One of the biggest announcements to come out of 2024’s D23 Ultimate Fan Event was the announcement that a NEW Avatar expansion is coming to the Disneyland Resort.
©Disney
This won’t just simply be a clone of the Pandora: The World of Avatar land that opened at Disney World’s Animal Kingdom in 2017. Instead, according to Disney, this new land will “draw inspiration from Avatar: The Way of Water and upcoming Avatar films to bring Pandora to life in a brand-new way.”
In further describing the land’s attraction, the concept art of which shows a boat ride that looks similar to the Shanghai Disneyland version of Pirates of the Caribbean, Ali Rubinstein said it will send guests on the “adventure of a lifetime in search of majestic natural wonders that can only be found on Pandora and the beauty – and danger – that come along with the journey. This new and thrilling excursion will bring all the action, excitement, and wonder of Avatar, taking guests all the way to the wide-open seas of Pandora. This is going to be a dynamic, intense and emotional experience on a grand scale that we know our guests will love.”
©Disney
Now, Disney has confirmed where exactly the new Avatar land is going to be installed at the Disneyland Resort. This new addition will take over a portion of the current Hollywood Backlot area in Disney California Adventure. Disney noted that to make way for this new experience, Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue! will close in early 2026.
©Disney
When the attraction closes, a multi-year construction project will begin in the fall of 2026. Disney noted that the project is still in the early stages of development, and additional details will be shared later, including construction timeframes.
©Disney
Disney is bringing a new Avatar expansion to the Disneyland Resort, and now we know WHERE it’s going! Stay tuned to DFB for more on this new area.
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Are you excited to see Avatar come to the Disneyland Resort? Let us know in the comments below.
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No!!!! I hate Avatar. Its not “Disney”. So many ips and they choose this!?! And taking away a cute family ride for it. Hopefully they will relocate monsters to pixar pier.
They should dismantle Mike & Sully and re-install it at Hollywood Studios Monsters Land. They need a more kid-friendly ride in that new land—the door coaster is probably going to have height restrictions and be too intense for a lot of younger Monsters fans. They can shove it into the parking lot to the left of the new ride with an entrance through one of the existing buildings on Grand Ave.
We have always loved the Pandora land at Animal Kingdom. I really can’t wait for completion of the new land at Disneyland. I also think where they are putting it in California Adventure Land is perfect. Although I will miss Monsters Inc. ride, it was just “ok” as an attraction. This will be better.