Disney Rumors for April 2026

Disney just announced the details for the 2026 D23 Expo.

For theme park fans, this is the seminal event on the calendar.

We expect Disney to announce huge details, and when they don’t, we get grouchy.

That’s been the collective vibe since Destination D23 disappointed us all.

Thankfully, the main D23 event rarely misses, and the only time it did was during a pandemic.

So, let’s borrow Madame Leota’s crystal ball today and gaze into the short-term future.

In this month’s Disney Rumors, we’ll discuss some likely announcements at D23.

Villains Land Specifics

I’m not much of a salesperson, and so I’ll just level with you here.

Nothing I’m about to discuss will shock you. All of this is easily predictable stuff.

Normally, I try to provide intel about the hottest Disney Rumors of the time.

Currently, there’s no point, though. Since Josh D’Amaro has been named CEO, Disney is in flux.

Five weeks ago, I discussed how D’Amaro’s impact is already being felt at Disney.

He’s not someone who will settle for less, especially at Disney theme parks.

D’Amaro perceives himself as the protector of Walt Disney’s legacy, and he takes the role seriously.

Simply stated, Disney isn’t going to create a subpar Villains Land on D’Amaro’s watch.

Well, he’d rather not do it. The world’s getting a bit strange right now.

Should the economy collapse, a lot could change, but I’m focusing on the status quo.

Presuming nothing changes for the much worse, D’Amaro will build an epic themed land.

Disney hasn’t announced specifics yet, much to the frustration of fans.

As fate would have it, this has proven to be a good thing thanks to D’Amaro’s influence.

Had he not gotten involved, Villains Land would have been met with a collective Meh.

Disney fans have seen that behavior fairly recently at Toy Story Land.

While the themed land has since improved, the early reviews weren’t particularly kind.

Villains Land suffering a similar fate would be disastrous for Disney.

Thankfully, we appear to have avoided that fate, at least based on what’s being said.

Insiders suggest that D’Amaro has asked Imagineers to dream bigger with Villains Land.

I would be surprised if we found out what that means before D23.

Remember that Disney just revealed The Walt Disney Studios before Destination D23.

Still, D23 should be Villains Land’s big moment.

A New Disney Resort

Then, we have the more pedestrian announcements that feel inevitable.

One of them will assuredly be updated details and possibly an opening date for Disney Lakeshore Lodge.

Before 2024’s D23, I alerted you to the fact that Disney would open at least one hotel in this area.

I also let you know that more than one was a possibility, and that statement still stands.

However, such a move probably won’t happen for a long time now. It would have made more sense then.

Still, Disney faces a stark reality about its tourist housing: it doesn’t have enough.

Walt Disney World hotels sell most of their inventory every day of the year.

So, Disney needs more rooms. Luckily, it’s not lacking for good spots to build a resort.

I’ve previously mentioned excellent real estate options at EPCOT’s entrance and Adventureland at Magic Kingdom.

Disney could also build up a new expansion tower, a playbook it has used recently.

The Gran Destino Tower at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort was the first of them.

Then, The Villas at Disneyland Hotel and Island Tower at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort arrived.

I’m not going out on a limb to say that Disney can and probably should announce a new hotel.

The sole reason why the company wouldn’t is if they want to keep the spotlight on Lakeshore Lodge.

Skyliner Expansion

Admittedly, I’ve been beating this drum since the Disney Skyliner opened in 2019.

Disney’s logistics team put together plans for a Skyliner expansion almost immediately afterward.

In fact, they may have been part of the original plans, with Disney choosing to start small.

I don’t know that and haven’t conversed with anyone privy to those conversations.

My point is more that this one has been an open secret for ages now.

Why hasn’t a Skyliner expansion occurred? The answer is simple: the pandemic.

Virtually overnight, Disney cut its capital expenditures budget, even killing some proposed attractions.

A new set of gondolas certainly wasn’t going to be a priority during that bit of chaos.

In 2026, the conversation has taken a turn, though, especially if you’ve been paying attention.

Did you read this story MickeyBlog posted? It’s more important than you may realize.

Disney is absolutely limiting bus usage due to Easter Week crowds. That’s unassailable.

However, there’s a second factor in this that nobody will admit on the record.

The price of gas has skyrocketed, with a barrel of oil starting the year at $57.

While this particular market is *ahem* unpredictable, it’s often over $100 right now.

Should problems in the Middle East continue, the price of oil could surge even higher.

You don’t think about the fuel cost of running buses because why would you?

That’s a sudden 80 percent increase in operational costs for Disney, though.

Do you know what hasn’t gone up significantly in 2026? Yup, it’s the cost of operating gondolas.

The pedant in me dictates that I mention all energy costs are likely to rise if this conflict continues.

Still, the Disney Skyliner looks like a more affordable option for Disney.

For this reason, the timing feels perfect for a  Disney Skyliner expansion.

Disney Believe Details

If I keep predicting a Skyliner expansion each year, I’m bound to be right one of these days.

Conversely, saying that Disney will provide more details about its next cruise ship is like betting on sunrises and sunsets.

Josh D’Amaro already used the platform of his first appearance as CEO to hype the ship.

Of course, that marketing push will continue at D23 with more details about the vessel.

We could learn things like the exclusive dining experience(s) and shows on the Believe.

Most importantly, I fully expect Disney to announce the date of the ship’s maiden voyage.

As with all the other things I’m mentioning here, Disney may do this before the D23 Expo.

If I were the person planning this event, I’d certainly save the date for this presentation, though.

Disney Fortnite Details

I’m going to close with a couple of quick thoughts about other possibilities. This subject is one that I realize isn’t near and dear to many of your hearts.*

Still, the reality is that Josh D’Amaro has put many of his eggs in this particular basket.

He perceives video games as essential to the One Disney future he envisions.

After the 2024 D23 Expo, I joked that the Fortnite presentation was the thing nobody understood.

If you’re not the target demographic here, this discussion might as well be written in Sanskrit.

Even so, Epic Games and Disney WILL launch a Fortnite-adjacent gaming world soon-ish.

The most recent estimates suggest a late 2026 or 2027 debut for this project.

Epic’s recent layoffs obviously may delay that timeline, but I doubt that affects anything.

Disney wants to hype this project, and D23 will provide that platform.

* = Unless Drew the Disney Dude is reading this.

An Animal-centric Attraction

Finally, I’m going to borrow a trick from scam artist psychics.

Here’s my intentionally vague prediction that I will interpret as correct at a later date.

Disney will announce an animal-centric attraction…and I don’t mean Mickey Mouse.

I’m saying this with my tongue firmly planted in my cheek, but I also mean it.

Right now, Disney has two liquid metal hot franchises with Hoppers and Zootopia.

In addition, The Lion King has been rumored for an attraction for ages now.

Disneyland Paris is currently getting one, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom should have one, too.

So, I suspect that (at least) one of these franchises will earn a D23 announcement.

PS: I remain naively hopeful that Figment will get one, too.

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