It’s crazy to think that 2024 is coming to a close in a few short weeks! That means that it is almost time for New Year’s resolutions, getting used to writing 2025 on checks (if you, like me, still use paper checks), and, of course, getting excited for all of the new and amazing attractions coming to Walt Disney World in 2025!!
To help build that excitement, Disney recently provided fans with an update on what’s new for 2025. While they didn’t provide us with any exact opening dates, they did throw us a bone by giving us general date ranges. Better than nothing, I suppose!
To celebrate this news, we thought it would be fun to rank our level of excitement for each of the announcements. And there is certainly a lot to be excited about!
#8: The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure (Summer 2025)
“The Little Mermaid” appeared to be a casualty of COVID. It closed in early 2020 and never reopened with the rest of the park. As a result, there was a lot of speculation about what Disney had planned for this space. Finally, last year, Disney put an end to the speculation when they announced that a re-imaged Little Mermaid show would be opening in the near future. Well, we finally have a date for when the curtain goes up… Summer 2025.
Of all of the announcements, this is the one that interests us the least. This, of course, is personal opinion, but we were never really that excited by the original show. Not that there is anything wrong with Ariel and the crew, but it just never interested us. Not our bag. Its closure never didn’t really phase us that much.
Secretly, we were hoping that they would do something new with this space, but we understand that there are probably legions of Little Mermaid fans who are excited about this news. For those, we say “Enjoy the show!”
#7: DINOSAUR to Remain Opened Throughout 2025
When Disney announced that they would be replacing Dinoland USA with Tropical Americas, it was only a matter of time before DINOSAUR would become extinct for good. Then when they announced the closing of other sections of Dinoland USA, that furthered the speculation that DINOSAUR’s extinction was imminent.
So most fans were surprised to learn that DINOSAUR would be remaining opened for the entirety of 2025.
DINOSAUR is another attraction that never really spoke to us. The plot made no sense (I mean, if we can go back to any point in time, why go to the exact day of the meteor strike), the ride vehicle is very uncomfortable, and the animatronics have seen better days.
Besides, Buster is a HUGE Indiana Jones fan, so the new Indiana Jones ride planned for this space can’t come fast enough!
#6: Spaceship Earth Lounge (Late Spring 2025)
Spaceship Earth is one of our favorite rides. We quote Dame Judi Dench’s wonderful narration on a regular basis in our real lives (thanks, Phoenicians). So we are definitely intrigued by a lounge that pays homage to this classic ride. We are also curious about the “unique perspective of the nightly fireworks”… although we suspect that smells a bit like code for “up-charge event”.
However, we can’t get too worked up over yet another lounge, especially at EPCOT which is chock full of drinking establishments. You would think that they could come up with something a little more creative for the space. But given our love of Spaceship Earth, we will still check it out, unlike the experiences below it in our rankings.
#5: Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After (Summer 2025)
One of the big announcements from D23 in 2024 was the creation of a Villains-themed land at the Magic Kingdom. However, given the size and scope of adding such a land to the park, its opening is likely several years away. To tide fans of Disney Villainy over, Disney announced that they are replacing the Lightning McQueen Racing Academy at Hollywood Studios with a Villains show. We now know that this new show will be opening next Summer 2025.
While there haven’t been a lot of details about this show, based upon the title, we can guess that it will be about how the Disney Villains are misunderstood. The show probably will be their opportunity to set the record straight in a fun and humorous way. We would also imagine that Disney will use guest reaction to the show to help calibrate the planned experiences for MK’s Villains Land.
We ranked this experience where we did because we are hoping it will give us a glimpse… a taste… of what might be in store for us once Villains Land opens. Something to tide us over for the main event!
#4: Pirates of the Caribbean-Inspired Tavern (Late 2025)
I know we just said that it’s hard to get that excited about yet-another-lounge. However, this might be the exception. Pirates of the Caribbean is another favorite of ours, so getting to eat and drink “like a pirate” sounds like all sorts of fun. Hopefully they will go “all-in” with the theming, with interactive elements and maybe even a few “real” pirates to liven things up.
I just hope that they learn from their experience with Oga’s Cantina, WDW’s other franchise-based theme park lounge. Don’t try to pack people in. Have more actual seating. Offer some real food options. If they do that, then this tavern will be a home run for Disney.
#3: Zootopia: Better Together (Winter 2025)
We absolutely hate “It’s Tough to be a Bug”. There… I’ve said it.
First, we have one member of our family who is absolutely bug-phobic (I won’t say whom in order to protect the guilty). So the current show is a “no-fly zone” for us (no pun intended). Second, the show itself is based on a movie that came out over a quarter century ago. And it isn’t even a very good or popular movie in the pantheon of Pixar movies. I dare you to name a single character from that movie without using Google.
So, in our view, anything else they put here would be a HUGE improvement.
And Zootopia is a great choice. First, it is a franchise about animals. That checks the “Animal Kingdom” box. Second, Zootopia is objectively a better franchise than A Bug’s Life. I mean, it’s got a sequel under development whose release will possibly coincide with the opening of this new show.
#2: Test Track (Summer 2025)
We actually liked Test Track. The concept of designing your dream car and testing it out in the simulator was a lot of fun. We have some pictures of a few of our really “creative” designs. However, when Disney announced that they would be re-designing Test Track using the original World of Motion ride, we were excited. We are of the age where “Classic EPCOT” holds a certain appeal. So anything that gives a nod to an opening day attraction is a good thing.
Besides, Test Track’s closing as put a lot of pressure on the other headliner attractions at EPCOT: Frozen Ever After and Remi’s Ratatouille Adventure. Adding back another big-ticket ride will help to alleviate some of this pressure by spreading out the crowds more. All guests benefit when there is more for people to do.
#1: Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away (Summer 2025)
We have fond memories of watching the Main Street Electrical Parade at the Magic Kingdom. There is just something magical about the seeing the floats lit up in a rainbow of choreographed lights dancing to the parade’s trademark synthesizer music. When it went away in 2016 and not replaced, we were super disappointed. Not having a nighttime parade has been a big hole in the Magic Kingdom’s entertainment lineup.
However, Disney has answered our prayers and the night parade coming back in the Summer of 2025!
Given the leap in LED technology, we are excited to see what this parade will look like. If it is anything like the nighttime light parades at some of the international parks, we expect that it will be absolutely amazing, and a must-see. I can guarantee you that we will be one of those families who will be lining up hours in advance to catch the show.
Can’t wait!!!!
Wrap Up
So there you have our rankings of the new WDW experiences for 2025. This just represents our own personal opinions. It doesn’t make them right or wrong. If you disagree, that’s awesome. Life is better when people have unique points of view.
Do you agree with our rankings? Would you rank them differently? Leave us a comment and let us know!
AD: We hope you enjoyed this post. If you are coming to Central Florida and need a place to stay, please consider the Encore Magic Villa. It sleeps up to 12 and features a game room, theater room, themed bedrooms, and private pool… located within a short drive of the Magic!
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