Last updated: August 2026
Disney just wrapped the biggest D23 in years, and the Mouse Chat crew — Lisa, Debbie, Sharpie, and Steve — break down every major announcement so you don’t have to sit through hours of coverage. From Villains Land and a brand-new cruise ship to a reimagined Carousel of Progress, here’s everything coming to the Disney parks and Disney Cruise Line in 2027 and beyond.
By the Mouse Chat team — Steve Griswold (Disney College of Knowledge graduate) and the Pixie Vacations advisor team, booking Walt Disney World, Disneyland, and Disney Cruise Line trips for families every week across 800-plus episodes of Mouse Chat.
What We Cover This Week
For the first time in a long while, Disney made major announcements for all six U.S. parks at once — plus Disney Cruise Line and a full slate of movies. We give you the fast, fun rundown with the honest, been-there commentary you only get from a table full of Disney travel agents.
At the Magic Kingdom, we dig into Villains Land — a new immersive land about the size of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, anchored by a Maleficent family coaster and a Magic Mirror dark ride through the Evil Queen’s catacombs (yes, there’s a villains bar with smoky drinks). We also cover Piston Peak, the national-park-themed expansion replacing Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island in Frontierland, and the much-debated Carousel of Progress reimagining, now voiced by Jamie Lee Curtis and Bryan Cranston.
Over at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Monstropolis — “the city frightful” — takes over the old Muppets Courtyard with the Door Coaster and Harryhausen’s restaurant. At Disney’s Animal Kingdom, the new Tropical Americas land brings an Indiana Jones adventure with a Harrison Ford animatronic and an Encanto Casita ride-through — and yes, the Expedition Everest “Disco Yeti” is finally getting fixed. At Epcot, Spaceship Earth gets a grand overhaul and Dreamfinder returns to Journey Into Imagination.
Then we set sail with the first look at the Disney Believe, a Moana-themed new ship sailing late 2027, plus word of a smaller class of ships built for ports like Galveston, New York, and Alaska. We close on the Disneyland Resort — the Avengers Campus expansion and Stark Flight Lab, the return of the original World of Color, and the Magic Happens parade — before running through the movie news: Coco 2, Frozen 3, a new Ice Age, and Incredibles 3.
Everything Disney Announced at D23 2026
| Park / Destination | What’s coming |
|---|---|
| Magic Kingdom | Villains Land (Maleficent coaster + Magic Mirror dark ride); Piston Peak replaces Rivers of America & Tom Sawyer Island; Carousel of Progress reimagined (late spring 2027). |
| Disney’s Hollywood Studios | Monstropolis — “the city frightful” — with the Door Coaster and Harryhausen’s restaurant; first phase in 2027. |
| Disney’s Animal Kingdom | Tropical Americas land: Indiana Jones: Rise of the Jade Serpent (Harrison Ford animatronic), Encanto’s Casita ride, and a new carousel — plus the long-awaited Expedition Everest Yeti fix. |
| Epcot | Spaceship Earth “grand and miraculous” overhaul and the return of Dreamfinder to Journey Into Imagination. |
| Disney Cruise Line | First look at the Disney Believe (late 2027) and a new smaller class of ships debuting 2029; the fleet grows to 13. |
| Disneyland Resort | Tomorrowland reimagining, Avengers Campus + Stark Flight Lab, the original World of Color returns, and the Magic Happens parade (summer 2027). |
| At the movies | Coco 2, Frozen 3, a new Ice Age, and Incredibles 3. |
Listen to This Episode
Press play right here, or listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts — new shows drop every Monday at 8 AM Eastern.
Listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Runtime: about 63 minutes. Questions or comments for the show? Email comments@mousechat.net.
Episode Chapters
- 3:56 — Villains Land comes to Magic Kingdom
- 9:43 — Piston Peak replaces Rivers of America & Tom Sawyer Island
- 15:23 — Disney Cruise Line: first look at the Disney Believe
- 22:56 — Tomorrowland reimagining at Disneyland
- 26:20 — Monstropolis opens at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
- 33:34 — Carousel of Progress reimagined (Jamie Lee Curtis & Bryan Cranston)
- 37:57 — Movies: Coco 2, Frozen 3, Ice Age, Incredibles 3
- 40:07 — Animal Kingdom: Indiana Jones, Encanto & the Disco Yeti fix
- 47:05 — Epcot: Spaceship Earth + the return of Dreamfinder
- 54:37 — Disneyland Resort: Avengers Campus, World of Color & nighttime shows
Frequently Asked Questions
What is D23?
D23 is Disney’s official fan event, where the company reveals upcoming rides, lands, ships, and movies. Fans think of it as a “state of the company” address — and D23 2026 was one of the most announcement-packed in years, with news for all six U.S. Disney parks.
When is Villains Land opening at Magic Kingdom?
Disney has broken ground but has not announced a firm opening date yet. Villains Land will be roughly the size of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, with a Maleficent family coaster and a Magic Mirror dark ride featuring classic Disney villains. We’ll update this post as Disney shares timing.
What is the Disney Believe cruise ship?
The Disney Believe is a new Disney Cruise Line ship in the Wish class, themed heavily around Moana and the South Pacific, and set to sail in late 2027. Disney also teased a new, smaller class of ships (debuting 2029) built to reach ports like Galveston, New York, and Alaska.
When do new Mouse Chat episodes come out?
Mouse Chat releases a new episode every Monday at 8 AM Eastern, covering Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, Universal Orlando, cruises, and family travel.
Does Pixie Vacations charge to plan a Disney trip?
No. Pixie Vacations offers free Disney vacation planning with no booking fees. Host Steve Griswold is a Disney College of Knowledge graduate, and the team books Walt Disney World, Disneyland, and Disney Cruise Line vacations for families year-round.
Plan Your 2027 Disney Trip
All this new magic is a great reason to start planning 2027 — and that’s exactly where a good travel agent earns their keep. The Mouse Chat team’s travel agency, Pixie Vacations, offers free Disney vacation planning with no booking fees, and host Steve Griswold is a Disney College of Knowledge graduate. Get a free, no-obligation quote at our vacation quote form or call 678-815-1584.
Trying to time a trip around all these openings? Our free Disney World Crowd Calendar shows the best weeks to go for lower crowds and better prices, month by month.
