Top 10 Things We're Looking Forward to in 2025

Hey Ohana,

As Disney fans, we owe much of what we love to Walt himself. Walt had the vision to create a magical world that wasn’t just for him and his kids, but for generations of visitors. He was a pioneer of progress and always wanted his company to push itself forward and try new things saying, “There’s really no secret about our approach. We keep moving forward—opening up new doors and doing new things—because we’re curious. And curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.” 

It is with this in mind that we embrace the new things that come to the ever-growing Disney universe. Whether it be in the parks around the world, aboard a ship at sea, or on our tv screens, Disney is always offering new and exciting experiences. Over the company’s century of existence they have enthralled us year after year, and 2025 is no different. While we may be sad to say good-bye to long time favorites, we are also excited to see what’s next. And so we present, the Top 10 things we are looking forward to in 2025. 

(These are in no particular order.)

1. The Spaceship Earth Lounge (EPCOT) 

Expected in late spring 2025, EPCOT will unveil the Spaceship Earth Lounge, a new venue inspired by the park's iconic geodesic sphere. While we haven’t seen anything confirmed it is believed that it will be situated in the former corporate lounge overlooking World Celebration. This elegant space will feature rich textures and warm metallic tones, creating an atmosphere just as classic as the EPCOT icon.  Guests can look forward to enjoying refreshments while taking in sweeping views of the World Celebration Gardens and a unique perspective of the nightly fireworks. The lounge aims to honor the intertwined history of Spaceship Earth and EPCOT, celebrating the legacy of this timeless icon.

Disney's concept art of the Space Earth Lounge

2. The “New” Test Track (EPCOT)

EPCOT's Test Track is currently undergoing a significant reimagining, with plans to reopen in late summer 2025. The refurbishment, which began in June 2024, aims to introduce a new storyline, updated vehicles, and an overall refreshed aesthetic. General Motors will also resume its sponsorship of the attraction, possibly expanding beyond the previous Chevrolet-specific branding. The redesigned experience is expected to honor the legacy of the original World of Motion attraction, celebrating the past, present, and future of automotive innovation.

Construction on the "new" Test Track began in June 2024. Photo Cred (Laughing Place)

3. Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away (MK WDW) 

Scheduled to premiere this summer in Magic Kingdom, "Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away," is the long-awaited replacement of the Main St. Electrical nighttime parade. Utilizing cutting-edge technology to present beloved characters from films like "Peter Pan," "Encanto," and "Frozen," all brought to life by the magic of the Blue Fairy, the parade will feature innovative lighting techniques and custom fabrics, giving each costume a "kissed by starlight" appearance. 

Disney's concept art for the new nighttime parade

4. Pirates Lounge (MK WDW) 

In late 2025, Adventureland will welcome a new Pirates of the Caribbean- themed tavern, expanding the lore of the classic attraction. This immersive experience is designed to be a haven for "pirate-kind, big and small," inviting guests to raise a toast to the pirate life while surrounded by thematic elements inspired by the beloved ride. The tavern will be located in the former Pirates League makeover experience space at the exit of the ride. As construction progresses, more details about the tavern, including its menu and entertainment offerings, are expected to be revealed, but we have heard the famous “Barker Bird” will be making an appearance!

Disney concept art for the Pirate Lounge. They've offered a few more looks as well

5. Zootopia: Better Zoogether (AK WDW) 

In winter 2025, Animal Kingdom will debut this Zootopia themed show at the Tree of Life Theater, replacing the "It's Tough to Be a Bug!" attraction. This 3D show will take guests on an adventure through various biomes from the film, and it's been said to feature a Clawhauser Audio-Animatronic and 4D effects to enhance the immersive experience. We just hope they do something fun with the seats like in the existing show!

Disney's concept art doesn't tell much about the show but we do seem to be getting our favorite characters from the film.

6. A New Ship: The Destiny (DCL) 

Disney Cruise Line is set to launch its newest ship, the Disney Destiny, on November 20, 2025. This vessel, the third in the Wish-class series, offers a unique theme centered around the dynamic interplay between heroes and villains from beloved Disney stories. Guests can look forward to immersive experiences featuring characters from "The Lion King," "Hercules," "101 Dalmatians," and many more. The Destiny will also carry on the DCL tradition of being adorned by famous Disney characters. This time however, Disney will be taking from its Marvel catalog with the ship boasting the likes of Spiderman and Black Panther on board! 

The Destiny will have a strong Marvel feel with none other than Spiderman adorning the rear of the ship!

7. Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After” (HS WDW) 

Opening this summer, Hollywood Studios will debut "Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After," a live stage show that brings together some of Disney's most infamous antagonists. Set in the realm of the Magic Mirror from "Snow White," the production features iconic villains such as Cruella de Vil, Captain Hook, and Maleficent, each performing individual musical numbers. The show promises a blend of drama and humor, with cutting-edge stage design and thrilling effects enhancing the experience. This new addition will replace the "Lightning McQueen's Racing Academy," which closed in October 2024.

The villains are FINALLY getting some love! Disney's concept art includes Hades!

8. Freakier Friday (Disney Studios) 

The much-anticipated (at least by Krystle) sequel to the 2003 film "Freaky Friday," is scheduled for theatrical release on August 8, 2025. This fantasy comedy reunites original stars Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan, who reprise their roles as Tess and Anna Coleman along with other returning cast members Mark Harmon, Chad Michael Murray, Christina Vidal Mitchell, Haley Hudson, Lucille Soong, and Rosalind Chao. New additions to the cast include Julia Butters, Manny Jacinto, Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, and Sophia Hammons. Directed by Nisha Ganatra, "Freakier Friday" continues the story of Tess and Anna as they navigate the challenges of their body-swapping adventures.

Both Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan return for the sequel!

9. Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2 (Disney+)

Adapting Rick Riordan's second book, The Sea of Monsters, the second season of the show will follow Percy Jackson on a journey to rescue his friend Grover from a Cyclops. The plot includes significant changes and developments within Camp Half-Blood and between Percy and Annabeth and The should delve into character backstories through flashbacks, providing more depth to their histories. Many cast members from the first season, including Walker Scobell, Leah Sava Jeffries, and Aryan Simhadri, will return while newcomers such as Daniel Diemer, Tamara Smart, and Andra Day will join the cast. Season 1 received positive reviews from critics, who largely praised its faithfulness to the source material, worldbuilding, and cast performances, particularly Scobell's and we are hoping for more of the same in season 2. 

The cast of Percy Jackson hold a fan panel at D23

10. Disneyland’s 70th Anniversary and Walt Disney - A Magical Life (DL) 

This year Disneyland Resort will commemorate its 70th anniversary with a year-long celebration beginning on May 16, 2025, and continuing through summer 2026. The festivities will feature a variety of special events, including the return of the "Paint the Night" parade and the debut of "World of Color Happiness!" Disneyland will also introduce "Walt Disney – A Magical Life," a new attraction featuring the first-ever Audio-Animatronic representation of Walt Disney himself! Debuting on May 16, 2025, at the Main Street Opera House, this experience will offer guests a cinematic journey through Walt Disney's life, culminating in a visit to his office brought to life through advanced Audio-Animatronics technology. This innovative presentation honors Walt Disney's legacy and his pioneering contributions to theme park entertainment.

Disney's concept art of the Walt animatronic. The show will alternate with Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln

(NOTE: all info is based on what is available at the time of writing and can change over time). 

As you can see, 2025 is shaping up to be an unforgettable year for Disney fans of all ages. Whether you're planning your next visit to the parks, booking a Disney Cruise, or enjoying Disney magic from home, there's so much to look forward to. We can’t wait to see how these all pan out and whatever surprises Disney might have in store for us as well. Now it’s YOUR turn to continue the conversation. Head over to our FB group and let us know what YOU are most looking forward to in 2025!

Thanks for reading and as always...See Ya Real Soon

(PS to hear more on these be sure to check out episode 60 of the podcast over on Spotify, Apple, or anywhere else you get your podcasts!)