2026 is going to be a year of major change at Disney World, as massive construction projects, refurbishments, and closures are reshaping the face of the resort and its rides for years to come.

While some of the larger products won’t be open to guests until the calendar turns 2027 — and beyond — there are major changes are coming to the Disney Parks THIS YEAR!

Countdown to Extinction: Complete

Early February saw a major change at Animal Kingdom, as DINOSAUR — which opened with the park as Countdown to Extinction in 1998 — closed forever (along with the remaining portions of DinoLand U.S.A.) as part of the park’s ongoing Tropical Americas addition.

The ride will be refurbished into an Indiana Jones attraction, which is thematically appropriate since DINOSAUR’s ride system and layout were based on Disneyland’s original Indiana Jones Adventure.

“For the First Time in Forever” Frozen Ever After Feels Quite Fresh

After a month-long closure that began in January, Frozen Ever After reopened (a day early), EPCOT’s Frozen Ever After reopened with brand new animatronics of Anna, Elsa, and Kristoff.

The long-awaited update saw new and improved versions of the characters (as seen on other versions of the ride, including Hong Kong Disneyland’s) replacing the original projection-mapped versions in place since the ride’s opening.

Mando and Grogu are Arriving at Hyperspeed

In conjunction with the release of the new Star Wars Mandolorian & Grogu feature film on May 22nd, Millennium Falcon Smuggler’s Run will see the addition of a new mission based on the titular character and his youngling Grogu (Baby Yoda, to those of you unfamiliar with the Galaxy Far, Far Away).

According to Disney, as part of the new experience, “the crew will be in control of their own destination, leading to potential adventures on Bespin, the wreckage of the second Death Star around Endor, or the just-announced bustling city-planet, Coruscant.” In addition, another new gameplay addition allows the engineer positions to communicate with Grogu, making them much more “important” to the ride’s overall story and narrative.

Soar Across America for America’s Birthday!

In celebration of America’s 250th birthday this coming July, EPCOT’s Soarin’ will receive an “all-new airborne adventure across the US, honoring the heart and spirit of the nation.” Disney even brought in “aviation” legend Patrick Warburton (IYKYK) to announce the overlay, which is scheduled to open in the late spring.

“It’s Time to Start the Music…”

On March 2nd, the original version of the Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster is set to close for a comparatively brief refurbishment, which will see the coaster trade its original Aerosmith theming for a new story tied to the Muppets, including a new pre-show featuring the characters and music from the Muppet group the Electric Mayhem. The new, “Muppetized” version of the coaster is scheduled to open this summer.

Big Thunder Roars Again

The iconic E-Ticket Big Thunder Mountain Railroad has been closed since January 2025 for a massive refurbishment project. According to Disney, the attraction is scheduled to reopen in Spring 2026 with “new magic,” including a fully refurbished track and a new sequence inspired by the Rainbow Caverns of Disneyland’s Mine Train Through Nature’s Wonderland. The ride is scheduled to reopen this summer.

Buzz Is Ready for Liftoff!

Tomorrowland’s Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin closed on August 4th, 2025, for a refurbishment that is scheduled to end sometime this spring.

The refurbished attraction will feature new ride vehicles, new blasters, and a new scene featuring the park’s original robot character named Buddy, who will ensure “departing Space Rangers are fully prepared for their mission (by) enthusiastically providing encouragement, final system checks on their Star Cruisers, and a chance to hone their blaster aim.”

BONUS: Progress Paused?

In the summer of 2025, Disney announced changes coming to Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress at the Magic Kingdom. A Walt Disney animatronic — similar to the one that debuted at Disneyland earlier this year — will now be part of the attraction’s pre-show, and the entire presentation will be updated, with changes to some of the characters and likely with an updated finale.

While the implication at the time was that work on the classic, which was first introduced at the 1964 World’s Fair, would begin soon, nothing has commenced, nor has any announcement been made indicating when the refurbishment will begin.

2026 is set to be a massive year of transformation at Walt Disney World, especially when it comes to rides! Stay tuned to DFB for further updates on Walt Disney World’s evolution.

2026 Dates You Should Know If You’re a Disney World Fan

Which of these rides are you most looking forward to? Let us know in the comments below.