The Walt Disney Company is constantly changing and growing! Over the last few years, the company has changed more than we thought possible, especially in the theme parks.

To keep up with all of the changes, we like to do a weekly roundup of the biggest news drops from Disney World to the Walt Disney Company and beyond. From CEO updates to snack stand updates, we cover everything in between. This week, Disney’s latest updates have major implications for the future of the company. 

Can you keep up with all things Disney? Over the last few years, the company has made sure to keep us all on our toes with changes, and we have LOVED IT! It’s an exciting time to be a Disney Adult, so let’s dive right into the changes.

OpenAI Partnership

This week, The Walt Disney Company and OpenAI reached a deal for Disney to become “the first major content licensing partner on Sora,” OpenAI’s generative AI short-form video platform. The partnership includes a 3-year licensing agreement.

More than 200 Disney, Marvel, Pixar, and Star Wars characters will be featured on the platform, including a selection of fan-inspired Sora short-form videos available to stream on Disney+. Disney plans on using its Application Programming Interface (API) to build new products, tools, and experiences, including for Disney+ and ChatGPT for Disney employees.

Disney will also make a $1 billion equity investment in OpenAI as part of the agreement. In regard to the deal, Disney CEO Bob Iger said, “Technological innovation has continually shaped the evolution of entertainment, bringing with it new ways to create and share great stories with the world.” Content from the partnership is expected to be available starting early 2026.

Read More About The Disney x OpenAI Deal Here

Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Closing Date

Our next bit of news is for the theme park fans, and it’s certainly bittersweet! Disney finally confirmed that Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster starring Aerosmith will close on March 2nd, 2026. The popular coaster isn’t going away entirely, though, but Aerosmith will be vacating the premises.

The roller coaster will be getting a major retheme because the Muppets are taking over! Back in early October, Disney announced the opening timeline for this new version of the attraction, so the closing news in general isn’t a surprise. The new version is expected to open sometime in Summer 2026! The ride system will be staying the same, but the theming as a whole is getting a massive overhaul, both inside and out.

Disney has previously shared that a first-of-its-kind Muppet Animatronic will also be part of the attraction. Scooter, the band manager for the Electric Mayhem, along with the penguin audio engineers, will be working hard to get the band to their concert on time. They’ve hinted that Scooter may not be the only animatronic we see in the ride, but they haven’t clarified more than that.

Disney has shared that the story behind the Muppets takeover is that Scooter’s uncle, real estate tycoon and owner of the Muppet Theatre, J.P. Grosse, has taken over G-Force Records. We can’t wait to see what more comes from this major retheme! Your last day to experience the Aerosmith version of the attraction is March 1st, 2026, although they have already begun the transformation within the ride’s preshow.

Everything We Know About Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets

New Monstropolous Land Permits

Finally, Disney has filed new permits for a major Hollywood Studios change. In June 2025, Disney permanently closed Muppets Courtyard to make way for a brand-new Monsters Inc. Land. While that loss has been painful, we are ready for news on its replacement, and Disney has provided!

Disney recently filed new permits for the transformation of the land. The permits appear to match up with the address of the former Muppet*Vision 3D theater, indicating that work is finally underway on the upcoming Monsters, Inc.-themed show coming to this land. The permit is for general construction, which doesn’t give us too many details, but we can use some other context clues!

The first permit lists the Jon Richards Company, FL, Inc., as the contractor on the work. They specialize in themed scenery, specifically for theaters and beyond. They’ve worked on Disney meet-and-greets in the past, so we’re expecting major changes coming to the theater in this land. Disney has confirmed there will be a new show; however, they haven’t given us much insight into what to expect.

We are seriously eager to hear more about what’s replacing our beloved Muppet Vision 3D, but it seems like we’re going to keep waiting.

Read Everything We Know About The Upcoming Monsters Inc. Land Right Here

This week’s news means big things for the Disney company and theme parks! We can’t wait to see how these three drops continue to impact the brand we love over the next few years. As always, be sure to keep following DisneyFoodBlog for more Disney news and updates.

Disney Is Opening 11 New Rides in 2026. Here’s the Full List

 

Tell us which change you’re most excited for in the comments!