DISNEY has confirmed all of the exciting new rides and cruises launching in the next few years.
The announcements were part of Disney’s huge annual D23 event, which talks all things Disney when it comes to films, TV shows and, of course, the theme parks.
The upcoming attraction openings include Disneyland Paris, Disney World and the Disney cruises.
From new dark rides and log flumes, to four new cruise ships and a UK-based stage show – here’s the rundown on all the top attraction announcements:
Disneyland Paris
A number of new announcements were made about Disneyland Paris and some of the park’s upcoming attractions.
Already in the works is a new Lion King-themed water attraction, with three drops including a 15.8metre plunge from Pride Rock.
Read more on travel inspo
Along withDisney‘s first audio-animatronics figure of Scar, the ride will be at the centre of the first immersive world based on The Lion King.
The new land will sit next to the World of Frozen, transporting visitors to the African savanna.
Once completed, the zone will span 30,000sqm and have the log flume alongside a shop, restaurant and character experiences.
Next year, Wilderness Explorers Sky Swings will open, which will be the first attraction at Disneyland Paris inspired by the Up film.
The park will also retire the Star Wars themed Hyperspace Mountain and reimagine the attraction as Space Mountain: De la Terre à la Lune.
It first opened in 1995 based on Jules Verne’s novel “From the Earth to the Moon” before becoming Hyperspace Mountain in 2017.
The attraction is now set to revert back to its original theme, closing at the end of next year for a few months.
And last but not least, Disneyland Paris will also be getting a new daytime parade.
The parade will feature Aladdin, The Princess and the Frog, Tangled and Coco and will launch in 2028.
It will be the first new parade at the park since 2017.
Disney World, Florida
Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida is set for several new attractions.
Excitingly, there will be a new Villains Land in Magic Kingdom, home to two major attractions including a Maleficent rollercoaster and a Magic Mirror dark ride.
The Maleficent rollercoaster will take visitors through an enchanted briar surrounding Maleficent’s mountaintop fortress, with yet-to-be-revealed “elements never attempted before.”
The other attraction – Magic Mirror – will be a dark ride with lots of Disney Villains.
Disney stated: “You’ll find the Magic Mirror where the Evil Queen keeps him in the catacombs beneath her pristine palace. After making your way to him, he’ll magically transport you into his mystical Mirror Realm to see things on the other side of the mirror.
“There, in his ethereal realm, you’ll be transfixed by countless Disney Villains conjured in ways only the Magic Mirror can do.
“A combination of special effects and physical set pieces will bring his Mirror Realm – and these iconic Villains – to life.”
Disney added: “ If you dare enter the forest of Villains Land, you may soon come across a Wishing Well that’s been torn asunder.
“Under most circumstances, a Wishing Well would indicate pure and good energy at work, but something dark happened to this one.
“Once upon a time, someone made an evil wish here – a wish so evil it corrupted the stone and broke open the structure, spreading the Well’s poisoned magic throughout the forest.”
In addition to the two major attractions, there will be shops and restaurants.
Magic Kingdom will also be getting two Piston Peak rides in Frontierland, including Miss Fritter’s Daredevil Spin-Along inspired by the “Diva of Demolition” from Cars 3.
The ride will feature a “huge school-bus-sized animatronic” who hosts a stampeding bash at her “wildest demolition derby yet”.
The other attraction will be Cars Ridge Run Rally, which will be a quest to find “the wildest racer in the wheelderness”.
The ride will go through scenes of America’s national parks, as well as a climb up Piston Peak itself before riders then plummet down toward a geyser field.
Over in the new land of Tropical Americas in Animal Kingdom, there will be a new Indiana Jones Ride with audio-animatronics figures and an original storyline where guests are transported into the world of the ancient Maya.
Called Indiana Jones and the Myth of the Jade Serpent, riders will beneath under an ancient temple ruin before heading off on their journey.
Also in Tropical Americas will be the new El Carrusel de los Animalitos - a carousel with 22 hand-carved animals inspired by Disney and Pixar stories.
Animal Kingdom will launch a new family-friendly Encanto Ride as well, called Antonio’s Fiesta de Encanto.
When visitors enter the house, they’ll board a ride vehicle which will resemble the different pieces of furniture assembled by the power of Casita.
Inside, the space has been transformed into a rainforest with more than 50 animals and guests will travel through different rooms to see them all.
A part of Monstropolis will also open at the theme park next year, while work continues to build a “door coaster”.
The new attraction will be a show at the Glob Theatre called “Welcome to Monstropolis”, with the monsters in the show introducing visitors to Monstropolis.
There will be a new restaurant, Archie’s Scare Pig Pizza, too while next door, will be the Monsters University Alumni Club.
There will be Harryhausen’s Restaurant too, where visitors can see the spot that was a part of Mike and Celia’s most unforgettable dates.
There will even be the famous sushi chef brought to life with a new audio-animatronics figure.
Forbidden Mountain in Animal Kingdom will also be upgraded with a new Yeti audio-animatronic.
Over in EPCOT, Spaceship Earth is getting an update with the storyline of the ride reimagined.
Disney cruises
Disney Believe will be Disney Cruise Line’s newest ship but will also be the final ship in the Wish class.
It will launch in late 2027 and inside passengers with a Moana-inspired Grand Hall, Tinker Bell on its bow and Woody and Buzz Lightyear on the stern.
Attractions on board the ship will feature Disney Animation’s Encanto, Frozen, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Moana and The Little Mermaid.
As for the stern, guests will spot Woody and Buzz Lightyear from Toy Story.
Disney has also announced three new ships that will begin launching in 2029 – this will increase the cruise line fleet to 13 ships in total.
After Disney Believe – part of the Wish Class – launches next year, there will Disney Cruise Line will move on to a new ship class.
As part of this new class, there will be three ships that will be bigger than the classic ships but smaller than the newer ships.
Little other details have been revealed about the ships but Disney commented that “there are amazing opportunities to visit new places and reach brand new audiences than ever before”.
New West End show
Disney also confirmed that The Greatest Showman stage musical will open at London’s Theatre Royal Drury Lane in spring 2027.
The show will replace Disney’s Hercules, which is due to end on September 5.
It will feature all the original film anthems including ‘This Is Me’, ‘Rewrite the Stars’ and ‘A Million Dreams’.