Walt Disney Animation Studios

Disneyland Paris Is Building a Lion King Water Ride

Paris – October 24, 2026 -- Construction is underway on a Lion King water ride at Disneyland Paris, the centerpiece of the first-ever immersive world themed to Walt Disney Animation Studios' 1994 film. It will sit inside Disney Adventure World.

The ride starts beneath a 120-foot Pride Rock

Guests will enter the caves under the 120-foot-high Pride Rock and set off on a musical journey through the Pride Lands. Along the way they will hear classic songs from the film and pass through memorable scenes, including Simba's final confrontation with Scar.

The ride retells Simba's story from cub to king, covering the happy times and the harder ones that stood in his way.

A new flume system ends in a 52-foot drop

The attraction will be one of the largest at the resort. It features a new flume system and a 52-foot drop. Audio-Animatronics figures, special effects and three slopes will bring the story to life.

Disneyland Brings Back Two Night Shows and a Parade in 2027

California – October 24, 2026 -- Disneyland Resort will bring back two nighttime spectaculars in February 2027, followed by the "Magic Happens" daytime parade in summer 2027. Host Neil Patrick Harris revealed the returns on the Horizons stage at D23: The Ultimate Fan Event presented by Visa, after saying, "I have so many great memories under the stars with my kids."

"Remember... Dreams Come True" returns to Disneyland park in February 2027

The refreshed show adds new projections at Rivers of America, the facade of "it's a small world," and all the way down Main Street, U.S.A., in addition to Sleeping Beauty Castle. Music and projections run on nightly scheduled performances, with fireworks added on select evenings.

The show debuted during the Disneyland Resort 50th anniversary. It opens with a vocal introduction by Julie Andrews and uses songs and familiar phrases from popular park attractions to represent Walt Disney's dream of Disneyland.

Encanto Ride at Animal Kingdom Gets Its Name and No Height Limit

Walt Disney World – October 22, 2026 -- The Encanto attraction coming to Disney's Animal Kingdom is officially called Antonio's Fiesta de Encanto, and it will have no height requirement, so the whole family can ride. Disney revealed the name and new details at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, where Jared Bush, Chief Creative Officer of Disney Animation Studios and writer and director of Encanto, presented the project.

Antonio's gift day drives the story

Guests are invited to Casita to celebrate Antonio's new gift, the ability to communicate with animals. The attraction's message is that we are all part of the familia of living things, regardless of our special gifts or abilities.

Stephanie Beatriz, Jessica Darrow and Diane Guerrero return to voice Mirabel, Luisa and Isabella. Darrow called the film "a perfect film" for taking colors and excitement into a real-world experience.

Disney's Hollywood Studios Opens Immersive New Animation Experience

Lake Buena Vista, Fla. – September 17, 2026 -- The Magic of Disney Animation, a new collection of interactive experiences, has opened at Disney's Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.

The building echoes Disney Animation's real-world Burbank headquarters

The structure draws its design from the iconic Roy E. Disney Animation Building in Burbank, California, and features artwork representing all 65 Walt Disney Animation Studios feature films, including the studio's upcoming 2026 release, "Hexed."

The experience is built on an Emmy-winning short film

The attraction takes inspiration from Disney Animation's Emmy Award-winning short "Once Upon a Studio," with director Dan Abraham working alongside Walt Disney Imagineering's Daniel Handke to shape the project.