Looking back, 2024 was the first year since the pandemic that a visit to Walt Disney World felt largely like it did before 2020. For most visitors, theme park reservations became a thing of the past. We finally saw the return of all-day park-hopping, and even Disney Dining plans came back. It also marked the completion of Epcot’s multiyear transformation and the opening of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at Magic Kingdom.
Related: TPG goes behind the scenes as Disney unveils $60 billion toward future of theme parks
Now that we turn the page forward to 2025, it’s time to see what the new year will bring to Walt Disney World.
The good news: There are a handful of new rides, attractions and experiences opening in the next 12 months. And — as announced at the Disney Experiences Showcase at 2024’s D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event — a slew of developments are coming to the Central Florida theme park. New additions include lands themed to “Cars” and Disney villains at Magic Kingdom, a “Monsters, Inc” land at Hollywood Studios and a Tropical Americas land to replace DinoLand U.S.A. at Animal Kingdom.
The less-good news: The road to all of that cool new stuff is paved with construction … a few years of it.
Related: Disney World gets final approval for $17 billion development plan that could include a fifth theme park
So while we are in a gap between years with lots of new lands and attractions, there will still be plenty of new things to see and do. Here are nine new things to look forward to at Disney World in 2025.
Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away
Since the Main Street Electrical Parade rolled out of Magic Kingdom 2016, the only way Disney World visitors could see a nighttime parade was by purchasing a ticket to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party or Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.
In the summer of 2025, Disney will introduce an all-new nighttime parade at Magic Kingdom called Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away. Disney promises that the parade will feature characters from films like “Peter Pan,” “Encanto,” “Frozen,” “Moana” and more in “a whole new light.”
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Based on the concept art and the few details Disney has already shared, the Blue Fairy from “Pinocchio” will use the “magic of starlight” to illuminate the parade floats and character costumes as they travel through the park.
Pirates of the Caribbean-themed tavern
Something tasty is washing ashore in Magic Kingdom in late 2025 when a new Pirates of the Caribbean-themed lounge opens in Adventureland. The lounge will be near the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction and will incorporate the characters, lore and swashbuckling merriment associated with the ride.
Disney said there may be “more than a few mysterious and magical surprises in store;” this could mean anything from character appearances to interactive experiences a la Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. One “surprise” it did reveal is that Peg-Leg Pete (aka Barker Bird, an animatronic parrot who used to greet guests at the ride’s entrance) will reside in the lounge.
So far, the only mention of what Disney may be cooking up in the galley is that there will be a “sea-worthy selection of grogs and grub.” Though not expressly stated, the language implies you’ll be able to grab an alcoholic beverage with your food. But, in staying true to Magic Kingdom protocol, you can only imbibe inside the restaurant and won’t be able to take your drink to-go as you stroll through the park.
Reimagined Test Track
If you’re looking for a new ride at Disney World in 2025, the closest you are going to get is with the reimagining of Test Track that has been taking place at Epcot since the ride’s closure in the summer of 2024.
But beginning in late summer of 2025, Test Track, presented by General Motors, will again put guests in the driver’s seat. When it reopens, there will be an all-new storyline and cars with an all-new look. Disney hints that you might get to see some of the cars whirling around the track for “test runs” in early 2025 if you want a sneak peek.
We expect this to be a really popular ride when it reopens, so you might want to brush up on your Lightning Lane Multi Pass skills before any late-summer 2025 and beyond trips, just in case.
Spaceship Earth lounge
Another new lounge coming to Disney World in the late spring of 2025 will be found at Epcot. This lounge’s design (and location) will take inspiration from the park’s icon, Spaceship Earth. The Spaceship Earth lounge space will be where a corporate lounge used to be, and it’ll offer a view of the park’s Celebration Gardens and even the nighttime fireworks.
Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After
In September 2024, Disney announced that Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy, a theater show at Hollywood Studios with an animatronic version of Lightning McQueen at center stage, would close in early October to make way for something a little more … wicked.
Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After will feature dozens of characters from the darker side of Disney, including Cruella de Vil, Captain Hook and Maleficent; they will break through the Magic Mirror (of “Snow White” fame) and belt out infamous performances.
The news of Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After came on the heels of Disney announcing at D23 that an entire land devoted to Disney villains is being planned for Magic Kingdom. Building an entire theme park land takes time, but Disney is giving fans a small bite of the poison apple, so to speak, with this new show.
The show is scheduled to open in the summer of 2025 after the theater’s malevolent makeover is complete.
The Little Mermaid — A Musical Adventure
That’s not the only addition coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios: It will get yet another show in its lineup beginning in the summer of 2025 when “The Little Mermaid — A Musical Adventure” takes the stage. This show will feature all-new sets, live performers, puppets and popular songs such as “Under the Sea,” “Part of Your World,” “Daughters of Triton” and “Kiss the Girl.”
Zootopia: Better Zoogether!
We’ve known since 2023 that the “It’s Tough to Be a Bug” attraction inside Animal Kingdom’s Tree of Life would be getting a “Zootopia” retheme.
At this year’s D23 Disney Experiences Showcase, Disney finally revealed the new attraction will open in winter 2025.
In its current state, “It’s Tough to Be a Bug” is a 3D film featuring characters from the animated movie, with a few 4D effects and animatronics mixed in. Zootopia: Better Zoogether! will likely follow a similar format but with a fresh, new storyline featuring Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde along with the rest of their furry, feathered and scaly friends.
Island Tower at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
It technically opened very late in 2024, but for most guests, 2025 will be the first chance to enjoy an all-new, free-standing, 10-story Island Tower at the popular Polynesian Village Resort. It’s on the side closest to the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa.
You can book this Disney Vacation Club property with DVC points (here’s how to rent them) or with cash directly with Disney. It offers new-to-Polynesian room types, such as duo studios built for two, one-bedroom suites and a two-bedroom penthouse, along with more standard deluxe studios.
Its design inspiration actually comes from early concept art for the Polynesian Village Resort itself. It combines some beloved Disney stories and settings, such as those from “Moana,” with the beauty of the natural world.
With the opening of this property comes a “Moana”-themed splash pad, a new zero-entry pool and a new dining option, Wailulu Bar & Grill. It doesn’t require advance reservations, and so far, it has received very high marks among those who want easy breezy cocktails and maybe even a poke bowl to go with them.
Free water park visits for Disney hotel guests
Disney Resort hotel guests can start their 2025 vacation off with a splash with a free water park visit on their check-in day. So, you may want to take the early flight or stay off-property on your arrival day to make the most of your “check-in” day. Tickets to Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach water parks typically cost $74 plus tax for adults and $68 plus tax for kids ages 3 to 9. (Kids under 3 are free at all Disney World parks.)
Rather than rushing to the parks as soon as you arrive or waiting until the second day of your vacation to start the fun, you can take advantage of a free water park visit on your arrival day. Disney’s water parks don’t stay open as late as its four theme parks, but if you arrive early enough, you could easily sneak in a half-day at Typhoon Lagoon or Blizzard Beach.
Disney rotates which of the two water parks is open throughout the year, but there is always one water park to choose from (weather permitting).
This offer is only available to guests staying at one of Disney’s official hotels. When you book your 2025 stay, Disney will send information prior to your arrival on how to take advantage of your free water park visit.
Bottom line
If you are planning a trip to Walt Disney World in 2025, you’ll want to make sure these new attractions and experiences are on your itinerary. Though there aren’t any fully new built-from-the-ground-up rides opening at Disney next year, these new entertainment offerings and reimagined attractions will add even more magic to an already magical vacation.
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