Disney Rumors for January 2026

Hello and welcome to 2026!

Yes, we’ve turned the calendar toward a new tomorrow, with the excitement and paranoia that inspires.

As the year begins, this seems like a great time to evaluate some longstanding Disney Rumors.

So, let’s get started with the Disney Rumors for January 2026.

Adventureland

Today, I’m going to update you on where some existing Rumors stand as we enter the New Year.

I’ve mentioned throughout 2025 that Imagineers are operating at maximum capacity right now.

With every Disney theme park undergoing some sort of expansion and/or attraction addition, there’s no room at the inn.

I suspect this reality played into Disney’s decision to cancel the theme park panel at Destination D23.

“Hi, we’re still working on all that stuff,” doesn’t make for an eventful panel.

So, what we’re really discussing today is whether various Rumors are dead, and this one is NOT.

With Disney creating new space at Magic Kingdom, it’s following up on fixing a longstanding issue.

The executives in charge of the theme parks know something about this park that differentiates it.

Magic Kingdom is the only spot at Walt Disney World where the crowds can be a deterrent.

When enough people visit this park, it can feel a bit claustrophobic to some, which shows up in the surveys.

Disney haaaaaates when it gets poor survey results from infrequent guests.

They often vote with their wallets by not coming back anytime soon.

Disney has reclaimed the Rivers of America’s land as well as a part of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.

The idea here is that Imagineers can build Villains Land and a Cars themed area with this space.

This reclamation doesn’t solve the entire problem. An expansion at Adventureland would do the trick, though..

Financially, I could dismiss any number of Disney Rumors due to a lack of profitability.

Making Adventureland larger can add guests to the park and thereby raise survey scores.

So, this Rumor isn’t going away, even if it doesn’t happen until the early 2030s.

The idea of a Moana boat ride and/or roller coaster lives!

Animal Kingdom

The opposite is true at Animal Kingdom, as the massive amount of space here matters greatly.

Disney has little financial reason to expand this park since it’s not very crowded.

This is a theme park example of the chicken and the egg.

Disney struggles to justify major enhancements at this park since it underachieves.

I suspect that philosophy could change, though, and the holiday box office explains why.

As I discussed last month, Zootopia has long been rumored as a natural fit at Animal Kingdom.

Now that the film is rivaling Inside Out 2 in box office, consumers have voted with their wallets.

Zootopia: Better Zoogether! has served its purpose, but a Zootopia themed land makes all the sense in the world.

Then, we have Pandora – The World of Avatar, the one time when this park DID expand.

Imagineers are currently working on a new version of this themed land at Disney California Adventure.

James Cameron has let it be known that he’d like at least one new ride at Animal Kingdom, too.

As long as Bob Iger runs Disney, Cameron’s opinions carry serious weight.

So, we’ll keep an eye on this one throughout 2026. After that, Pandora expansion becomes more of a long shot.

With Iger gone and Cameron aging, Disney may not see the value.

Avatar: Fire & Ash is doing quite well at the box office, though, which suggests there is continued demand for this brand, though.

Figment

Disney’s decision to add a Soarin’ overlay for America’s 250^th anniversary seems like a half-measure.

Park officials are acutely aware that EPCOT could use some new attractions.

As I mentioned earlier, that sort of investment is challenging to justify financially.

Currently, EPCOT is the hottest park at Disney World and DEFINITELY not struggling for attendance.

So, Figment remains one of three lingering topics about improving the park.

When I evaluate the matter from Disney’s perspective, I struggle to explain why they’d do it.

You and I know that Journey into Imagination with Figment is politely described as long in the tooth.

Since we love Figment, we want to see Disney improve it.

I haven’t been hearing much about this Rumor lately, though, and it’s simple to understand why.

EPCOT’s success works against any rationale to create new attractions and experiences right now.

Like, if you were Josh D’Amaro, would you spend your resources on this park or Animal Kingdom?

Spaceship Earth

See above.

When Disney took Spaceship Earth offline for refurbishment, I had high hopes.

What I was hearing was that Disney would work hard to improve the back half of the ride.

Then, EPCOT just randomly announced that Spaceship Earth was reopening sooner than expected.

I don’t know what happened there, and I’ve been afraid to ask anybody. It was just plain weird.

For the time being, I expect Spaceship Earth to remain in its current form.

The only way I’d feel differently is if attendance started to drop, which seems wildly unlikely.

EPCOT has found its rhythm over the past few years, and Disney has every reason to be satisfied with it.

The Stitch Building

One of Disney’s greatest mistakes was closing ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter.

At the time, management swapped out the too-scary show for Stitch’s Alien Escape.

In a vacuum, that sounds like a great move, but it just didn’t work.

Even my family, which consists of two Lilo & Stitch superfans, never really cared for the updated attraction.

Since then, Rumors have abounded about the future of this space.

Generally, they’ve centered on a Wreck-It Ralph interactive attraction, which seems dead.

Let’s be honest that the Wreck-It Ralph brand would need a blockbuster hit to justify a new attraction at this point.

Disney has mainly used this space for occasional character greetings, and it may stay that way for a while.

Cast Members have whispered that parts of the building aren’t in great shape.

So, Disney would need to do a lot of interior work before it could put something here.

Despite this fact, we’re witnessing a philosophical change at Disney with regards to real estate.

A building in Tomorrowland is too valuable for Disney to keep it empty much longer. I think.

Villains Land

What I’m hearing now is the same thing I’ve been hearing since the beginning.

Plans still call for a roller coaster and a dark ride as the anchor attractions here.

Disney may yet add another attraction, but it’d be modest in scope, possibly even a show.

The roller coaster could turn into a slightly different kind of thrill ride.

As for the dark ride, I think it’ll actually be the most popular thing here if Disney does it right.

Park officials believe that pushing guests to the northern part of Magic Kingdom will boost attendance, too.

The park will be capable of holding many more guests yet still seeming less crowded, an impressive feat.

Wonders of Life Pavilion

I mentioned this one a few months ago, as it’s an alarming Rumor.

Some people believe that Disney may demolish the Wonders of Life pavilion at EPCOT. I said at the time that I don’t believe this Rumor, and I stand behind that.

However, I’m also not hearing any “Brand X could go into the Wonders of Life pavilion” Rumors, either.

That’s a bit of a recent change, as those comments used to be a dime a dozen.

I suspect that’s just because people have fallen for the Rumor and been disappointed too often.

Now, it’s a kind of Chicken Little situation where they wouldn’t believe it even if it happened.

I’ll reiterate that EPCOT’s 50^th anniversary is coming in 2032. That’s an inflection point at the park.

Even if Disney doesn’t need to do anything right now, I’m confident it will announce something by 2028 or 2029.

Until then, there’s simply no onus on Disney to do anything else at EPCOT in the short term.

So, if Disney DOES do something, you should feel very, very grateful.

Right now, we’re all going to show up to hang out and enjoy the festivals, no matter what.

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