Nearby, \u201cDisney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live!\u201d joins the lineup in summer, as does the revamped Rock \u2018n\u2019 Roller Coaster<\/a>, featuring the Muppets and new settings.<\/p>\n The park\u2019s Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run<\/a> gets an update centered on \u201cThe Mandalorian and Grogu\u201d<\/a> film as of May 22 (the flick\u2019s opening day). The new mission includes a choice of destinations (Death Star wreckage among them) and an enhanced engineer position that communicates with Grogu.<\/p>\n At Magic Kingdom<\/a>, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad roller coaster, shuttered for refurbishment since January 2025, returns, and Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin reopens<\/a> with new ride vehicles, handheld blasters, interactive targets and a robot named Buddy. Disney lists both as springtime arrivals.<\/p>\n Disney to shut down Buzz Lightyear ride and give it a new spin<\/a><\/p>\n Meanwhile, Epcot\u2019s Frozen Ever After<\/a> gets updated animatronics of Anna, Elsa and Kristoff characters, starting in February. (The attraction\u2019s last day before the closure to make the changes is Jan. 25.) Epcot also adds \u201cSoarin\u2019 Across America\u201d as part of the company\u2019s celebration of the U.S.A.\u2019s 250th birthday. It\u2019s set to premiere by Memorial Day.<\/p>\n The Bluey character begins meet-and-greet duties at Disney\u2019s Animal Kingdom<\/a> this summer. The interaction is set for the park\u2019s Conservation Station.<\/p>\n Perhaps the first major addition to arrive in 2026 will be Galacticoaster<\/a> at Legoland Florida<\/a>. The indoor ride \u2014 \u201ca customizable Lego space adventure\u201d \u2014 debuts Feb. 27.<\/p>\n Also slated for February opening: Sloth World<\/a>, with dozens of the slow-paced animals, providing a new educational \/ entertainment outlet on International Drive<\/a>.<\/p>\n Sloth World plans quiet existence on bustling I-Drive<\/a><\/p>\n Coming soon-ish<\/p>\n Other anticipated additions include:<\/p>\n \u2022 SeaWorld Orlando<\/a> is building SEAQuest: Legends of the Deep,<\/a> a suspended dark ride. An opening timeframe has not been announced.<\/p>\n \u2022 Icon Park<\/a> has a trio of attractions under construction that are set to debut this year, including a theater for Blue Man Group<\/a>, a multilevel Build-A-Bear Workshop<\/a> and Ripley Crazy Golf<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u2022 The traveling \u201cAnimationland\u201d<\/a> exhibit lands at Orange County Regional History Center<\/a> on Jan. 17. The downtown Orlando museum incorporates a section dubbed \u201cDrawing Magic: Walt Disney Feature Animation Florida\u201d that explores how the Central Florida-based studio contributed to films such as \u201cBeauty and the Beast,\u201d \u201cThe Lion King,\u201d \u201cMulan\u201d and \u201cLilo & Stitch.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2022 Banana Ball<\/a> \u2013 featuring the Loco Beach Coconuts and the Party Animals teams \u2013 slides into the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex<\/a> on May 29-30.<\/p>\n \u2022 The major renovation of Orlando Science Center\u2019s<\/a> CineDome is expected to be complete in the spring. Expect new lights, speakers, screen and 8K digital projectors for very big-screen movies, laser shows and planetarium presentations.<\/p>\n \u2022 LEVEL99<\/a>, an interactive gaming venue<\/a>, opens at Disney Springs<\/a> sometime in \u201826. It takes over the space of the short-lived NBA Experience.<\/p>\n \u2022 Busch Gardens Tampa Bay<\/a> is planning an immersive animal habitat named Lion & Hyena Ridge.<\/p>\n Disney Springs: New Level99 venue uses teamwork to tick<\/a><\/p>\n Festival focus<\/p>\n The bulk of the special events at our theme parks and attractions are returning, including 2025 first-timer Cool Kid Summer across Disney World. The firm dates we know for 2026 are in the first quarter:<\/p>\n \u2022 Epcot International Festival of the Arts: Jan. 16-Feb. 23<\/p>\n \u2022 Rock the Universe at Universal Studios: Jan. 23-24<\/p>\n \u2022 Science on Tap at Orlando Science Center: Jan. 24<\/p>\n \u2022 Mardi Gras: International Flavors of Carnaval at Universal Studios: Feb. 7- April 4<\/p>\n \u2022 Spark STEM Fest at Orlando Science Center: Feb. 13-16<\/p>\n \u2022 Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival: March 4-June 1<\/p>\n Last calls<\/p>\n It\u2019s last call for a few attractions this year.<\/p>\n \u2022 \u201cOrlando Collected,\u201d<\/a> the exhibit tied to the 150th birthday of the city, wraps up its run at Orange County Regional History Center on Jan. 11.<\/p>\n \u2022 The final day to experience Dinosaur, the simulator ride<\/a> at Disney\u2019s Animal Kingdom, is Feb. 1. The attraction is being revamped with an \u201cIndiana Jones\u201d theme to go in the under-construction Tropical Americas land.<\/p>\n \u2022 The Aerosmith<\/a> version of Rock \u2018n\u2019 Roller Coaster bows out March 1. The attraction, revamped with Muppet characters and theming, has been operating at Hollywood Studios since 1999.<\/p>\n In Orlando theme parks, animatronics increase in number \u2014 and in realism<\/a><\/p>\n Email me at dbevil@orlandosentinel.com<\/a>. BlueSky: @themeparksdb. Threads account: @dbevil. X account: @themeparks<\/a>. Subscribe to the Theme Park Rangers newsletter at orlandosentinel.com\/newsletters<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"New](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/TOS-L-disney2026-02.jpg\")
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run will have new destinations and duties later this year. (Courtesy Walt Disney Co.)<\/p>\n![\"SeaWorld](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/TOS-L-seaquest-01.jpg\")
SeaWorld Orlando revealed the ride vehicle for its SEAQuest attraction at IAAPA Expo in November. (Dewayne Bevil\/Orlando Sentinel)<\/p>\n![\"Items](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/TOS-L-collected-01jpeg_230868362.jpg\")
“Orlando Collected,” an exhibit created by Orange County Regional History Center, includes signs from Ivey’s Drug Store and Dandelion CommuniTea Cafe in front of a dress that belonged to Brownie Wise, the woman who revolutionized Tupperware sales techniques. (Dewayne Bevil\/Orlando Sentinel)<\/p>\n