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Disney fans got a first look at major additions coming to Walt Disney World during the Play & Preview showcase, where Imagineers revealed new shows, reimagined rides, and interactive experiences set to roll out over the next year.<\/p>\n
Earlier in the day, Disney previewed updates to EPCOT\u2019s Test Track and new shows at Hollywood Studios. The showcase itself focused on what\u2019s next for the parks, including a reimagined roller coaster themed to the Muppets. Animal Kingdom also took center stage with news that Zootopia: Better Together<\/i>, a 3D theater experience, inside the Tree of Life, which will open on Nov. 7, 2025.<\/p>\n
Senior creative director Danny Handke said the story centers on \u201cTogether Day,\u201d a citywide celebration. Guests will wear \u201ccarrot vision\u201d 3D glasses and travel through multiple biomes, including a predator-prey ice ballet, a marshland water pageant, and a tiny performance in Little Rodentia. The finale brings guests to Sahara Square for a live concert with Gazelle.<\/p>\n
The attraction will also feature a new host character, Heidi Howler the wolf, and a brand-new song, We Are Zunited<\/i>. Characters such as Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde will appear both in the show and at a new meet-and-greet area called the Together Day Gathering Spot.<\/p>\n
Magic Kingdom is set to debut an upgraded version of Buzz Lightyear\u2019s Space Ranger Spin, with handheld blasters, redesigned ride vehicles, and real-time scoring. Guests will encounter glowing targets and new gameplay modes when the attraction reopens.<\/span>Over in Frontierland, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is also getting a refresh. Executive producer Wyatt Winter said the updated storyline will add new effects, including a bat-filled cave, rainbow caverns, and a dramatic thunderstorm that transforms the mountain\u2019s interior.<\/span><\/p>\n Disney\u2019s Hollywood Studios is preparing for two big additions:<\/p>\n The Magic of Disney Animation, a new immersive area inspired by Once Upon a Studio<\/i>. Guests will explore animation-themed spaces, try hands-on activities, and an indoor play zone.<\/p>\n A reimagined Rock \u2018n\u2019 Roller Coaster, now themed to The Muppets<\/i>. The Electric Mayhem will take over the ride, with a psychedelic guitar marquee and nods to the band\u2019s chaotic style.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Star Wars fans also learned that Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run<\/i> will receive a new mission, featuring Mandalorian and Grogu. Guests will help track a bounty across the galaxy, and engineers will play a new role in guiding the mission.<\/p>\n The showcase wrapped with a surprise appearance from Captain Jack Sparrow, teasing a new \u201cBeacon Barrel\u201d pirate-themed experience opening soon at Magic Kingdom.<\/p>\n Disney leaders said the updates highlight both new storytelling and reimagined classics. \u201cWe are in this unprecedented era of growth,\u201d Imagineer Michael Hundgen said. \u201cThings are about to get a whole lot more magical here at Walt Disney World.\u201d<\/p>\n Click here<\/a> to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here<\/a> to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.<\/p>\n