D23 2026 DAY 2: Disney Parks Just Changed the Game

D23 Day 2 is officially in the books — and Disney came ready to talk about the future of its theme parks.

Saturday’s huge Horizons: Disney Experiences Showcase, hosted by Neil Patrick Harris, delivered updates from Walt Disney World, Disneyland, and Disney destinations around the globe. And while some projects were already known, Disney finally pulled back the curtain on attractions fans have been waiting years to hear more about. (The Walt Disney Company)

Here are the biggest announcements from Day 2 of D23 2026.

VILLAINS LAND IS GETTING VERY REAL

One of the most anticipated expansions in Walt Disney World history finally received major new details.

Disney’s upcoming Villains Land at Magic Kingdom will feature two major attractions, along with dining and shopping.

One attraction will be a high-thrill experience inspired by Maleficent, sending guests through an ominous landscape of mountains and enchanted briars.

The second will be an indoor dark ride centered around the Magic Mirror, bringing multiple legendary Disney villains into one story.

Disney is building the entire land around the idea that something has gone terribly wrong with traditional Disney magic — creating a darker corner of Magic Kingdom unlike anything Disney has attempted before. (EW.com)

And yes…

Maleficent. Ursula. Hades. The Evil Queen. Dr. Facilier. Jafar.

Disney is clearly leaning into its villain roster.

Villains Land might have just become the project to watch at Walt Disney World.

PISTON PEAK CONTINUES TO TAKE SHAPE

The massive Cars-inspired Piston Peak area coming to Magic Kingdom also received additional attention.

Disney displayed a detailed model of the land at D23, giving fans a much better idea of how the new environment will connect with Frontierland.

One particularly interesting detail: Disney appears to be preserving a small visual connection to the former Rivers of America, incorporating water into the new landscape as part of Piston Peak. (People.com)

The area is expected to include a major rally-style Cars attraction along with a second family-friendly experience. (People.com)

MONSTROPOLIS IS COMING TO HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS

Disney also revealed more about the new Monsters, Inc. land — Monstropolis — coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

The project continues to include the previously announced Monsters, Inc.-inspired coaster, but Disney revealed more of the world surrounding it.

Among the themed locations planned for Monstropolis are:

• Harryhausen’s, inspired by the restaurant seen in Monsters, Inc.
• Archie’s Scare Pig Pizza, a quick-service location inspired by Monsters University culture.
• The Scareporium, where human visitors will apparently be able to purchase some appropriately monstrous souvenirs.

Disney continues to develop the land, although an opening date for the coaster has not yet been announced. (The Walt Disney Company)

THE YETI LIVES!

This announcement may have gotten one of the biggest reactions from longtime Disney Parks fans.

Disney confirmed that the legendary Yeti Audio-Animatronic inside Expedition Everest will be brought back to life.

The enormous figure has famously operated in a limited mode for years.

Disney did not announce exactly when the restoration will happen, but the company officially confirmed at D23 that the Yeti will move again. (The Walt Disney Company)

Disney fans have been waiting a very long time to hear those words.

HARRISON FORD BECOMES INDIANA JONES — IN AUDIO-ANIMATRONIC FORM

We also received a huge update about the upcoming Tropical Americas section of Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

The new Indiana Jones attraction is titled:

Indiana Jones and the Myth of the Jade Serpent

The attraction will feature Indiana Jones exploring a mysterious temple connected to a giant mythical serpent known as the Tsukán.

But Disney saved one major surprise for D23:

Harrison Ford’s likeness will officially be used for the Indiana Jones Audio-Animatronics.

Ford even appeared in a prerecorded presentation connected to the announcement. (EW.com)

Tropical Americas will also include Disney’s previously announced Encanto attraction and additional experiences when the land opens. (The Walt Disney Company)

FIGMENT — AND DREAMFINDER — ARE COMING BACK

EPCOT fans may have received one of the biggest surprises of the entire weekend.

Disney confirmed that Journey Into Imagination will receive a complete reimagining.

Figment will remain part of the attraction.

But even more importantly…

Dreamfinder is returning.

The beloved character from EPCOT's original Journey Into Imagination will once again be part of the experience. (The Walt Disney Company)

For longtime EPCOT fans, this is enormous.

Disney has spent years talking about balancing nostalgia with new storytelling.

Bringing Dreamfinder back is one of the clearest examples yet.

SPACESHIP EARTH IS GETTING AN UPDATE

Another EPCOT icon is receiving attention.

Spaceship Earth is getting its first major update in nearly two decades.

Disney revealed that the attraction’s storyline will be refreshed as part of its next chapter.

For an attraction that essentially serves as EPCOT’s physical and thematic centerpiece, any significant change to Spaceship Earth is going to be closely watched by Disney fans.

CAROUSEL OF PROGRESS GETS A MAJOR REIMAGINING

Magic Kingdom’s historic Carousel of Progress is also changing.

The attraction will receive a substantial update including new decades and an entirely new scene.

And perhaps most significantly, Disney plans to introduce a Walt Disney Audio-Animatronic figure into the Florida attraction.

That’s a major development for one of the attractions most closely connected to Walt Disney himself.

TOMORROWLAND IS BEING REIMAGINED AT DISNEYLAND

And Disney wasn’t finished.

Disney officially announced plans for a reimagined Tomorrowland at Disneyland Park in California. (The Walt Disney Company)

Detailed plans are still coming, but this could ultimately become one of Disneyland’s most important transformations in years.

Tomorrowland has long been one of the areas Disney fans have wanted the company to revisit.

Now it’s officially happening.

SPACE MOUNTAIN GETS MORE ATTENTION OVERSEAS

Disney’s international parks also received announcements during the presentation.

Disney shared updates involving:

• A Lion King-themed area at Disneyland Paris
• New Marvel experiences in Hong Kong and Shanghai
• A reimagined Space Mountain in Tokyo
• Additional projects across Disney’s international resorts (The Walt Disney Company)

The message was pretty clear:

This isn’t just a Walt Disney World construction cycle.

Disney is investing across its entire global parks portfolio.

A NEW DISNEY PRINCESS EXPERIENCE

Away from the giant parks presentation, Disney announced another project on the D23 show floor.

An immersive Disney Princess Experience is now in development.

The attraction will allow guests to journey through worlds inspired by Rapunzel, Tiana, Belle, Moana, and Ariel, combining music, interactive elements, and Disney storytelling. (The Walt Disney Company)

More details are still to come.

MORE SPIDEY

Disney also announced that Marvel’s Spidey and His Amazing Friends has been renewed for Season 7.

Disney says the preschool series has generated nearly 1.3 billion hours streamed globally on Disney+, making it Marvel’s most-watched TV series on the platform and the longest-running Spider-Man television series. (The Walt Disney Company)

That is a pretty wild milestone for Team Spidey.

LEGO STAR WARS: THE MANDALORIAN

Star Wars fans also got something new on Day 2.

D23 hosted the first screening of LEGO Star Wars: The Mandalorian, an animated special inspired by The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett.

The special arrives on Disney+ September 2, 2026. (The Walt Disney Company)

AND THE D23 SHOW FLOOR WAS PACKED

Beyond the announcements, Day 2 included panels and experiences celebrating:

• Camp Rock 3
• Bluey
• Percy Jackson and the Olympians
• Scrubs
• 65 years of Spider-Man
• Zootopia
• Kingdom Hearts
• Beauty and the Beast
• Tinker Bell
• and decades of Disney history. (The Walt Disney Company)

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THE BIG PICTURE

Day 1 gave us the entertainment future.

Day 2 gave us the physical future of Disney.

And Disney appears to be making a very deliberate shift.

Yes, the company is building massive new IP-based lands.

But we’re also seeing Disney revisit attractions and characters that hardcore Parks fans have spent years asking Disney to address.

Dreamfinder is returning.

The Yeti is getting fixed.

Carousel of Progress is being updated.

Spaceship Earth is getting attention.

Tomorrowland is finally being reimagined.

And at the same time…

Villains Land, Piston Peak, Monstropolis, Tropical Americas and more are moving forward.

That combination of new expansion + restoration of Disney history may ultimately be the biggest story coming out of D23 Day 2.

And D23 isn’t finished yet.

Day 3 brings the Disney Legends ceremony and the final day of the Ultimate Disney Fan Event. (The Walt Disney Company)

So now the question is:

What was YOUR biggest announcement from D23 Day 2?

Villains Land?

Dreamfinder?

The Yeti?

Indiana Jones?

Or the Disneyland Tomorrowland overhaul?

Because Disney just gave Parks fans a LOT to talk about.