Get Set For A Very Disney Summer

Here’s the weather forecast for Central Florida from mid-May onwards – It will be a very DISNEY summer this year, with lots of pixie dust and new experiences. After a relatively quiet 2025, we can expect a LOT more of the House of Mouse in ’26, just in time for the peak season.

While Universal Orlando may have commanded the headlines last year with the highly lauded opening of their Epic Universe park, Disney is retaking some of the high ground with a series of major refurbishments and reopenings that are sure to be a hit with guests old and new.

So, for the benefit of all our first-time visitors to The City Beautiful from May onwards – and for our returning guests looking to hit the very latest developments – here is the full rundown on what to expect at all four Disney parks, highlighting the ongoing upgrades and new features, which include a long-time Magic Kingdom favourite and a whole new home for the Muppets at Disney’s Hollywood Studios!

Magic Kingdom

It all starts at Disney’s original Orlando park, where the keenly-awaited return of the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad ride should finally come to an end on May 3 for this heavily-refurbished attraction. Big Thunder ceased thundering in January 2025, shut down for a major refit and the addition of new scenes and the latest high-tech lighting effects. The main difference should be the appearance of the Rainbow Caverns, where the “spirits” are upset at the thoughtless prospecting of the local mining company and will react accordingly. The track will also be new and smoother, although Disney still promises it will be “the wildest ride in the Wilderness!”

At the same time, Magic Kingdom guests should be aware of the huge construction project going on in the Frontierland area, where the old Tom Sawyer Island and Liberty Square Riverboat have been removed to make way for the arrivals of a Cars-themed land and the eagerly-anticipated Villains Land in 2027 and ’28. Oh, and one for the “Just re-opened” category – the updated version of Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin debuted on April 8, featuring new hand-held blasters with better aiming, digital targets with dynamic feedback and updated in-vehicle displays for scoring.

EPCOT

Pencil in May 26 as the big date for this park as Disney gets set to unveil its tribute to the 250th anniversary of the United States of America. That is when the regular scenic ride Soarin’ Around the World will temporarily make way for the all-new Soarin’ Across America, showcasing many of the country’s major sights and landmarks on the 80ft IMAX digital projection dome, “from sea to shining sea.” The whole ride will be closed from May 14-25 for the transition before it re-opens under the guise of version 3.0, with new music, scents and visions for the rest of the year.

Animal Kingdom

While a big chunk of the park is currently a building site as the old Dinoland area becomes the Tropical Americas for 2027, with new attractions dedicated to Indiana Jones and the movie Encanto, May 26 also sees the opening of Bluey’s Wild World, a new character meet-and-greet at the park’s Conservation Station, where guests will discover Bluey and her sister, Bingo. This will offer the chance to play iconic games from various Bluey episodes, all with a fun animal twist, and then step outside to discover a newly-created Jumping Junction habitat with animals native to Bluey’s home country, Australia.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Star Wars fans will have a new adventure to look forward to from May 22 as The Mandalorian and Grogu join the Star Wars: Smugglers Run attraction. Yes, it is a whole new mission in this spin in the Millenium Falcon in a galaxy far, far away, timed to coincide with the red-hot premiere of The Mandalorian and Grogu film. Disney’s Imagineers were able to use scenes from the movie set, including a look at the planet Bespin, and deliver another step in the development of the Star Wars back-story.

At about the same time (May 26, to be precise), the big refurb of the Animation Courtyard section of the park will open with its new park-like theme, along with the latest stage show, Disney Jr Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live! Like the hit TV series, it features upbeat original songs, plenty of interactive fun for the little ’uns and appearances by classic Disney characters to sing and dance with.

Finally, Muppets fans will have good reason to celebrate this summer. With the closure last year of the entire Muppet Courtyard section of the park, Kermit and Co and their delightful 4-D theatre show were erased from the park to make way for 2027’s debut of the Monsters, Inc land. Happily, Jim Henson’s creations haven’t been eliminated from the Studios, and this summer (date TBC) will see their triumphant return in Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster Starring the Muppets. Rockers Aerosmith officially said goodbye to their tenure of the ride last year and the complete revamp will see it become the chaotic home of Dr Teeth and the Electric Mayhem. The coaster itself will be exactly the same, and the basic theme – dashing in a stretch limo to see the band in concert – will remain, but we expect a lot more comedic elements to the ride. Songs for the ride will include Muppet versions of Song 2 (by Blur) and, of course, Born To Be Wild!

What new element are YOU most looking forward to seeing? Tell us about it on our social media.