As you walk through the Magic Kingdom in February 2026, the skyline is a forest of steel. To the west, the earth-movers are busy carving out the jagged spires of Villains Land and the rugged terrain of Piston Peak. But while the buzz of the “Beyond Big Thunder” expansion dominates the headlines, a quieter, arguably more critical operation is unfolding on the opposite side of the park.
Tomorrowland—the land of “great big beautiful tomorrows”—is currently a construction zone in its own right. With Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin gutted for its massive “Buddy-Bot” upgrade and a game-changing Walt Disney animatronic on its way to the Carousel of Progress, the land is entering a “Great Reset.” For the first time in decades, Disney is systematically removing the “Yesterday” from Tomorrowland, and the rumors swirling around Imagineering suggest that the real fireworks are yet to come.
The Space Mountain ‘Mega-Refurb’: A Heart Transplant for an Icon
The gold standard for Disney refurbishments was set earlier this year with the reopening of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. By stripping the mountain to its bones and replacing every inch of track, Disney proved that they can “future-proof” a classic without losing its soul. Now, the internal word at Imagineering is that Space Mountain is the next patient on the table.
Space Mountain remains the most popular attraction in the land, but at 50 years old, the Florida original is showing its age. Unlike its counterparts in Disneyland or Hong Kong, Magic Kingdom’s coaster still utilizes the original 1975 track layout, which has become notoriously rough.
Speculation for a 2027–2028 “Mega-Refurb” includes:
- Total Track Replacement: Utilizing the high-precision steel technology being used for Tokyo’s upcoming $460 million Space Mountain rebuild to create a buttery-smooth flight.
- Synchronized On-Board Audio: Finally bringing the atmospheric score tech to Florida, turning the ride from a dark coaster into a cinematic space opera.
- Digital Starfields: Replacing the aging projection system with ultra-HD LED screens and practical “warp speed” lighting effects that make the vacuum of space feel truly infinite.
The Speedway Swap: From Gas Fumes to Galactic Races
Perhaps the most persistent “vibe killer” in Tomorrowland is the Tomorrowland Speedway. For years, the loud, gas-powered engines and the literal smell of exhaust have stood in direct opposition to the land’s clean, futuristic aesthetic. With the opening of the Cars-themed Piston Peak in Frontierland, the Speedway’s current identity as the park’s “driving attraction” is officially redundant.
Whispers of a “Speedway Swap” have intensified this month. The leading theory is that Disney is finally ready to retire the gas engines and move toward a high-speed electric vehicle (EV) attraction. By utilizing the existing track footprint but swapping the go-karts for glowing, futuristic “Light-Pods” or “Nebula Racers,” Disney could create a high-capacity family race that glows with neon trails at night. This would align perfectly with the nearby TRON Lightcycle / Run, turning that entire corner of the park into a kinetic “Grid.”
The ‘Dead Space’ Strategy: Stitch and the Laugh Floor
Tomorrowland currently suffers from a massive “vacancy” problem. The former Stitch’s Great Escape building has been a glorified storage unit and lounge for the past 7 years. Now, with the official announcement that Monstropolis at Hollywood Studios will include a “laughter-themed” theater show, it is widely believed that Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor is on borrowed time in Tomorrowland.
This leaves Disney with two massive, adjacent buildings—the prime real estate of the land’s entrance—sitting empty. Speculation is high for two major IPs to fill the void:
1. The ‘Big Hero 6’ San Fransokyo Lab
The most persistent rumor for the Stitch space is an attraction themed to Big Hero 6. Baymax is a global powerhouse for Disney, and a “Healthcare Companion” training lab would fit perfectly into Tomorrowland’s tech-focused mission. Fans are dreaming of a trackless ride system that puts guests into “flight simulators” guided by Hiro and Baymax.
2. The ‘WALL-E’ EVE Flight
With the Laugh Floor building vacant, some Imagineers are reportedly pushing for a high-capacity dark ride themed to WALL-E. A journey through the Axiom or a floating flight with EVE would provide the “heart” and environmental optimism that Tomorrowland has lacked since the removal of Horizons over at EPCOT.
Carousel of Progress: Meeting the Man Behind the Magic
While much of Tomorrowland is looking to 2030, the Carousel of Progress is returning to its roots. As of February 2026, internal work has officially begun on the most significant show update in 30 years.
The centerpiece of this project is the addition of a Walt Disney Audio-Animatronic. This isn’t just a basic figure; it will utilize the A-1000 series electric technology—the same hyper-realistic tech used for the Shaman of Songs in Pandora. Situated in a brand-new introductory scene, “Walt” will appear in his prime, sharing his vision for the Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow that he never lived to see completed.
This move is a mission statement from Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro: even as the parks move toward high-thrill Villains and digital Grids, they will not lose the human optimism that started it all.
Conclusion: A Future Worth Loading
For the last decade, Tomorrowland has felt like a collection of miscellaneous ideas stuck in a “standby” loop. But the systematic approach of 2026—modernizing Buzz Lightyear, updating the Carousel, and the looming redesign of the Speedway—proves that Disney is finally ready to hit “play.”
By the time the dust settles on Villains Land and Piston Peak, Tomorrowland won’t just be the park’s “other side”—it will be a land defined by clean energy, galactic travel, and the relentless optimism that the future is a place where we all belong.
