BIG Disney Parks News: Cinderella Castle, Tron, Villains Land, and More Updates

Cinderella Castle Color Change

• 🏰 Cinderella Castle in Disney World will revert to its classic color scheme of creams, blues, grays, and gold, moving away from the pink and blue used for the 50th anniversary.
• 🗓️ Disney has not yet announced a specific date for the repainting.

Carousel of Progress and Tron Updates

• 💡 Carousel of Progress is set to receive an update after three decades, including a new opening scene featuring a Walt Disney animatronic.
• 🚀 Both Tron Light Cycle Run in Disney World and its Shanghai Disneyland counterpart will get a vibrant red overlay and new music by Nine Inch Nails to celebrate the upcoming movie, Tron: Ares.
• 📅 These Tron ride updates will be available for a limited time starting September 15th in Magic Kingdom and September 16th in Shanghai Disneyland.

Villains Land and Napa Rose

• 🎨 Villains Land at Magic Kingdom will draw inspiration from the Art Nouveau architecture of Paris and Barcelona, featuring natural motifs and deep color palettes.
• 🍽️ The Napa Rose restaurant in Disneyland's Grand Californian hotel is undergoing renovations and will feature a new patio with outdoor fireplaces, with a reopening expected this fall.

Disney Cruise Line and Merchandise

• 🚢 The Disney Destiny cruise ship will feature new experiences like "Party Tricks with Dr. Facilier" and interactive character encounters with Loki, Cruella, and Maleficent.
• 🍹 New themed drinks will be available on the Disney Destiny, including the "Dead Man's Chest" and "The Mirror Dimension."
• 🎁 A variety of new popcorn buckets and mugs are coming to parks and cruise lines, such as the Christmas Tree Truck bucket and Trader Sam's holiday zombie mug.

International Park and Film Updates

• ❄️ World of Frozen at Disneyland Paris is scheduled to open in Spring 2026, featuring Arendelle Castle and Elsa's Ice Palace.
• 🌺 Hong Kong Disneyland will open a new Moana-themed quick-service restaurant on September 12th and a villains takeover party on September 19th.
• 🎬 Disney announced a new animated feature, Hex, for Fall 2026, and released the trailer for Toy Story 5.
• 📚 Toy Story (1995) will return to theaters on September 12th, and Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw will debut on Disney Plus on December 5th.
• 🧊 Ice Age: Boiling Point is set for a February 5th, 2027 theatrical release.

Hollywood Studios and Magic Kingdom Ride Revamps

• 🎸 The Rock 'n' Roller Coaster at Hollywood Studios will be re-themed to Rock 'n' Roller Coaster starring the Muppets, opening in 2026 with new psychedelic colors and Muppet-themed elements.
• 🤖 Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin is undergoing refurbishment until sometime in 2026, introducing a new character, Buddy the robot, updated vehicles with real-time scoring, and interactive targets.
• ⛰️ Big Thunder Mountain Railroad will feature a smoother track, new lighting, effects, and exterior changes, along with the addition of spectacular natural caverns inspired by the Rainbow Caverns Mine Train.

Animal Kingdom and Walt Disney Studios

• 🐾 The Zootopia attraction, "Zootopia: Better Zoo Together," will replace "It's Tough to Be a Bug" at Animal Kingdom and officially opens on November 7th, featuring returning voice actors and Shakira as Gazelle.
• 🎬 The Animation Courtyard at Hollywood Studios will be reimagined into the Walt Disney Studios, with Star Wars Launch Bay becoming "The Magic of Disney Animation."
• 🚀 Millennium Falcon: Smuggler's Run will allow riders to choose their destinations for the first time, with the engineer on board making the selection.