Disneyland is now celebrating its 70th anniversary since opening the gates to the original Disney theme park. And as Walt Disney himself once predicted, the park will "never be completed" as long as imagination remains in the world. It's continuing to grow with new rides, experiences and entertainment planned for 2025 and beyond.
New experiences coming include a new entry experience, a Coco ride for the beloved Pixar movie and what old attraction will be closing down so the Avatar attraction can open.
Over in the 53-year-old Walt Disney World in Florida, new lands are being constructed right now -- not to mention the brand-new Disney theme park announced for Abu Dhabi.
We've got all the details on the park expansions and the Disneyland 70th anniversary celebration. Here's everything coming to the Disney Parks and Disney Cruise Line in 2025 and beyond.
Disneyland's expansion starts next year
Concept art of the new pedestrian bridge that will cross Harbor Boulevard. Disney
Disneyland, which is now celebrating Halloween as of Aug. 22, will be expanded in the next couple years. Disney Parks unveiled concept art and details in June of what its expansion will look like.
The first phase of the project is a new parking structure to the east of Disneyland, along with a pedestrian bridge over Harbor Boulevard. A new esplanade entry "experience" will replace the current walkway entry. Construction is planned to begin in the fall of 2026.
Disneyland's 70th anniversary celebration
Disneyland is kicking off its 70th anniversary celebration in May. Disney Parks
Disneyland's 70th anniversary celebration kicked off on May 16. You have plenty of time to get there, though -- the celebration will continue for more than a year, running through summer 2026.
"Celebrate happy" is the theme of the anniversary celebration, and Disneyland has an entirely new theme song, performed by the Jonas Brothers.
New events include a Mickey and Friends cavalcade including Duffy and ShellieMay, a projection show at It's a Small World called Tapestry of Happiness as well as Miguel and Dante being added to the ride, a projection show at Carthay Circle, 70 new food and drink items and new outfits for Mickey and friends. Currently, though, Mickey and his friends will be making appearances in their Halloween costumes from Aug. 22 until Oct. 31 as Disneyland celebrates Halloween, and will likely be dressed in their outfits for the Holidays from Nov. 14 until the end of the year.
Disneyland's World of Color 70th anniversary show. Disney Parks
The new World of Color show is hosted by Joy from Inside Out. The other Emotions manifest movie moments from Pixar and Disney films, including The Incredibles, Turning Red, A Goofy Movie, Encanto and Tangled. It also has a new preshow starring The Muppets, and lets you vote online for which Emotions you'll see in the show.
The esplanade between Disneyland and California Adventure now has a 50-foot sculpture of Sleeping Beauty Castle, with more decorations sprinkled throughout Downtown Disney and Main Street USA, as well as inside Disney's hotels. There's even 70th anniversary decor inside the Toy Story Midway Mania ride.
The Paint the Night parade, Pixar Pals parade and the Wondrous Journeys fireworks show have also returned for the celebration.
On the official anniversary day of July 17, Disneyland debuted a new verse for It's A Small World, as well as a 3-minute film called The Last Verse in the Main Street Cinema. The movie celebrates the Sherman Brothers, who wrote the music for the ride.
The first-ever audio-animatronic figure of Walt Disney himself also debuted on July 17 as a part of the Walt Disney: A Magical Life show inside the Opera House on Main Street USA. There's also a new gallery exhibition in the Opera House, featuring never-before-seen images, art and artifacts from the development, opening and evolution of Disneyland. These include the original rocking chair, lamp and table from Walt Disney's private apartment above the Fire Station on Main Street, Walt's 1955 Emmy award and the Presidential Medal of Freedom he received in 1964. There will be a second exhibit on the history of animatronics.
Coco attraction at Disney's California Adventure
Concept art for the new Coco ride. Disney/Pixar
Disney's California Adventure is also getting more Pixar rides, with a Coco attraction being built in the area near Pixar Pier and Parade Gardens, in what is currently mostly backstage areas for cast members. Construction is set to begin this fall, Disney announced in June.
We don't have many details yet, but it sounds like it'll be a dark ride like Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean, populated by audio-animatronics.
"The attraction will be filled with the characters -- and music! -- you know and love from the beloved movie, as you join Miguel on a trip to the land of the dead," Disney says.
New Avatar area will replace Monsters, Inc. ride at California Adventure
An aerial shot of the Avatar-themed area coming to Disneyland Resort. Disney
The world of Pandora is expanding from Disney World's Animal Kingdom in Orlando to California Adventure in Anaheim. The area in California will take its design inspiration from the second Avatar film, The Way of Water, as well as the upcoming Avatar sequels.
This is part of the Disneyland expansion coming to the theme parks, which will push the boundaries past Downtown Disney and into the nearby parking lots. Disney said in June that it is "transforming a portion of the current Hollywood Backlot area into our Avatar destination in Disney California Adventure."
This will include removing the Monsters Inc. attraction, which will close permanently in early 2026.
Disney says the project is still in early development, so it's still short on details and dates. However, it has previously said the Avatar experience will be "dynamic, intense and emotional," with a dark boat ride much like Pirates of the Caribbean "taking guests all the way to the wide-open seas of Pandora."
First look at Piston Peak, Disney World's Cars Land
Piston Peak National Park: the setting for the new Cars-themed land at Magic Kingdom. Disney Parks
The Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island at Disney World's Magic Kingdom are being repurposed to add an area themed around Pixar's Cars movies. This expansion of Frontierland, which currently encompasses Tiana's Bayou Adventure and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, will get a Route 66 companion, whose look is inspired by the Rocky Mountain area and the "American Frontier and its national parks."
"Imagine an awe-inspiring wilderness filled with towering trees, snowcapped mountains, breathtaking waterfalls, roaring rivers and impressive geysers," Disney Parks Blog wrote on June 3.
Disney says Imagineers are "using a style of architecture called 'Parkitecture,' which was developed by the National Park Service to create structures that harmonize with the natural environment."
On the map, you can see a running river surrounding the Piston Peak area, with geysers spitting water. "Trees will provide a natural barrier between the off-road rally and other parts of Frontierland and Liberty Square. Rugged mountains with dramatic peaks will be nestled along a calming waterway," Disney Parks said. You can see Tiana's Bayou Adventure and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at the top of the map (though those rides are farther east in the park, so this map of Cars Land is rotated 90 degrees).
There will be a visitor's lodge, a Ranger HQ and walking trails in the Piston Peak area, so don't fear that all exploration is being removed with the loss of Tom Sawyer Island.
During SXSW in March, Pixar Chief Creative Officer Pete Docter and Imagineer Michel Hundgen spoke about the new ride vehicle for the Cars attraction. You can watch a TikTok video of Disney Imagineers testing out off-road vehicles in the Arizona desert to create what the ride will feel like.
"These are all things Lightning McQueen and Mater haven't experienced before, like racing over rocky terrain, ascending to mountain peaks, and dodging around geysers -- how do you take these real-world elements and put a Cars spin on it?" Disney Parks said in another blog post. Docter added that each rally car will have its own personality, name and racing number.
Disney last year said there would be a second Cars-themed attraction, too.
Cars Land, which was added to Disney's California Adventure back in 2012, remains popular in the west, so it was only a matter of time before it was added to the eastern outpost.
Work is set to begin this year, after the Rivers of America, Tom Sawyer Island and the Liberty Square Riverboat closed on July 7.
Two more Avengers rides at California Adventure
The Avengers Infinity Defense ride. Disney
Disney's California Adventure, which is already home to the Spider-Man Web Slingers and Guardians of the Galaxy attractions in the Avengers Campus area of the park, will be getting two more Marvel attractions.
During SXSW, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige, Imagineering Chief Creative Officer Bruce Vaughn and Iron Man himself, Robert Downey Jr., revealed more details about these two new rides. Avengers Infinity Defense will see you assemble alongside the Avengers battling King Thanos, featuring appearances by Black Panther, Ant-Man and Hulk. Stark Flight Lab, the second ride, will see you help test Tony Stark's latest tech.
"In Stark Flight Lab, guests will sit in 'gyro-kinetic pods' and roll along a track before stopping in front of a giant robot arm," Disney explains on its Parks Blog. "This robot arm will hoist you into the air where you'll make several high-speed maneuvers inspired by Iron Man and some other Avengers."
Construction began this year on the Avengers Campus additions.
Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin updates
Concept art of the overhauled version of Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin, which will have two different colored lasers in each ride vehicle. Disney/Pixar
Over in Disney World's Magic Kingdom park, Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin will close in August for a total overhaul. Announced on March 26, the Tomorrowland attraction will get new ride vehicles with video monitors.
It's also getting a new scene at the start starring a new character, Buddy the friendly robot. Each star cruiser will have two handheld blasters with always-on lasers that come in two different colors so you can see which laser is yours. The static Z targets will also now "react and light up when hit."
Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin will reopen sometime in 2026.
Disney's Hollywood Studios: Monsters, Inc. land
Disney's first suspended roller coaster will take you on a ride through the Monsters, Inc. factory. Disney/Pixar
If you're going to miss the Monsters, Inc. ride at Disneyland, you'll be relieved to know that a new addition coming to Disney World's Hollywood Studios theme park is a Monsters, Inc.-themed area, to replace the current Muppets area.
Revealed by the voice of Mike Wazowski (Billy Crystal), the land will let you stroll through Monstropolis from the Pixar movies and shorts. A new ride will also take you through the Monsters Inc. laugh factory aboard one of the doors to the human world — aka a suspended roller coaster.
"The first time I saw Monsters, Inc., all I wanted to do was ride on one of those doors like Mike and Sulley," Disney Experiences Chair Josh D'Amaro said at D23 last August. "You'll go into the factory and experience the first suspended coaster ever in a Disney park. Remember in the movie how those claws grab the doors and hoist them up into the air to take them away? We're doing that too. And you're going along for the ride."
Docter and Hundgen were also on-hand to talk about the new Monsters, Inc. ride during SXSW. Here's the TikTok showing the design concept for the Monsters Inc. ride.
The last day of MuppetVision 3D was June 7, as it closed permanently on June 8. Work on the Monsters, Inc. land is beginning later in 2025.
Concept art showing the preshow for the Muppets Rock 'N' Roller Coaster ride. Disney
But the Muppets aren't disappearing entirely from the park -- they'll be replacing the Aerosmith theming on the Rock 'n' Roller Coaster. While there's no closing date yet for the thrill ride, "Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets" will open in 2026.
"Thanks to new management under legendary Muppets tycoon and owner of The Muppet Theatre, J. P. Grosse, groovy vibes will take over the Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Courtyard including a new psychedelic wrap on the giant guitar marquee," Disney revealed on Aug. 21. In the ride, you'll have to help get the band from the recording studio to the concert on time. "With the help of Muppet Labs and a really fast limousine, guests will take a screamingly fun trip across town while the sounds of Electric Mayhem playing iconic hits to keep the music and adrenaline pumping."
Disney World and Disneyland: Bluey meet and greets
Meet and greets with Bluey and her family were announced at the end of 2024 for Disneyland, Disney World and Disney cruises. They were supposed to start sometime during 2025 but as of August, they still aren't happening and there's been no further details provided on when they might.
"Bluey has become a household name for families around the world, and we are thrilled to bring her story to life in new ways," D'Amaro said in 2024. "We can't wait to watch our youngest guests and their families make memories with Bluey in our parks and on our cruises."
The hugely popular Australian TV series about a family of dogs is a worldwide hit, and Disney will release a Bluey movie in 2027. (In the meantime, you can watch Bluey episodes and minisodes on Disney Plus.)
Villains Land at Disney World's Magic Kingdom
Disney World's Magic Kingdom is getting a Villains Land. Disney
Villains Land, which will celebrate all the classic baddies from Disney films, is coming to the Magic Kingdom at Disney World in Florida, and it will be "dark and thorny," according to the Horizons Disney Experiences Showcase (part of Disney's D23 expo in August) and info that Disney has released since.
Villains Land was first teased during D23 2022. It'll be positioned on the other side of Big Thunder Mountain -- aka, the top left edge of the current Magic Kingdom map -- and will stretch around to where the Haunted Mansion is.
Two major attractions will be built in Villains Land, as well as dining and shopping "on an incredibly twisted, grand scale." The land is already being constructed, but no word yet on when it'll open.
A chilling trailer for the chaotic land on Instagram hints at elements in the land representing Maleficent, Dr. Facilier, Ursula, Gaston, Yzma, Queen of Hearts, Hades, the Evil Queen, Lady Tremaine, Captain Hook, Jafar, Kaa, Madam Mim, Cruella, Scar, King Magnifico and Mother Gothel.
Watch this: Disney Parks Announcements at D23 03:24
Animal Kingdom's Tropical Americas land
Animal Kingdom is replacing its DinoLand USA area with Tropical Americas land. Pueblo Esperanza will feel like you're walking through a real village and will have a huge quick-service dining location, a fountain and a carousel.
Tropical Americas will also have a new Indiana Jones ride through a Maya temple and an Encanto-themed attraction where you'll explore Antonio's rainforest room inside the Casita.
Construction began in the fall of 2024, but DinoLand USA is closing down in stages. The Dinosaur ride (which will become the Indiana Jones ride -- a relatively easy overlay, since Disneyland's Indiana Jones reportedly follows almost exactly the same ride track as Disney World's Dinosaur) remains open until 2026, but TriceraTop Spin and the midway area closed down on Jan. 13.
Tropical Americas is planned to open in 2027.
The Tropical Americas area will replace DinoLand USA and feature an Encanto ride, an Indiana Jones ride and a carousel. Disney
Four more ships in the Disney Cruise Line
In addition to the Disney Wish, which launched in July 2022, the Disney Treasure, which set sail in December 2024, and the Disney Destiny, which is set to embark this November, Disney is adding four more cruise ships to its ocean vacation lineup.
The ship names and destinations have yet to be revealed, but the ships will set sail between 2027 and 2031.
Disneyland and Disney World: what else is new?
Disney unveiled this photo on Aug. 22 of the Beak and Barrel lounge. Disney
Here's what else is new and coming soon to the theme parks: