While roller coasters might not be the first type of ride that comes to mind when one thinks of Walt Disney World, especially compared to comeptitors like Universal Orlando, the truth is that the “Most Magical Place on Earth” has been a coaster hub since Space Mountain first opened 50 years ago, with major rides like Expedition Everest and Gaurdians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind being some of the resort’s most popular attractions.

2026 is shaping up to be an especially major year in Disney roller coaster history, with major refurbishments and reopenings, massive construction projects, and even some alleged changes that could change the future of the resort forever.

Big Thunder Roars Again

Let’s begin in the Magic Kingdom, where 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 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 coaster is scheduled to reopen this summer, and this refreshed version of the “Wildest Ride in the Wilderness” is sure to energize guests.

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It’s (Almost) Time to Meet the Muppets

On March 2nd, the original version of Hollywood Studios’ 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.

The new version of the attraction is set to include a new pre-show featuring the characters – including an in-person Scooter – and music from Muppet group the Electric Mayhem. The new, “Muppetized” version of the coaster is scheduled to open sometime in the summer.

SPOTTED: Disney World Is Wasting NO Time on the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Transformation at Hollywood Studios

The Door to Disney World’s Future

Right now, a massive land based on the 2001 Pixar classic Monsters, Inc. is under construction at Hollywood Studios, to be headlined by a long-awaited coaster based on the film’s door chase sequence. As then-Disney Experiences Chairman/soon-to-be Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro put it at the time, “The first time I saw Monsters, Inc., all I wanted to do was ride on one of those doors like Mike and Sulley. You’ll go into the factory and experience the first suspended coaster ever in a Disney park. Remember in the movie how those claws grab the doors and hoist them up into the air to take them away? We’re doing that, too. And you’re going along for the ride.”

The way Disney is planning to execute that is through a suspended coaster, the first time that ride system has ever been used at one of the company’s parks. At the 2025 SXSW festival, Imagineers also confirmed that the ride will use a vertical lift loading mechanism that is meant to replicate the way doors are pulled up from the ground in the film. There’s no scheduled opening date for the land as of yet, though sometime in 2027 or 2028 seems likely.

Walt Disney Imagineering shares a new look at the Monsters, Inc. coaster loading area and first-ever vertical lift that will hoist riders in the air like never before as they zoom into the door vault! https://t.co/9Rwf0YtRGX 🚪🎢 #SXSW pic.twitter.com/fnTaDIA6AR

— Disney Parks (@DisneyParks) March 8, 2025

We’re Seeing BIG Changes at Disney World’s New “Monsters, Inc.” Land

BONUS: What’s Going on with Villains Land?

Back in 2024, Disney announced that the long-rumored Villains Land was coming to the area “Beyond” Big Thunder Mountain at the Magic Kingdom. While scant details were released, concept art for the land seemed to show a dark and twisted coaster as one of its centerpieces.

Over the last year, land has been cleared in the area, and it seemed like Villains Land was on track to open in the next several years… until rumors emerged in 2026 that incoming CEO D’Amaro had instructed Imagineers to throw away their plans, including the coaster, and start anew.

According to a February article in TheWrap, “The coaster was planned to be the big draw. As the concept art suggested, it was going to be themed to Maleficent, the big bad from Sleeping Beauty, who was later brought to life in the live-action Maleficent films by Angelina Jolie. This was going to be a really-for-real thrill ride…”

However, the article goes on to say that the coaster concept is “being converted to a more family-friendly coaster, along the lines of Slinky Dog Dash at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, this time themed to The Emperor’s New Groove. This makes sense, considering that antagonists Yzma and Kronk actually ride a rollercoaster in that 2000 comedy, and how many more guests you can get on the ride with a lower height requirement. (Before you ask, yes, there is a “pull the lever” moment in the ride currently.)” The outlet goes on to say that clarification on the plans are likely to be released at the D23 event in August.

While the mystery of what’s going on in Villains Land likely won’t be known until the summer at the earliest, 2026 is scheduled to see two major coaster (re)openings before then! Stay tuned to DFB for more on Disney’s upcoming rides!

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Which upcoming coaster are you MOST excited for? Let us know in the comments below!