4 Life-Changing Announcements for Disney Fans in 2026

2026 has already been a major year for Walt Disney World, with the openings (or re-openings) of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, Bluey’s Wild World, Soarin’ Across America, and — arguably most notably — the Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster Starring the Muppets, among others.

However, even with all of that, the year is only half over, and Disney has even more up its sleeve, as they’ve recently made four major announcements and all indications are that there will be more to follow this summer.

Monstropolis Confirmed!

After much speculation, Disney confirmed what had long been suspected: The Monsters, Inc. land under construction at Hollywood Studios will be officially dubbed Monstropolis.

Furthermore, through the pages of the Monstropolis Horn “newspaper”, the company unveiled more of the land’s backstory.  Following months of planning, the Department of Human Relations has finally approved its new plan for a H.U.M.A.N. (Humans Understanding that Monsters Are Nice) Day, where Monstropolis will open its doors to humans! Soon, monsters will be able to learn more about humans, plus use our laughter for energy.

As part of their announcement, Disney also confirmed that both Harryhausen’s — “THAT legendary restaurant monsters line up for” — and the Glob Theater are coming to the land, saying each helps “bring the city to life, adding even more personality, energy, and can’t-miss moments around every corner.”

Progress on the Carousel of Progress

Back in 2025, Disney announced that the Carousel of Progress — the animatronic stage show that has been operating in one form or another since its debut at the 1964 New York World’s Fair, which initially followed a family through the technological advancements of the late 1800s through the mid-1900s — would be undergoing a refurbishment. At the time, it was confirmed that the show would include a Walt Disney animatronic in the introduction, though few other details were initally announced.

After months of waiting, Disney finally released more details on the refurbishment, and it’s much bigger than most Disney fans anticipated. To keep the Carousel of Progress “relatable for today’s audiences,” the entire show is being reworked, with a new structure featuring acts based on the 1960s (itself harkening back to the decade the show originally debuted), the 1980s, the 1999-turn of the millennium, and a “possible future” that will imagine a future where “extraordinary innovation has become part of life and proves that a beautiful tomorrow is just a dream away.”

According to Disney, the attraction will close on July 6th for its transformation, with an estimated reopening in 2027.

Madame Leota’s Swinging Wake

The Carousel of Progress isn’t the only iconic property to receive a major Disney announcement this spring. In early June, the company announced that a new Haunted Mansion-inspired “street party” is set to debut as part of this year’s Oogie Boogie Bash Halloween event.

According to Disney, the Swinging Wake will “bring familiar and iconic moments from the Haunted Mansion to the streets of California Adventure,” including Madame Leota conducting her séance, dancing ghosts, and representations of several other key moments from the ride.

The Oogie Boogie Bash will run on select dates from August 18th through October 31st, and tickets will go on sale to the general public on June 18th.

D23

In addition to those announcements, we have our eyes set on the D23: Ultimate Fan Event coming to Anaheim August 14th – 16th. The bi-annual event is always loaded with new Disney news, and this year will surely be no exception.

Some of the announcements we have our fingers crossed for include:

• Official names and opening timelines for the upcoming Villains Land at Walt Disney World.
• Attraction information for Villains Land, as well as the also under construction Piston Peak, Monstropolis, and Tropical Americas lands.
• A specific opening date and booking window for the Reflections Resort, currently under construction at Walt Disney World.
• Over on the West Coast, we’re hoping for an opening timeline for the upcoming Avengers: Infinity Defense attraction at California Adventure, as well as further updates on the Coco and Avatar attractions coming to the park.

Disney has already made some major announcements in 2026, and there are likely to be MANY more this coming summer. Stay tuned to AllEars for further updates on everything new coming to the company’s theme parks.

The Villains Land Expansion Will Be a Monumental Achievement — If Disney Can Finish It

What announcements are you hoping Disney makes this year? Let us know in the comments below.

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