Everything Coming to Walt Disney World in 2023 (and beyond) – Roundup Rodeo BBQ at Hollywood Studios Opening March 23!
New things are coming to Walt Disney World, and nothing excites me more than new Disney attractions! And there is SO MUCH coming to Walt Disney World in the next few years! Hollywood Studios has already had its fair share of grand openings these past couple of years with Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. And believe it or not, there are still new attractions and restaurants on the horizon for that park in 2023 and beyond.
Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom will be fairly quiet when it comes to construction (with the exception of the Tron roller coaster construction in Magic Kingdom). But if you’re looking for exciting changes, nothing beats what Disney has in store for Epcot as they continue to celebrate Disney World’s 50th anniversary and prepare for the Disney100 Celebration. Here is what we know (so far) about everything coming to Walt Disney World in the near future!
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Planning a Disney World vacation in 2023? Be sure to check out our guide to all that the Walt Disney World Resort has to offer this year including the opening of TRON Lightcycle Run Roller Coaster, updated nighttime spectaculars, and more!
Magic Kingdom
April 4, 2023 – TRON Lightcycle Run Roller Coaster – Without a doubt, this is the biggest attraction coming to Magic Kingdom. After being delayed by the pandemic, this ride is scheduled to open on April 4, 2023! Based on Shanghai Disneyland’s Tron Lightcycle Power Run, this attraction features a thrilling coaster race on two-wheeled Lightcycles. Its opening means some general re-imagining for Tomorrowland as well (including some changes that have already taken place) in order to match the Tron Lightcycle theme.
2023 – Updated Nighttime Spectular – It was announced at D23 that the popular anthem “Happily Ever After” will play again in an updated nighttime show over Cinderella Castle.
Late 2024 – Splash Mountain – It was announced some time ago that this attraction would be reimagined, but it was just announced that this rethemed water flume ride will open in late 2024! Called “Tiana’s Bayou Adventure,” this iconic ride will be welcoming Tiana and her friends for a brand new Princess and the Frog theme. Splash Mountain as we know it will close permanently on January 23, 2023, to begin work on this project.
Epcot
Now Open! – Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind – Now open, this brand “omnicoaster” features vehicles that rotate on the track to turn the guests to face the action happening around them.
Early 2023 – DuckTales World Showcase Adventure – While no opening date has been announced yet, all signs point to it being available to guests sooner rather than later. Replacing Agent P, this World Showcase Adventure will allow guests to interact through the Play Disney Parks mobile app on their mobile phones. Join your favorite DuckTales characters as you search for treasure, find exotic destinations, discover mysteries, locate thieves, or even uncover artifacts.
Late 2023 – World Celebrations Neighborhood – There are currently construction walls everywhere in Future World as Disney is making some massive changes to the park. In fact, Future World is being replaced with three new neighborhoods. This will likely not be completed until 2023, but we should start seeing walls start coming down slowly over time.
Late 2023 – Moana: Journey of Water – This new walkthrough attraction will be coming to the World Nature section of the park and will allow guests to “interact with water” just like Moana does in her film.
Late 2023 – Figment – This popular EPCOT character will be appearing live to park guests by the end of 2023!
Late 2023 – New Nighttime Spectacular – A brand new nighttime celebration is coming to the World Showcase Lagoon in late 2023 as part of the Disney100 Celebration! More details to be announced soon…
Animal Kingdom
Now Open! – Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond! – A newly reimagined show made its return on June 13, 2022! The show is set in the timeline of the movie Finding Dory and includes new story material as well as popular songs from the original musical such as “In the Big Blue World” and “Go with the Flow.”
Hollywood Studios
Now Open! – Fantasmic! – This nighttime show has finally returned to Hollywood Studios and includes a brand new sequence featuring live performers, stunts, special effects, and a lineup of characters that have never been part of the show before!
March 23, 2023 – Roundup Rodeo BBQ Restaurant – Scheduled to open on March 23, 2023, Toy Story Land will be getting a new table service restaurant in Andy’s backyard! Here’s a sneak peek at the family-style menu.
Outside the Parks
MagicBand+ is now available to Walt Disney World guests! This new accessory offers interactive features including color-changing lights, haptic vibrations, and gesture recognition. Guests are able to interact with the Disney Fab 50 golden character statues as well as the fireworks shows in the parks. (Disney Resort guests and Annual Passholders will get a discounted price.)
Disney World hotel rooms will also begin to offer Alexa very soon. In fact, some resorts are already in the process of installing the devices in select rooms. This new service called “Hey, Disney!” will be a virtual assistant that can introduce guests to Disney characters, set alarms, answer questions, and even guide guests to surprises. You will also be able to check on transportation wait times, park hours, and make requests for deliveries to your hotel room.
On March 15, 2022, Disney confirmed that the Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show will be ending permanently at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort and that brand new Disney Vacation Club Villas will be built in its place. While many are deeply saddened by the news of the show’s ending after a nearly 50-year run, the new project will pay homage to the well-loved show. Opening in late 2024, the tower will be inspired by early concepts for Disney’s Polynesian Resort and include an infinity-edge pool, new recreation offerings, and dining options.
**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!
