Walt Disney World is twice the size of the island of Manhattan. To be sure it's a massive place that has so much going on it's impossible to do everything in one trip. Whether you're looking to take a once-in-a-lifetime vacation, or looking to return after some time away, it's important to keep tabs on just what's new at Disney World.
And there's a lot that's new. Disney has promised to spend $60 billion over the next 10 years on expanding the parks, and based on everything that has already been announced, a lot of that money is being spent right here. Here's a look at the newest additions to the resort as well as what we know is planned for the future.
World Celebration - Epcot (June 10, 2024)
Epcot has been undergoing a massive renovation of about half the theme park for the last few years, and while we saw some elements of that update, like Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, completed years ago, it was only at the beginning of December when the final work was done. World Celebration is a new pavilion within Epcot which is the central hub of the park’s annual festivals. Most of the new area, including the new Dreamer's Point status of Walt Disney, is open, but the new festival center, Comminucore Hall is set to open in 2024.
The Cake Bake Shop - Disney's BoardWalk (Early 2024)
There's no shortage of sweet treats on offer at Walt Disney World, but Gwendolyn Rogers' Cake Bake Shop promises to offer truly unique cookies, French macaroons, and more when it opens its new location at Disney's BoardWalk. Initially planned for a late 2023 opening, things have been pushed back slightly and the Cake Bake Shop is now eyeing an early 2024 opening. Even if you're not staying there, this may be enough of a reason to pay the BoardWalk a visit.
The Little Mermaid - A Musical Adventure - Disney's Hollywood Studios (Fall 2024)
While nearly everything that had closed during the global pandemic has since re-opened, one attraction conspicuous by its absence was Voyage of the Little Mermaid, a live stage show that presented a condensed version of the animated movie. In late 2023 Disney World finally confirmed that the show would not reopen when it announced that a freshly updated version of the show, The Little Mermaid - A Musical Adventure, was set to debut. It will arrive in the fall of 2024 with updated sequences and effects, though we haven't yet seen what that looks like.
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure - Magic Kingdom (June 28, 2024)
One of the most high-profile updates coming to Walt Disney World is the complete retheme of Splash Mountain. The ride previously based on Disney’s controversial film Song of the South has been completely redesigned with a new story set to be a sequel to The Princess and the Frog. The ride is currently in Cast Member previews and is set to open to the general public on June 28, 2024.
Disney’s Polynesian Island Tower (December 17, 2024)
Just like Walt Disney World theme parks are always getting updated, the same is true of Disney World resort hotels. Disney’s Polynesian Village was one of two resorts to open on day one at Walt Disney World in 1971, and in 2024 it will see the opening of a brand new hotel tower for Disney Vacation Club members. Reservations for the tower are now available with the tower set to open in December.
Country Bear Musical Jamboree - Magic Kingdom (TBA 2024)
Over the last several years there have been numerous rumors that the Country Bear Jamboree may get replaced. The opening day attraction at Magic Kingdom has underdone the occasional seasonal re-theme but has been largely untouched since its debut. The good news for fans is the Country Bears aren't going anywhere. They are, however, going to be undergoing a major change. In 2024 a completely new show the Country Bear Musical Revue, will debut. It will see the Bears performing country music versions of classic Disney songs.
Tropical Americas - Disney's Animal Kingdom (TBA)
At the 2022 D23 Expo Disney Parks admitted what fans already knew, that Dinoland U.S.A. was in need of replacement. For a year we were in limbo as to what the new land would be, but we now have a bit of clarification. A new land, The Tropical Americas, focused on the area of Central and South America, will take over the space. What will be inside that land, we still don't know, though Walt Disney Imagineering has admitted that attractions based on Encanto and Indiana Jones are near the top of the list as far as possibilities.
Zootopia Tree Of Life Show - Disney's Animal Kingdom (TBA)
A new Zootopia Land is coming to Shanghai Disney Resort and almost as long as that land has been in development, many wondered if Disney's Animal Kingdom might get a Zootopia land as well. Een Disney admitted it was considering such a thing. Zootopia has been confirmed to be coming to DAK, but not as a land. Instead, it will be taking over the Tree of Life theater, currently the home to the It's Tough to be a Bug 3D film. The content of the film, or when we'll see it, has yet to be announced.
Pirate Lounge - Magic Kingdom (TBA)
Magic Kingdom, like Disneyland itself, opened as a dry park, in accordance with the wishes of Walt Disney. Since then however, alcohol has made its way into the park and beer, wine, and cocktails are now available at every Magic Kingdom table service restaurant. However, what Magic Kingdom has not had, that all other domestic parks do have, is a dedicated lounge. That will change as a Pirate Lounge located near Pirates of the Caribbean, will be coming at some point in the future. The Barker Bird, previously outside the attraction, will be moving into the lounge.
Beyond Thunder Mountain - Magic Kingdom (TBA)
It's such a nebulous idea that for a long time we didn't even include it on this list, but during the Destination D23 panel in September 2023, Disney Parks Chairman said that work on a new land at Magic Kingdom was going into "overdrive," so while it's unclear what exactly is happening, it seems that something is happening. The land will be located adjacent to Frontierland, but what exactly it is we still don't know. Lands, or at least attractions, dedicated to Encanto, or Coco have been suggested. A land dedicated to Disney Villains has also had concept art shown off. It could be one of these ideas, but it could just as easily be something totally different.
Recently Added Attractions
Moana: Journey Of Water - Epcot
While Tron: Lightcycle Run promised to be the most exciting new attraction opening in 2023, there was another new attraction coming that same year that looked to be quite interesting. Moana: Journey of Water is a walk-through attraction that allows guests to interact with water in unique ways. By moving your arms through water you can change its course, create music, and more. Moana is also available nearby as a regular meet-and-greet character.
Luminous: The Symphony of Us - Epcot
Epcot announced it would be replacing Harmonious in 2023, the show that only started in late 2021, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World. While some loved the show, the massive barges that filled Epcot's lagoon all day long were less popular. The new show, Luminous: The Symphony of Us, like the classic Illuminations, uses large structures in the water, but only ones that can be removed at the end of the show. Early response to Luminous has been positive.
Hatbox Ghost In The Haunted Mansion - Magic Kingdom
While both Disneyland and Magic Kingdom have versions of the classic Haunted Mansion, they are not perfectly identical. Both versions have elements you won’t find at the other, but in November 2023 the Disney World mansion became a bit more like the one at Disneyland when it added the Hatbox Ghost to the ride. The character, which sees his head transported between his neck and a hatbox he's holding, was a main character in the recent Haunted Mansion movie and has been part of Disneyland's mansion since 2015.
Summer House on the Lake - Disney Springs
Walt Disney World can transport guests almost anywhere through an attraction but guests who visit the Summer House on the Lake can be transported to California in the summer, any time of year. Disney Springs is the third location for the restaurant that brings California cuisine to Orlando through both unique offerings and restaurant favorites.
Eet by Maneet Chauhan - Disney Springs
If your culinary tastes turn toward the spicy, then another new Disney Springs location that opened in late 2023 might be more your speed. Eet features Indian cuisine and is the creation of James Beard winner and Food Network star Maneet Chauhan and her spouse, entrepreneur, Vivek Deora.
Ahsoka, The Mandalorian, and Cassian Andor In Star Tours - Disney's Hollywood Studios (2024)
Last year it was confirmed that even though Star Wars now has its own land at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World, the original Star Wars attraction, Star Tours, would be getting new additions. In April 2024, alongside the beginning of Season of the Force at Disneyland, the new sequences were added to the attraction. A new finale sequence which includes Ahsoka Tano flying among purrgll, has been added, as have three new "transmission" sequences which spotlight, Ahsoka, Cassian Andor, and The Mandalorian with Grogu.
Everything changes at Walt Disney World, and that certainly can include the plans for those changes as well. The further out these items are the greater the odds that delays could happen or projects could change entirely, but right now this is what we’re expecting to see as Walt Disney World moves forward. It's certainly an exciting future, even if a lot of it is very far in that future.
