What’s New in Disney World? Every Ride, Attraction & More Coming 2023-2025

In this post, we are going to discuss all the newest Disney World rides and attractions, as well as give you a glimpse of everything coming to the parks in 2023-2025.  I know 2025 seems like a long time away, but with all the new rides that Disney is currently building, we want to prepare you for what’s next.

The easiest way to do this is to break everything down park by park.  Just in case you haven’t been to Walt Disney World in the last few years, we will give you a brief overview of the new Disney attractions, that are already in the parks and what’s coming soon.

One good way to see everything is in our Walt Disney World Construction Updates guide. 

We try to stay on top of all the different construction zones around property (and there are plenty of them) on a monthly basis so you can even see these new rides being built stage by stage.  It’s really fun to watch and will give you an insight into what actually goes into these complicated systems.

The last few years have been interesting, to say the least, and things haven’t gone exactly the way Disney originally planned. The past few years were supposed to be big years for construction, but the Disney World closure changed that from 2020-2022, and all mostly all the projects were slowed down moving forward.

We know that Disney lost billions of dollars in the last few years, and then CEO Bob Chapek announced that they were cutting the construction budget by hundreds of millions of dollars over the last couple of years. Because of this, many of the new rides and attractions coming to Disney World were either delayed or canceled outright.

Thankfully, things are looking a bit more positive since Bob Iger has once again returned as CEO of The Walt Disney Company. Management realizes the mistakes that were made over the last couple of years and it seems that Iger is intent on fixing the company’s “broken image” to its fans that the previous leadership created.

Early signs from management indicate that they will be spending more time and money investing in Walt Disney World and the other theme parks. This was made clear at the most recent D23 Expo, where Disney restored some of the lost faith in fans and showed them they are once again taking the theme park business seriously and will be heavily investing in new attractions in the coming years.

This will obviously take some time and Iger and the company need to be strategic with how they roll out the next wave of projects for the parks.

Since Disney World is now open once again, many of the projects that were previously planned have the green light and are moving full steam ahead, while others that we still don’t know about are no doubt in the works.

However, it just may take a little longer than we thought. Some of the attractions that we thought we were getting in 2022, we’ll now have to wait until 2023 to experience. Likewise, some of the rides scheduled for 2023 are now pushed off until 2024, and so on.

The good news is that if you haven’t been in a few years, there are already a ton of new attractions in Disney World to come and see.

Waiting for what’s coming to the parks next is also a consideration, and either way, you’ll have many new exciting things to see and do.

One of the biggest new things in the parks will be The Walt Disney Company’s 100th Anniversary celebration which is starting in 2023 and will probably carry over into 2024.  Disney hasn’t shared all its plans for the celebration yet, but it’s sure to be a big one, even if Disneyland will get more festivities.

We wouldn’t expect any new rides, attractions, restaurants, or hotels specifically for the anniversary, but we should be seeing some new entertainment debut including fireworks shows, plus plenty of snacks and merchandise to enjoy.

However, before the 100th anniversary starts, Disney World’s 50th anniversary is still going on in 2023 through March 31. The resort has been at almost full capacity for most of the celebration so far, and you should expect high crowds for the rest of the party.

You may have heard that FastPass is gone and the Disney Genie system has now taken its place. This is going to have a big effect on the way you tour the parks, so make sure you read more about it along with our Disney Genie+ and Lightning Lanes Complete Guide.

You also may know that Disney introduced new MagicBands in 2022 called MagicBand+. This accessory is the next generation and has a ton of interactive features guests can use during their stay.

After months of using them, we are still not really convinced that MagicBand+ is worth the extra price, but it does have some really cool features to use, and it’ll be interesting to see if more interactivity is rolled out to the parks soon.

If you are trying to figure out which year you should plan your trip, read our post on “Going to Disney World in 2023 or 2024, Which Year is Best?” We will be updating it again soon for the new year, and there we break down the pros and cons of each year.

Also, don’t forget to sign up for our FREE Weekly E-Mail Newsletter. We will keep you updated about the newest attractions coming to Disney World as well as Disney vacation planning tips. You can sign up here: Join our E-Mail Newsletter!

Without further ado, here is what’s new and what’s coming next to Walt Disney World from 2023 to 2025 and beyond.

Magic Kingdom

Let’s start off in Disney’s Magic Kingdom, where Disney World was born.  Honestly, if you haven’t been in a few years, there aren’t that many new things you need to see, but that will be changing in 2023.

Parties are a big part of the park’s draw, and a few years ago they added some new hard-ticketed events like the Villains After Hours party which is themed around, of course, the Disney Villains.  It isn’t quite as good as the regular Disney After Hours events they also do in the park, but it’s close.

Most of these hard-ticketed events have now come back to the Magic Kingdom since the reopening so if you are going in 2023 or beyond you should be able to do them if you choose.

The fireworks situation at the Magic Kingdom has been kind of crazy in rencet years. In 2021, the Happily Ever After fireworks show was canceled and replaced by the newest nighttime spectacular Disney Enchantment. It debuted on October 1, 2021, to mostly negative reviews from fans and we definitely don’t think it lives up to its predecessor.

No worries, Disney Enchantment is not sticking around for the long-term and Disney recently announced that Happily Ever After is returning to the Magic Kingdom! The official debut date for the show is April 4, 2023. We should learn a lot more details as well as any new additions to the show in the coming months.

The Magic Kingdom definitely isn’t the park with the highest number of attractions coming in the next few years, but it has one of the biggest ones, and definitely the fastest new ride. 

The biggest by far is the TRON Lightcycle Run roller coaster.  This is a clone of the roller coaster in Shanghai Disneyland, and will quickly jump to the most popular ride in the park when it’s done.

It was originally scheduled for a Spring/Summer 2021 opening date, but it wasn’t ready in time for the 50th anniversary and it has gotten pushed back and is now opening on April 4, 2023! Disney recently made this announcement and we can’t wait to ride it!

The big news that was dropped recently was one of Disney World’s most beloved attractions, Splash Mountain, getting a complete re-theming into a Princess and the Frog-themed attraction.

The Disney fans are split on whether or not it should happen, but it is happening. It will remain a log flume ride, but now set in the Louisiana Bayou and featuring Princess Tiana and Louis as they bring you on a musical journey from the film.

This is not going to be a small project and we expect between 1-2 years to complete the re-theming once it actually gets going. At this point, we don’t know when construction is starting though Disney has announced it is coming to both Walt Disney World and Disneyland in Late 2024.

You may have noticed that the Walt Disney World Railroad is now once again making loops around the Magic Kingdom.  It closed in 2018 and was closed for 4 years before finally reopening in December 2022 with changes to the track and narration of the attraction. We’re just happy to have one of our all-time favorite attractions back and running again!

Don’t expect to see any more E-Ticket attractions in the next few years, but we are still anxiously waiting for a new nighttime parade.  No announcements have been made but rumors persist.

While insiders have been saying for years that it’s coming soon, we don’t expect it in 2023. There is always hope for 2024 though.

The biggest news recently about this park is that Disney is working on a huge Magic Kingdom expansion behind Big Thunder Mountain. They shared some ideas that are being thrown around for this land and it could include Coco, Encanto, and a Disney Villains area.

This project hasn’t been green-lit at this time, so don’t expect it until 2026 or beyond, but it is encouraging that Disney is weighing options for what will be the biggest expansion in Magic Kingdom’s history!

Read our Magic Kingdom Rides Guide for a more look at every ride in the park.

EPCOT

If we were putting this list in order of the parks with the highest number of new rides and attractions coming in the next few years, there is no doubt that EPCOT would be #1.  Even after 3 years, it’s still one big construction zone, and that’s the price we have to pay after years of letting things go.

Good thing that things are looking up and there is a great, big, beautiful tomorrow in store for EPCOT, though some plans have been altered recently.

If you haven’t heard yet EPCOT is getting a complete transformation, with new attractions and a complete re-do of Future World. 

In the last couple of years, Future World has disappeared, and instead, the park has been divided up into 4 new neighborhoods. These are home to the current as well as the new attractions that are coming.

We’re sorry that the EPCOT Experience exhibit at the Odyssey Pavilion has been closed. It was a great way to see the future since it had a huge model and an awesome video of EPCOT and all the pavilions that will be seeing changes in 2023, and extending until 2024, and beyond.

Some of those changes started in 2021 and they are continuing so far in 2023.  For example, just recently 3 new EPCOT films debuted. Awesome Planet can be found in The Land pavilion which explores our planet earth, bringing it alive in a way only Disney can.

Canada has been getting an exterior makeover, but its film recently got one too in “Canada Far and Wide in Circle-Vision 3D.”  It has new scenes, a new musical score, and updated visuals that will take your breath away.

The third film is a “Beauty and the Beast” Sing-Along which has taken over the Impressions de France theater, most of the day that is.  This is a recent effort by Disney to introduce more characters into EPCOT.

We aren’t quite as harsh as some, but there is no doubt that this is a downgrade to the original show. We just wish there were more showings of Impressions de France every day instead of being relegated to the end of the evening.

The last new film coming to EPCOT is another Circle-Vision 360 film coming to the China pavilion called “Wondrous China.”  This film replaces the old one, again with entirely new scenes being filmed. 

There is no exact date for it yet, but expect it to debut sometime in 2023.

Looking into the front half of the park at World Celebration (the old Future World), this is where we see the most changes happening. 

One of the main features of this newly designed area in EPCOT was to be the 3-story Festival Center, which has since been canceled. Located high above World Celebration, it was going to have shops, restaurants, and an observation deck on the top level, providing amazing views into World Showcase.

This was going to be a huge part of the new EPCOT expansion, however, with Disney’s budget cuts for new rides and attractions, the original version of the festival center was no longer viewed as “necessary” and Disney is building something much smaller in its place.

This new area sits on the old location of the former CommuniCore West building and is now more like a festival area rather than an actual elevated pavilion structure in the original concept art. It will be called CommuniCore Hall and CommuniCore Plaza after the former Future World pavilion.

There will be an indoor area with a Mickey & Friends character meet, as well as a flexible exhibition and gallery space, offering a wide variety of experiences that highlight art, live music, food, a demonstration kitchen, a mixology bar, and more.

CommuniCore Plaza will have the flexibility to host intimate musical performances that extend out into the nearby gardens, as you can see in the rendering above, as well as large-scale concerts

Construction is already far along, and we expect it to open by the end of the year.

The EPCOT Gardens will make the park more nature-friendly and fill World Celebration with as much green as possible and include a vast network of lush gardens. This area will be filled with plenty of seating for guests, and shade (something EPCOT is currently missing).

“Dreamer’s Point” is an area in World Celebration that will feature a storytelling fountain and also a statue of Walt Disney called “Walt the Dreamer.” Since he never got to see EPCOT built, this is a fitting tribute to the man who started it all.

The biggest new attraction at EPCOT is the Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind roller coaster which opened on May 27, 2022.  That means it will be open on your next trip to EPCOT and will likely be one of the highlights.

This is a groundbreaking new ride and is one of the longest indoor roller coasters in the world.  It uses new ride vehicle technology called the “Omnicoaster”, awesome storytelling elements, and crazy special effects which have instantly made it the most ride in EPCOT.

We’ve now had a chance to ride it dozens of times and were completely blown away by the new ride system and all the incredible special effects Disney Imagineers worked so hard on over the last few years. This could be the best roller coaster in Disney World and it’s a must-do for the majority of guests.

The Moana: Journey of Water attraction is one that was just announced a few years ago, and the first attraction based on the Walt Disney Studios hit film.  It will be located near The Seas, in the area where Innoventions West used to call home.

Guests interact with magical, living water in this interactive experience.  Disney has confirmed that Moana: Journey of Water will open sometime in late 2023.

On the other side of Future World, the Play! Pavilion is being built in the old Wonders of Life building.  Disney describes it as an “immersive and interactive city” where they promise interactions with your favorite Disney characters, and it will be another addition aimed at a younger audience. 

No specific IPs have been announced yet, but the concept art gives away who you can expect to see.

This was supposed to be open in time for the 50th Anniversary in 2021, but with so much time passed and so little done on the project at this time, we are not even sure if it will get built. At the earliest, we can expect it in 2024, but we aren’t hopeful at this time.

The rumor that won’t go away is big changes coming to the Imagination! Pavilion, and though changes are needed desperately, nothing has been announced so far.  This is one project that even if Disney did have plans for, it has likely been pushed way back.

If we do eventually get a new ride, we expect Figment to still play a major role, but don’t expect anything new to open here until 2024 or later.

At least we are getting a Figment character meet in 2023, though it wouldn’t seem complete without The Dreamfinder!

Hungry guests in World Celebration will be happy to know there is a new dining choice in the front half of EPCOT as Connections Café & Eatery has taken over the old location of the Electric Umbrella. The food here is excellent and there are lots of great pizza, burger, and salad options to choose from.

Of all the new rides coming to Walt Disney World, this next project is the one we are personally most curious about. Work was supposed to get started a few years ago on a complete refurbishment of Spaceship Earth called: “Spaceship Earth: Our Shared Story.” 

This classic attraction was getting a total overhaul, with new scenes, changes to the existing ones, and a new way of telling the story to guests.

That has officially come to a halt, and when Disney World reopened, Spaceship Earth returned with it, in its prior form. It will probably still happen eventually, but it wasn’t necessary when money is tight right now.

We were a bit nervous about the development of this new take on a classic EPCOT ride, and hope that when it eventually does get built that it doesn’t lose some of what makes it so special. 

At this point, construction hasn’t even started and there is no telling now when it might start. The rumor was that this is an 18-month project, so we likely won’t see it finished before 2024 or 2025 even.

On a positive note, Spaceship Earth has new lights installed in between each of the panels on the outside of the structure for the new nighttime light show “Beacons of Magic.”

This is one of the coolest additions to EPCOT in years and it looks absolutely stunning in person. The show repeats every 10-15 minutes once the sun sets, and we highly recommend going down near Spaceship Earth to watch it!

The front half of EPCOT isn’t the only area that is getting new attractions.  There are plenty of amazing new changes to World Showcase as well, starting with Disney’s DuckTales World Showcase Adventure.

This interactive experience replaces Agent P’s World Showcase Adventure and lets guests join Scrooge McDuck, Donald, Huey, Dewey, and Louie, Launchpad, and Webby in search of priceless treasure.  It opened on December 16, 2022.

The huge expansion to the France Pavilion is probably one of the most exciting new additions in Disney World for many guests.  Disney took arguably the best pavilion in World Showcase and made it even better.

The new area is now open and starts in the back of the France pavilion. There you will come across a beautiful new plaza, filled with shops and dining options.  In fact, you must try the La Creperie de Paris, where we have been spending a lot of our time eating crepes!

The crown jewel of the France expansion though is Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure.  This is a copycat of the ride already found in Disneyland Paris and it offers yet another family-friendly attraction in EPCOT. It has instantly become one of the best new rides for Kids in Disney World.

Guests hop inside a unique trackless vehicle and are shrunk down to the size of a rat.  You’ll join Remy through a wild adventure in Gusteau’s kitchen where you’ll fly under tables, through the walls, and avoid danger at every turn. 

The expansion to the France pavilion and Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure opened on October 1, 2021. We’ve been on this many times now and we can say it’s a blast! And don’t worry, you no longer have to use the virtual queue for Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure as there is now a standby queue.

Perhaps the most intriguing new attraction coming to Disney World in the next few years now is not coming after all. In 2019, Disney announced a new attraction based on one of Disney’s most beloved characters of all time, Mary Poppins.

Details around the Mary Poppins attraction have been hush-hush so far, but plans called for it to completely transform the back of the U.K. pavilion into a real-life Cherry Tree lane.

Construction never began on the project, however, and Disney has announced the project has been canceled for now. Disney leadership said that they haven’t forgotten about the project, but whether it ever gets built remains to be seen.

There is no shortage of amazing places to eat in EPCOT, but a bunch of new restaurants have opened in the last couple of years that have placed themselves among the best in the park.

Regal Eagle Smokehouse: Craft Drafts & Barbecue is a quick service restaurant that opened in 2020 and quickly became one of our favorite counter service restaurants in Disney World.

Located in the American Adventure pavilion, it offers authentic BBQ, and has a menu that will make your mouth water! Oh yeah, and its mascot is Sam the Eagle from the Muppets too!

Definitely, the most ambitious new restaurant coming to Disney World, or any theme park in the world for that matter is a space-themed restaurant called Space 220. 

Located near Mission: SPACE in Future World, this restaurant takes diners out of this world and the giant LED windows make it look like you are eating in outer space! 

Space 220 finally opened in 2021, but it is one of the hardest-to-get dining reservations in Walt Disney World, selling out months in advance. It’s absolutely incredible, however, and we highly recommend going. Check our guide to Disney World Advanced Dining Reservations for tips on getting a table at any restaurant in Disney World.

There are also plenty of new entertainment options in EPCOT with a brand new fireworks show lighting up World Showcase Lagoon.  Unfortunately, this meant saying goodbye to our all-time favorite Disney fireworks show “Illuminations,” but after 20 years, it was time for something fresh.

The big replacement show which was supposed to be permanent is called: “Disney Harmonious,” and it is one of the largest nighttime spectaculars ever created for a Disney theme park! Guests are also split on this show as it is a little clunky and hard to get a good viewing location to see everything on the water.

There is also the fact that it’s centered around Disney songs, a drastic change from EPCOT shows of the past. Even the temporary show “Epcot Forever” held true to EPCOT’s roots as a throwback to the classic EPCOT of our youth, with songs from the original attractions.

However, things have gotten crazy here lately as Disney has announced a new nighttime spectacular is coming to EPCOT and replacing the current show Disney Harmonious sometime in late 2023. No other details have been given, but we are told those ugly barges will also disappear from World Showcase Lagoon with this change!

Until its final performance on April 2, 2023, you can still watch Harmonious. It features some cool new effects, including water fountains, water curtains, pyrotechnics, lasers, and fireworks. The music and special effects celebrate Disney animation and they work in stories from the various countries around World Showcase.

While not our favorite show, it’s still worth seeing. You also want to check out EPCOT Forever when it returns as the park’s interim show on April 3, 2023. It will be around until the new show debuts, which is anyone’s guess at this point.

Disney is making a concerted effort to appeal to a younger generation in EPCOT, only time will tell if those efforts pay off while at the same time not isolating the park’s older fans.

Lastly, there are most likely more new rides and attractions coming to EPCOT in the next few years that Disney has yet to announce. 

There is always the rumor of new World Showcase pavilions coming too. Right now Brazil still seems like the most likely, but nothing is 100% at this time, and with the economic downturn, don’t expect this before 2024 or 2025.

Only one thing is certain, EPCOT is going to be a completely new park when you step foot inside it in 2023 or 2024, and we can’t wait to see what’s coming next!

Read our EPCOT Rides Guide for a more in-depth look at every ride in the park.

Hollywood Studios

If EPCOT is more about the future of Disney World, Hollywood Studios is already in the here and now.  If you came to Hollywood Studios a few years ago, it was one big construction zone, much like EPCOT is today. 

Disney has spent billions of dollars on the park over the last few years, leading to some of the best new Disney World rides we’ve seen in a long time!

If you haven’t been to Toy Story Land yet, then you’ll definitely want to check that out on your next visit.  Guests step into Andy’s backyard and ride 3 attractions that are good for the whole family.

Toy Story Mania! is still there, though it has a brand new interactive queue that you will love.  It’s still one of the best rides in Hollywood Studios and a must-do.

The two newest rides there, however, are Alien Swirling Saucers and Slinky Dog Dash.  Alien Swirling Saucers is a classic spinner ride, and fun if you like the theming, but not one of our favorites.

Slinky Dog Dash, on the other hand, we absolutely love it, and it is one of the newer roller coasters in Walt Disney World.  Make sure you buy a Genie+ pass or get in line for it early on your next visit.

There was some disappointment with Toy Story Land when it opened, and Disney is already expanding it, adding a new table service restaurant called Roundup Rodeo BBQ.  From the concept art, it looks like a whole lot of fun and we can’t wait to join Woody and all his friends there, when it opens in Spring 2023!

The real big addition to Hollywood Studios, however, is Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.  We’d heard about this new immersive land for years, and finally, it’s now open.

Even though it does have some flaws, we have to say that Disney hit it out of the park with Galaxy’s Edge and it’s one of the best theme park experiences we’ve had in a long time.

Besides the amazing land itself, the many dining options, and the custom lightsaber and droid building experiences, Star Wars Land is also home to two of Hollywood Studios’ newest rides.

Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run lets you step onto the iconic spaceship from the Star Wars movies, and pilot your way on a secret smuggling mission on the outer rim.  You actually get to pilot the ship yourself and we think it’s a whole lot of fun.

Everything that has come to Disney World over the last few years, however, pales in comparison with the land’s second attraction, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance.  This is the most immersive ride experience Disney has ever built, and it will completely blow you away.

Not only is it the newest attraction in Disney World, it’s also the best.  That’s why the entrance to Hollywood Studios is packed every morning, and why people are getting in line for hours at a time just to ride.

If there is only one new Disney attraction you do on this list, make sure it is Rise of the Resistance. It surpasses all expectations!

But wait, there’s more.  As if there weren’t enough new attractions in Disney World, Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway opened in the Chinese Theater on March 4, 2020. 

This is the first Mickey Mouse-themed attraction in a Disney park, and it has lived up to expectations and is now one of our favorite attractions in the park.

Join Mickey and Minnie on a zany adventure in yet another new attraction that uses trackless ride vehicle technology, with many surprises along the way.

Speaking of Mickey Mouse, the Mickey Shorts Theater also recently debuted and features hilarious animated shorts from the “Mickey Mouse” series.  This took over the space in the ABC Sound Studio, the former home of Star Wars: Path of the Jedi, which is now gone.

And though not quite as interesting as some of the aforementioned attractions, you should check out the new Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy over off Sunset Blvd, especially if you have kids or are fans of the Cars franchise.

Beyond what has recently been added, not too much is on the schedule for Disney’s Hollywood Studios, but this was the park that got the most attention in the past years, so Disney can be happy stepping back for a while and seeing all the new Disney rides that are now part of the park.

We do know there is going to be a third phase to the overhaul of Hollywood Studios coming in the future, but the details of that are not confirmed at this time, and we are looking at 2025 or later until we actually see anything of substance besides what we’ve talked about already.

Read our Hollywood Studios Rides Guide for a more look at every ride in the park.

Animal Kingdom

Up until recently, Disney’s Animal Kingdom didn’t have too many new attractions planned in the next few years, or at least not that Disney was willing to talk about at this time (more on that later.  That’s ok because they’ve recently added the $400 million dollar land, Pandora: The World of Avatar.

Even though Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is the bigger draw right now, for some fans, the best land in Disney World actually lives in the Animal Kingdom.  Pandora opened in 2017 and has been amazing guests ever since with its breathtaking views, incredible scenery, and two great new rides.

The Na’vi River Journey is a classic Disney river ride, bringing you inside a living, bioluminescent forest on the planet of Pandora. 

There you will see beautiful visuals throughout the journey, and encounter perhaps the most impressive audio-animatronic figure ever built, the Shaman of Songs.  We wish it was a little longer, but it’s a solid ride.

Before Rise of the Resistance became big, Flight of Passage was the new, must-see attraction in Walt Disney World. 

Do you know what it feels like to ride a banshee? Think of how you feel when riding Soarin,’ and then triple the excitement level.  We think this is the most thrilling attraction in Disney World and is a close 1b for our favorite.

Since Pandora opened, things have been relatively quiet in the Animal Kingdom.  There have been some smaller additions to the park, but nothing E-Ticket.

For example, DuckTales character meets have opened up in Dinoland U.S.A, and our personal favorite, Kevin from UP! can also be found in the park.

Animal Kingdom is still having a difficult time finding a headline daytime or nighttime show for the park. The most recent daytime show, “Disney KiteTales” has come and gone, and so has “Rivers of Light: We Are One.”

We still think the Animal Kingdom is in need of a new nighttime show, but Disney needs to wait a bit to make sure the next one is a success. Perhaps a new nighttime show could make it to Disney’s Animal Kingdom sometime in 2023, but we may have to wait longer than that.

Meanwhile over in Dinoland U.S.A, at first glance, it’s not about what’s new and being built, but instead what is being torn down. Just recently, Primeval Whirl closed permanently, and the entire structure has been demolished.

What is going to go in its place? At the latest D23 Expo, we got some exciting news as Josh D’Amaro and executives from Disney Imagineering and Walt Disney Animation Studios gave us a first look at the potential Dinoland replacement.

The Animal Kingdom expansion land they showed includes two areas, one for Moana, and another for Zootopia, with three new rides in total.

That is unclear at this time if this is the version of the land that Disney will settle on, but one thing is certain, they are committed to giving Dinoland U.S.A a re-theme, but nothing has been decided upon 100% at this time. Even when they do finalize the plans, it wouldn’t arrive until 2025 or later. 

We have been holding out hope for a Zootopia Land coming in the future, so we are really excited to see what Imagineers have in store. Maybe it will come to Dinoland U.S.A., or maybe Indiana Jones will instead. We’ll have to wait and see.

We’ll keep an eye out here for you and let you know as soon as more new Disney rides and attractions are announced here.

Read our Animal Kingdom Rides Guide for a more look at every ride in the park.

Resorts

Just because we’ve gone over everything coming to the Disney World parks in 2023-2025, that doesn’t mean there aren’t other new things like hotels and restaurants to be excited about in the next few years.

Already recently we’ve seen the opening of two new hotels in Disney World.  The first, the Gran Destino Tower, is actually an addition to Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort. 

We love staying there and think that it’s now the best moderate resort on property. The rooms have great views and we really like Toledo’s restaurant on the top floor.

After that came Disney’s Riviera Resort.  This DVC Resort is built onto the same site as Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort and is a first-class hotel. 

We had an amazing time here during our stay and loved everything from the grounds to the restaurants and guest amenities. You have to eat at Topolino’s whether you are staying here or not!

The location is also fantastic, set right in-between EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Those are the best two parks for new Disney attractions in 2023 and beyond, and staying here puts you close to all the action.

The easiest way to get to either of those locations is in fact on the new Disney Skyliner Gondola transportation system. 

Though it’s had a few hiccups early on in its operation, things have been going smoothly for months now, and the Disney Skyliner has quickly become our favorite mode of transportation in Walt Disney World. 

On our last trip, that’s literally all my sister wanted to do was ride the Skyliner back and forth! Hahaha.

The Disney World Swan Reserve also just opened next to the Swan and Dolphin Resorts and is a high-end, boutique resort aimed at executives and those wanting a luxury resort experience.  This opened in late 2021, in time for the 50th Anniversary.  While most families won’t stay here, it does give you one more location on property.

The new resort I think practically the whole world wants to know about is the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Hotel.  This isn’t just a hotel, but it’s a 2-night Star Wars experience and adventure that you and your family can live out.

We got to stay here on March 1, 2022, for the hotel’s maiden voyage, and it was unlike any other hotel experience we’ve ever experienced in the world.  Guests step onboard the “Halcyon” ship and feel like they are actually being transported to stay on a starcruiser in space. 

Of course, there are onboard dining and immersive experiences that all help make it feel real. 

There is even an excursion to go on in Galaxy’s Edge and missions you and your family must carry out.  And watch out for Kylo Ren and the First Order, who make their presence known on board the Star Wars Hotel during your stay.

Booking a stay on the Galactic Starcruiser isn’t an easy task, so make sure you are informed of everything you need to do first.

The only question now is if a high-end hotel experience like this is needed given the current economic situation. The hotel has been well received by guests who have actually stayed onboard, but we’ll find if it has staying power as the months go by.

Read our review and see why we feel the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser is worth the high price to stay there.

If you are looking for a place to stay on the Seven Seas Lagoon, you are in luck as Disney is bringing some new options for guests. In June 2022, more than 200 new resort studios opened at The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.

We think they did an incredible job with the theme and they were able to keep the Victorian-age charm while adding in a subtle hint of Mary Poppins. There is also a huge refurbishment to the lobby at the Grand Floridian coming in 2023 which will bring a modern, yet timeless look to the iconic resort.

Right across the lagoon, the rooms at the Contemporary Resort got a refurbishment and now are themed to the Incredibles. We don’t like this one as much, it’s a little too cheesy for a deluxe resort. Kids, on the other hand, seem to really like it so it depends on what type of audience you are visiting with.

Disney, however, didn’t stop there.  They also recently announced a new DVC Tower coming to Disney’s Polynesian Resort. The new tower is being built on the old Spirit of Aloha site and will offer incredible views across the lagoon.

We’re not crazy about the style of the new tower as it looks kind of generic to us, but what do we know? Expect it to open in 2024.

At this point, we can say with certainty that the Reflections: A Disney Lakeside Lodge project has been officially canceled. This was another DVC resort planned to be built on Bay Lake at the old River Country site. It would have brought 1,700 new rooms on property in an ideal location near Disney’s Magic Kingdom.

The latest word on the street however is that Disney has already scrapped the Reflections resort with the concrete being taken up and grass seed planted over the property.

On the one hand, Disney certainly doesn’t need more DVC rooms at the moment with all the others opening, so it would make sense if they don’t build it. What is surprising is that it was one of the only locations on property where construction was continuing during the closure.

Even though it won’t get built any time soon, we hope Disney will come back and put something good on this piece of land. It’s such prime real estate, it would be a shame to not have anything here. Plus that means we won’t be getting the Princess Tiana restaurant, which would really be irritating!

These are the latest new resorts opening in 2023 and beyond, and whichever ones end up getting built, for the most part, they sound like they are going to be incredible!

Disney Springs

A very underrated part of Walt Disney World that many forget to take full advantage of is Dinsey Springs.  This is home to world-class shopping and dining, and honestly, I think we’ve eaten here more over the last 3 years than any other place on property.

Even more new dining options have come to Disney Springs in the last couple of years.  The City Works Eatery & Pour House is incredible, and a great location to enjoy a beer and some good food, and watch the latest sporting event during your stay.

Everything, including the appetizers, main courses, and desserts totally blew us away. Whatever you do, save room for the famous Peanut Butter Snickers Pie which is to die for!

Some more amazing treats have come to Disney Springs in the last year or so and stopping at Gideon’s Bakehouse is now a rite of passage when you come to Disney World. These are seriously the most delicious cookies we’ve ever eaten and they are HUGE!

Just be prepared to wait in line for a while as it can be an hour or more, so the earlier you get here in the morning the better!

If you are more of a donut person, I have good news for you. Head over to Everglazed Donuts & Cold Brew for some monumental and decadent treats. I wish I could do breakfast like this every day!

We also have to say that the new Salt & Straw is now our favorite place for ice cream in Disney Springs. We like it even more than Ghirardelli’s. The flavors are all so unique and the ice cream is of a much higher quality than most places on property. Stop by after dinner one night and be amazed.

What we are most excited about though in Disney Springs is the new show Cirque du Soleil – Drawn to Life.  This has replaced the old Cirque show and is inspired by Disney animation and storytelling.

We got to see this on a recent trip, and we were blown away! We thought the old show was still awesome, and the new one is right up there, if not even better. The new acrobatics and choreography are breathtaking as always, and we love how they will tie it all together with the Disney characters.

If you are going to Disney World in the next few years make sure to take the time to go here one evening. If it is half as good as the previous show, you will love it!

That wraps up our look at everything that is new in Disney World, and what’s coming next in 2023, 2024, and beyond.  Honestly, if you haven’t been to Disney World in a long time, the next few years are as good as any time to do it.

There are so many new rides and attractions coming to Disney in the immediate future, and you will have an almost unlimited amount of things to see, do and explore.

Who knows what else Disney has in store for us.  For sure, there are more attractions in the works that they haven’t announced yet. 

Some are even hoping for a new 5th Disney theme park in Disney World. While we don’t think that this will happen in the next 10 years, we could see something like that coming at some point after that.

It also looks very probable that a High-Speed Railway system will be coming to Disney World in the next few years, giving guests another way to reach the resort or visit other parts of Florida while they are here.

Whatever the case, we are ecstatic to have all these new projects coming up to look forward to, and it certainly does seem like there’s a great, big, beautiful tomorrow, and tomorrow is just a dream away.

Make sure to read our post on the Best Rides at Walt Disney World for a full list and rankings of all the rides. Also if you are thinking about an upcoming trip, read our Disney World Vacation Planning Guide for answers to all your most common questions and planning needs.

Your Thoughts

I want to know what you think about what’s new and next coming to Disney World in 2023-2025 and beyond…

• Which new Disney attractions are you most excited about?
• What else would you like to see come to Disney World in the near future?

Let us know in the comments section below!

If you enjoyed this article, as always I appreciate it if you’d share it with others via social media.  I work hard at making this website into a useful resource for you and your family to plan your visit to the Disney Parks and I hope it can help you! Thanks 🙂