Walt Disney World has rolled out timeframes for its theme-park attractions in 2026, including the return of two popular Magic Kingdom rides and changes at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, including for Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster.

The list lacks specific opening dates; we’re in the more broad era where the company indicates what season to expect next experiences.

Disney says its Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin will reopen at Magic Kingdom sometime in spring after “full refurbishments.” The Frontierland coaster, which first opened in 1979, has been closed since early January. The loading area has been surrounded by construction walls for months, later joined by the former Rivers of America site.

Few details have been shared about possible changes to the ride, mostly focusing on the caverns with phosphorescent pools and a “menacing rumble from the deep” mentioned on the official Disney Parks Blog.

More has been said about the Buzz changes, which were initially announced in March. Passengers on the dark ride can expect new ride vehicles with video monitors for scoring updates, handheld blasters with color-coordinated beams and updated targets. In addition, the Tomorrowland ride will feature a new robot named Buddy. The attraction, which debuted in 1998, has been shuttered for its refurbishment since early August.

Disney to shut down Buzz Lightyear ride and give it a new spin

At Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the original Aerosmith version of Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster will be available until sometime in spring, the company says. It will return – then to be known as Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring the Muppets — in the summer. These changes were first indicated in November 2024.

We know that the exterior of the building, featuring a giant guitar, will receive a psychedelic paint job, and there will be an emphasis on the Electric Mayhem band and a backstory with G-Force Records now under new management. The scenery along the ride route will feature “a Muppet twist,” according to the parks blog.

Meanwhile, the park’s Walt Disney Studios area – formerly known as the Animation Courtyard – will add “Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live!” in the summer. The show is currently seen at Disneyland in California. Then, later in summer, The Magic of Disney Animation area will open with its Mary Blair-inspired playground dubbed Drawn to Wonderland and a new character greeting space.

The new mission for Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, tied to “The Mandalorian and Grogu” film, also arrives next summer at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at DHS.

At Epcot, the updated animatronics for Frozen Ever After are expected to be in place in February.  Look for new representations of Anna, Elsa and Kristoff. The park’s updated “Soarin’ Across America,” designed to celebrate the 250th birthday of the USA, debuts by Memorial Day, Disney says.

In Orlando theme parks, animatronics increase in number — and in realism

Disney World announced Tuesday that Animal Kingdom would become a home for the Bluey and Bingo characters as of summer 2026.

It’s true: Bluey coming to Disney World

Finally, Level99, an interactive gaming venue, will open at Disney Springs in 2026. The project, announced in Feburary, will operate from the previous home of NBA Experience, which closed with the pandemic shutdown in 2020 and never reopened.  It’s also on the footprint of the former DisneyQuest attraction, which closed in 2017, and the building eventually was demolished.

Disney World has additional construction projects under way, but they are expected to be completed sometime after 2026. Among them are a villains-themed land and “Cars” attractions at Magic Kingdom, a Tropical Americas area (think “Encanto,” “Indiana Jones”) at Animal Kingdom and a “Monsters, Inc.” land at Hollywood Studios.

Email me at dbevil@orlandosentinel.com. BlueSky: @themeparksdb. Threads account: @dbevil. X account: @themeparks. Subscribe to the Theme Park Rangers newsletter at orlandosentinel.com/newsletters.