Everything Coming to Walt Disney World in 2025 (and beyond)
The ever-evolving nature of Disney theme parks adds to the thrill for visitors who eagerly return year after year. Exciting new experiences are coming to Walt Disney World! Recent announcements have revealed plans to reimagine Dinoland, U.S.A. in Animal Kingdom, as well as a section of Frontierland in Magic Kingdom, injecting fresh magic into these beloved attractions. Opening its doors on June 28, 2024, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure transports guests into a captivating world of enchantment. And this is just a glimpse of the magical surprises Disney has in store for its parks.
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Planning a Disney World vacation in 2025? Be sure to check out our guide to all that the Walt Disney World Resort has to offer this year! (Our guide for visiting Disney World in 2026 is now available as well!)
Walt Disney World Resort
*These festivities will be taking place in 2025 throughout the entire Walt Disney World Resort! Exact dates are unknown at this point for events at the end of the year, but we will keep you posted as Disney makes their announcements in the coming months.
January 8-12 – runDisney Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend
This year’s marathon theme is “vintage athletics with a nostalgic Disney twist.” You can select from four different races, as well as the 20th anniversary of Goofy’s Race and a Half Challenge, and the Dopey Challenge, which covers 48.6 miles across all four Walt Disney World Theme Parks.
February 20-24 – runDisney Princess Half Marathon Weekend
Another popular runDisney event, this race weekend brings out the Disney royalty in all who participate. Previous race weekends included “Disney Princess Sunrise Yoga,” which took place in the Magic Kingdom in front of Cinderella’s Castle prior to the park opening. Registration opens on July 23, 2024, for Club runDisney Members and on July 30, 2024, for general registration.
April 3-6 – runDisney Springtime Surprise Weekend
This event ultimately replaced the Star Wars Rival Run Weekend, and 2022 marked its inaugural run. Registration opens on August 20, 2024, for Club runDisney Members and on August 27, 2024, for general registration.
October 23-26 – runDisney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend
This year’s race will celebrate Disney Magical Mealtimes. The event lineup includes a 5K, 10K, half marathon, and two-course challenge, all featuring food-centric themes, Disney characters, and tasty snacks. Registration opens on February 4, 2025, for Club runDisney Members and on February 11, 2025, for general registration.
2025 – Disney After Hours
At various parks throughout the year, Disney offers guests the opportunity to attend ticketed events on select nights after the parks close. *These are not the same thing as “Extended Evening Hours” for those staying at Deluxe Resorts; rather, these events are available to all guests who have purchased a ticket for the after-hours event.
The events are 3 hours long, but guests are allowed to enter the park early at 7:00 PM. The biggest perk is lower wait times for some of your favorite attractions, but the events also feature lower crowds, character greetings, specialty snacks, complimentary snacks (including popcorn, ice cream treats, and bottled drinks), and more. This year’s events will take place on select nights at Hollywood Studios, Epcot, Typhoon Lagoon, and Magic Kingdom.
Magic Kingdom
July 20, 2025 – Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away!
A new nighttime parade will be arriving in the summer of 2025, and it will feature characters from Pinocchio, Peter Pan, Frozen, Encanto, and more!
August 15-October 31 – Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is a very popular ticketed event that will likely take place on select nights beginning mid-August through Halloween. Last year’s event took place from 7:00 PM to midnight and featured trick-or-treating, a special Halloween parade, fireworks, specialty menu items, not-so-scary entertainment, your favorite characters dressed in their Halloween attire, and so much more.
November-December – Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party (Tentative)
Official dates for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party have not yet been announced, but the popular ticketed event typically takes place on select nights in November and December. The party typically features a holiday parade, fireworks, festive entertainment, unique menu items, your favorite Disney characters dressed in their holiday best, and so much more!
Winter 2025 – Tavern near Pirates of the Caribbean
Adventureland will soon welcome a new tavern near Pirates of the Caribbean, further immersing visitors in the story of the famous attraction.
TBD – New “Cars” Area in Frontierland
Disney is planning to revamp a section of Frontierland and turn it into a Cars-themed area. This new area will include two exciting attractions. The first attraction will offer a thrilling rally race through the mountains, allowing guests to race across the landscape, navigate mountain trails, avoid geysers, and splash through mudholes. The second attraction will be a family-friendly experience designed for younger racers. Construction for this project is set to commence in early 2025.
TBD – New Villains Area
Disney has confirmed the development of a new section of the park, located beyond Big Thunder, which will be centered around beloved Disney villains. This new area will include two exciting attractions, as well as exclusive dining and shopping options. While preparations for construction are already underway, Disney has not yet released any information regarding a specific timeline for when the new area will be open to visitors.
Epcot
January 17-February 24 – Epcot International Festival of the Arts at Epcot
This festival typically begins in the middle of January and lasts through mid-February. It boasts some of the best activities of all the Epcot festivals. In addition to all of the artistic culinary creations, you will find animation classes, a paint-by-number mural, workshops (for an additional fee), photo ops throughout the park, and must-see galleries as well as artwork available for purchase. It also features the Disney on Broadway Concert Series on select nights throughout the festival.
March 5-June 2, 2025 – Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival
The Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival transforms Epcot into a breathtaking springtime wonderland. Visitors can enjoy a stunning display of flowers and topiaries, indulge in delicious outdoor food, and listen to live music at the Garden Rocks Concert Series. Exclusive festival merchandise and scavenger hunts (including the popular Egg-stravaganza Easter Egg Hunt) add to the experience, making it a must-see event for flower and nature enthusiasts.
June 4, 2025 – GEO-82
A new lounge has been announced for Epcot. Opening on June 4, 2025, it will feature a Space Earth theme, scenic views, unique cocktails, and small plates. Reservations open May 6 and are only available for those ages 21 and older.
July 22, 2025 – Test Track (re-imagined)
Test Track will undergo a new transformation with assistance from Chevrolet, marking another evolution for this attraction since its inception with the original World of Motion. The current version of the ride closes for refurbishment on June 17, 2024. The newly re-imagined attraction will open on July 22, 2025!
August 28-November 22 – Epcot International Food and Wine Festival
The Epcot International Food and Wine Festival is a highly anticipated event at the park, featuring a wide variety of food and beverage booths to satisfy the most discerning palates. In addition to dining options, attendees can take part in scavenger hunts, enjoy live music, participate in the Wine and Dine Half Marathon, and explore exclusive festival merchandise.
Late November-December – Epcot International Festival of the Holidays (Tentative)
The Epcot Festival of the Holidays may be the shortest of the Epcot festivals, but it truly transforms the park into a holiday wonderland. Dates and details for 2025 have yet to be announced, but previous years featured the iconic Candlelight Processional, Living with the Land: Glimmering Greenhouses, World Showcase Storytellers, Santa Claus, and the Holiday Cookie Stroll.
Hollywood Studios
May 27, 2025 – The Little Mermaid: A Musical Adventure
This newly re-imagined show at Hollywood Studios will feature classic songs such as “Under the Sea” and “Part of Your World.” Also, two new-to-this-theater songs will debut, “Daughters of Triton” and “Kiss the Girl.”
May 27, 2025 – Unfairly Ever After Villains Show
This brand-new show features some of your favorite Disney villains, including Cruella de Vil, Captain Hook, and Maleficent, as they ask the question, “Which villain has been treated the most unfairly of them all?”
Mid-November through Christmas – Jollywood Nights
This ticketed holiday event at Hollywood Studios is still relatively new to Walt Disney World, but is gaining popularity with each passing season. Dates have yet to be announced for 2025, but we will keep you posted!
2026 – New scenes in Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
Din Djarin and Grogu will be featured in a new version of this iconic attraction. The mission will debut around the same time as the new movie “The Mandalorian and Grogu,” which will be released on May 22, 2026.
TBD – New Monstropolis Area
This new Monsters, Inc. area will feature a suspended roller coaster inspired by the doors chase scene in the original movie. Construction will begin in 2025.
Animal Kingdom
Winter 2025 – Zootopia Show
A new show based on the popular animated film Zootopia is currently being developed for the Tree of Life and will replace “It’s Tough to Be a Bug.” This upcoming experience will offer guests the opportunity to explore the different biomes featured in the movie while being accompanied by familiar characters such as Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde.
TBD – Tropical American (re-theming of Dinoland U.S.A.)
Exciting changes are coming to Dinoland U.S.A. at Disney’s Animal Kingdom! The area is set to be transformed into a “Tropical Americas” land, drawing inspiration from the enchanting film Encanto and the action-packed Indiana Jones franchise. While specific attractions have not been officially announced, there are speculations about the potential retheming of the popular ride DINOSAUR, as it utilizes the same ride vehicles as Disneyland’s Indiana Jones attraction. We will keep you posted if Disney makes any formal announcements!
**Be sure to check back regarding new rides and attractions as this page will be updated often!
Are you excited about all that is coming to Walt Disney World in the near future and want to plan your next vacation? Be sure to visit my step-by-step guide to begin planning!
