Disney is ramping up its theme park and cruise line offerings with a series of exciting expansions, new attractions, and ongoing celebrations across its resorts in California and Florida, as well as at sea. Following a spectacular 70th anniversary kickoff in 2025, Disneyland Resort in California continues its festivities while preparing major additions that will shape the park's future. Meanwhile, Walt Disney World in Florida is undergoing one of its largest transformations with multiple new lands under construction. At the same time, Disney Cruise Line is expanding its fleet with new ships planned for the coming years. Here is a comprehensive look at what guests can expect from Disney parks and cruises in 2026 and beyond.
### Disneyland Resort: Celebrating 70 Years and Expanding Its Horizons
Disneyland in Anaheim marked its 70th anniversary with grand celebrations starting in mid-2025, and the festivities are set to continue through much of 2026. The anniversary event runs until August 9, 2026, after which the park will transition into seasonal celebrations such as Halloween and the winter holidays before returning to its standard programming in early 2027. Throughout the anniversary period, guests can enjoy special shows, parades, and nighttime spectaculars including the popular "Paint the Night" parade, the "Celebrate Happy Cavalcade," and the "Wondrous Journeys" fireworks and projection show on Sleeping Beauty Castle.
Mickey Mouse and friends are featured in exclusive 70th anniversary costumes, and themed merchandise, food, and drinks are widely available. A striking 50-foot sculpture of Sleeping Beauty Castle greets visitors on the esplanade between Disneyland and Disney California Adventure, and decorations extend through Downtown Disney, Main Street USA, Disney hotels, and even inside attractions like Toy Story Midway Mania.
In terms of new experiences, Disneyland introduced a themed area and stage show based on the beloved Australian animated series **Bluey**, which debuted on March 22, 2026, at the Fantasyland Theatre near Mickey's Toon Town. The area is transformed into Bluey's school with whimsical elements such as a gnome village and fairy garden. The show features Bluey, her sister Bingo, and other characters playing games and performing songs that fans of the series will recognize, including "Keepy Uppy" and "the Grannies." Bluey-themed food items are also available at Troubadour Tavern. The show has drawn long lines since opening and is a testament to Bluey's global popularity. Disney plans to release a Bluey movie in 2027, and in the meantime, episodes and minisodes are available on Disney+.
Another notable Disneyland project is the long-anticipated expansion that will push the park's footprint beyond Downtown Disney into adjacent parking areas. Central to this expansion is an **Avatar-themed land** inspired by the sequel film *Avatar: The Way of Water* and the upcoming *Avatar: Fire and Ash*. This new land will feature a dark boat ride akin to Pirates of the Caribbean, taking guests on a journey across the seas of Pandora.
This addition follows the success of Pandora - The World of Avatar, which has been a popular attraction at Disney's Animal Kingdom in Florida. While no official opening date has been announced, construction is expected to take a couple of years. Additionally, a new esplanade entrance experience is planned to replace the current east-side walkway entry, including a new parking structure and pedestrian bridge over Harbor Boulevard, with work starting in fall 2026.
At Disney California Adventure, the 25th anniversary of the park is being marked with several special touches. The iconic Soarin' attraction has reverted to its original "Soarin' Over California" version until July 1, 2026. Mickey and Minnie have new sun-themed outfits on Buena Vista Street, and there are exclusive anniversary-themed food and merchandise items. Furthermore, the popular Soarin' Around the World ride at California Adventure and Epcot in Florida is receiving a US-themed makeover called **Soarin' Across America**, which will debut on July 2, 2026. This version will highlight over a dozen American cityscapes and scenic views, complete with sights, sounds, and even scents representing various regions, and is part of Disney's celebration of the United States' 250th anniversary.
Disneyland is also updating its Magic Key program, replacing the current Enchant Key with the new **Explore Key**. Unlike the Enchant Key which was limited to Southern California residents, the Explore Key will be available to all California residents. It allows weekday access during June and July, which were previously blocked out for Enchant Key holders. The Explore Key went on sale in early 2026 for $999, with a $99 down payment and interest-free monthly payments over 12 months. Disney claims that guests can unlock its full value within just four visits thanks to perks like Park Hopper admission, 25% off parking, Lightning Lane Multi-Passes, and 10% discounts on merchandise and dining.
### Walt Disney World: Massive Transformations and New Lands Underway
Across the country in Florida, Walt Disney World is undergoing some of its most ambitious expansions in years, with multiple new lands and attractions under development at the Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, and Hollywood Studios.
One of the most anticipated projects is **Villains Land**, a new area dedicated to Disney's classic villains, located near Big Thunder Mountain and the Haunted Mansion in Magic Kingdom. Inspired by architectural styles from Paris and Barcelona-particularly Art Nouveau and Modernisme, which give the area an eerie, enchanted aesthetic-Villains Land will immerse guests in a world where nature seems frozen by dark magic. The land will feature two major attractions, dining, and shopping experiences, though no opening date has been announced yet. It was first teased at D23 Expo 2022 and received additional details in August 2025.
Animal Kingdom is transforming its DinoLand USA area into **Tropical Americas Land**, which will introduce a South American village called Pueblo Esperanza. This village will include an Encanto-themed attraction where guests can explore Antonio's rainforest room inside the Casita, alongside a large quick-service restaurant, a carousel, and a fountain. Construction began in late 2024, with several attractions like TriceraTop Spin and Dinosaur closing in early 2025 to make way for the new development. The Dinosaur ride is being converted into a new Indiana Jones-themed adventure through a Maya temple, utilizing much of the existing ride track. Tropical Americas Land is expected to open in 2027.
Magic Kingdom is also preparing for a significant expansion with the arrival of **Cars Land**, bringing the popular Pixar franchise to the East Coast for the first time. This new land will be located in an extension of Frontierland, featuring the natural beauty of the Rocky Mountains and American National Parks through a "Parkitecture" style that harmonizes structures with the environment. Attractions include two major rides, one being a rally race where guests help characters like Lightning McQueen and Mater navigate rugged terrain with waterfalls, geysers, and mountain peaks. The area, called Piston Peak National Park, will also feature a visitor's lodge, ranger headquarters, and walking trails. Construction has started, but the land is not expected to open until 2027 or 2028.
At Disney's Hollywood Studios, the **Monstropolis** land will replace the former Muppets area and center around the Monsters, Inc. franchise. This land will debut Disney's first suspended roller coaster, themed to the laugh/scream factory from the movies. The coaster will simulate riding on the iconic doors as shown in the films. MuppetVision 3D closed permanently in June 2025 to make way for Monstropolis, but the new land will take another year or two to complete. Meanwhile, the Muppets themselves are being relocated to the Rock 'n' Roller Coaster, which closed in March 2026 and will reopen in summer with a Muppets overlay featuring new psychedelic theming.
### New Attractions and Experiences Across the Resorts
In addition to the major lands, Disney is introducing several new rides and experiences. At California Adventure, a **Pixar Coco-themed dark ride** is under construction near Pixar Pier and Paradise Gardens. The attraction will feature audio-animatronics and music from the film as guests travel through the Land of the Dead with Miguel. This ride will occupy backstage areas currently used by cast members and is part of broader efforts to refresh the park's Pixar offerings.
Meanwhile, Avengers Campus at California Adventure is set to double in size with two new Marvel-themed rides currently under construction. The first, **Avengers Infinity Defense**, will have guests joining the Avengers in a multiverse battle against King Thanos, featuring appearances by Black Panther, Ant-Man, and Hulk. The second, **Stark Flight Lab**, will allow guests to test Tony Stark's latest tech in gyro-kinetic pods that roll along a track before being lifted into the air by a giant robot arm for high-speed maneuvers inspired by Iron Man and other Avengers. Work on these attractions began in 2025, but no opening dates have been announced.
### Disney Cruise Line: Expanding Horizons at Sea
Beyond the parks, Disney Cruise Line continues to expand its fleet. After launching the Disney Wish in 2022, the Disney Treasure in 2024, and the Disney Destiny in 2025, the next ship, the **Disney Adventure**, is scheduled to debut in 2026. This vessel is part of a series of four new ships planned for launch between 2026 and 2031. Details on the remaining ships' names and itineraries have yet to be released, but the fleet expansion marks Disney's ongoing commitment to offering immersive and family-friendly cruise vacations.
### Additional Updates and Deals
Disneyland is currently offering special ticket deals for California residents, including a three-day Park Hopper ticket at a 50% discount for $249, valid through May 21, 2026. Following this, a Kids' Summer Ticket deal offers one-day Park Hopper tickets for $50 for children ages 3 through 9, usable between May 22 and September 7, 2026. Walt Disney World's **Cool Kids' Summer** promotion includes two free nights and two free theme park days when purchasing a four-night, four-day Disney hotel and ticket package for visits between May 26 and September 15, 2026.
Additional offers include up to 30% off select Disney hotels through October 4, free water park admission on check-in day for Disney hotel guests between May 26 and September 8, and free dining plans for kids aged 3-9 when adults purchase dining packages.
### Looking Ahead
Disney's plans for the coming years reveal a strategy focused on expanding beloved franchises, enhancing guest experiences with cutting-edge attractions, and celebrating storied milestones with immersive entertainment. From the return of classic rides in updated forms to entirely new lands themed around fan-favorite films and characters, both Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World are set to offer fresh adventures that appeal to longtime fans and new visitors alike. Complementing these offerings, Disney Cruise Line's growing fleet will provide more opportunities for families to experience Disney magic on the open seas.
As these projects progress, visitors can expect a dynamic blend of nostalgia and innovation, ensuring that Disney parks and cruises remain leading destinations for immersive storytelling and memorable family vacations well into the latter half of this decade.