The Disney Parks, both American and foreign, are seeing more expansions and changes than they have in nearly two decades. Almost every resort is seeing a major expansion over the next five years, many of which are multifaceted. With all of these projects and expansions, things get a little hard to keep track of. Many people want to book vacations, so knowing when these projects finish up is a useful tool. That’s why we have this blog post!

I’m going to go through each Disney Resort and give an estimated (or announced) opening date for each major project. Some of the smaller projects will be left off but feel free to ask questions about anything that you don’t see in the post (or anything you do see in the post!) There is also a chance that I will have left something off this list so drop me a comment if I have.

2020 definitely changed the influx of projects going on in the Disney Parks world. With massive deficits that were unforeseen, it’s hard to know what projects will be moving forward and which ones will be scrapped. Nearly everything will be delayed from their original timeline, especially domestically. In other words, many of these additions are fluid and do not take my word on the timeline (or even the project happening) as final.

Each project will include a brief description of what is going on. I’m going to stay away from rumors for the most part, sticking to what Disney actually has announced. I will try to keep the post updated every year, adding whatever is announced along the way. We’ll go resort by resort, starting in Disneyland.

Disneyland

Splash Mountain Closing – Late Spring 2023

While no official date has been announced, we’re in the last few months of Splash Mountain’s existence. The ride has already closed at Walt Disney World and I would wager a guess that it will close at Disneyland in May.

San Fransokyo (DCA) – 2023

A reimagining of Pacific Wharf in California Adventure is underway, as the area will be transformed to San Fransokyo from Big Hero 6. The new area will include restaurants and a Baymax meet & greet. There’s no opening season given but I wouldn’t expect the change to take long. We’re only a few months removed from the announcement and work has begun on the area.

Tiana’s Palace Restaurant (DL) – 2023

Along with Splash Mountain closing and a Princess and the Frog attraction taking its place (see below), Tiana’s Palace Restaurant will be taking the place of the French Market. The menu will likely stay somewhat similar but the restaurant’s design and atmosphere will change.

Avengers Ride (DCA) – 2025 or beyond

After announcing an Avengers E-ticket ride in 2019 as a third phase of Avengers Campus, the attraction was possibly canceled during COVID. Now, at the 2022 D23 Expo, Disney has re-announced an Avengers ride that will have to do with the multiverse. There’s no timeline on it and it is expected to be built behind the Quinjet building.

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure – 2024?

Splash Mountain’s replacement is coming to both Disneyland and Walt Disney World. So far all we have is an opening year and no closing date for Splash Mountain. Here’s a few details that have been announced so far!

Walt Disney World

Tomorrowland Refresh (MK) – Now through 2023?

Tomorrowland is slowly going through a refresh in terms of aesthetic and attraction refurbishments. The land is receiving a paint job and could end up with a refresh of the PeopleMover, Carousel of Progress, Tomorrowland Speedway and something going in the Stitch’s Great Escape building. While I doubt anyone is actually booking a trip based on these changes, I do think they are essential to Magic Kingdom.

Roundup Rodeo BBQ Restaurant (Hollywood Studios) – March 23rd, 2023

Disney World’s first expansion to Toy Story Land will be a table-service restaurant and they have officially confirmed that it will open on March 23rd! Offering barbecue food, this will be the best (and only?) place to cool down in Toy Story Land.

Tron Lightcycle (MK) – April 4th, 2023

Magic Kingdom’s newest roller coaster was slated to open by 2021 for the resort’s 50th anniversary but has fallen behind schedule and will now open in the spring of 2023. This attraction will be a replica, although maybe not exact, of Shanghai Disneyland’s. 

Epcot Nighttime Spectacular – Late 2023

In concurrence with Disney’s 100th anniversary, Epcot will be debuting a new nighttime show. This announcement comes less than a year after Harmonious debuted. More details should surface in the coming months. In the meantime, Epcot Forever will take the place of Harmonious beginning on April 2nd.

Epcot Transformation – Ongoing

Epcot will look very different in a few years. The park will be divided into four lands instead of the original two, have a new entrance and will add several new pavilions. Spaceship Earth will also undergo a lengthy refurbishment at some point. More details will be released over the years and this project will take a long time. Many of the announced projects likely won’t happen at this point.

Moana Journey of Water (Epcot) – Fall 2023

This walkthrough attraction appears to be mostly a water maze themed to the Moana attraction. Disney has announced that this will finally open later in 2023.

Mary Poppins Attraction (Epcot) – Postponed

A new Mary Poppins attraction will be coming to the UK Pavilion in the coming years. Cherry Tree Lane and an attraction inside the Banks’ house will be added to the pavilion. It turns out that this likely canceled attraction would have been a teacup style ride.

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure (Magic Kingdom) – 2024

Splash Mountain’s replacement is coming to both Disneyland and Walt Disney World. So far all we have is an opening year and no closing date for Splash Mountain. Here’s a few details that have been announced so far!

Tokyo Disney Resort

DisneySea Fantasy expansion – Spring 2024

DisneySea is opening a fantasy port in the back of DisneySea that will be the biggest expansion in park history. The new port will feature Frozen, Tangled and Peter Pan and will add four new attractions plus restaurants and a lavish hotel.

Tomorrowland Renovation (Tokyo Disneyland) – 2024-2027

Starting in 2024, Tokyo Disneyland’s Space Mountain will be renovated to include a new story and facade. Along with it, there will be a courtyard leading into the redone attraction. All of this will take place a ways down the road, starting in 2024 with the project scheduled to end in 2027.

Hong Kong Disneyland

Arendelle: World of Frozen – November 2023

Hong Kong Disneyland will recreate the world of Arendelle with an ice palace and two new attractions, a roller coaster and boat ride. There will also be restaurants in this new expansion. The land will open in November of 2023!

Marvel attraction – 2024?

Another Marvel attraction is slated to be opened in 2024, finishing off Hong Kong Disneyland’s expansion plans. More details will come and there’s a chance that this could be canceled or significantly delayed.

Shanghai Disneyland

Zootopia Themed Land- ??

Disney has announced Shanghai Disneyland’s first major expansion (not counting Toy Story Land which was already under construction when the park opened) in a Zootopia themed expansion. While no opening target has publicly been announced, construction has begun. The land is expected to have at least one attraction and dining location.

Disneyland Paris

Star Wars and Frozen in WDS – 2023 and beyond

The Studios Park is getting an expansion and makeover but it will take some time. Frozen and Star Wars Land are coming with Frozen likely to be done in 2023 or 2024 and Star Wars in 2025 or beyond. There’s a chance that Star Wars isn’t a part of this plan anymore.

Those are all of the major announcements Disney has come out with for the next five (or so) years. Much like my life, Disney’s five-year plans hardly ever sticks to schedule so don’t take this as gospel, although we will try to update periodically and after big announcements. Again, if I’ve missed something please let me know in the comments and if you have questions about a certain item on the list then let me know!

Which of these projects are you most excited for?  Let us know in the comments! Planning a Disney trip? Check out our Travel Guides to help you along the way! Thank you for reading Wandering in Disney.  Please subscribe to the blog and like our social media pages, all of which you can do on the right side of the page. Have a wonderful day!