Disney D23 unveils new lands for Disney World and Disneyland: Piston Peak, Avengers Campus

At D23 Expo 2026, Disney shifted from promise to progress: the “Horizons: A Carousel of Progress” keynote laid out concrete timelines, fresh artwork and on-site updates for many park projects already under construction. For fans and visitors, that means clearer answers about when new lands and flagship attractions will arrive — and what experiences to expect when they do.

The two-hour presentation, led by Neil Patrick Harris alongside Imagineering leaders and Thomas Mazloum, concentrated on projects that are actively moving from concept into brick-and-mortar reality. Below are the most consequential reveals and what they mean for guests planning visits over the next several years.

Piston Peak: a Cars-themed takeover at Magic Kingdom

Piston Peak — a national-park–themed Cars land at Walt Disney World — emerged as one of the biggest construction priorities. Disney revealed two rides in the new area.

The centerpiece, called Cars: Ridge Run Rally, is a head-to-head racing attraction that will pit ride vehicles against each other using a new ride system designed to amplify the sensation of bumps, jumps and road textures. The route will move through distinct environments: a snowy summit, fast desert stretches and geyser-filled terrain, finishing with Lightning McQueen and Mater.

A second, family-friendly experience named Miss Fritter’s Daredevil Spin-Along will invite riders into a spinning vehicle sequence inspired by the Cars franchise.

Because the attraction is outdoors, Disney said it will be engineered to run in both sun and rain, though extreme weather (lightning) will still interrupt operations. Construction is well advanced and industry expectation puts an opening window in the latter half of the decade — 2028 is a plausible target, though no official date has been set.

Monstropolis: staged opening in 2027

Monstropolis — the Monsters, Inc. land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios — will partially open in 2027 with live entertainment, dining and retail, while its marquee coaster will arrive later.

The initial phase includes:

• Welcome to Monstropolis: a live show staged at the Glob Theater, featuring theatrical moments and hints of a new original song by Randy Newman;
• Harryhausen’s: a restaurant modeled on the film’s eatery, complete with a prominent Roz animatronic;
• Archie’s Scare Pig Pizza: a quick-service pizza venue.

The signature suspended Door Coaster will lift riders roughly 40 feet in four seconds before plunging into the Door Vault — an effect Disney teased as coming after the land’s soft opening so the rest of Monstropolis can welcome guests sooner while the coaster finishes development.

Tropical Americas: Indiana Jones and Encanto at Animal Kingdom

At Animal Kingdom, the new Tropical Americas expansion will host two high-profile additions currently slated for a 2027 arrival.

The Indiana Jones attraction carries the official title Indiana Jones and the Myth of the Jade Serpent. It will employ a ride system familiar to fans of Indiana Jones Adventure but tells a brand-new story — and Disney confirmed the Indy Audio‑Animatronic will use Harrison Ford’s likeness for the first time.

The Encanto experience, Antonio’s Fiesta de Encanto, invites guests into Casita on Antonio’s gift day. Vehicles resemble enchanted furniture, and the attraction uses a new system that simulates elevation changes without altering track height. The scene culminates with an upstairs rainforest populated by animated animals.

Disney did not add fixed opening dates beyond the 2027 target window for the broader Tropical Americas project.

Villains Land: darker, character-driven storytelling

Near Magic Kingdom, the newly named Villains Land will gather several of the company’s iconic antagonists into one immersive area. Imagineering positions the land as a character-forward experience rather than another property-based zone.

Key elements announced:

• A Maleficent-themed coaster that races around a mountain fortress and culminates in a face-off with the villain, featuring tight banking and possible tipping-track sequences;
• A dark ride built around the Magic Mirror, transporting guests into the Mirror Realm to encounter multiple villains — early visuals showed Cruella, Ursula, Jafar and others.

If both attractions are delivered at scale, Villains Land could rank among Magic Kingdom’s largest single expansions in recent years.

EPCOT, Expedition Everest and classic characters returning

Disney used the stage to confirm a long-expected overhaul for Spaceship Earth, expanding the attraction’s narrative while preserving its hopeful tone. Equally notable: the return of Figment and Dreamfinder to the Imagination Pavilion, a move that signals a renewed emphasis on legacy fan favorites.

At Animal Kingdom, fans of Expedition Everest learned the Yeti will be restored to its original, more dynamic form after years of limited motion — a technical and storytelling win for longtime visitors.

Disneyland: Avengers expansion, Coco and Tomorrowland reimagined

On the West Coast, the most dramatic update concerns the expansion of Avengers Campus, which will roughly double in size. Two headline attractions were confirmed for a 2028 opening:

• Avengers Infinity Defense — an action-driven, multi-set adventure that sends guests to locations like Asgard, Wakanda and New York as new recruits helping the Avengers reassemble against King Thanos. The attraction blends large-scale physical sets with expansive media and includes appearances by several original actors.
• Stark Flight Lab — a two-person pod experience where riders are seized by a robotic arm and launched into an Iron Man–style flight simulation. Robert Downey Jr., Anthony Mackie and Brie Larson are among the confirmed performers involved.

Disney also provided more detail on the Coco ride at Disney California Adventure: the story unfolds a year after the original film, beginning in a casa-museo and moving into a boat sequence through Miguel’s memories of the Land of the Dead. The family-friendly attraction will have no height minimum.

Meanwhile, Tomorrowland at Disneyland will be reimagined to honor the land’s history while introducing new open spaces and attractions; specifics are limited, but Imagineering emphasized balance between nostalgia and a refreshed, forward-looking design.

Quick reference: major project highlights and expected timing

• Piston Peak (Magic Kingdom) — Two Cars attractions; construction active; optimistic window: late 2020s.
• Monstropolis (Hollywood Studios) — Partial opening in 2027 (show, restaurants, shops); Door Coaster to follow.
• Tropical Americas (Animal Kingdom) — Indiana Jones and Encanto attractions; targeted for 2027.
• Villains Land (near Magic Kingdom) — Maleficent coaster and Magic Mirror dark ride; timeline TBD.
• Spaceship Earth & Figment (EPCOT) — Major reimagining; dates to be announced.
• Avengers Infinity Defense & Stark Flight Lab (Disneyland) — Confirmed for 2028.
• Coco (California Adventure) — Family boat ride; no height requirement; timing unspecified beyond development updates.

The common thread across announcements is practical progress: many projects shown at D23 are already physically under construction, and Disney framed this year’s event as a closer look at tangible progress rather than speculative concept art. For park-goers, that translates into more reliable planning windows and clearer expectations about guest flow, dining options and new headline attractions in the coming seasons.

For Disney, the emphasis also appears cultural: reviving beloved characters like Figment and restoring the Yeti speak to a strategy that balances future-facing spectacles with nods to the parks’ past. That approach could broaden appeal — satisfying both longtime fans and new audiences drawn by immersive, IP-driven experiences.