At the D23: Ultimate Fan Event 2026, I am not expecting Disney to unveil a long list of brand-new attractions for Walt Disney World. The last D23 Expo was packed with major announcements, including entirely new lands and attractions that are still years away from opening. With so many large-scale projects already in development, this year’s presentation will likely focus more on providing updates than making headline-grabbing reveals.
I expect we’ll learn more about the projects already on the horizon, including new concept art, ride system details, construction updates, and perhaps even opening season windows for lands like Piston Peak and Tropical Americas. Disney knows fans are eager for more information, and this feels like the perfect opportunity to pull back the curtain a little further on what is already in the pipeline.
That said, I do not think the presentation will be completely devoid of new announcements. While I would not expect anything on the scale of Villains Land or another entirely new themed area, I could certainly see Disney teasing a handful of smaller projects or introducing a few ideas that are still in the blue sky phase of development.
One rumor that continues to gain traction is that Space Mountain at Magic Kingdom could be in line for a significant refurbishment. Reports have suggested everything from replacing the aging track to installing a new ride system and refreshing the attraction’s queue. Whether all of those rumors prove true remains to be seen, but it would certainly qualify as one of the more exciting announcements Disney could make. So while I do think there will be news coming out of D23, I am tempering my expectations when it comes to major land announcements. I would love to be proven wrong.
If there is one area of Walt Disney World I would love to hear more about, it is World Discovery at EPCOT.
World Discovery is home to two of the park’s most popular attractions, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and Test Track. Those two attractions consistently draw some of the longest waits in the park, making them the anchors of the entire park. Yet sitting between them is the long-abandoned Wonders of Life pavilion and the controversial Mission: SPACE.
Mission: SPACE is one of those attractions that sounds fantastic on paper. The idea of launching guests into space while simulating the intense G-forces astronauts experience is certainly unique, and for thrill seekers, there is still nothing else quite like it at Walt Disney World. The problem is that the audience for that experience seems relatively small.
For many guests, Mission: SPACE has become known less for its innovative concept and more for making riders feel sick. It is not uncommon to see wait times under 20 minutes, and on slower days they often dip to around 10 minutes.
Many longtime Disney fans already know what to expect. They also know there is a decent chance the attraction could leave them feeling queasy for the next hour or two. When a Disney vacation is expensive and every hour in the parks is valuable, that is simply not a risk many guests are willing to take. That is why I think this corner of World Discovery deserves another look.
Imagineering has an incredible opportunity to transform this area into something that appeals to a much broader audience. Whether that means completely reimagining Mission: SPACE, incorporating the Wonders of Life pavilion into a larger redevelopment, or creating an entirely new family-friendly experience, this part of EPCOT has far more potential than it is currently living up to, and I hope is one of the key focuses at this year’s D23!
