Why Disney Fans Are Suddenly Changing Their 2026 Disney World Plans

There is a lot of construction happening at Disney World right now, and some big changes are also hitting the parks in 2026! While most of the large projects like Pueblo Esperanza in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Piston Peak National Park in Magic Kingdom, and the new Monsters, Inc. land in Disney’s Hollywood Studios won’t be opening until at least 2027, there are still quite a few things to look forward to in 2026.

Welcome to Disney World!

Some of Disney’s announcements about updates and changes coming to Disney World in 2026 are prompting Disney fans to adjust their plans for next year. When is the best time to head to Disney World in 2026? Well, it all depends on what you want to see and do, so let’s take a look at what is happening in 2026!

As we mentioned earlier, there’s a lot of construction happening in Disney World right now. Most of that will still be ongoing no matter when you head to Disney World in 2026. However, if you are hoping to get one last ride on DINOSAUR before it closes for good, you will want to plan a trip early in 2026. All of DinoLand, U.S.A. will be officially closed as of February 2nd, 2026. Currently, you can still ride DINOSAUR and dine at Restaurantosaurus, but your last chance to ride and dine at these two locations is February 1st, 2026.

Dinosaur

If you have already gotten your last ride on DINOSAUR, or experiencing it one last time isn’t a big deal for you, you might want to plan a trip a bit later to experience some other changes. Soarin’ Around the World in EPCOT is set to receive an update in the summer of 2026. Disney’s Soarin’ Across America will be making its debut. This new adventure will take us “soarin'” across both coasts and will highlight some of the country’s natural beauty and iconic cityscapes.

©Disney

Soarin’ isn’t the only attraction that is getting an update, either! Frozen Ever After in EPCOT is also preparing for some big changes. Disney plans to give Anna, Elsa, and Kristoff’s figures new updates. The updates will take inspiration from he advancements seen in figures at World of Frozen in Hong Kong Disneyland. The new figures will bring a more true-to-film look, and they are expected to debut in early 2026.

Frozen Ever After

There will also be new experiences coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios! Walt Disney Studios will be opening in 2026, featuring The Magic of Disney Animation, a Drawn to Wonderland playground, and a fresh version of Disney Junior Play & Dance. Animated characters will come to life in this new area, inspired by the Walt Disney Studios Lot in Burbank.

©Disney

As well, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster will be getting rethemed to a Muppets version. Disney has announced that Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster featuring The Muppets will be opening in summer 2026. The current version featuring Aerosmith is set to close sometime in 2026, although Disney has not yet announced the exact closing date. However, we would assume it would be fairly early in 2026 to give them time for the retheme.

©Disney

Over in Magic Kingdom, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin are both scheduled to reopen in 2026, too. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is getting technical enhancements and a new ride scene. Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin is getting new ride vehicles, new blasters, new interactive targets, and a new scene featuring a new character.

New ride vehicles for Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin

Of course, there will still be PLENTY to do in Disney World no matter when you plan your visit. But, if you are hoping to experience any of the new things or get one last ride on DINOSAUR, make sure you plan your 2026 trip accordingly.