Disney is expanding its theme parks with new lands and attractions inspired by some of its biggest animated films, including Monsters, Inc., Encanto, Coco and The Lion King.
The plans are unveiled during the Disney experiences showcase at D23: the ultimate Disney fan event, where Disney Parks present upcoming developments across Walt Disney World, Disneyland and Disneyland Paris.
At Walt Disney World, Monsters, Inc. receives a dedicated land called Monstropolis at Disney’s Hollywood Studio, which is scheduled to open in 2027. The area allows guests to explore the monster-filled city, meet its characters and experience themed restaurants and entertainment.
The land features a theater stage show created with Pixar and Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), along with high-definition panels and physical characters. It also introduces Disney’s first suspended roller coaster, taking guests towards the laugh floor. A new song written by Randy Newman is also part of the experience.
Monstropolis also includes Archie’s Scare Pig Pizza and Harryhausen’s, a sushi restaurant featuring a large animatronic sushi octopus.
Magic kingdom also introduces Villains Land, an expansion planned on a scale comparable to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. The land centres on a broken wishing well that spreads poisoned magic through the forest and allows Disney villains to create their own lairs.
The area features a Maleficent roller coaster and a dark ride hosted by the Magic Mirror Realm, where villains including Ursula, Cruella De Vil, Jafar, Scar, and Dr Facilier appear through physical sets and special effects.
The Cars-inspired Piston Peak also expands frontierland. The area recreates a national park environment inspired by the rocky mountains and includes visitor facilities, trails and attractions.
Miss Fritter’s Daredevil Spin-Along features a giant animatronic Miss Fitter, while Cars Ridge Run Rally takes guests through a racing adventure across Piston Peak. The ride includes an off-road vehicle designed to react to bumps, drops and rocky terrains.
At Disney’s Animal Kingdom, the tropical Americas land adds Antonio’s Fiesta de Encanto. Inspired by Encanto, the attraction takes guests into the Madrigal Family’s Casita and Antonio’s rainforest-filled room. More than 50 animals native to Colombia appear throughout the experience, while voice stars including Stephanie Beatriz, Jessica Darrow and Diane Guerrero reprise their characters.
At Disneyland, Coco receives its first Disney Parks ride at Disney California Adventure. The family-friendly attraction takes guests into Miguel’s world through a musical boat journey across the Land of the Dead. The experience features characters including Miguel, Dante and Héctor and uses audio-animatronics technology.
Meanwhile, Disneyland Paris is developing a new The Lion King-themed zone at Disney Adventure World. The 30,000-square-metre area recreates the African savanna and features a major attraction inspired by the 1994 Disney animated film, including audio-animatronics and Scar’s confrontation with Simba.
Disneyland Paris also plans Wilderness Explorers Sky Swings, inspired by Up, for 2027. Space Mountain returns to its original 1995 steampunk-inspired theme, De la Terre à la Lune, in 2028. A new daytime parade also debuts in 2028, featuring eight floats inspired by films including Aladdin, The Princess and the Frog, Rapunzel and Coco.
The new projects expand Disney’s use of animation and Pixar storytelling across its parks, bringing familiar characters, worlds and stories into new immersive experiences.
