What’s Coming Soon and Not-So-Soon to Disney

The cardinal rule at Disney theme parks is the prime directive that Walt Disney himself announced.

Your favorite theme parks must continue to update via “plusing” to keep them fresh and vibrant for new generations of tourists.

As 2024 comes to an end, we’re on the cusp of unprecedented change, as Imagineers plot the course for a decade of expansion.

Yes, change is coming to Disney’s theme parks and Disney Cruise Line as well.

So, here’s the updated list of what’s coming soon and not-so-soon to the Disney empire.

The Little Mermaid — A Musical Adventure – Fall 2024

For several years, rumors persisted that Disney’s Hollywood Studios would permanently close The Little Mermaid show attraction.

When the pandemic struck, Disney never reopened this show, understandably leading to speculation that a decision had been made.

Surprise! Rumors of this show’s demise were greatly exaggerated…or exactly right, depending on your perspective.

Disney has killed the old show. Soon, a new version will debut, and when I say soon, I mean it should happen anytime now.

Disney has indicated a Fall 2024 grand opening, and it’s Fall 2024 right now. So…

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure – November 15^th, 2024

We’ve been talking about Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at Magic Kingdom for a while now.

These conversations make Disneyland fans jealous, and it’s a case of history repeating itself.

While Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opened at Disneyland Park before Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the best ride did not.

Instead, Hollywood Studios unveiled Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance before Disneyland.

Now, the same thing has transpired with Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, which will debut in Anaheim in six weeks.

I’m confident some of the details will vary due to differences in size and structure between the rides. So, stay tuned!

Island Tower at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort – December 17^th, 2024

I’m so conflicted about this one, as the Polynesian is my favorite Disney hotel by far. If I could live there, I would.

Now, the Island Tower appears likely to redefine and modernize the concept of South Seas living.

The opportunity cost is what conflicts me, as Disney bulldozed my beloved Luau Cove and permanently closed Spirit of Aloha for this.

Disney has used the same space to construct the luxurious new Island Tower, an expansion hotel brimming with dazzling décor.

That’s the choice Disney always makes in building new stuff. The opportunity costs are tremendous, but the thought process is sound.

And history will barely remember Luau Cove. Meanwhile, the Island Tower will redefine hotel stays at Walt Disney World.

Disney Treasure – December 21^st, 2024

As I wrote a few weeks ago, Disney Cruise Line will fundamentally change from now through 2031.

A fleet that currently consists of five ships will expand to 13 over the next seven years.

You can quickly do the math to realize that’s eight new ships coming over the next seven years.

We get the first of them in December, and it looks spectacular.

Like, my wife isn’t even a cruise person, and I’ve caught her glancing at the itineraries.

The Disney Wish recently broadened our expectations of what a cruise could be. Now, the Disney Treasure will up the ante.

Free Water Park Admission on Day One – January 1^st, 2025

Once the calendar flips to 2025, which will happen in three months, guests at official Disney resorts gain a new amenity.

Starting on New Year’s Day 2025, you can spend the first day of your visit at a Disney water park. It’s included free with your stay!

So, if you’d like to start your vacation with a relaxing water park day, you can drop off your luggage and head straight to Blizzard Beach.

That’s the water park that will be operational in early 2025. Disney rotates its water parks each winter.

Since a water park ticket costs at least $74 per person, this upcoming amenity provides tremendous value for families.

Disney Starlight – Summer 2025

For the first time in ages, Magic Kingdom will host an entirely new nighttime presentation.

Yes, Disney Starlight is coming next summer, and it looks oh so shiny!

You should think of this presentation as the 2025 take on the ideas presented with the Main Street Electrical Parade in the 1970s.

Disney Starlight will feature “beloved characters from Walt Disney Animation Studios films Peter Pan, Encanto, Frozen, and more.”

So, we’re all excited to spend a magical night at Disney as we watch an entirely new glow-in-the-dark parade!

Test Track V3.0 – Summer 2025

“What is dead may never die!”

That philosophy holds at the former World of Motion pavilion, where Test Track currently lies dormant.

Disney killed the ride earlier this year so that it could live again in a new form in 2025.

That’s when Test Track 3.0 debuts. Based on the images we’ve seen, it looks like a much different take on the same premise.

The question remains about whether Disney will revamp the ride design, but that appears unlikely in this timeframe.

Instead, we’ll probably get an entirely new take on the future of transportation and, likely, the electric car.

Disney Destiny – November 20^th, 2025

We’ve got two other named cruise ships to discuss, and both of them will embark on their maiden voyages over the next 15 months.

We know the date for the Disney Destiny, which I was just praising the other day for its marvelous features.

The cruise ship themes every deck with the premise of heroes and villains.

So, you’ll find a Black Panther statue the instant you enter the Grand Hall.

Then, when you explore, you’ll find nifty ideas like a lounge devoted to the world’s worst coat check, Cruella de Vil.

Disney has indicated that as great as the Wish and the Treasure are, the Destiny will be the fleet’s masterpiece.

Disney Adventure – TBA 2025

Okay, the Destiny will be the masterpiece of all vessels docked in North America.

If you’re willing to travel to Singapore, you can board the Disney Adventure at some point next year.

This cruise ship is the largest Disney has ever built, partially because Disney didn’t build it.

Another company did, but then they went bankrupt. So, Disney acquired the ship at a 98 percent discount (seriously).

Then, Disney added its own theming, which turns the Adventure into a theme park at sea.

I’m not joking. It’ll feature seven distinct themed areas, which we might as well call themed lands.

You can think of the Adventure as Disneyland at sea, as that’s the underlying premise here. It’s probably the blueprint for future Disney cruise ships.

Magic Kingdom DVC Lounge – TBA 2025

EPCOT is currently re-theming its DVC Lounge at the Imagination! pavilion, which might be an exaggeration on my part.

A more accurate evaluation is that Disney will provide the space with a theme for the first time.

Up until now, the DVC Lounge was a Coca-Cola Freestyle machine, a few bags of chips, and a lovely view of EPCOT.

That statement won’t apply to the DVC Lounge at Magic Kingdom. Disney will build it at the former Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade.

So, you’ll have a Frontierland theme and exterior style right off the bat.

Inside, I presume you’ll still have a Freestyle machine. On a hot park day, that’s really all you need.

Zootopia Show – TBA 2025/2026

Here’s another attraction we’re expecting that’s lacking in key details.

For many years, rumors have persisted about Animal Kingdom creating a Zootopia biome.

The idea makes perfect sense, given the natural connection between the park and the film premise.

Also, Shanghai Disneyland already hosts a Zootopia-themed land, which would be easy to translate.

Thus far, all Disney is willing to confirm is that a new show based on Zootopia will replace It’s Tough to Be a Bug!

While I doubt that’s the last Zootopia addition we’ll get at the park, it’s a natural fit that reinvigorates a somewhat stale show.

Kids today barely even know what A Bug’s Life is, but they’re VERY familiar with Judy Hopps. So, this idea is full of win.

Coco Ride at Disney California Adventure – TBA 2026

Another attraction Disney hasn’t detailed much is the Coco ride coming to Disney California Adventure.

We feel pretty confident we know where the attraction will go in the park. 

Beyond that, Pirates of the Caribbean x Haunted Mansion is about all we know for sure, and that’s based on Imagineering comments.

So, we’re way beyond excited for this one but also anxiously anticipating future details.

Avatar Land at Disney California Adventure – TBA 2027

Disney has finally solved the mystery of the Avatar experience coming to Disneyland Resort.

As we’d all hoped, it’s a themed land that will be totally different from Pandora – The World of Avatar at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

Imagineers will theme the Disney California Adventure version to the second and third movies.

When Pandora opened at Disney World, only one Avatar movie even existed. So, that wasn’t even possible.

DCA fans will benefit from this change, as the attraction here is apparently an outdoor boat ride and thereby entirely new.

We’re still fairly early in the process on this particular build, but it promises to be one of the most exciting additions in recent DCA history.

The Tropical Americas – TBA 2027

We somehow know more about this update than the previous two, as those announcements were a bit vague, comparatively.

Conversely, Disney has detailed everything coming to the former DinoLand USA.

We’re getting an entirely new Indiana Jones attraction and a full village authentic to the Encanto franchise.

MickeyBlog will obviously cover this story in detail as it evolves over the next couple of years, but we know it’s coming in 2027.

That’s reason enough to be excited about the future of Disney. Of course, based on this timeline, there’s plenty more coming soon!

I mean, I haven’t even mentioned Monstropolis and Villains Land, whose dates are up for debate!

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