Major Disney World Updates Unveiled at D23: New Rides, Villains Land Details

Disney turned its Parks and Experiences showcase at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event into a late-night talk show-awards show mash-up, providing updates on projects at Disney World, Disneyland, parks around the world, as well as the Disney Cruise Line. 

Neil Patrick Harris, who has hosted four Tony Award telecasts, two Emmy Award shows, and the Academy Awards broadcast, kicked off the show with a musical number about Disney animatronics and presented the updates using the theme of the Carousel of Progress to move through the announcements. 

Disney Experiences Chairman Thomas Mazloum gave a brief recap of what happened over the past couple of years before the Imagineers took center stage to provide updates. Let’s focus here on the announcements that have been provided specifically for Disney World.

Magic Kingdom

Carousel of Progress

The Carousel of Progress in Magic Kingdom is now closed and undergoing a major update. We already know the timeframe will be updated, with four brand-new acts set in the 1960s, 1980s, the New Millennium, and the Possible Future. In addition, guests will get a glimpse of Walt Disney himself. The new introduction scene will feature a Walt Disney Audio-Animatronic, inspired by the 1964 television special Disneyland Goes to the World’s Fair, which originally introduced the Carousel concept to the public.

The news from D23 was the casting for the iconic roles of mom and dad. Jamie Lee Curtis will be the voice of the mother and Emmy-winning actor Bryan Cranston will voice the dad.

Cars Land 

Vice President of Creative for Walt Disney World Michael Hundgen and Imagineer Jason Grandt provided updates on the new Piston Peak National Park area now under construction at Magic Kingdom. 

Let’s start with the second and smaller ride, called Miss Fritter’s Daredevil Spin-Along, inspired by the “Diva of Demolition” from Cars 3. The ride will feature Miss Fritter as a “huge school-bus-sized animatronic” who hosts a stampeding bash at her “wildest demolition derby yet.” 

The photos of the ride look similar to Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree at Disneyland and Alien Swirling Saucers at Hollywood Studios.

The main ride will be called the Cars Ridge Run Rally. The course spans rugged national park terrain, taking riders up the icy summit of Piston Peak, down a camelback descent, through a geyser field, and past the Old Tankfull geyser.

Lightning McQueen and Mater provide live coverage of the race’s finish for the Racing Sports Network.

The attraction debuts a brand-new, off-road ride vehicle designed with active tires and suspension so riders directly feel every rock, bump, and drop.

Villains Land

Disney Imagineers announced new details for Villains Land, The first was the underwhelming announcement that the name of the new land will be “Villains Land.” 

This area features an original narrative centered around a broken Wishing Well, which was corrupted by an evil wish that spread dark magic throughout a foreboding forest. 

Iconic Disney villains have gathered here to harness the well’s remaining power to construct their own customized lairs, palaces, and fortresses. 

The first headlining attraction is a groundbreaking roller coaster that takes guests through the enchanted briar surrounding Maleficent’s mountaintop fortress. The Imagineering team teased that this coaster will include elements they’ve never attempted before on similar attractions, so it is set to be a truly groundbreaking project.

The second major attraction is a dark ride hosted by the Magic Mirror in the catacombs beneath the Evil Queen’s palace. This water ride will transport guests using physical set pieces and special effects to showcase an array of Disney Villains.

Animal Kingdom

Expedition Everest

The Yeti is coming back to life on Expedition Everest. The animatronic will move again, ending nearly two decades of b-mode, or Disco Yeti, as fans have dubbed it.

Tropical Americas – Indiana Jones ride

The Indiana Jones attraction in the new Tropical Americas section of Animal Kingdom will be called Indiana Jones and the Myth of the Jade Serpent.

Harrison Ford confirmed he is serving as the physical model for the ride’s Audio-Animatronics figure, marking the first time his likeness will be featured in a Disney attraction.

The ride merges classic Indiana Jones adventures with authentic Maya culture, featuring custom artwork and expert consultation from archaeologists and anthropologists.

Riders will join Indiana Jones exploring an ancient temple and cenote, where a portal pulls guests into the Maya Underworld to face bats, scorpions, fire, and snakes. The main antagonist is a gigantic, hand-sculpted snake animatronic representing the legendary guardian creature, the Tsukán.

Tropical Americas – Encanto Ride

The name of the new Encanto ride coming to Tropical Americas will be called Antonio’s Fiesta de Encanto.

The storyline centers on celebrating Antonio’s gift of communicating with animals, emphasizing that all living things are part of one familia. Original voice actors return to reprise their roles, including Stephanie Beatriz (Mirabel), Jessica Darrow (Luisa), and Diane Guerrero (Isabella).

The ride expands the world of Encanto by exploring previously unseen rooms and areas of Casita. Guests board moving furniture ride vehicles that react dynamically like characters as they travel through the house to Antonio’s rainforest room upstairs.

The attraction features over 50 animals—such as capybaras, toucans, and donkeys—developed in partnership with Disney’s Animals, Science and Environment team to ensure the accuracy of Colombian species.

The attraction will have no height requirement, making it accessible to guests of all ages.

Tropical Americas — Encanto Carousel

The new carousel, called  El Carrusel de los Animalitos, features 22 hand-carved ride figures based on beloved Disney and Pixar animal characters.

Hollywood Studios

Monstropolis

The biggest news was that portions of the land are scheduled to open in 2027 while construction continues on the large main coaster.

Randy Newman composed a song, ”Welcome to Monstropolis,” for the land, marking his first original theme park song, and it will be performed as part of the “Welcome to Monstropolis,” show coming to the Glob Theater hosted by Mike and Sulley.

The land focuses on introducing human guests to the city and highlighting the similarities between humans and monsters.

The area will include:

• Archie’s Scare Pig Pizza: A top-rated pizza spot themed after Fear Tech mascot Archie.
• Monsters University Alumni Club: Showcases various MU student clubs, fraternities, and sororities. It features the elite Scarer’s Club tribute honoring legendary scarers from the past.
• Scareporium: Serves as the primary souvenir shop for human tourists visiting Monstropolis.
• Harryhausen’s Restaurant: Features a brand-new, multi-tentacled Audio-Animatronic sushi chef preparing monster-worthy dishes. Offers a unique, romantic menu that extends beyond sushi.
  

EPCOT

Spaceship Earth

For the first time in nearly 20 years, Spaceship Earth is getting an update. (Read more details here.)

Figment 

The last announcement of the night and one of the briefest is that the Dreamfinder animatronic will be restored and reuinted with Figment in the Imagination Pavilion. The announcement was vague but heavily implied a refurbishment for the Journey Into Imagination attraction.

“We are taking a new journey into imagination at EPCOT with Dreamfinder and Figment!” Disney Experiences Chairman Thomas Mazloum told the cheering crowd. “I’m so happy to share this news tonight. We know how important this is to you. We’ve heard you, and this is one more way we’re putting you in the center of everything we do.”

No more information was given, but it was a good way to bookend the night, since the show started off with a song about animatronics.