Charting the story of theme parks
The Theme Park Development Timeline is a running record of how the world’s biggest parks are growing and transforming. From early blue-sky announcements to cranes on site and grand openings, this page pulls all those milestones into one place. It’s a way to see the story of theme park expansion unfold, step by step, across Disney, Universal and beyond.
A timeline that grows with the parks
This timeline is updated regularly with new projects, construction progress, and major openings, so it’s always evolving just like the parks themselves. Whether you’re curious about what’s coming next or want to look back at how today’s favourites were built, this is the place to follow the journey of theme park development around the globe.
Disney Destiny Cruise Ship
Announced on 20 March 2024, the Disney Destiny is themed around the eternal clash of heroes and villains, drawing inspiration from classics like The Lion King, Hercules, and Sleeping Beauty. It is part of the Wish-class family and will sail with about 4,000 passengers, powered by LNG (a cleaner fuel option). The Destiny is scheduled to make her maiden voyage on 20 November 2025, bringing with her new restaurants, immersive entertainment, and the same elegant-meets-playful design Disney Cruise Line is known for.
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets
Disney is re-imagining the existing Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster (currently themed to Aerosmith) into a new adventure starring The Muppets, set to debut in 2026.  The attraction will remain open under its current form through the end of 2025, with no firm closure date announced yet.  When it reopens, guests will ride along with the Electric Mayhem band as they race to a concert in a limousine, navigating backstage antics, rock tune remixes and Muppets chaos.
Disney Adventure Cruise Ship
Revealed at Destination D23 in September 2023, Disney Adventure will be the first Disney Cruise Line ship homeported in Asia, sailing primarily from Singapore. Originally intended to launch in late 2025, the ship’s debut was pushed to 10 March 2026. </br>At over 200,000 gross tons and designed to host around 6,000 guests, it will be the largest ship in the Disney fleet, offering expansive Asian-inspired itineraries while still delivering hallmark Disney theming, shows, and family-friendly innovation.
Disney Adventure World
Disney Adventure World is the new name for Walt Disney Studios Park at Disneyland Paris, reflecting a huge transformation that will stretch into the second half of the decade. Think of it less as a facelift and more as a rebirth: new entrance, new hub, new lands, and an identity built around immersive worlds of adventure.
World of Frozen
A full Frozen land anchored by Adventure Bay’s shoreline.
The Lion King themed attraction
Rapunzel’s Tangled Spin ride
Space Mountain reimagining
Tokyo Disneyland's Space Mountain is being reimagined with a brand new futuristic design, reopening in 2027.
Avatar experience
Disney California Adventure is set to welcome Pandora, the world of Avatar, bringing bioluminescent landscapes to Anaheim. The 'experience' will transport guests into lush faraway jungles and floating mountains, blending groundbreaking design with immersive attractions, food and cultural details inspired by the Na’vi. It’s being billed as a sibling to the award-winning Pandora at Animal Kingdom, but with unique elements tailored to the California park’s setting. Most notably, Disney are referring to the development as an 'experience', as opposed to a 'land'.
Avengers Campus expansion
At Disney California Adventure, Avengers Campus is recruiting for a bigger mission with a new multiverse attraction led by a new big bad, King Thanos. The idea is an all-hands-on-deck battle where heroes from across timelines team up, with next-gen ride tech, fresh character moments and upgraded stunt-level spectacle.
Avengers Infinity Defence attraction
Stark Flight Lab attraction
Monsters Inc. themed land
Disney’s Hollywood Studios is preparing to open the doors to Monstropolis with a dedicated Monsters, Inc. land. The reimagined space replacing the area occupied by The Muppets, promises to bring the colourful, chaotic energy of Mike, Sulley and Boo’s world to life, complete with attractions themed around the Monsters Inc. factory, playful eateries, and plenty of character encounters. It’s designed to be a fully immersive neighbourhood where guests step straight into the Pixar classic, with the charm of Monstropolis bustling all around them.
Coco themed attraction
An indoor attraction themed around Pixar's Coco, has been confirmed for the area in between Paradise Gardens and Pixar Pier in Disney California Adventure park.
Tropical Americas
Disney’s Animal Kingdom is reimagining the old DinoLand area into a lush “Tropical Americas” zone inspired by regions of Central and South America. The new area promises vibrant villages, jungle-green vistas and story-rich attractions tied to beloved franchises, with new food, music and fauna bringing that expedition-ready energy to life.
Carousel attraction
Encanto themed attraction
Indiana Jones attraction
Disneyland gateway expansion
At Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, the gateway concept focuses on smoothing arrivals and opening up space for what’s next. Expect a more generous entry experience that knits together security, wayfinding, Downtown Disney access and transport, so guests flow into the Disneyland Resort faster with cleaner sightlines and room for future growth.
Cars themed attraction
An attraction based on Pixar's Cars film franchise has been confirmed to be replacing the Tom Sawyer Island and the Rivers of America in Frontierland at the Magic Kingdom.
Universal Studios Great Britain
Universal Studios Great Britain was first hinted at in December 2023, when Universal confirmed it had acquired land in Bedfordshire, before being officially announced by Comcast-NBCUniversal in April 2025. Set to open in 2031, the resort will be the first Universal theme park in the UK and will feature a full-scale theme park with immersive lands based on Universal’s biggest franchises, alongside a 500-room hotel and a retail, dining and entertainment district. Built on nearly 700 acres near Bedford, the project is expected to draw around 8.5 million visitors in its opening year, supported by major infrastructure upgrades including new rail links and road access. With tens of thousands of jobs to be created, Universal Studios Great Britain is being positioned as a landmark entertainment destination on par with the company’s parks in Orlando, Hollywood and Japan.
Villainsland
Magic Kingdom’s long-teased expansion beyond Big Thunder Mountain invites the baddies out to play. Concept art shows towering lairs on the horizon, moody lighting, and attractions, eateries and meet-and-greets that lean into the dramatic side of Disney stories, all built to feel daring yet family friendly.
Fantasy Springs
Major port-of-call expansion with Frozen, Tangled and Peter Pan areas.
Peter Pan’s Never Land – Peter Pan’s Never Land Adventure
High energy flight adventure with Peter Pan and the Lost Boys.
Peter Pan’s Never Land – Fairy Tinker Bell’s Busy Buggies
Family ride through Pixie Hollow with Tinker Bell.
Fantasy Springs Hotel
Luxury Disney hotel integrated into Fantasy Springs, opened alongside the land in June 2024.
World of Frozen
World of Frozen at Hong Kong Disneyland is the world’s first Frozen-themed land, opened in November 2023.
