2021 marks the most highly anticipated year at Disney World in five decades. The intrigue compounds in light of recent setbacks and events. The long-awaited upgrades to Walt Disney World have stalled and some even canceled. We had no idea what we could look forward to seeing in time for The World’s Most Magical Celebration: the 50th-anniversary celebration of Walt Disney World. With a little bit of digging, we found some rough opening dates for everything Disney plans to open this year, including some attractions with dates yet to be determined. Here is a complete list of all Disney 2021 attractions and updates coming to Walt Disney World.
New EPCOT Theming and Attractions!
Epcot will be temporarily shutting down Future World. However, this is to complete the retheming of that particular hemisphere of the second Walt Disney World theme park. Although we expected most changes to occur in Epcot’s 40th anniversary, these new attractions make up the bulk of everything fresh coming to Walt Disney World this year. The new Neighborhoods in the Future World section of the park will be called World Discovery, World Celebration, and World Nature.
World Discovery
Play! Pavilion, the newest addition to World Discovery, replaces the old Festival Center. The former Wonders of Life Pavilion will now feature interactive play with characters from Zootopia, Wreck-it-Ralph, and Big Hero 6. This pavilion opens sometime during Summer 2021. Another big opening in this section of the park is the new restaurant Space 220. The dining experience is part of Mission Space, much like Coral Reef at The Seas with Nemo and Friends. The revolving restaurant creates the illusion of orbiting Earth from 220 miles up.
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind will feature a storytelling coaster that rotates 360 degrees to focus guests on the action, including the first reverse launch on a Disney coaster! My thrill-seeking boys are going to literally flip out over this one!
World Nature
Journey of Water has yet to be determined. However, it should open sometime in 2021. The walkthrough garden exhibit will feature interactive play elements with water. Based on Moana, this new EPCOT attraction will lead guests from World Celebration to The Seas with Nemo and Friends.
World Showcase
Disney’s DuckTales World Showcase Adventure, also one of the new attractions, has no opening date. Because it contains interactive elements all over the World Showcase, it’s hard to know when these elements will arrive. The interactive game replaces the Agent P World Showcase Adventure. Among other new attractions with dates yet to be determined are Wondrous China (replacing Reflections of China), a circle vision film, and HarmonioUS, the new nighttime spectacle over and around the World Showcase Lagoon.
Two things we do have dates for are a new art exhibit in the American Adventure Pavilion and Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure. The exhibit: Soul of Jazz, opens in February. It explores the uniquely American roots of that style of music. Then, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure appears ready to open. There is no sign on printed materials and interactive maps. However, the walls are down and should welcome guests any day now. I am especially excited for this new ride. Being someone who’s unable to do thrill rides, I live for these type!
(David Roark, photographer)
Disney 2021 Unveiling of Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser
If I had to bet on one canceled project it would have been the overly ambitious Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser. To my surprise, it’s still happening and it’s slated to open this year (at a date yet TBD). The finished rooms are on the smaller side, but I’m sure will be fun nonetheless. The 3-day experience proposes to immerse guests in a space cruise that includes a day of docking on Batuu. The experience will involve a participatory story element and interactive activities. Definitely a bucket list must-do for any Star Wars fan. I know many who will be lining up for this one!
(David Roark, photographer)
Reopening Areas and Attractions at Walt Disney World in 2021
- Tom Sawyer Island and Rivers of America March
- Blizzard Beach March
- Typhoon Lagoon March
- Grand Polynesian Village Resort Summer
- Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
- The Peoplemover
Make sure you bookmark this page as it will continuously be updated as opening dates are confirmed.
Which new attraction are you most looking forward to in Disney 2021?
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I would love to see the coming attractions.