The Disney World parks feels like construction central right now!

Disney World is going through a LOT of change right now, but not all of them are changes we’re looking forward to. While we’re excited for new attractions and lands, we are dreading some of these changes in 2026!

If you follow the Disney parks in any capacity, you might know that some big changes are coming to all of the parks. Some of those things are super exciting, and some things have filled us with an overwhelming sense of dread if we’re being honest!

Dinosaur Closing

One of the first things we’re dreading is the closing of the ride DINOSAUR and the rest of DinoLand. This famous attraction’s final day is on February 2nd, 2026. This means the final day to experience the ride, The Dino Institute Shop, Restaurantosaurus, and Restaurantosaurus Lounge is February 1st.

Dinosaur will be turning into an Indiana Jones attraction as part of the area’s transformation into Pueblo Esperanza. Dinosaur is an opening day attraction over at Animal Kingdom, so this one will sting. We can confirm some tears will be shed once it happens!

Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Changes

Our next change is one we’re dreading, but remain pretty hopeful about. Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster over in Hollywood Studios is evicting Aerosmith, and the Muppets are moving in!

Aerosmith has been a staple at this coaster since it opened in 1999, but in 2026, the Muppets are taking up residency. Disney has shared that the attraction will be “fueled by the tasty tunes of the Electric Mayhem and the high-speed hijinks of The Muppets.” The storyline will take guests on a VIP Tour of G-Force Records, where the Muppets have taken over management duties.

Electric Mayhem is lined up to headline their biggest Hollywood concert ever! During your time at G-Force, Disney has shared, “Along with the finest audio engineers (all penguins, of course), we’ll see Scooter doing his best to convince Electric Mayhem to stop jamming and get to their increasingly restless fans. But will it be enough time to get the band and the town and onstage on time?”

We are big Muppet fans, but we’re dreading these changes because you just never know quite what to expect with a retheme of an attraction. Disney has recently nailed some rethemes like the Country Bears and Test Track, but we’re hoping this isn’t just a band-aid for closing Muppets Courtyard!

Relearning How To Become A Galactic Hero

Now this news isn’t one we’re dreading too much, but we are preparing for it! Over in Magic Kingdom, Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin is getting a big overhaul!

The ride will be getting a new character, a new opening scene, new blasters, new targets, and new ride vehicles! It’s currently closed for these changes and won’t reopen until sometime in 2026. We’re actually pretty excited to see these upgrades, as big fans of this ride. That being said, we aren’t excited to relearn how to become a galactic hero.

A Galactic Hero is when you manage to get 999,999 points on the attraction, and we don’t want to brag, but we have gotten pretty good at it! We knew all of the secrets and hacks, but now we will most likely be starting at square one. Is this a real issue? Probably not.

More Crowds in Hollywood Studios

The last thing we’re really dreading is the crowd changes in Hollywood Studios next year. Animation Courtyard is being reimaged into The Walt Disney Studios, which is expected to open in 2026!

The new land will be a “special nod to the legendary Walt Disney Studios Lot” in Burbank, California. In Hollywood Studios, Disney Animation characters will “leap off the screen and into our world.” The new land will keep two of Animation Courtyard’s signature attractions (The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure and Walt Disney Presents) while introducing brand-new experiences inspired by beloved Disney characters as well as the “Once Upon a Studio” short film!

We’ll be getting an attraction called The Magic of Disney Animation, a reimagined version of the Disney Jr. Play and Dance show, and a brand new Alice in Wonderland-themed playground! In the first attraction, you’ll be able to interact and explore this fun take on the Disney Animation headquarters , and (spoiler) some of our favorite Disney characters have taken over!

We’re really excited for these updates, but we are dreading the crowds that will inevitably be there once the area opens in 2026.

What’s Coming In 2027?

Sure, there’s some dread attached to the changes coming in 2026, but we do have things we’re looking forward to in 2027! One confirmed opening is Pueblo Esperanza in Animal Kingdom!

The land will highlight the Tropical Americas through the stories of Encanto and Indiana Jones. The land will feature will become home to two main attractions — an Encanto ride featuring the Madrigal family and a new Indiana Jones adventure ride! A Carousel will also provide another ride option.

The new land will feature classic Spanish-style architecture with a large hacienda that will also serve as one of the largest quick-service restaurants at Disney World. While we are genuinely aching over the loss of Dinosaur, we are excited to see what Disney creates in this new land.

Pueblo Esperanza is the only confirmed opening we’ll mention for 2027, but we do have a lot of potential openings! Over in Magic Kingdom, Disney is working on a major expansion of the park with the addition of 2 new lands. In August 2024, Disney officially announced that Magic Kingdom is expanding the theme park with a brand new Villains Land!

This new land will be located behind Big Thunder Mountain and will feature two major attractions, along with new dining and shopping experiences. Disney has shared that this land will be “on an incredibly twisted grand scale.” They’ve remained fairly tight-lipped on this land, but we’ve spent some time zooming in on the concept art, hunting for clues! 

Also in Magic Kingdom, Disney is building Piston Peak — the new Cars land! In this land, the cars are leaving Radiator Springs to explore the West and head into new frontiers. This area, which is replacing Tom Sawyer Island and the Rivers of America, will feature two signature attractions!

There will be a rally racer attraction where you will race through the mountains on wild terrain along mountain trails as you dodge geysers and splash through mud holes. In the queue of the new ride, you’ll be introduced to a new character: Ranger J. Autobahn Woodlore. The second ride will be geared toward “smaller racers” and will be fun for the whole family!

Finally, one potential change coming to the parks in 2027 is the opening of the new Monsters Inc. Land! The story of the land will pick up after the events of the popular Pixar film, and humans have now been invited to visit the world of Monsters, Inc. Disney shares that here, “you’ll be able to stroll the streets alongside some of your favorite monsters” and even visit the Laugh Factory!

This land will feature a new suspended roller coaster, a new show, and (potentially) a new restaurant, all inspired by the movie! We are still a bit bitter because this area is the reason we lost Muppets Courtyard, but we can’t deny that the concept art looks amazing.

Villains Land, Cars Land, and Monsters Inc. Land don’t have a confirmed opening timeline, but we’re keeping our fingers crossed for 2027! Change is hard, but it’s inevitable! We’re excited for what’s to come, but we will be enjoying everything we can before it’s gone forever. As always, be sure to keep following DFB for more Disney news and updates.

20 Big Changes Disney Has Already Announced for 2026

What change are you dreading the most? Tell us in the comments!