Disney World Confirms Historic 2027 Shake-Up: 7 Major Additions Arriving Resort-Wide
Disney World visitors will have many new experiences competing for their attention in 2027.
Several projects that have spent years in development will finally reach major milestones. The changes span Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Magic Kingdom, with another major addition coming outside the theme parks.
Some familiar places will look completely different. Others will return after lengthy transformations. Disney will even open a new resort along Bay Lake.
Here are seven major additions confirmed for Walt Disney World in 2027.
Tropical Americas Brings Encanto to Life
Disney’s Animal Kingdom will receive some of the biggest changes when Tropical Americas opens.
Antonio’s Fiesta de Encanto will take guests into the Casita from Encanto (2021), turning the Madrigal family’s magical home into a theme park attraction.
The story unfolds on the day Antonio receives his gift to communicate with animals. His family prepares a celebration, with guests joining the festivities along the way.
Ride vehicles inspired by furniture from the Madrigal home will carry guests through the experience as Casita becomes part of the adventure.
Indiana Jones Arrives at Animal Kingdom
Tropical Americas will also give Disney World its own Indiana Jones attraction.
Indiana Jones and the Myth of the Jade Serpent will replace the former DINOSAUR attraction, using its existing building and ride system while introducing an original story.
Rather than recreating another Indiana Jones ride, Disney will send Indy and guests into an ancient Maya temple in search of Tsukán, the mythical Jade Serpent.
The attraction will also feature an Indiana Jones Audio-Animatronic modeled after Harrison Ford.
Pueblo Esperanza Gets a Family Attraction
A third Tropical Americas addition will offer something designed for the entire family.
El Carrusel de los Animalitos will feature 22 hand-carved animals inspired by Disney and Pixar stories.
Disney has designed the carousel as a gathering place within Pueblo Esperanza.
Combined with the two larger attractions, the carousel will help complete the transformation of the former DinoLand U.S.A. area into a new destination.
Monstropolis Begins Opening
Disney’s Hollywood Studios will enter its own new era in 2027.
Parts of Monstropolis will begin welcoming guests while Disney continues work on the land’s suspended door-vault coaster.
The area takes inspiration from Monsters, Inc. (2001), and one of its major entertainment offerings will be found inside the Glob Theater.
Welcome to Monstropolis will bring Mike and Sulley to the stage for a new live show. The location inspires the theater itself in Monsters, Inc. (2001).
Monsters Move Into Restaurants and Shops
There will be more to Monstropolis than attractions and entertainment.
Harryhausen’s Restaurant will bring a familiar Monsters, Inc. (2001) location into Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Archie’s Scare Pig Pizza will provide another dining option within the land.
Guests looking for souvenirs will also have The Scareporium, a dedicated merchandise location.
These locations will help fill out Monstropolis as Disney gradually opens the new area.
Magic Kingdom Brings Back a Classic
While Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios receive new areas, Magic Kingdom will welcome back a longtime favorite.
Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress closed in July 2026 for a major transformation and is expected to reopen in late spring 2027.
Disney is updating the time periods represented throughout the attraction. The journey will include the 1960s and 1980s before reaching New Year’s Eve 1999 and eventually a possible future.
One of the biggest additions will come before that journey begins.
Walt Disney will appear as an Audio-Animatronic figure in a new introductory scene.
The attraction traces its history to the 1964-1965 New York World’s Fair, making this transformation particularly significant for Magic Kingdom.
A New Disney Resort Opens Along Bay Lake
Disney will also introduce a major addition beyond the park gates.
Disney’s Lakeshore Lodge will officially open July 1, 2027, along Bay Lake.
The nature-inspired property will feature 967 rooms. Accommodation choices will range from studios to larger villas and waterfront Lake Houses, giving groups of different sizes several options.
Disney’s animation history will also appear throughout the resort.
The property will draw inspiration from Bambi (1942), Pocahontas (1995), Fantasia (1940), and Brother Bear (2003).
A Very Different Disney World Awaits
Guests visiting in 2027 could find themselves navigating a Walt Disney World that looks considerably different from just a year earlier.The
Tropical Americas and the initial portions of Monstropolis could attract more visitors to Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios. Guests may also face different vacation costs by the time these additions arrive.
But those challenges come alongside an unusually large collection of new experiences.
Between new attractions, entertainment, dining, shopping, a transformed Disney classic, and an entirely new resort, 2027 could become one of the most significant years Walt Disney World has seen in a long time.
