WDW News: What’s New at Walt Disney World

Walt Disney World is never standing still. Rides open, restaurants close, prices shift, and construction walls go up (and occasionally come down). This page tracks the most important developments across all four parks so you can plan your visit around what’s actually happening — not last year’s blog post.

ParkSwiz updates this content regularly. Here’s what matters right now.

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EPCOT: The Transformation Continues#

EPCOT is mid-way through its most significant overhaul since the park opened in 1982. The original “Future World” layout has been reorganized into four neighborhoods: World Discovery, World Nature, World Celebration, and World Showcase. Most of the construction walls in the central hub are gone, but work continues in pockets.

What’s open and worth your attention:

• Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind — One of the most in-demand attractions in all of WDW. This indoor coaster uses a reverse launch and rotating ride vehicle. Lightning Lane Individual selection is required; virtual queues are no longer standard. Book early.
• Test Track — Currently closed for a full reimagining. No confirmed reopening date as of this update. The original Chevrolet-sponsored version is gone. The rethemed attraction has been described as original IP, but Disney has not confirmed details.
• Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana — A walk-through, water-play attraction in World Nature. Low wait times. Good for families with young kids or anyone who needs a sensory break.
• Festivals — EPCOT’s four annual festivals (Festival of the Arts, Flower & Garden, Food & Wine, Festival of the Holidays) remain among the best reasons to visit the park. Each adds dozens of outdoor food and drink booths, live entertainment, and limited-time experiences. Check the current festival calendar before booking.

What to watch: The space formerly occupied by the original “Wonders of Life” pavilion and the area near the former Innoventions buildings continue to evolve. Expect additional announcements.

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Magic Kingdom: Stability With One Big Exception#

Magic Kingdom is the most visited theme park on Earth, and its ride lineup is relatively stable — but one project dominates conversation.

TRON Lightcycle / Run opened in April 2023 and remains one of the park’s top draws. It’s a motorcycle-style coaster that runs partly outdoors, delivers genuine speed, and consistently draws long standby waits. Lightning Lane Individual pricing applies. If you’re visiting with teenagers or thrill-seeking adults, this is the priority.

Ongoing at Magic Kingdom:

• Space Mountain — Recently refurbished. The classic coaster is running well with improved effects.
• Haunted Mansion — Benefited from a refurbishment ahead of the 2023 film release. The ride experience is largely unchanged but the queue and some effects received attention.
• Tomorrowland Speedway — Persistent rumors about replacement or reimagining, but no confirmed plans. Still operating as of this update.
• Festival of Fantasy parade — Back and running on a regular schedule. One of the best parades in WDW. Position yourself on Main Street U.S.A. or near the hub 30–45 minutes early.

Dining note: Be Our Guest Restaurant in Fantasyland operates dinner as a table-service experience with advance reservations. Lunch is quick service. The Beast’s castle setting is worth seeing at least once. Book 60 days out if you want dinner.

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Hollywood Studios: Still Galaxy’s Edge and Tower Country#

Hollywood Studios has the highest density of Lightning Lane Individual attractions, which affects trip cost more here than anywhere else.

Current highlights:

• Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance — Still one of the most technically impressive attractions WDW has ever built. Lightning Lane Individual. Not to be missed.
• Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is at EPCOT, but guests with multi-park tickets often combine Studios and EPCOT in the same day specifically for this reason.
• Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway — A trackless dark ride with no height requirement and broad appeal. Solid Lightning Lane Multi-Pass option.
• Slinky Dog Dash — Toy Story Land’s family coaster continues to draw disproportionately long waits for its ride intensity. Best to grab it early via Lightning Lane Multi-Pass or arrive at rope drop.

What’s quiet: There have been no major confirmed new attraction announcements for Hollywood Studios recently. The park’s footprint limits expansion options. Keep an eye on ParkSwiz for any updates.

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Animal Kingdom: Avatar, Africa, and a Slow News Cycle#

Animal Kingdom’s major construction phase ended with Avatar Flight of Passage and Pandora – The World of Avatar. The park is operationally stable.

Current notes:

• Avatar Flight of Passage continues to draw the longest standby waits in the park. Lightning Lane Individual pricing applies. If you only grab one Lightning Lane here, make it this one.
• DINOSAUR underwent a refurbishment and has since reopened. The ride experience is largely intact.
• Tiffins Restaurant remains one of the most underrated table-service restaurants at WDW. Sophisticated menu, excellent cocktails, and relatively easier reservations than comparable-quality restaurants in other parks. Worth planning around.
• Kali River Rapids operates seasonally during warmer months. Check operating status before arriving if this is a priority — guests consistently underestimate how wet they get.

What’s not happening: Disney has made no confirmed announcements about new major attractions at Animal Kingdom. The park’s conservation focus and naturalistic design limit how aggressively it can be expanded.

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Lightning Lane Pricing: The Ongoing Story#

The Lightning Lane system replaced the legacy FastPass+ system and continues to evolve. Here’s the current structure:

• Lightning Lane Multi-Pass (LLMP): Replaces FastPass+. Purchase per-person per-day. Reserve most attractions in advance; one at a time after that. Price varies by date and park. Generally $15–$35 per person per day.
• Lightning Lane Individual (LLI): For top-tier attractions (Tron, Rise of the Resistance, Guardians, Flight of Passage). Priced per person, per attraction, per day. Prices range from roughly $10–$30+ depending on demand and date.

What’s changed recently: Disney has continued adjusting LLI prices upward at peak periods. Weekend pricing, holiday pricing, and summer pricing all command premiums. Budget accordingly. For a family of four hitting two LLI attractions in one day, you can easily add $80–$120 to your day’s cost before food.

For a full breakdown of how to use Lightning Lane efficiently, see our strategy guides per park.

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Dining News: Openings, Closures, and Price Shifts#

WDW’s dining landscape shifts more than most guests realize. A few notable updates:

EPCOT World Showcase:

• The France pavilion’s Chefs de France and Monsieur Paul (upstairs) continue to operate. Monsieur Paul is one of the most formal, expensive, and underbooked restaurants at WDW. If you want a genuine fine dining experience without fighting for a reservation, it’s worth knowing about.
• La Hacienda de San Angel in the Mexico pavilion has a strong margarita program and waterfront views. Dinner reservations are tighter than lunch.

Disney Springs:

• Maria & Enzo’s, Enzo’s Hideaway, and Pizza Ponte remain reliable options run by the same operator. No reservations required for Pizza Ponte.
• The BOATHOUSE remains popular for its amphibicar tours and seafood. Reservations recommended for dinner.

Price reality check: Table-service prices have increased across WDW since 2021. Expect $20–$35 entrees at mid-tier restaurants, $40–$60+ at signature locations. Character dining packages can run $60–$80 per adult before alcohol. Factor this into your overall budget.

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Park Hours and Seasonal Patterns#

Park hours are updated by Disney roughly 60–90 days in advance. They fluctuate significantly by season:

• Peak periods (summer, spring break, holidays): Expect 9 AM–11 PM or later, with extended evening hours for resort guests.
• Value periods (January post-New Year’s, late August, early September): Parks may close as early as 8 PM. Some attractions run reduced capacity.

Extended Evening Hours are periodically offered exclusively to guests staying at Disney-owned resort hotels. This benefit gives access to Magic Kingdom or EPCOT with significantly reduced crowds 2–3 hours after regular close. If you’re staying on-property and this benefit is active during your trip, it can be one of the most efficient times to knock out rides.

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What to Watch: Upcoming Announcements and Rumors#

Disney tends to announce major attractions and expansions at its D23 fan convention (held every two years) or through formal press releases. A few items currently in the conversation:

• Villains-themed land at Magic Kingdom: Long-rumored. No confirmed timeline.
• Disney Treasure cruise ship: Not a park project, but relevant to the Disney vacation ecosystem.
• Test Track replacement at EPCOT: Confirmed to be under development. Details remain scarce.
• Indiana Jones expansion at Hollywood Studios: Referenced in prior announcements but no hard timeline.

ParkSwiz will update this page as confirmed news breaks. Treat anything labeled “rumor” as unconfirmed until Disney makes a formal statement.

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How to Stay Current Between Visits#

The WDW landscape changes fast enough that advice from 18 months ago can lead you astray. A few habits that help:

1. Check park hours 60 days out when booking Lightning Lane and dining reservations.
2. Verify attraction operating status the week before your trip — refurbishments are common and not always widely publicized.
3. Re-evaluate your Lightning Lane budget every trip — prices shift and new tiers get added.
4. Read menus before you go — QR-code menus are standard now, and reviewing them in advance helps you make faster, better decisions in park.

For park-specific monthly planning guides, dining breakdowns, and ride-by-ride analysis, explore the full ParkSwiz guide library.