Why Disney World Just Had Its Biggest Week in Years.

It was Walt Disney World’s biggest week in years, thanks to new entertainment, reimagined rides and areas debuting for the start of summer, along with several announcements. This features a rundown of the biggest updates, additions, news, and more.

When it comes to debuts, there were over a half-dozen attractions and shows that opened over the course of the last week. Even more if you count minor entertainment offerings and dance parties that kicked off as part of Cool Kids’ Summer. It was by far the biggest week in the last year for new additions, especially since the competition last year wasn’t fierce.

Looking back further, we have the new and reimagined ride openings that include Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, TRON Lightcycle Run, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, and more. Two of those were brand-new E-Tickets that are among the most popular rides in all of Walt Disney World, but the collective package that just debuted was arguably bigger than any of those single rides.

We’d have to go back to October 2021 for a potentially bigger week, when Walt Disney World kicked off its 50th Anniversary with Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, Harmonious, Enchantment, KiteTails, and more. One brand-new ride plus a milestone anniversary that included a lot of little additions, along with new nighttime spectaculars and other entertainment beats this last week. At least on paper, before you start taking into account that a lot of that didn’t exactly resonate with fans and was retired prematurely.

From my perspective, the biggest and best week before this would’ve been in August 2019, when Disney’s Hollywood Studios had its big relaunch, anchored by the opening of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. There were a lot of other little changes at DHS, plus the kickoff of Extra, Extra Magic Hours everywhere else, start of the expanded EPCOT Food & Wine Festival and first Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party (featuring the Party Pass) shortly before that.

Life was good as a Walt Disney World fan for the several months that followed thanks to that plus the Skyliner, Riviera Resort, Rise of the Resistance, and more. Subjectively speaking, that was one of my all-time favorite windows at Walt Disney World. The 50th kickoff was more of a mixed bag; although it closed the COVID chapter and sparked a comeback, it was an anticlimactic way to celebrate 50 years of Walt Disney World.

If we’re talking about news weeks, the last bigger one than the start of Summer 2026 was more recent: the 2024 D23 Expo. It’s no contest between the two, as that was probably the most consequential D23 Expo ever. It easily surpasses the announcements of this past week.

Our hope is that the same can be said of the upcoming 2026 D23 Expo, and the fact that we just got so much major news ahead of that big event is promising. Walt Disney World not holding back some of these announcements for the 2026 D23 Expo makes us bullish about the slate for what we otherwise expected to be a more restrained event.

Anyway, the debuts plus the news made for an incredibly eventful week at Walt Disney World. Here are the highlights, with an emphasis on some nuggets that might’ve gotten lost in the shuffle…

Carousel of Progress Getting New Decades

We’ll start with the biggest bombshell of the week, which overshadowed a lot of other updates and might be why this roundup covering what you missed is necessary in the first place. The circa 1994 version of Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress will close on July 6, 2026, for a massive overhaul that shifts its timeline forward by 60 years before reopening sometime in 2027. We covered why this lack of advance notice is frustrating for fans wanting to book final farewell trips to this Carousel of Progress incarnation here.

The reimagined ride will begin with a brand-new introduction scene featuring an advanced Audio-Animatronic of Walt Disney himself, inspired by his 1964 television special. The 1900s, 1920s, and 1940s eras are being completely replaced by the 1960s, 1980s, and 1999, finishing with a retro-futuristic finale in an off-planet home. The iconic core family, classic gags like Uncle Orville in the bathtub, and the beloved theme song “There’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow” will all remain part of the new show.

For more details, concept art, our emotional roller coaster of a reaction to the announcement, and the same from readers, check out New Decades for Carousel of Progress. The 100+ comments are worth revisiting, both for the range of reactions from heartbreak to optimism and excitement, as well as armchair Imagineering concerning the decade shift and more.

Art of Animation Room Reimagining Revealed

The most exciting news that was overshadowed by the Carousel of Progress announcement is that Disney’s Art of Animation Resort will begin a massive, phased room reimagining starting in Summer 2027. This project will be the resort’s first hard goods refurbishment since its 2012 opening.

Little Mermaid rooms will receive space-saving pull-down Murphy beds that double as a table, in line with other Value Resorts. We got a first look at the new rooms, and what was shared by Walt Disney World of the new-look Little Mermaid rooms is a marked improvement.

The style struck me as a mix between the current Little Mermaid rooms, modernized Pop Century rooms, and the ‘Under the Sea’ rooms at Caribbean Beach. This probably isn’t a huge surprise, as Disney has likely learned lessons from those rooms and this is the next iteration on those designs. See Disney’s Art of Animation Resort Room Reimagining Starts in 2027 for a deeper dive, commentary, and practical planning recommendations if you’re considering a stay in 2027 or 2028.

Rat Ride Refresh

EPCOT will always be in a state of becoming, I guess. As you might recall, Walt Disney World started making changes to the Rat Ride last fall. Last November, there was a brief closure of Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, during which it dropped 3D, and returned with enhanced digital visuals and clearer imagery projected in 2D. This was controversial with fans.

Far less controversially, Walt Disney World announced that “Remy’s fans will spot new props and lighting enhancements when they are added to the queue and attraction over the next few months.” This second phase of the project will start soon, but we’ve already had the chance to experience these changes in France, as discussed in Walt Disney World Adding New Set Elements to Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure to Improve Immersion.

Mystery Projects Confirmed for BoardWalk

It has been an open secret for a while that there are two or three projects happening at Disney’s BoardWalk inside vacant venues. Construction alone is pretty much all of the confirmation you need, but in case not, the CFTOD lists code names for two of these projects in their database.

The update here came during a recent media event at Walt Disney World, where leadership discussed reinvesting in existing rides and resorts. They recapped recent projects and announced the aforementioned Art of Animation hard goods refurbishment.

They also pointed out that there’s a lot of activity happening at the BoardWalk, teasing that they’re not quite ready yet to share what’s happening, but that news is coming soon, so stay tuned. For more, see Walt Disney World Confirms Multiple BoardWalk Mystery Projects Coming to Empty Restaurant & Retail Spaces.

Opossums Are Coming Back

After 16 months of refurbishment, the wildest ride in the wilderness reopened in early May. During the downtime, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad underwent a “a crevasse-deep to mountain-top” refurbishment, which also entailed “new magic” being added.

The refreshed BTMRR features all-new trains, refreshed sets and figures, new effects and lighting. The most noticeable changes are an enhanced Rainbow Caverns scene and Mother Lode of Gold finale; the most important change is the complete re-tracking, which gives the coaster new life.

Despite the refurbished ride looking and feeling fantastic, not everything was ready in time for reopening. Walt Disney World confirmed to us that the curious case of the missing opossums will have a happy ending, and the family of spinning critters will soon return to their tree. That and more in our Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Ride Review: Good, Bad & Opossum Optimism for What’s Missing.

Bluey’s Wild Ride

Bluey and Bingo are finally at Animal Kingdom! Simultaneous with but technically separate from Cool Kids’ Summer is the debut of Bluey’s Wild World at Conservation Station, which is accessible via the Wildlife Express Train.

Conservation Station has historically been an underutilized corner of Animal Kingdom due to the train ride out that adds a bit too much friction for many guests. The most popular children’s show on the planet has already changed the calculus for families with young kids.

Bluey’s Wild World debuted with a virtual queue (and still uses one…for now). Due to a combination of overwhelming demand and limited capacity, spots filled up within seconds the first several days. By the end of the week, the afternoon virtual queue had eased a bit, resulting in Disney Ditching the Virtual Queue for Bluey’s Wild World and Switching to Standby Soon. As discussed there, we’re not completely convinced this is due to manageable crowds as opposed to guest complaints.

Major MDX Overhaul

Walt Disney World will soon start rolling out major updates to the My Disney Experience app, aimed at simplifying planning via a new checklist, price comparison tools, AI-driven search and more. This is similar to the Advancing Dining Reservations improvements made last year, and will likely be the most consequential changes to MDX since the app launched.

During a recent media briefing, leadership from Walt Disney World Product Management, Guest Experience, and Commercial Strategy departments discussed what to expect from the upcoming changes. They also offered us a sneak peek of the upcoming app changes, the most consequential of which we cover in detail here: Walt Disney World is Making Major App Changes.

Magic of Disney Animation Teases

The Magic of Disney Animation in the new-look courtyard at DHS is the last big addition of 2026 that’s yet to debut. Not wanting it to be forgotten, Walt Disney World offered another tease via a new building map, concept art, and other added details, mostly about the Drawn to Wonderland indoor playground.

While the new map is a lot of fun, the most consequential aspect of this news is what wasn’t shared: an opening date. Walt Disney World reiterated the late summer 2026 timeline, and as we discuss, it wouldn’t be surprising to see that slip even later. More in New Map for Magic of Disney Animation, Details & Opening Target.

Disney Store Sorta Returns

Disney Store is returning within two all-new limited time retail destinations. The first location just opened at Ross Park Mall in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It has already been making waves for its massive lines, despite its unexciting interior.

Obviously, this isn’t directly related to Walt Disney World, but it does have indirect ramifications, as we argue that Now is the Time to Bring Back the Disney Store for Real, and have it serve as an experiential offering and brand outpost that gets people excited about the parks, and also happens to sell special merchandise.

It should follow the blueprint of other hugely successful ‘destination’ stores, leaning into nostalgia. This strategy could then be replicated around Walt Disney World, and especially some of the vanilla shops at Disney Springs.

Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring the Muppets Takes Stage

Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring the Muppets officially took the stage last week, alongside the rest of the Cool Kids’ Summer offerings. The reimagined ride has already proven popular, drawing long lines and low Lightning Lane availability.

The reimagined ride features Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy and more. At Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets, we rock and roll across Hollywood on a wild ride with the Electric Mayhem, complete with backstage chaos, high-speed thrills, signature Muppets music & humor, and all-new Audio-Animatronics figures.

We love Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring the Muppets, even as we mourn that it was only made possible by the end of MuppetVision 3D. For more, see our Review: Muppets Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring the Muppets Is Better Than It Had Any Right to Be.

Soarin’ Across America Takes Flight

Soarin’ has an all-new airborne adventure as part of the Semiquincentennial. The new bi-coastal offering showcases the United States, from sea to shining sea, via natural beauty and iconic cityscapes, including the Grand Canyon, New York City, LA, EPCOT, and more. There are over a dozen locations in the new itinerary, along with the score and scents that make Soarin’ special.

This is the first new version of Soarin’ in a decade. Soarin’ Across America is superior to its predecessor but falls short of the original, for the reasons we explain in our Review: Soarin’ Across America is a Distinctly Patriotic Salute to One Nation. Here’s the Good, Bad & Ugly.

Millennium Falcon Mandalorian Mission Blasts Off

Although it technically started at the end of the previous week to coincide with the theatrical release of the new Mandalorian and Grogu film, Smugglers Run has a new mission that’s a measurable improvement.

The mission departs Batuu bound for Tatooine, and the crew chooses from one of three destinations–Bespin, Endor, or Coruscant–from there. The much-reviled engineer role gets new responsibilities that include babysitting Baby Yoda, and the pilot and gunner likewise have gameplay improvements.

This is a major upgrade over the OG mission. Imagineers improved the gameplay loop for a better active experience, while also making the visuals more engaging for passive participants. The overall attraction package is now good, as we cover in our Review: New Baby Yoda & Mandalorian Mission Makes Major Upgrade to Millennium Falcon Smugglers Run.

WDW’s Dead Mall Courtyard Gets New Life

As noted above, the Magic of Disney Animation arrives later this summer, but the storytelling has already begun outdoors. The courtyard has been transformed into “The Walt Disney Studios,” an outdoor space inspired by the iconic Burbank studio lot.

Drawing from the architecture and atmosphere of the legendary campus, the area features familiar studio details, including the Studio Theater and a nearby soundstage, all set within a relaxed, park‑like setting designed for families to explore. As we share in our comprehensive photo tour, the Walt Disney Studios Lot is a Huge Placemaking Win for Walt Disney World.

Once you’ve gotten your fill of shade, head inside to “Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live!” This dance party features Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse embarking on a road trip to find some of their best pals – Goofy, Daisy and Pluto – for the party. As someone who has done “Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live!” dozens of times at DCA, I can say with authority that it’s shockingly good. Better than it has any right to be, quite honestly.

Cool Kids’ Summer Ignites!

Walt Disney World expanded the Cool Kids’ Summer special event for its sophomore season, which runs from now through September 8, 2026. Here are some smaller scale additions that aren’t covered as standalone entries above:

Magic Kingdom: Diamond Horseshoe at Magic Kingdom offers young guests a rootin’ tootin’ good time during Jessie’s Roundup: A Rip-Roarin’ Revue. Join Jessie, Woody, Bullseye, and more Toy Story pals for an energized roundup with songs, dance, games, and other playful activities.

EPCOT: Dance and play along with the Goof Troop, DJ Dance Pants, and Goofy during wacky activities and kid-approved games at CommuniCore Hall. Last year’s GoofyCore was the best-ever use of the venue, which isn’t a high bar but is still notable.

Disney Springs: On select nights at the Marketplace, a dance party celebrates the new Descendants: Wicked Wonderland and Camp Rock 3 films coming to Disney+ this summer.

Free Water Park Day Returns: Guests staying at an on-site Walt Disney World resort hotel can enjoy free admission to one of the two water parks on their check-in day for the summer. Additionally, guests can meet Goofy in his laid-back beach style at Blizzard Beach or catch Stitch spreading playful chaos at Typhoon Lagoon.

If you want to avoid the crowds and beat the heat, Disney H2O Glow After Hours returns to Typhoon Lagoon on select nights starting next week and running through September 5, 2026 as a separately ticketed event, adding characters like Powerline Max and the Chip ‘n’ Dale Rescue Rangers.

Discounts: The next wave of resort and ticket deals just started, highlighted by the return of the 4-Park, 4-Day Magic Ticket. Collectively, these special offers make Summer 2026 the cheapest time to visit since 2019 (if you play your cards right and the deal parameters work with your trip). See our rundown of Walt Disney World discounts for more.

Kid-Friendly Resorts: Last but not least, guests staying at Pop Century, Art of Animation, Caribbean Beach, and Port Orleans Riverside will have even more experiences designed for families with young children, including scheduled visits from favorite characters and other enhancements to improve their stay. For more info, see Walt Disney World Added Free Resort & Room Amenities for Young Families During Cool Kids’ Summer (And Beyond).

Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page. For where to eat, read our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will help. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know!

YOUR THOUGHTS

How do you feel about Walt Disney World’s additions and announcements to start Summer 2026? Are you optimistic or pessimistic about the news? What about the substantive additions that just debuted? Agree or disagree with our assessments? Any questions? Hearing your feedback about your experiences is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts or questions below in the comments!