026 reopening
- Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin — Significant upgrades including new handheld blasters
- Walt Disney World Railroad — Operating on altered route, Frontierland station closed
- Tom Sawyer Island / Rivers of America — Permanently closed
Hollywood Studios
- Rock 'n' Roller Coaster — Closed for Muppets transformation; reopening summer 2026
- Muppet*Vision 3D — Permanently closed
Animal Kingdom
- DINOSAUR — Permanently closed; converting to Indiana Jones Adventure
- DinoLand U.S.A. — Under demolition for Tropical Americas
- Rafiki's Planet Watch — Converting to Bluey experience; reopening ~May 2026
It's a lot of change at once — but when these projects reach completion over the next three years, Walt Disney World will look dramatically different from the park that guests know today.
Sources: The Walt Disney Company, Disney Parks Blog, Attractions Magazine, Disney Tourist Blog, WDWMagic, BlogMickey, AllEars. Concept art credit: Disney Tourist Blog / Walt Disney Imagineering.
