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D23 2026 Recap: Villains Land, the Disney Believe & Every Big Announcement for 2027
D23 2026 was stacked — for the first time in a long while, Disney made major announcements for all six U.S. parks, plus Disney Cruise Line and a full lineup of movies. In this episode, Lisa, Debby, Sharpie and Steve give you the fast, fun rundown of everything that matters, with the context and honest takes you only get from planners who've actually been there. Here's what's coming to the Disney parks (and when): Magic Kingdom Villains Land — a new immersive land roughly 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, starring Ursula, Cruella de Vil, Jafar, Scar and more. Shops, restaurants, and yes — a villains bar with smoky drinks. Ground is already broken. Piston Peak — Frontierland's national-park-themed expansion (replacing Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island) with a Cars-inspired E-ticket, a Mrs. Fritter spinner, and a Ranger HQ lodge with walking trails. Projected for 2027. Carousel of Progress reimagined — new decades (1960s, 1980s, the Y2K millennium, and a "possible future"), new voices from Jamie Lee Curtis and Bryan Cranston, a rumored Walt Disney opening — and hopefully the same "Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow." Debuting late spring 2027. Disney's Hollywood Studios Monstropolis — "the city frightful" opens in the former Muppets Courtyard (phased, starting 2027). The Globe Theatre welcome show with Mike & Sulley, Archie's Scared Pig Pizza, the Monsters University Alumni Club, Harryhausen's sushi restaurant, and the Door Coaster (a vault coaster that launches riders ~40 feet in about 4 seconds) coming in a later phase. Disney's Animal Kingdom Tropical Americas — Indiana Jones: Rise of the Jade Serpent (with a Harrison Ford animatronic), an Encanto Casita ride-through, a new carousel, and the largest quick-service restaurant on property. Plus — the Expedition Everest "Disco Yeti" is finally getting fixed. Epcot Spaceship Earth gets a "grand and miraculous" overhaul, and Dreamfinder returns to Journey Into Imagination. Disney Cruise Line First look at the Disney Believe (sailing late 2027), a Moana-and-South-Pacific-themed evolution of the Wish class — plus a new, smaller class of ships debuting 2029 built for underserved ports, growing the fleet to 13. Disneyland Resort Tomorrowland reimagining, Avengers Campus expansion and the new Stark Flight Lab, the return of the original World of Color, a new nighttime projection spectacular, and the Magic Happens parade coming back for summer 2027. At the movies: Coco 2, Frozen 3 (Anna & Kristoff finally marry — and Olaf falls in love), a new Ice Age, and Incredibles 3. Chapters 0:00 — Welcome & why D23 is the "Disney high holidays" 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 + a new smaller ship class 22:56 — Tomorrowland reimagining at Disneyland 26:20 — Monstropolis opens at Hollywood Studios (Door Coaster, Harryhausen's) 33:34 — Carousel of Progress reimagined (Jamie Lee Curtis & Bryan Cranston) 37:57 — Movies & music: Coco 2, Frozen 3, Ice Age, Incredibles 3 40:07 — Animal Kingdom: Indiana Jones, Encanto & the Disco Yeti fix 47:05 — Epcot: Spaceship Earth overhaul + the return of Dreamfinder 54:37 — Disneyland Resort: Avengers Campus, World of Color & nighttime shows 63:00 — Wrap-up Plan your Disney vacation with us Mouse Chat is brought to you by Pixie Vacations, an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner with 735+ five-star reviews. Steve is Disney College of Knowledge certified, and our planning is 100% free — Disney pays us, so you pay the same either way.
