NEWS: More Details Revealed for New Magic Coming to Disney World in 2025 & 2026

From the runaway mine train of Big Thunder Mountain to the wild world of Zootopia: Better Zoogether! and the high-speed hijinks of Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets, the fun never hits the brakes with new adventures racing in around every corner at Walt Disney World. We recently attended a special preview of new and exciting offerings coming later this year and into 2026! Learn more about what’s coming below!

1 – Pirate Fun at the Beak and Barrel in Adventureland at Magic Kingdom

Starting August 29, 2025, Walt Disney World welcomes The Beak and Barrel, a first-of-its-kind experience, to Magic Kingdom Park. The Beak and Barrel is a lively new tavern located in Adventureland, inviting swashbucklers, scoundrels, bandits and buccaneers of all ages to experience the pirate life. This new adventure brings fresh energy to Magic Kingdom – full of thirst-quenching tropical beverages, delicious small bites, sing-alongs, storytelling, and enchanting surprises waiting to be uncovered by the whole family. With nods to the classic “Pirates of the Caribbean” attraction and the beloved films, The Beak and Barrel will immerse guests into the story with fun, flavorful food and beverage offerings. Reservations are now open and are highly recommended. We had a chance to visit inside the tavern and we were blown away by the detail around the space. We highly recommend visiting this new location!

2 – Zootopia: Better Zoogether! Opens November 7, 2025

Get ready to go wild as Zootopia: Better Zoogether!, a brand-new 4D show inspired by Walt Disney Animation Studios films “Zootopia” and “Zootopia 2,” opens at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park at Walt Disney World Resort on November 7, 2025.

In this new 4D show at the Tree of Life Theater, familiar furry faces and new friends come together for a special watch party in celebration of Zoogether Day – the holiday that celebrates unity across the diverse biomes of Zootopia – and guests at Disney’s Animal Kingdom are invited to join and catch all the fun.

In honor of the city-wide celebration of Zoogether Day, a watch party has gathered to see performances of ice-skating spectaculars from Tundratown, synchronized swimming from Marsh Market, mouse drone shows above Little Rodentia and of course, a finale by superstar Gazelle. With host Heidi Howler, a new character original to the 4D show, the livestream will tour the spectacular city for a celebration worth crowing about.

With talented cast from the films like Ginnifer Goodwin and Jason Bateman returning to lend their voices to beloved characters, and contributions from filmmakers Jared Bush (who helped write the script) and Byron Howard (who directed the animation – all of which was done by Disney Animation artists) working closely with the Walt Disney Imagineering team, led by Seniro Creative Director, Danny Handke, to bring the attraction to life, Zootopia: Better Zoogether! brings us all deeper into the beautiful world of the animal metropolis explored in the original “Zootopia” as well as the new feature, “Zootopia 2,” coming to theaters November 26.

Not only will guests see Judy and Nick in Zootopia: Better Zoogether! but the pair will also be at their new greeting location at Discovery Island near the Tree of Life, Zoogether Day Gathering Spot, sporting their new looks from “Zootopia 2.”

3 – New Magic Coming to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

Looking ahead to 2026 at Magic Kingdom Park, the caverns and peaks of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad will once again echo with the delighted sounds of thrill-seeking guests and the thunder of speeding train cars. Reinvesting in the beloved attraction, the familiar loops and drops of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad will be refreshed for guests new and old to enjoy for years to come in addition to an infusion of new magic. Newly released renderings reveal some of the fresh experiences coming to the iconic mountain, including a journey through the spectacular natural phenomena of the Rainbow Caverns … which may not be as welcoming as they first appear.

4 – Rock on with Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets

Get ready to crank up the volume in 2026 as Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets speeds into Disney’s Hollywood Studios for a high-energy, rockin’ concert.

The Muppets transformation begins in the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Courtyard. Legendary Muppet tycoon and owner of The Muppet Theatre, J.P. Grosse, purchased G-Force Records and enlisted the help of his trusty nephew Scooter to run the place and completely transform the courtyard. A new psychedelic wrap gives the iconic red guitar marquee a groovy twist (inspired by a classic Muppet car paint job), and the piano motif at the base of the guitar will feature one gold key as a nod to a certain far-out band leader’s gold tooth.

Once inside the queue, VIP visitors will discover The Muppets band Electric Mayhem laying down new tracks inside the recording studio. In the booth, a team of penguin audio engineers are hard at work while band manager Scooter tries to persuade the musicians to wrap up and get to their increasingly restless fans. Guests will be immersed into the story with Audio-Animatronics figures of Scooter and the penguins inside the recording studio.

With help from Muppet Labs (and a very fast limousine), guests will take a twisting, turning, and screamingly fun road trip across Hollywood to reach the concert in time. The iconic scenery and landmarks of Tinseltown will feature a Muppet twist while a soundtrack of iconic, rockin’ hits performed by Electric Mayhem keeps the adrenaline pumping.

Stay tuned for more details about Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets coming soon.

5 – Even More Magic Coming in 2026

2026 will also bring a fresh gameplay experience at Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin at Magic Kingdom Park, a new adventure based on Lucasfilm’s “The Mandolorian and Grogu” in Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and as recently announced, The Magic of Disney Animation at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

From fresh investments in beloved experiences to new magic across the resort, there’s always more to discover at Walt Disney World.

Learn more about what’s coming by reading, “13 Changes Coming to Walt Disney World in 2025 and Beyond”