Disney Parks in 2026: Leia, Luke and Han Hit Galaxy’s Edge

Disneyland had an enormous 2025 when it kicked off its seventieth anniversary, a celebration that continues on the authentic Disney theme park this yr. Three new rides are additionally being constructed at California Journey, in addition to a complete new Avatar space.

And at Walt Disney World in Florida, 4 new lands are being constructed proper now, themed round villains, Pixar characters and extra.

This is the whole lot you should find out about Disneyland, Disney World and Disney Cruise Line in 2026 and past.

Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge: New previous characters

New characters have begun roaming across the Star Wars-themed lands in Disneyland, as the world “expands its timeline” to incorporate Luke Skywalker, Leia Organa and Han Solo. The unique trio of Star Wars important characters arrived in Batuu on April 29 and are actually interacting with visitors and different characters.

To assist tie them in with the extra trendy Star Wars land, there may also be new props, graphics and music (that includes the legendary John Williams rating) in Galaxy’s Edge.

“Black Spire Outpost will roll again in time a number of many years, thoughtfully introducing beloved characters from throughout the Star Wars timeline,” the Disney Parks Weblog introduced in April. “Every period can be dropped at life with the identical care and a focus to element that the land was initially designed with, masterfully weaving collectively tales from throughout time and house in a single location.”

Darth Vader may also be becoming a member of the enjoyable, and you may nonetheless have the ability to see Ahsoka Tano, The Mandalorian, Grogu, Rey, Chewbacca and R2-D2. 

To tie in with the Star Wars enjoyable in Galaxy’s Edge, House Mountain has remodeled into Hyperspace Mountain in Tomorrowland for a restricted time.

Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster starring The Muppets will get a gap date

Whereas MuppetVision 3D closed final yr to make manner for an complete land themed across the Monsters Pixar motion pictures at Hollywood Studios, the Muppets are being moved to the Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster.

Apparently, that overlay did not take lengthy to finish — Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster Starring Aerosmith had its final day of operation on March 1, and the Muppets-themed model simply introduced its opening date of Might 26.

“The legendary journey roars again to life with a rock-charged remix that drops visitors straight into the center of The Electrical Mayhem’s greatest evening but. With high-speed thrills, a pulse pounding soundtrack, and a VIP listing like no different, this reimagined attraction hits all the correct notes,” the Disney Parks Weblog posted on April 16.

Changing the previous Muppets space of Hollywood Studios, in the meantime, Monstropolis — dwelling of the Monsters, Inc. motion pictures, shorts and Disney Plus streaming sequence — will characteristic Disney’s first suspended curler coaster inside town’s chuckle/scream manufacturing unit.

“The primary time I noticed Monsters, Inc., all I needed to do was journey on a type of doorways like Mike and Sulley,” Disney Experiences Chair Josh D’Amaro stated at D23 in 2024. “Keep in mind within the film how these claws seize the doorways and hoist them up into the air to take them away? We’re doing that too. And you are going alongside for the journey.”

A TikTok exhibits the design idea for the Monsters Inc. journey.

MuppetVision 3D closed completely on June 8, 2025, however we do not count on Monstropolis to be full for one more yr or two.

Bluey has arrived at Disneyland

Spring introduced an addition to Disneyland: Bluey and her household are actually internet hosting a stage present and themed space on the authentic Disney park. Debuting Sunday, March 22, Bluey’s Finest Day Ever is situated on the Fantasyland Theatre subsequent to Mickey’s Toontown and drew hours-long queues throughout its first week.

The theater has been remodeled into Bluey’s college classroom and grounds, together with a gnome village and fairy backyard. Bluey and her sister, Bingo, will seem a number of occasions every day, together with actors and musicians, to “convey to life the favored music and video games emblematic of beloved Bluey episodes.” These video games will embrace “keepy uppy” and the “grannies,” in addition to appearances by Chattermax and Unicorse.

There are additionally puzzles, video games and picture ops all through the Bluey space, and Disneyland is serving up Bluey-themed meals at Troubadour Tavern.

The massively well-liked Australian cartoon a few household of canines is a worldwide hit, and Disney is slated to launch a Bluey film in 2027. (Within the meantime, you possibly can watch Bluey episodes and minisodes on Disney Plus.) 

California Journey celebrates 25 years

The second Disney theme park inbuilt Anaheim opened 25 years in the past on Feb. 8, 2001. Whereas the look of the park has modified lots over these years, California Journey has a number of methods it is celebrating the quarter-century milestone: It is switching the Soarin’ attraction again to Soarin’ Over California till July 1; dressing Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse on Buena Vista Road with new outfits, that includes solar motifs just like the one initially on the curler coaster; and providing varied particular anniversary-themed meals objects, merchandise and drinks.

Soarin’ Throughout America from coast to coast

At Disney’s California Journey and Disney World’s Epcot, the Soarin’ Across the World attraction is getting a US-themed makeover. Soarin’ Throughout America will arrive on July 2, 2026, and can characteristic scenes, sounds and smells from greater than a dozen cityscapes and scenic areas.

Disney launched a trailer starring Patrick Warburton, the unique Soarin’ narrator and pilot, during which he says we’ll quickly “sail throughout spacious skies” and might even see “amber waves of grain” and “purple mountain majesties.” It is a part of Disney’s celebration of America’s 250th anniversary.

Disneyland’s seventieth anniversary continues

Disneyland is continuous to rejoice its seventieth anniversary this yr, following its kick-off in Might 2025. You may have loads of time to get there as its final day is Aug. 9, 2026 — after which it’s going to transition again to Halloween on Aug. 21, then the vacations on Nov. 18, earlier than absolutely returning to its pure state in early 2027.

There are lots of seventieth anniversary exhibits to see, together with the Paint the Evening parade, Rejoice Blissful Cavalcade and the Wondrous Journeys fireworks and projection present on the fort. Mickey and buddies are additionally sporting seventieth celebration outfits.

You’ll be able to catch seventieth anniversary-themed merchandise, food and drinks objects in addition to a projection present at Carthay Circle and a 50-foot sculpture of Sleeping Magnificence Fortress on the esplanade between Disneyland and California Journey; it’s also possible to discover decorations sprinkled all through Downtown Disney, Most important Road USA, Disney’s inns and even contained in the Toy Story Halfway Mania journey.

Disneyland enlargement begins because the Avatar space is constructed

Disneyland is lastly increasing after unveiling plans nearly 5 years in the past. The enlargement is predicted to take a few years to finish and can push the park’s present boundaries previous Downtown Disney and into the close by parking tons. It will additionally remodel “a portion of the present Hollywood Backlot space,” resulting in the closure of the Monsters Inc. attraction completely in 2027.

The largest a part of the enlargement can be including an Avatar-themed land, primarily based on the second movie, The Method of Water, in addition to Avatar: Hearth and Ash. It would embrace a darkish boat journey very like Pirates of the Caribbean, “taking visitors all the best way to the wide-open seas of Pandora.”

It follows the success of the world of Pandora, primarily based on the authentic Avatar movie, in Disney World’s Animal Kingdom. Disney has no dates or particulars but on when it’s going to be full.

Coming prior to the Avatar land, nonetheless, is a brand new esplanade entry “expertise” to exchange the present walkway entry on the east facet of Disneyland, in addition to a brand new parking construction and pedestrian bridge over Harbor Boulevard. Development on this begins within the fall.

A Coco journey is coming

It will not be launching this yr, however building has begun backstage at California Journey to construct a brand new darkish journey. It will be themed for the beloved Pixar film Coco and populated by audio-animatronics.

The Coco journey can be situated within the space close to Pixar Pier and Paradise Gardens, in what’s primarily backstage areas for solid members at present. It will have characters and music from the films as you journey via the land of the lifeless with Miguel.

California Journey: 2 extra Avengers rides 

Avengers Campus already has two rides: Spider-Man Internet Slingers and Guardians of the Galaxy. Quickly, this may double as Disney builds two extra Marvel points of interest at California Journey. 

“We’re doubling the scale of the land with two new points of interest,” a structural engineer stated in a video posted to Walt Disney Imagineering’s Instagram account on Feb. 26. The engineer confirmed off how the Avengers Infinity Protection construction is trying now, together with its columns, foundations and a catwalk that can “assist projectors, audio system and different varieties of present parts.”

Avengers Infinity Protection will see you assemble alongside the Avengers, battling King Thanos — set in a multiverse — that includes appearances by Black Panther, Ant-Man and Hulk.

Stark Flight Lab, the second journey, will see you assist take a look at Tony Stark’s newest tech.

“In Stark Flight Lab, visitors will sit in ‘gyro-kinetic pods’ and roll alongside a observe earlier than stopping in entrance of an enormous robotic arm,” Disney stated. “This robotic arm will hoist you into the air the place you may make a number of high-speed maneuvers impressed by Iron Man and another Avengers.”

Development started in 2025, however no launch dates have been revealed but.

Villains Land at Disney World: 1 yr nearer

Whereas it will not be prepared in time for 2026, building is properly underway for Disney’s first villains-themed space. Villains Land, which is able to rejoice all of the traditional baddies from Disney movies, is coming to the Magic Kingdom at Disney World in Florida.

Imagineers have been drawing inspiration from architectural buildings in Paris and Barcelona — like Gaudí’s buildings within the latter — to design Villains Land, Disney revealed throughout Vacation spot D23 in August 2025.

“Paris is a metropolis filled with traditional Artwork Nouveau … pure motifs and swirling designs there make nature seem like ‘cursed,’ like magic has frozen it into place,” Disney stated on its Parks Weblog. “Barcelona’s artwork fashion is Modernisme, which has much less pure patterns however provides the structure an otherworldly, unnerving look.”

Villains Land, first teased throughout D23 2022, can be positioned on the opposite facet of Massive Thunder Mountain on the high left edge of the present Magic Kingdom map and can stretch round to the place the Haunted Mansion is.

Two main points of interest are deliberate, together with eating and buying. Nonetheless no phrase but on when it’s going to open.

First peek at Piston Peak

The Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island at Disney World’s Magic Kingdom have been closed and faraway from the net map, as Disney works to assemble a brand new land themed after Pixar’s Automobiles motion pictures. Automobiles Land, which was added to Disney’s California Journey again in 2012, stays extraordinarily well-liked within the west, so it was solely a matter of time earlier than it was added to the japanese outpost.

In an enlargement of Frontierland — which additionally contains Tiana’s Bayou Journey and Massive Thunder Mountain Railroad — Route 66 will characteristic a glance impressed by the Rocky Mountains and the “American Frontier and its nationwide parks.”

The Disney Parks Weblog described the brand new space as “an awe-inspiring wilderness crammed with towering timber, snowcapped mountains, breathtaking waterfalls, roaring rivers and spectacular geysers.” Disney Imagineers are “utilizing a method of structure referred to as ‘Parkitecture,’ which was developed by the Nationwide Park Service to create buildings that harmonize with the pure setting.”

There can be two points of interest, one in all which is a rally race. Pixar Chief Inventive Officer Pete Docter and Imagineer Michael Hundgen spoke concerning the new journey automobile for this, and you’ll see a TikTok of Imagineers testing out off-road automobiles within the Arizona desert to create what the journey will really feel like. Every rally automotive can have its personal persona, identify and racing quantity, Docter stated.

“These are all issues Lightning McQueen and Mater have not skilled earlier than, like racing over rocky terrain, ascending to mountain peaks and dodging round geysers — how do you are taking these real-world parts and put a Automobiles spin on it?” Disney Parks stated in a earlier weblog publish. 

Whereas building has begun and Disney has even launched a map exhibiting what the land could seem like (geysers capturing water, a operating river, an off-road rally observe, mountains, a customer’s lodge, a Ranger HQ and strolling trails), we do not count on Piston Peak to open till at the very least 2027 or 2028.

Dinosaur closes to make manner for Tropical Americas Land

Animal Kingdom’s DinoLand USA space is not any extra, with the world on the Disney World map now a clean sea of grass as Disney slowly builds out the brand new Tropical Americas Land. 

Development started within the fall of 2024, with TriceraTop Spin and the halfway space closing down in January 2025. The Dinosaur journey remained open till Feb. 1 this yr however has now closed its doorways because it’s remodeled into a brand new Indiana Jones journey via a Maya temple (a comparatively simple overlay since Disneyland’s Indiana Jones reportedly follows nearly precisely the identical journey observe as Disney World’s Dinosaur).

The Pueblo Esperanza space can be themed like a South American village, with an Encanto-themed attraction, the place you get to discover Antonio’s rainforest room contained in the Casita, in addition to an enormous quick-service eating location, a fountain and a carousel.

Tropical Americas is deliberate to open in 2027.

Discounted Disneyland tickets and a brand new Magic Key

California residents can at present get a three-day Park Hopper ticket for $249, a 50% low cost. Time is operating out to make use of it, although — you possibly can solely go to till Might 21 utilizing this ticket. After that may be a Youngsters’ Summer time Ticket deal, with a one-day Park Hopper ticket costing $50 per little one, ages 3 via 9. You should purchase it now and use it between Might 22 and Sept. 7.

Disneyland can be including (and eradicating) a Magic Key possibility: The Discover Key will exchange the present Enchant Key. All California residents will have the ability to buy it — not solely Southern California residents. It would permit entry on weekdays in June and July, that are at present blocked out for Enchant Key holders. 

The Discover Key went on sale earlier this yr. It prices $999, with a $99 down cost and 0% APR on repayments for 12 months. Disney stated its “full worth” will be unlocked in simply 4 visits to the parks, due to Park Hopper admission, 25% off parking, Lightning Lane Multi-Passes and 10% off merchandise and eating.

Disney World discounted summer time tickets

For what Disney World is asking Cool Youngsters’ Summer time, it is providing two free nights and two free theme park days while you purchase a four-night, four-day Disney resort and ticket package deal for a go to throughout Might 26 via Sept. 15. You can even save as much as 30% on some Disney inns between Might 1 and Oct. 4.

Additionally a part of Cool Youngsters’ Summer time is a free day at a Disney water park (Hurricane Lagoon or Blizzard Seashore) in your check-in day when staying at a Disney resort between Might 26 and Sept. 8; and a free eating plan for youths aged 3-9 while you purchase a eating package deal for visitors over 10 and a room at a Disney resort.

Disney Cruise Line: New ships

Disney has been all in on launching cruise ships over the previous couple of years, together with the Disney Want in 2022, the Disney Treasure in 2024 and the Disney Future in 2025.

The Disney Journey sailed on its maiden voyage from Singapore on March 10, the primary of 4 new ships set to embark quickly. Disney’s subsequent cruise liner, the Disney Imagine, was unveiled by new CEO Josh D’Amaro on March 18. 

“The Disney Imagine will convey to life the magical worlds of Encanto and Frozen, the wishing wells of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and the depths of the ocean with Moana and The Little Mermaid,” Disney stated.

The Disney Imagine is predicted to set sail in late 2027. The opposite ship names and locations have but to be revealed, however they’re anticipated to sail earlier than 2031.

Every little thing else coming quickly

This is what else is new and coming quickly to the theme parks:

• A 3D-printed prop canoe was added to the Jungle Cruise journey in January.
• Buzz Lightyear’s House Ranger Spin closed on the Magic Kingdom in August to obtain new journey automobiles with video screens and two handheld blasters that includes always-on lasers in two completely different colours (so you possibly can lastly see which laser is yours). It is also getting a brand new opening scene starring Buddy the pleasant robotic, and static Z targets will mild up while you hit them. The journey reopened on April 8.
• Massive Thunder Mountain Railroad is reopening on Sunday, Might 3, at Magic Kingdom after a prolonged refurbishment. It would embrace “a journey via the spectacular pure phenomena of the Rainbow Caverns.”
• Disney World’s water park Blizzard Seashore reopened on Feb. 15, and Hurricane Lagoon is reopening on Might 12.
• Disneyland and Hollywood Studios are including Mandalorian and Grogu missions to the Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run journey in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, tying in with the discharge of The Mandalorian and Grogu in cinemas. The brand new missions will launch on Might 22, 2026.
• Bluey and Bingo meet-and-greets are coming to Disney World on the Conservation Station at Animal Kingdom as a part of the Cool Youngsters’ Summer time celebration, which fits from Might 26 till Sept. 8. 
• Cinderella Fortress at Magic Kingdom is at present being repainted in its authentic theme colours: grey, cream, blue and gold.
• From July onwards, you’ll e book a wedding ceremony on the Haunted Mansion in Disneyland. Weddings can be hosted on the courtyard proper exterior the mansion’s entrance doorways. The realm can seat as much as 25 visitors. Sadly, it does not embrace thematic midnight ceremonies — you possibly can solely host your wedding ceremony there within the early morning earlier than park opening. Different new Disneyland wedding ceremony venues embrace the Magnolia Park Gazebo (proper exterior Tiana’s Palace), Magnolia Park Terrace (proper exterior the brand new Haunted Mansion queue) and Fantasy Faire Backyard (reverse the fort).
• Following the discharge of the Walt Disney animatronic at Disneyland, Disney introduced {that a} related animatronic can be added to Disney World’s Carousel of Progress at Magic Kingdom in a brand new introductory scene to the journey.