We are here at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, for Horizons: A Carousel of Progress, also known as D23’s Disney Experiences Showcase, and we’ll be covering all the big news from Disney Parks (Walt Disney World, Disneyland, International Parks!), Disney Cruise Line (Disney Believe!), and much more.
We’ll be updating this article live as the show goes on, which you can also watch on Disney+ right now!
Two Attractions and Model Revealed for the Cars-Themed Piston Peak National Park at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom
The Cars-themed Piston Peak National Park land coming to Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom is taking shape and we were treated to the reveal of not only its two main attractions, but also a 225-square-foot scale model that lets guests see what the area will look like when it’s completed.
We already knew some of what the first attraction would be, but we now know it’s called Cars Ridge Run Rally. This attraction aims to be the “wildest racer in the wheelderness” and will task guests with accomplishing the “fastest lap in the west.”
The course will take guests up Piston Peak itself, where the cars will need to traverse an icy, snow-covered mountaintop. The ride will then head down that same mountain for a camelback descent before heading through a geyser field. The race will end by circling the Tankfull geyser before rocketing towards the finish line. To make it even more exciting, Lightning McQueen and Tow Mater will be right at the end will covering the race for Racing Sports Network.
The ride vehicles feature brand-new technology created by Imagineers, and the team promises guests will “feel every bump, drop, and rock because this vehicle’s tires and suspension are truly driving over and reacting to them.” In proper Cars fashion, each ride vehicle will also be its own unique car with its own personality.
Miss Fritter’s Daredevil Spin-Along is the name of the second attraction, and it features the “Diva of Demolition” herself from Cars 3. Miss Fritter will appear as a “huge school-bus-sized animatronic” who is hosting her “wildest demolition derby yet.”
Disneyland’s Avengers Infinity Defense and Stark Flight Lab to Star Actual MCU Stars, Including Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man
The upcoming Avengers Infinity Defense at Avengers Campus at Disneyland’s Disney California Adventure will officially star some of the biggest names in the MCU, including Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man, Chris Hemsworth’s Thor, Anthony Mackie’s Captain America, Jeremy Renner’s Hawkeye, and Iman Vellani’s Ms. Marvel.
Avengers Infinity Defense is set to open in 2028 and will see guests helping reassemble the Avengers to battle King Thanos. The journey will take us to locations like Asgard, Wakanda, New York City, and more.
Stark Flight Lab will also be bringing some star power, as it will feature Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man, Anthony Mackie’s Captain America, and Brie Larson’s Captain Marvel. As a reminder, this attraction will set guests in two-person “gyro-kinetic pods” that will roll along a track before getting picked up by a giant robot arm. This will allow guests to feel as though they are flying like an Avenger like Iron Man.
Animal Kingdom’s Encanto Attraction Is Called Antonio’s Fiesta de Encanto, and It Brings Back the Film’s Cast
The Encanto attraction headed to the new Tropical Americas area of Walt Disney World’s Animal Kingdom took center stage at D23, and it was revealed that it will be called Antonio’s Fiesta de Encanto. In this attraction, guests are invited to celebrate Antonio’s new gift of the ability to speak to animals.
To help tell the story, the main voice actors from Encanto will be reprising their roles, including Stephanie Beatriz (Mirabel), Jessica Darrow (Luisa), and Diane Guerrero (Isabella).
The attraction itself will have no height requirement, so guests will be able to take the whole family on this adventure that will head into Casita itself. Guests will enter the Madrigal’s magical home while riding an enchanted piece of furniture, and the experience is meant to be “lively and dynamic.”
Some of our familia will be joining in on the magia ✨Jess Darrow, Diane Guerrero and Stephanie Beatriz will be voicing their Encanto characters for Antonio’s Fiesta de Encanto coming to Animal Kingdom 🌳 #D23 #WaltDisneyWorld pic.twitter.com/S30YCyPSns
— Disney Parks (@DisneyParks) August 16, 2026
The journey will end upstairs in Antonio’s room, which has been transformed into a verdant rainforest filled with animals. In fact, the attraction as a whole will feature over 50 animals, and we got a first look at a very adorable capybara and a toucan riding a donkey. To make everything authentic, Imagineering is partnering with Disney’s Animals, Science, and Environment Team to ensure the animals are accurate to Colombia.
Harrison Ford to Be the Actual Model for Indiana Jones and the Myth of the Jade Serpent Attraction’s Audio-Animatronics Figure at Walt Disney World’s Animal Kingdom
We learned a lot about the upcoming Indiana Jones attraction headed to the Tropical Americas area of Walt Disney World’s Animal Kingdom, including its name and that Harrison Ford will serve as the actual model of the attraction’s Audio-Animatronics figure. Yes, this will be the first time you’ll see his actual face on a Disney attraction anywhere in the world.
We have unearthed Indiana Jones news 🤠 For the first time ever, Harrison Ford is the actual model of the Indiana Jones Audio-Animatronics figure, fear of snakes included 🌳 #D23 #AnimalKingdom #WaltDisneyWorld pic.twitter.com/NULBc78sUe
— Disney Parks (@DisneyParks) August 16, 2026
As for the name, it is officially called Indiana Jones and the Myth of the Jade Serpent. This attraction aims to take guests below an ancient temple ruin, “showcasing Maya culture and its profound connection to nature.”
Guests will work with Indy, who is exploring this temple that is near a once water-filled underground cave called a denote. Local legends claim this cave may lead to the Maya Underworld, but it issued to be unfortunately guarded by a terrifying serpentine creature known as a Tsukán. The ride kicks off when guests are sucked through a portal to the underworld, and they’ll need to escape “perilous dangers, like monstrous bats, larger-than-life scorpions, fire and flame, and, of course, snakes,” if they hope to survive.
Tsukán will come to life as a gigantic Audio-Animatronics figure, and you can check out below what it will look like. Oh, and did we mention it is being sculpted by hand to make it even more life-like?
El Carrusel de los Animalitos Will Feature 22 Hand-Carved Animals as Ride Vehicles
Rounding out the Tropical Americas news, we were given a first look at the 22 hand-carved animals that will serve as the ride vehicles for El Carrusel de los Animalitos. While that sounds cool on its own, these carousel vehicles are actually based on beloved Disney and Pixar characters, including Bambi, Simba, Pua, Kevin, and more.
Disneyland’s Coco Attraction Takes Place a Year After the Original and We’ll Relive Miguel’s Memories of the Land of the Dead
Following the big reveals from Coco 2 and the news that Coco will be a new world in Kingdom Hearts 4, we learned a bit more about the much-anticipated Coco attraction that’s headed to Disneyland’s Disney California Adventure.
The attraction’s stoyline takes place a year after the original film and we’ll first enter a “casa museo” that’s dedicated to Miguel’s great-great grandfather, Héctor Rivera. After that, we’ll join Miguel and go on a boat ride through his memories of the Land of the Dead. Oh, it will also have no height requirement.
As previously announced, this attraction takes inspiration from those like Pirates of the Caribbean and Haunted Mansion, and it will feature characters brought to life through Audio-Animatronics technology.
The Lion King at Disneyland Paris’ Disney Adventure World to Feature Simba’s Final Confrontation with Scar
The Lion King is finally getting its first Disney Parks attraction at Disneyland Paris’ Disney Adventure World, and it will take us on a journey through the tale of the classic film, including the happy and “not-so-happy times.”
Alongside a 120-foot-high Pride Rock that will send us soaring down a new flume system with a 52-foot drop, we’ll also be witnessing the final confrontation between Simba and Scar, Simba’s Hakuna Matata moment with Timon and Pumbaa, and more.
This attraction will be part of a larger Lion King-themed area of Disney Adventure World, and it aims to transport guests into the world of the 1994 classic.
POV: You’re getting a front row of The Lion King construction at Disney Adventure World at Disneyland Paris 🦁 #D23 pic.twitter.com/thAX4hMnqn
— Disney Parks (@DisneyParks) August 16, 2026
Disney Believe’s Stern, Bow, and Grand Hall Characters Revealed, New Ship Class Teased
The Disney Believe is getting ready to set sail in 2027, but D23 helped share some exciting details on Disney Cruise Line’s fourth Wish-class ship.
First up, we have the grand hall, where Moana, Pua, and Heihei will stand tall in bronze. The whole hall will take influences from the film’s South Pacific setting, and Moana will help infuse the space with the “optimistic spirit of exploration.”
Going outside, we learned that Woody and Buzz would be serving as the Believe’s stern characters. In an adorable touch, the Toy Story duo are drawing the ships name with crayons.
A hand-painted filigree of Tinker Bell will the star of the Believe’s bow decoration, which will also include silhouettes of Peter, Wendy, Captain Hook, and more.
Lastly, Disney Cruise Line teased its newest class of ships that will sit between the newer Wish-class ships and the classic ones. The first of these ships won’t sail until 2029, but we now have a better idea as to how they look!
A sneak peek of the newest class of Disney Cruise Line ships sailing into your feed 🚢 #D23 pic.twitter.com/dS3FP7sPVD
— Disney Parks (@DisneyParks) August 16, 2026
Carousel of Progress Casts Disney Legend Jamie Lee Curtis and Emmy-Winning Actor Bryan Cranston
Disney Legend Jamie Lee Curtis and Emmy-winning actor Bryan Cranston will voice Mom and Dad in Carousel of Progress at Magic Kingdom 🏰 #D23 #WaltDisneyWorld pic.twitter.com/1MZvwhiUxZ
— Disney Parks (@DisneyParks) August 16, 2026
Alongside a glimpse of the new scenes set in the 1980s, it was revealed that Disney Legend Jamie Lee Curtis and Emmy-winning actor Bryan Cranston will be joining the cast as the new version of the attraction’s Mom and Dad, respectively.
This is all part of Carousel of Progress’ big new update that will send it forward by decades. In late spring 2027, the story will span from the 1960s to the far, far future, and Walt Disney, as an Audio-Animatronics figure, will welcome guests in an all-new introductory scene.
EPCOT’s Spaceship Earth Will Be Reimagined With a Focus on ‘Human Connection’
Everyone’s favorite geodesic sphere at EPCOT is getting reimagined for the first time in almost 20 years. While the current iteration focuses on the story of human communication, this new take will “focus on a broader theme that is still classically EPCOT – human connection.”
While the current Spaceship Earth takes guests from prehistoric times to the 21st century, the new one bring the attraction to the “internet age and beyond.”
The Yeti Audio-Animatronic Is Coming Back to Life at Animal Kingdom’s Expedition Everest
At the showcase, Disney Experiences Chairman Thomas Mazloum revealed that the team is “bringing the Yeti back to life inside Expedition Everest at Disney’s Animal Kingdom!” This is a big deal for Disney fans as the original Yeti Audio-Animatronics figure’s framing split just a few months after the attraction opened back in 2006.
This has caused the figure to live in its “B-Mode,” where it uses a strobe light effect to make it appear as though it was moving. This has lovingly earned the figure the moniker of “Disco Yeti,” and it looks like that version will soon be put to rest atop the treacherous mountain.
The Imagineering Season 2 Is Headed to Disney+ in Early 202
Back for more ✨ The Imagineering Story season 2 debuts on @DisneyPlus in 2028 🦾 #D23 pic.twitter.com/W9lMNeT1E9
— Disney Parks (@DisneyParks) August 16, 2026
Leslie Iwerks’ The Imagineering Story is one of the most beloved documentaries on Disney+, and it was just revealed that we’d be getting a second season in early 2028. The first season focused on the origins of the Imagineers, and these new episodes will follow them as they “help shape one of the most ambitious periods in Disney Experiences history.”
Iwerks is also getting ready to release Disney Worldbuilders on August 20 on Disney+, and you can check out our interview with her and thoughts on her Disneyland Handcrafted documentary here.
The Avengers and Spider-Man Will Soon Also Call Hong Kong Disneyland and Shanghai Disney Resort Home
Internationally, Avengers Research Testing Labs is under construction at Hong Kong Disneyland Resort. When finished, guests will interact with Stark Industries and other heroes like Peter Parker / Spider-Man. Don’t expect everything to go smooth however, as the threat of villains is always present.
Using “120+ feet of storytelling tech,” the story will unfold across such locations as Wakanda, Asgard, and more, and there will be plenty of heroes joining you along the way.
For a less thrilling but still awesome adventure, guests will then be able to head over to the Quinjet landing platform to encounter their favorite MCU characters.
At Shanghai Disney Resort, work continues on the fest-ever Spider-Man-theme land and thrill attraction. This section is home to the new Shanghai division of the Worldwide Engineering Brigade (W.E.B. for short!), and it will be where Peter Parker and his friends have created some Spider-Bots to not only help them with experiments, but also build a brand-new coaster.
What’s a truly special touch, local artists are being tapped to create more than 20 murals throughout this new land, adding a unique touch to an already intriguing and exciting space. As for how along the team is? The final piece of the attraction’s track has officially been installed!
Space Mountain Getting Big Upgrades at Tokyo Disneyland and Disneyland Paris
Tokyo Disneyland and Disneyland Paris’ Space Mountains are getting some major upgrades, and we learned a bit more about these projects at D23.
In Tokyo Disneyland, guests will soon be able to ride Space Mountain: Earthrise, which will let guests launch “into the cosmos and experience the wonder of Earth from a perspective unlike anything seen before in a Disney attraction.” This will be just one part of the park’s reimagined Tomorrowland.
In Disneyland Paris, Space Mountain: De la Terre à la Lune will be a reimagined experience that draws inspiration from the Jules Verne story that actually helped shape the original attraction. This updated ride will feature the attraction’s original musical score and a “refreshed experience.” The current version of the park’s Space Mountain will closes at the end of 2027 to make way for this new era.
Disneyland Resort to Bring Back Classic Entertainment (Two Nighttime Spectaculars and One Daytime Parade!)
For those looking to enter a time long gone, Disneyland is bringing back some beloved classic entertainment, including two nighttime spectaculars and one daytime parade.
The first nighttime spectacular is ‘Remember… Dreams Come True,’ which will debut in February 2027 and first appeared during Disneyland’s 50th anniversary. Julie Andrews provided the vocal introduction of this show, and it aims to once again illustrate the “power of wishes and dreams in favorite Disney stories.” Guests will also be able to look forward to new projections on Sleeping Beauty Castle, Rivers of America, the facade of it’s a small world, and Main Street, U.S.A.
The second classic nighttime spectacular returning is the original ‘World of Color’ at Disney California Adventure, which will once again feature a journey through such beloved animated classics like The Little Mermaid, The Lion King, Finding Nemo, and Toy Story. It also features a special arrangement of the theme song from Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color TV show from the 1960s.
Lastly, the ‘Magic Happens’ daytime parade will come roaring back in summer 2027 to Disneyland. This parade will be led by Mickey Mouse and his friends, and also stars Cinderella, The Sword in the Stone, Coco, and surprises like pumpkins becoming carriages and swords being “plucked from a stone.”
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