Walt Disney World – October 21, 2026 -- Magic Kingdom's villain-themed expansion now has an official name, Villains Land, and two headline attractions: a Maleficent coaster and a Magic Mirror dark ride. Disney revealed the details during the Disney Experiences showcase, Horizons: A Carousel of Progress, at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event.
A Magic Mirror appeared onstage and introduced Disney Experiences Chairman Thomas Mazloum. Walt Disney Imagineering's Bruce Vaughn, President & Chief Creative Officer, and Caroline May, Executive Creative Director, then took over the presentation.
Villains Land is named to match the rest of Magic Kingdom
Vaughn and May said they chose the name because several areas in the park, such as Fantasyland and Tomorrowland, already end in "land." The team compared the size and scale of the new area to Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge. It will include shops, restaurants and the two major attractions.
A shattered Wishing Well anchors the story
The villains are inspired by classic Walt Disney Animation Studios characters, but the story is original. Deep in a forest, guests find a Wishing Well broken open by an evil wish that spread poisoned magic through the woods. Villains arrive one by one to claim its last power and use it to conjure their own lairs, from fortresses to gleaming palaces.
The Maleficent coaster races through enchanted briar
Riders approach Maleficent's mountaintop fortress through the briar surrounding it. Imagineers said the coaster will include elements they have never attempted on similar attractions.
The Magic Mirror hosts a dark ride through the Mirror Realm
Guests find the Magic Mirror in the catacombs beneath the Evil Queen's palace. He transports them into his Mirror Realm, where a mix of special effects and physical set pieces brings many Disney Villains to life.
Paris and Barcelona shaped the look
Imagineers visited Paris, France, and Barcelona, Spain, where Art Nouveau and Modernisme architecture caught their attention. They noted rich color palettes, swirling natural patterns and ominous proportions. From those trips came the term "Conjured Architecture," now the guiding style for the land. The team shared this research at a Disney Villains panel at Destination D23 in 2025.
The first rendering of the land appeared at D23 2024. May said the project lets the team expand the park's storytelling in a way that feels "fresh and true to its legacy."