Disney theme parks have been innovating roller coasters since 1959. That’s when Disneyland‘s Matterhorn Bobsleds became the first coaster in the world to have track made of steel pipes instead of flat rails. The innovations continue as Disney looks toward its future of theme park expansion.
Five roller coasters are in development or under construction at Disney theme parks around the globe. Keep reading to learn details on all of them. Mickey Visit brings you the latest Disney news and planning resources, including what’s in store for the future of Magic Kingdom and cute Loungefly mini-backpacks now available.
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1. Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith recently closed in early March to transform into Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets. The existing layout will remain intact, but the story will now highlight Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, the Electric Mayhem band, and more Muppets.
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At the G-Force Records studio in Los Angeles, the Muppets are in charge of the record label. Guests have arrived just in time to see the Electric Mayhem, the house band of The Muppet Show, who are late for a big concert across town. The Electric Mayhem, and guests, are whisked away to the venue via a super-stretch, super-fast limousine!
When Disney first announced the attraction, they said that the Muppets would be teaming up with major music stars, but we haven’t heard more details about that element since. Their recent language was that we’d see “the Electric Mayhem playing some of the most iconic, rockin’ hits.”
Disney previously shared that Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets will open in summer 2026, but they have not shared an exact opening date. Here is when we predict Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets will open.
2. A New Space Mountain
Ride refurbishments are common in Disney theme parks. Disney constantly performs routine maintenance on its rides. We keep track of these temporary closures for Disneyland and Walt Disney World.
Even ride reimaginings and updates, in which Disney revamps an existing attraction, are somewhat normal. For example, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at Magic Kingdom will reopen in May 2026 with new special effects after being closed for a year.
What’s abnormal, then, is Disney building a completely new version of a classic ride right next to the old version and then tearing down the old one. However, that scenario is currently happening at Tokyo Disney Resort in what might be a Disney first.
Disney is currently building a completely new Space Mountain at Tokyo Disneyland. Again, this isn’t just some new track pieces or new music or new ride vehicles. Disney constructed an entirely new Space Mountain building from scratch and built a 100% new roller coaster inside.
The new version of Space Mountain will still be an indoor roller coaster themed to flying through outer space, but with all the bells and whistles of a modern coaster, as well as modern Disney storytelling.
“It’s not only a whole new ride experience, but the story also has so much emotion,” said Walt Disney Imagineering Producer Kathleen Davis when the project was first announced in 2022. “Through the queue and then on the ride, we see our connection to our planet and gain a new perspective for how special it is in all the universe. It’s a roller coaster with both thrill and heart.”
As for Tokyo Disneyland’s former Space Mountain, it’s permanently closed. Its exterior resembled the versions of Space Mountain still open at Disneyland and Magic Kingdom. Disneyland’s Space Mountain is pictured above for reference.
Tokyo Disneyland’s new Space Mountain will open sometime in 2027. Disney has not revealed an opening date.
3. Monsters, Inc. Doors Coaster
Hollywood Studios is getting a new Monsters, Inc. land, and one of its highlights is a unique new coaster themed to the chase scene through the door vaults in the film. This will be the first-ever suspended coaster in a Disney park!
Disney previously shared an animatic showing how the boarding process will work. Once guests board, the vehicle will be lifted straight up into the air, similar to the way the doors in the film file into place on the factory floor.
We do not yet have details about when this land or the coaster will open, but construction is underway. Check out our recent construction update to see the latest progress on this highly anticipated coaster.
4. Spider-Man Coaster
A new Spider-Man roller coaster will open at Shanghai Disneyland! Concept art depicts indoor and outdoor scenes.
Disney is pretty vague in describing a handful of future attractions, but the company is particularly tight-lipped about Shanghai Disneyland’s Spider-Man coaster, including its story.
Again, we turn to concept art for clues. In the artwork pictured above, Spidey seems to be involved in some sort of energy surge. We also spy some Spider-Bots, previously seen in WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure at Disney California Adventure.
We do know the new Shanghai Disneyland ride will be part of a new Spider-Man land, making it the ninth land at the park. The others are Mickey Avenue, Gardens of Imagination, Tomorrowland, Toy Story Land, Fantasyland, Zootopia, Treasure Cove, and Adventure Isle.
The ride vehicles of the upcoming Spider-Man coaster appear similar to those in Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at EPCOT. If they are, this would mean the individual vehicles would rotate as the coaster train moves along the track. However, Disney has not confirmed this detail.
Disney has not revealed an opening date for the Spider-Man roller coaster or land coming to Shanghai Disneyland.
5. Possible Maleficent Coaster
Villains Land is coming to Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World! Disney Villains from classic Walt Disney Animation Studios films will reign in this new land that will expand the park north of Frontierland.
Villains Land will contain “two major attractions,” according to Disney. The company hasn’t revealed specifics so far, but a roller coaster seems to be part of the plans when looking closely at the one piece of concept art available so far.
One portion of the concept art, cropped above, seems to show a roller coaster train zooming through a turquoise cavern.
In the distance, some of the thorny brambles also appear to resemble a roller coaster track.
These types of thorns appear in the climactic battle between Prince Phillip and Maleficent in 1959’s Sleeping Beauty. With the concept art also clearly showing Maleficent in dragon form, could a Maleficent roller coaster be a main attraction in Villains Land? If the artwork is to be believed, that answer is yes, but concept art is always subject to change, and again, Disney hasn’t officially announced any specific attractions for Villains Land yet.
Construction is underway for Villains Land, along with another huge project located right next to it, Piston Peak National Park. This construction site recently reached a significant milestone.
We look forward to bringing you the latest news on all of these roller coasters and other Disney theme park projects in the years to come, right here at Mickey Visit.
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