Here’s What’s Coming to Disneyland in 2025 and Beyond
The Happiest Place on Earth somehow keeps getting happier.
That’s because The Walt Disney Company never rests on its laurels, honoring the wishes of its late founder instead.
The Walt Disney Company
Walt Disney himself once proudly stood inside the theme park that bore his name and stated:
“Disneyland will never be completed. It will continue to grow as long as there is imagination left in the world.”
Walt Disney
Thankfully, today’s Imagineers are overflowing with imagination, and they’re ready to prove it.
Here’s what’s coming to Disneyland later in 2025 and beyond.
Walt Disney – A Magical Life – July 17th, 2025
Let’s begin with the one that matters the most.
Disneyland 70 has started, and Disney fans are gleefully celebrating the park’s 70th anniversary.
Disneyland Resort 70th Celebration
This show-based attraction should have debuted as part of the grand opening celebration for Disneyland 70.
Then, somebody at the park had a better idea. They delayed the attraction until July 17th, a day of tremendous significance.
Main Street Opera House closed for construction
That’s the actual birthday for Disneyland, which makes it all the more fitting that this attraction will open on that date.
Seventy years ago, Walt Disney couldn’t have imagined that his likeness would inspire an Audio-Animatronic version of himself.
Photo: Disney
That’s mainly because Audio-Animatronics didn’t exist then, but still.
Starting on July 17th, Robot Walt Disney will tell the story of his creator’s life.
Photo: Disney
A Magical Life is a must-watch show that will redefine Disneyland.
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run Update
On May 22nd, 2026, The Mandalorian & Grogu will debut in theaters.
I’m gonna go out on a limb and predict that the movie does very, VERY well.
The Mandalorian & Grogu
Lilo & Stitch just absolutely wrecked the box office on Memorial Day Weekend, 2025, and the Star Wars film shares a similarity.
I don’t want to trigger a popularity contest between Grogu and Stitch, but let’s just say they’re both selling billions in merch.
The Mandalorian & Grogu
Fans love all things Baby Yoda, which makes the movie a surefire hit.
As a special bonus, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run at Disneyland Park will add a new mission.
Smuggler’s Run
You can probably guess that this mission involves the Mandalorian and his kawaii Yoda baby.
I don’t even like Star Wars, yet I want to save Baby Yoda from the forces of evil. This mission is going to be WILDLY popular!
The ‘Coco’ Boat Ride – TBA 2027
I love the description of this attraction so much it makes my heart sing.
Imagineers describe the upcoming Coco boat ride as a combination of Pirates of the Caribbean and Haunted Mansion.
Photo: Disney
Those are two attractions Disney built in the 1960s that have become synonymous with the brand.
A union of those two concepts will lead to a spectacular story that transports guests to the Land of the Dead. I can’t wait.
Photo: Disney
Disney hasn’t started work on this attraction yet, which means I may have the order flipped on some of these rides.
My thinking here is that Disney will start building the Coco boat ride in 2026.
Animation Academy in Disney California Adventure
The belief is that Disney will house this attraction in a new location as part of its DisneylandForward expansion.
If so, construction may take longer than normal for an enclosed space indoor attraction.
Photo: DisneylandForward
Still, I’m slotting this ride in 2027 because that’ll give Disney the body of two years to build it once construction begins.
Avatar Ride and Themed Land – TBA 2028
The late Jon Landau spent some of his final days at Walt Disney Imagineering.
The legendary producer and longtime confidante of director James Cameron was planning something great.
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 12: Jon Landau and James Cameron are seen at the Hand and Footprint Ceremony for Director James Cameron and Producer Jon Landau held at TCL Chinese Theatre on January 12, 2023 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Albert L. Ortega/Getty Images)
A few months before then, Disney CEO Bob Iger had surprised his own Disneyland President, Ken Potrock, with an announcement.
Disney would create an “Avatar experience” at Disneyland Resort.
Photo: Disney
Analysts like me agonized over every part of this story, as Iger intentionally kept the wording vague every time he referenced it.
So, we wondered for a long time what this “experience” would be before Disney ultimately clarified.
Photo: Disney
We’re getting an Avatar-themed land at Disney California Adventure.
In fact, all the rides we’re discussing today are currently slotted at that park, which will benefit the most from DisneylandForward.
Photo: Disney
Disney has shown pictures of the Avatar ride, which appears to be a boat experience.
Speculation has centered on an Avatar version of the impressive tech used for Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure.
Photo: Disney
However, Disney hasn’t confirmed anything other than a timeline.
The Anaheim version of Anaheim will employ elements from Avatar: The Way of Water and Avatar: Fire and Ash.
Landscape around Pandora in Disney’s Animal Kingdom
So, this themed land will provide a dramatically different experience from the one at Pandora – The World of Avatar.
Avengers Infinity Defense – TBA 2028
I’d say that King Thanos is coming, but that would be a lie.
Apparently, King Thanos already showed up and annihilated every universe he encountered.
Photo: Disney
He is The Thanos Who Won, king of the multiverse. All hope isn’t lost, though.
A plucky band of adventurers will team up to battle King Thanos and hopefully reset infinite timelines.
Photo: Disney
The conceit of Avengers Infinity Defense is that a hero will put together a team consisting of Avengers from everywhere.
Specifically, these Avengers will come from alternate timelines, making this a reality-splitting ride.
Photo: Disney
Construction has already begun on this expansion of the current Avengers Campus.
One day soon, this place will have doubled in size, but it won’t happen overnight.
Photo: Disney
Disney must repurpose some existing space. It’s an exacting process, which is why I’m more skeptical of the timeline than some.
Ostensibly, both new Avengers Campus rides could arrive quite a bit sooner.
Photo: Disney
I’d rather you be pleasantly surprised rather than disappointed, though.
Stark Flight Lab – TBA 2028
The final currently announced expansion attraction at Disney California Adventure is Stark Flight Lab.
Don’t think of this one as a companion ride to Avengers Infinity Defense, as they have little in common.
Photo: Disney
Stark Flight Lab is a motion simulator of sorts where a robotic arm moves you around the board.
In the Iron Man movies, DUM-E provides comic relief as the helper robot who never seems to help.
Photo: Disney
This attraction will play up the novelty of simulated flight thanks to a helper bot.
Anybody who has watched Venture Bros. knows that this will likely end in tears, but it looks like oh so much fun.
Avenger’s Campus at California Adventure
Actor Robert Downey Jr. brags that he’s heavily involved with this project, which adds to the intrigue.
Okay, that’s the current list of confirmed Disneyland Resort projects.
Photo: Disney
However, we’re only about three months away from Destination D23 2025.
Don’t be surprised if Disney announces even more projects then.
Photo: Disneyland
Right now, park officials don’t want to steal the thunder of the opening days of Disneyland 70.
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