Walt Disney World has a number of new lands, points of interest, leisure, eating places, resorts, reimagined rides, and extra on the horizon at Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom. This ranks the highest 10 additions that followers and first-timers alike ought to most excited to expertise in 2025.
Walt Disney World is starting a brand new improvement cycle in 2025 that may lead to $17 billion of spending on new lands, rides, eating places, and resorts. That’s the excellent news. It will bear fruit over the subsequent decade, and lead to huge new additions between now and 2035.
The unhealthy information is that there’s not as a lot on the “coming quickly” aspect. At the very least, not in 2025. There are many additions–and a few that we’re actually excited to expertise–however the subsequent brand-new experience doesn’t open till 2027. Within the meantime, there’s nonetheless lots coming within the subsequent 2 years, together with experience reimaginings, new eating places, and rather more. That’s what this checklist takes a take a look at–the principally smaller-scale reimagined rides, eating places, and leisure choices being added between development cycles at Walt Disney World in 2025…
10. Spaceship Earth Lounge – In Spring 2025, the Spaceship Earth Lounge will open. Walt Disney World says this elegant lounge will honor the intertwined historical past of Spaceship Earth and EPCOT itself, celebrating the legacy of the icon’s previous whereas admiring its future.
As for the menu, Disney’s cooks have created scrumptious culinary creations to enhance the setting. With sweeping views of World Celebration Gardens and a singular perspective of the nightly fireworks, this intimate lounge invitations you to boost a toast to the enduring spirit of EPCOT.
I lately toured the Tomorrow Tower Suite on the Treasure, and it truthfully didn’t do a lot for me. There have been some enjoyable particulars and beautiful artwork created for it, however as an entire, it was nothing all that particular. I dunno, I assume since we’ve a pleasant West Elm showroom close to us, I’m not impressed by the sort of factor? I’m anticipating extra of the identical from the Spaceship Earth lounge. It’ll be good wanting, however the views would be the spotlight. That’s what I’m wanting ahead to–taking “aerial” night time images of EPCOT from a recent perspective.
9. Building – Sure, I’m wanting ahead to development partitions. Or progress partitions, as we name them round these components (we positively don’t usually name them that–I really feel icky simply writing that).
Dino-Rama is the very first thing to get walled-off, and I couldn’t be extra excited to see that go extinct. Truthfully, I’m additionally wanting ahead to the Huge Thunder closure. As painful because it is perhaps to lose that for 1-2 years, watching that big crane substitute curler coaster monitor will likely be an attraction unto itself for dorks like me.
Larger image, I’m wanting ahead to this improvement cycle. It is going to contain rising pains and painful goodbyes, that a lot is plain. However so did the final one. I like Cosmic Rewind, however nonetheless miss Universe of Power. Ditto Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Rail with Nice Film Journey. And even the Streets of America and, most significantly, what they held at Christmas-time.
I additionally suppose that the attraction rosters within the parks are higher right now than they have been previous to the final improvement cycle. Nostalgic as I is perhaps, there have been plenty of nice additions, and there’s a purpose why so lots of the rides with the longest wait occasions are lower than a decade outdated. Similar goes for widespread eating places and resorts, too. I’m wanting ahead to seeing what’s on the horizon take form, warts and all.
8. All Issues Villains – Disney delayed “The Little Mermaid – A Musical Journey” till Summer season 2025 and introduced the new “Villains Unfairly Ever After” for Summer season 2025. Each of those exhibits are coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, so we primarily know what the plan is for that park subsequent yr.
I assume I’m wanting ahead to the Little Mermaid present. Though on the similar time, I fear the refreshed ‘Musical Journey’ will pull an excessive amount of from the present on the Disney Want, which I view as inferior to the decades-old present that occupied this area. And greater than something, I’m annoyed that it’s taking so lengthy to deliver this present again, and that feeling overshadows my enthusiasm for the reimagined Little Mermaid present.
Villains Unfairly Ever After is a unique story. I’m wanting ahead to the present itself, but in addition what it represents and the way Disney is perhaps utilizing this stage present to do market analysis for the upcoming villains land. Wherein case, I’m hoping that is the tip of the iceberg with villains choices at Walt Disney World within the subsequent couple of years. Carry again Villains After Hours, make extra consequential modifications to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Social gathering, and so on. The stakes are excessive for Villains Land in Magic Kingdom–Imagineering must nail it.
7. Reimagined Resort Rooms – One in every of my seemingly unpopular opinions, at the very least judging by the reader feedback, is that a lot of the room refurbishments that Walt Disney World has performed within the final 8 years are really good. At the very least, in comparison with what was performed within the ~5 years earlier than 2017.
To make sure, they aren’t excellent. Criticism about rooms being too bland and sterile is well-taken, even within the rooms which were upgrades on steadiness. With a few notable exceptions (such because the Incredibles rooms on the Up to date), redone rooms have gotten even higher for the reason that opening of Disney’s Riviera Resort. That leaves a 2-3 yr hole when new kinds have been good, however not nice.
The spherical of room redos introduced for 2025-2026 are on the lodges final redone proper across the time when Disney began getting good at room redesigns, making huge useful enhancements. The upcoming initiatives are gentle items refurbishments, which means they’ll freshen the fixtures and make stylistic updates with out gutting the rooms or altering something layout-wise. From my perspective, that is all that must be performed, and I’m actually wanting ahead to seeing the result at certainly one of our favorites, Pop Century, in addition to a number of different resorts. Then there are the Royal Rooms at Port Orleans Riverside, which I’m extra nervous about than something.
6. Pirates of the Caribbean Tavern – A brand new Pirates of the Caribbean-themed tavern is ready to open in late 2025 in Adventureland at Magic Kingdom. This brand-new expertise will lengthen the basic story and supply a welcoming haven for all pirate-kind, large and small. The tavern will invite bandits and buccaneers-to-be from each nook of the seven seas to boost a toast to the pirate life.
Walt Disney World has described this as a first-of-its-kind expertise, however we anticipate it to be fairly just like Oga’s Cantina in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, besides themed to pirates as a substitute of area pirates. Past a pair items of idea artwork and Imagineering revealing that it’ll characteristic the beloved Barker Chicken Audio Animatronics determine, there’s not a lot that’s identified concerning the tavern that’s taking on Pirates League and a portion of the present store.
After loving the Haunted Mansion Parlor aboard the Disney Treasure, I’m much more enthusiastic for the Pirates Tavern. If it’s even half pretty much as good as that, it’ll be a incredible addition. On the similar time I’m frightened about Magic Kingdom getting its first actual bar. Not in a pearl-clutching manner, however extra in a logistical one. Oga’s Cantina falls kinda flat for me, and that’s largely a byproduct of its excessive demand and Disney’s want to churn individuals by the situation. The identical may occur right here, making this much less of a pleasing hangout and place to really eat an actual meal of meals (which Magic Kingdom badly wants), and extra a one-and-done attraction. So right here’s hoping Pirates Tavern is not widespread, I assume?
5. Zootopia Higher Collectively – In Winter 2025, Zootopia: Higher Zoogether will debut within the Tree of Life, changing It’s Powerful to Be a Bug. The idea for Zootopia: Higher Zoogether has friends visiting the totally different biomes you solely glimpse within the movie, touring together with Judy Hopps, Nick Wilde and different characters. That’s all Disney has revealed to this point.
A winter opening timeframe would imply someday between January and early March, which means this might debut any day now! It’s secure to say that won’t occur. On condition that Disney hasn’t stated a lot in any respect about Zootopia: Higher Collectively, a lot much less shared a deadline for It’s Powerful to Be a Bug, this implies to us they really imply Zootopia: Higher Zoogether is opening in Late 2025.
I really feel nearly hypocritical for being such a zealous advocate for saving MuppetVision 3D, arguing that it has aged nicely–higher than Monsters Snort Flooring. On the similar time, my response to It’s Powerful to Be a Bug closing may greatest be described as ‘meh.’ Don’t get me flawed–it’s an excellent present that has additionally aged nicely (therefore the hypocrisy). It simply doesn’t resonate with me, personally. I’ve loved doing it over time, however I’m additionally over it.
Anyway, I’m wanting ahead to seeing what Imagineering cooks up with Zootopia: Higher Zoogether. This present has super potential and may reinvigorate curiosity within the Tree of Life. I additionally suspect it’s not the final we’ll see of Zootopia at Walt Disney World, as this franchise has super potential for a fully-fledged land.
4. One thing for Summer season – I totally anticipate Walt Disney World to do an ‘occasion’ for Summer season 2025. We made the case for a return of Summer season Nightastic lengthy earlier than final yr’s D23 Expo, throughout which bulletins have been made that may very well be included into such a celebration. So it appears attainable.
On the similar time, it’s truthful to notice that I additionally thought the entire indicators have been there for an EPCOT summer time pageant final yr, and boy was I flawed about that. Whereas I preserve that EPCOT ought to’ve performed one thing–something–for the sluggish summer time months, they opted in opposition to it for no matter purpose.
I believe it’s secure to say that Walt Disney World has at the very least yet another card up its sleeve for Summer season 2025. From what I’ve heard, there are nonetheless a few surprises in retailer. What, precisely, these are and the way thrilling they’ll really be stays to be seen. The Disney Desires That Soar drone present was the shock hit of final summer time, so maybe it’s time to lastly do one thing larger and higher with that idea. I hear Animal Kingdom may use a nighttime spectacular, and that park staying open after darkish in the summertime is perhaps good!
3. Take a look at Monitor 3.0 – A part of Walt Disney World’s summer time advertising marketing campaign will most likely revolve round Take a look at Monitor 3.0, which is able to open by late Summer season 2025. In accordance with Walt Disney World, Imagineers and Chevrolet are reaching again into historical past for inspiration from the unique World of Movement, and are bringing that spirit of optimism to the subsequent iteration of Take a look at Monitor. They’re in search of to push innovation ahead and have a good time humanity’s enduring drive on the thrilling street to a brighter tomorrow.
Whereas it stays to be seen precisely what which means, it’s trigger for optimism. The earlier Take a look at Monitor was exhibiting its age, and I don’t suppose it’ll be missed by many followers–not even these of us who initially favored the up to date attraction. Take a look at Monitor 3.0 is a low-floor, high-ceiling sort of mission…and one being paid for by another person, so it’s not even coming on the expense of one other (increased precedence) Walt Disney World mission. Win-win!
The reopening of Take a look at Monitor can even mark the primary time (save for like a weeklong window) of EPCOT being freed from development partitions. In order that is perhaps thrilling to a few of you. Personally, I’m extra of an “EPCOT is at all times in a state of turning into” kinda man. A wall-less EPCOT is sort of a overseas idea to me, and I don’t understand how I’d deal with it.
Joking apart, a part of the rationale I’m wanting ahead to this mission wrapping is to see what’s subsequent. EPCOT isn’t really performed, however overdue overhauls must be performed one-at-a-time from a park capability perspective. So the query is…what’s subsequent? Spaceship Earth? Journey into Creativeness? The Seas with Nemo & Associates? My cash is on Spaceship Earth, which was already overdue for an overhaul 5 years in the past when its reimagining was shelved. It’s time.
2. Disney Starlight Evening Parade – Saving the most effective for second-to-last, the largest 2025 addition in all of Walt Disney World is Disney Starlight: Dream the Evening Away, a brand new nighttime parade coming to Magic Kingdom in Summer season 2025. Not even Take a look at Monitor 3.0 can compete with this from the attitude of hype–the 2 are miles aside.
Disney Starlight will use the newest expertise to inform new tales concerning the characters you like. All of this is dropped at life by the magic of the Blue Fairy, along with beloved characters from Walt Disney Animation Studios movies “Peter Pan,” “Encanto,” “Frozen,” “Moana” and extra.
I’m past excited for Walt Disney World to lastly get an evening parade once more–to the purpose that this rivals the #1 entry for me, which is foolish once you distinction their scale. However greater than something that’s gone lacking from Walt Disney World within the final decade, I miss the night time parade. The factor is, so a lot of my formative recollections of Walt Disney World revolve round nighttime leisure.
When Sarah and I first began visiting WDW collectively, we watched SpectroMagic each time we have been at Magic Kingdom. Each. Single. Evening. A lot concerning the Walt Disney World fan expertise is chasing moments and recollections from the previous, attempting to recapture fleeting emotions or what makes us nostalgic for the previous. Sitting on the finish of Important Road, listening to Jiminy Cricket’s voice, the lights going darkish and the music beginning, and ready for the primary float to method is a kind of significant recollections for us.
Now that we’ve a daughter, this want has been dialed as much as 11 for us. I can’t wait to see the brand new Disney Starlight night time parade mirrored in her eyes–actually and figuratively. It’ll be like a visit down reminiscence lane for us as we bear in mind these bygone days of watching SpectroMagic, melded with a brand-new reminiscence of no matter this night time parade has in retailer for us and our household.
1. Epic Universe – Theme park followers don’t must be offered on Epic Universe. The joy is palpable, and it’s so clearly #1 regardless of not being “at” Walt Disney World that the remainder of this checklist is sort of meaningless. When it comes to hype and potential, there are a number of particular points of interest or complete lands at Epic Universe would make the minimize over nearly every thing Walt Disney World is doing in 2025.
That’s amongst theme park followers, although. Disney followers want just a little extra “promoting,” particularly those that have been to Common Orlando and been underwhelmed with the themed design or discovered there’s little or no they may experience. These issues are very legitimate, and one thing that many Common followers gloss over. Giant swaths of the 2 present parks are nothing particular–they’re barely higher than Dino-Rama.
Epic Universe is totally different than the present gates. It’s Common Artistic flexing its artistic muscle mass, and selecting up the place they left off with the Wizarding Worlds of Harry Potter (plural) and Tremendous Nintendo Worlds (additionally plural). These lands mirrored a paradigm shift for Common, and though particular person attraction output within the intervening years has been uneven, the artistic and industrial success of these lands is the higher comparability. Epic Universe goes to be an entire park of Harry Potter and Mario lands…actually and figuratively.
Disney followers are solely doing themselves a disservice in dismissing Epic Universe out-of-hand. Each for its personal expertise and the colossal affect it can on theme parks for many years to return. Lots of the individuals at Common Artistic bringing Epic Universe to life are ex-Imagineers, and lots of the individuals at WDI who will deliver Villains Land (and so on.) to life will find yourself being ex-Common Artistic. The affect of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter on new Disney lands can nonetheless be felt; anybody who desires a sneak peek at the way forward for Walt Disney World ought to take a drive up I-4 and see what all the thrill is about.
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Your Ideas
Which points of interest or leisure coming to Walt Disney World in 2025 are you most excited to expertise? At the same time as a Disney fan, are you most excited for Common’s Epic Universe or are you tired of that new gate? Does Disney Starlight Evening Parade take the cake for you, or one thing else? Agree or disagree with our checklist? Any questions we may help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even once you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!
