What’s New & Next in 2026 & 2027 at Tokyo Disneyland & DisneySea

New lands, rides, restaurants, entertainment, and more have opened at Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea, with more coming in 2026 and 2027. If you’re debating dates for a Japan trip, here’s what has recently debuted and what’s next–construction info, expansion, opening dates, and more.

Before we get started, it’s worth noting that this post only covers new and changing things at Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea. If you want something comprehensive, consult our Tokyo Disneyland Vacation Planning Guide. That’s 6,000 words offering a crash course in the basics of trip prep, including everything from getting around to food to touring strategy and cities to visit in Japan beyond TDR.

The point of this post is to showcase what’s on the horizon, and help answer the question of whether you should visit Tokyo Disney Resort soon or wait. Most of you reading this are likely Disney fans based in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, or Europe who are on the fence about when to take your first trip to Japan. This should help make the decision easier…

As a threshold matter, you might be wondering about the best time to visit Tokyo Disney Resort. That’s beyond the scope of this post, which does cover whether you should go now or wait. For best & worst times of year, check out When to Visit Tokyo Disneyland. Note that Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea can be insanely crowded, so choosing the right travel dates and avoiding public holidays or school breaks in Asia is really important.

With that out of the way, let’s cover what’s new and what’s next at Tokyo Disney Resort!

What’s Next in 2026 & 2027

Throughout the year, Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea offer a lineup of seasonal programming. Here are the upcoming major seasonal events, most of which are consistent from year to year:

Seasonal Events

Obviously, Fun Time with Toy Story 5 does not occur annually, but TDR hasn’t really said anything about what that’ll entail. Just a single social media post indicating it’d feature a stamp rally to find the characters, merchandise, special menus, decorations, and so much more. Stay tuned for additional details.

Vanellope’s Sweet Pop World Pal-Palooza Event

Tokyo Disney Resort has revealed that the next Disney Pal-Palooza will be held from April 9, 2026 through June 30, 2026. During Vanellope’s Sweet Pop World, you can enjoy a world of sweet treats straight from Vanellope’s imagination. The park will be brimming with vibrant colors, adorable sights, and mouth-watering treats!

The highlight of Vanellope’s Sweet Pop World is the “It’s a Sweetsful Time” parade, which is themed to a colorful resort made of sweets, dreamed up by Vanellope from the Walt Disney Animation Studios film Wreck-It Ralph. It’ll feature characters from that film, along with Mickey & Friends and more. “It’s a Sweetsful Time” parade will be approximately 35 minutes long.

“it’s a small world with Groot”

This attraction overlay will feature MCU characters designed in the endearing style of the Tokyo Disneyland attraction “it’s a small world,” marking the first appearance of Marvel characters in an attraction at Tokyo Disney Resort.

Tokyo Disneyland is again presenting “it’s a small world with Groot” from now through June 28, 2026.

In the attraction “it’s a small world,” guests board boats for the “happiest cruise that ever sailed ’round the world” and are welcomed by Walt Disney Animation Studios’ characters, as well as children and animals from around the world. In “it’s a small world with Groot,” Groot from the Guardians of the Galaxy film trilogy and his friends from Marvel Studios films are visiting Earth for vacation.

Tokyo DisneySea 25th Anniversary

Tokyo DisneySea’s Sparkling Jubilee celebration will run from April 15, 2026, to March 31, 2027. As part of its 25th anniversary celebration, Tokyo DisneySea will present a dazzling anniversary event, with special entertainment, character costumes, menus, merchandise and more. The theme of the anniversary event is “Sparkling Jubilee,” and will revolve around the signature color “Jubilee Blue,” inspired by the beauty of the seas at Tokyo DisneySea.

At Mediterranean Harbor, Guests will have a blast celebrating with Mickey Mouse and other Disney characters dressed in special 25th anniversary costumes. This show will be approximately 20 minutes long, with 1 to 3 daily performances.

Other entertainment for the anniversary event includes “Dance the Globe,” which officially starts on January 14, 2026 before the Tokyo DisneySea 25th “Sparkling Jubilee.” Themed to dance and music styles from countries near and far, this show will be presented at Waterfront Park in American Waterfront.

D-Groovationz4 Live: Happy! Funky! Groovy! Tour

The D-Groovationz4 Live: Happy! Funky! Groovy! Tour is a stage show that will debut in Tomorrowland in the Showbase theater on September 30, 2026. The show will focus on live vocals by the dance group “The D-Groovationz4” and be presented in the form of an exhilarating concert.

D-Groovationz4 Live: Happy! Funky! Groovy! Tour will include both original songs and fresh spins on Disney classics, featuring Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy, Vanellope, and Baymax. This will be the first time Vanellope and Baymax appearing in a stage show at Tokyo Disney Resort.

The show will be performed 4-5 times daily and is approximately 25 minutes long. There will be 4 singers and 12 dancers. It replaces the Club Mouse Beat, which is being retired as of March 31, 2026.

Wreck-It Ralph Shooter Ride

This attraction at Tokyo Disneyland will be an indoor interactive game play experience, perfect for children and adults, that will be created by reimagining the existing Buzz Lightyear’s Astro Blasters attraction. As a result, Buzz Lightyear’s Astro Blasters has permanently closed. This new Wreck-It Ralph attraction is expected to open in April 2027.

In the upcoming Wreck-It Ralph attraction, enter the candy-themed racing game Sugar Rush, which is being attacked by Sugar Bugs – glitches created by King Candy. Guests team up with the beloved film characters Ralph and Vanellope to transform the Sugar Bugs back to their original “kawaii” confectionery such as cookies and cakes.

Guests can look forward to this new attraction at Tokyo Disneyland and immerse themselves in the world of the candy-themed racing game, Sugar Rush, while embarking on a thrilling adventure. The Planet M gift shop will also close and be rethemed.

New Space Mountain 

Now that Fantasy Springs has opened, Tokyo Disneyland is undertaking a New Tomorrowland project that revolves around rebuilding Space Mountain. This is also expected to open in Spring 2027, likely on or around the same date as the Wreck-It Ralph ride.

This all-new Space Mountain will also entail a reimagined plaza that will create a reimagined area of Tomorrowland. The new Space Mountain that will maintain its original concept as an indoor roller coaster, but will have enhanced performance and immersive special effects that will give guests even more thrills on this exciting rocket ride.

According to OLC, the new Tomorrowland plaza will express the connection between Earth and the universe, representing an image of a future where humans are in harmony with nature. Guests will be able to enjoy moments of rest and relaxation in this plaza where various icons and other design elements create a sense of hope for the future.

The new Space Mountain is expected to be of a similar nature as Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at EPCOT, albeit with a different ride system and no Marvel connection. Meaning it’ll be a ‘story coaster’ with a large gravity building–very different from the legacy Space Mountain rides.

What’s New at Tokyo Disney Resort

Fantasy Springs

At Tokyo DisneySea, the biggest construction project at any Disney theme park in the world is now open! This blockbuster expansion brings big-budget Frozen, Tangled, and Peter Pan attractions to the new Fantasy Springs port-of-call. In addition to the four rides, it also offers a range of new restaurants and retail.

Fantasy Springs is now open-access and the rides DO offer standby lines. However, these attractions are incredibly popular and we highly recommend purchasing Premier Access. For other attractions, you’ll want to take advantage of Priority Pass. To that point, downloading the Tokyo Disney Resort app before your trip is a must.

Speaking of which, the spiritual successors to free FastPass are Premier Access and Priority Pass. See our Guide to (Free) Priority Pass & (Paid) Premier Access at Tokyo Disneyland & DisneySea for eligible attractions, prices, and how to make these line-skipping ride-reservations. We cannot emphasize enough how important advance planning is for Fantasy Springs–and frankly, Tokyo Disney Resort as a whole. You need savvy strategy to get a decent amount done!

Tokyo DisneySea Fantasy Springs Hotel

The newest in-park luxury hotel at Tokyo Disney Resort overlooks Fantasy Springs and is touted by OLC as the finest accommodations, even nicer than Hotel MiraCosta. (We vehemently disagree.)

The hotel is located directly behind Bayside Station, meaning it has convenient access (by monorail) to Tokyo Disneyland in addition to the immediate access to Fantasy Springs. This luxury hotel is boutique-sized, with under 500 rooms, two restaurants, and a lounge. Fantasy Springs Hotel is now open, but can be difficult to book.

Reach for the Stars Nighttime Spectacular

This is a new Cinderella Castle projection show at Tokyo Disneyland, that’s approximately 20 minutes long and presented 1-2 times per night. Reach for the Stars utilizes projection mapping, lighting, pyro, and special effects, memorable music, and a variety of characters.

Reach for the Stars is fine. The technology is impressive, and the show has its touching moments. At the same time, it tries too hard to cram way too many characters and properties into a single nighttime spectacular. The result feels disjointed and less cohesive than other productions, even montage shows.

Dreams Take Flight

This 25-minute stage show is set in an airplane factory in Lost River Delta at Tokyo DisneySea. “Dreams Take Flight” showcases a day where Mickey Mouse and other Disney friends come together to build an airplane, featuring rhythmical songs and dances.

Before the factory opens, Pete, the manager, along with the artisans who take immense pride in building airplanes, gather to kick off their busy day. The Disney friends work together to complete the airplane as they overcome challenges along the way. When the artisans finish assembling the airplane, the venue fills with a sense of camaraderie, culminating in a grand finale to celebrate the airplane’s completion.

Fantasyland Expansion at Tokyo Disneyland

Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast – Leaving the village behind, guests enter the forest and approach Beast’s Castle. Inside is the Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast, the expansion’s flagship attraction. This trackless dark ride features magical cups that “dance” in rhythm to the animated film’s music as they take guests through scenes depicting the story of Belle and the Beast.

We’ve now had the chance to do Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast several times (along with everything else on this ‘new’ list, for that matter) and it’s exceptional. It doesn’t quite enter the elite tier of attractions around the world, but it’s definitely in the top 20 for both of us. There are some truly remarkable effects, show scenes, and the queue and Beast’s Castle are absolutely stunning. Do not miss it!

Belle’s Village – This trio of shops consists of La Belle Librairie, Little Town Traders and Bonjour Gifts. These stores feature many details from the film, including the rolling ladder to reach books on the high shelves and Belle’s favorite book. They’ll carry hand-made toys, candlesticks, dish-ware, books, dresses, and other clothing.

La Taverne de Gaston – This is a counter service restaurant, similar to Gaston’s Tavern in Magic Kingdom. The menu is different, with a bunch of meat-stuffed pastries (best of both worlds!) and a soft drink version of Gaston’s favorite brew.

LeFou’s & Le Petit Popper – Next door to the taverne is LeFou’s, which is a small snack shop window that serves apple-caramel churros, a new flavor for Tokyo Disneyland. Le Petit Popper is also in this area, and is a wagon in village where Belle lives that serves up fresh popcorn.

Fantasyland Forest Theatre – Nestled in its own secluded setting straight out of a fairytale, this is the first indoor theater at Tokyo Disneyland. (It’s the indirect replacement for Showbase, which is between Space Mountain and Star Tours: the Adventures Continue.)

Both the exterior and interior design of this theater were inspired by the forest, with half-timbers, tree forms, and pillars featuring in the design. The theater is decorated with beautiful tapestries, candle-inspired chandeliers, and murals celebrating the forest and the woodland critters from Disney animation.

Mickey’s Magical Music World – I’m not sure why I’ve made this a separate entry, but Mickey’s Magical Music World is the Tokyo Disneyland original musical production inside Fantasyland Forest Theatre. The stage show features Mickey Mouse and friends in a spectacular performance of music and dance that makes full use of the theater’s large-scale stage sets and effects.

The conceit here is that Mickey Mouse and friends discover a music box deep in the forest. They turn the music box’s large golden key and doors suddenly open. That begins (what sounds like) a montage musical featuring a slew of different characters and songs from various movies, as they search for a “lost song.”

The Happy Ride with Baymax – Opposite the Fantasyland additions in Tomorrowland is the Happy Ride with Baymax, which is the world’s first rotating ride attraction themed to Big Hero 6 (released in Japan as Baymax). Hiro Hamada and his robotic personal healthcare companion Baymax developed this wild, musical ride that is sure to make everyone happy–which is the first step to healthiness.

As Hiro’s favorite up-tempo music plays, guests aboard vehicles pulled by Baymax’s nursebot friends can enjoy being whirled around in unexpected ways. A device on the attraction’s ceiling “scans” the guests with lights to measure their happiness while on the ride. This is a straightforward flat ride, but hopefully it’s a surprisingly delightful one that overachieves (a la Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree).

The Big Pop – Next door to the Happy Ride with Baymax in Tomorrowland is The Big Pop, a cosmic-themed shop specializing in popcorn. Hanging from the starry ceiling is a huge popcorn chandelier representing the “big bang” that created the universe. Large windows allow guests both inside and outside the shop to view the kitchen where the popcorn is being made and enjoy the aroma.

The Big Pop offers a variety of popcorn buckets that can be filled with a choice of three flavors of popcorn: Cookie & Cream, Caramel & Cheese, and Strawberry Milk.

Minnie’s Style Studio – For the first time at Tokyo Disneyland, guests can meet Minnie Mouse in her very own greeting facility. Minnie’s Style Studio is the aspect of the expansion located in Toontown, and although it’s only a meet & greet, it’s a plussed version.

As a world-renowned fashion designer, Minnie Mouse will greet guests while wearing her latest design, which will change each season. Decked out with a big, polka-dot bow, Minnie’s Style Studio is where she designs, creates and photographs her new fashions.

Disney Harmony in Color Parade

Tokyo Disneyland’s latest daytime parade features a harmonious world of vibrant colors. This replaced Dreaming Up, and debuted for the 40th Anniversary. Normal new daytime parade cadence for Tokyo Disneyland is one every 5 years, so Harmony in Color will be replaced in April 2028.

Harmony in Color kicks off with Tinker Bell, followed by many other characters from popular Walt Disney Animation Studios films such as Zootopia, Moana, Wreck-It Ralph, Coco, and more appearing on colorful floats full of fun. In the finale, Mickey Mouse and his friends appear, inviting guests to a world of colors and harmony.

Believe! Sea of Dreams

The new nighttime spectacular at Tokyo DisneySea is Believe! Sea of Dreams, which is performed once nightly in Mediterranean Harbor. This 30 minute long show is the permanent replacement for Fantasmic, and is a ~$70 million addition. Believe! Sea of Dreams offers paid reserved viewing, and is recommended on busy nights.

As the name suggests, this nighttime spectacular transforms Mediterranean Harbor into the Sea of Dreams—a place filled with “wishing stars.” Believe! Sea of Dreams features large boats gliding dynamically over the water’s surface, bright lasers and searchlights illuminating the night sky and projections on the walls of Hotel MiraCosta. The nighttime spectacular will feature dancers, plus characters such as Peter Pan, Wendy, Aladdin, Rapunzel, Miguel, Ariel, Moana, Elsa, and others.

Soaring: Fantastic Flight

This hang-glider simulator ride offers a grandiose flight over some amazing locations around the globe. Soaring Fantastic Flight’s ride component is similar to Soarin’ in Walt Disney World and DCA, if you’re familiar with those. The video is identical, save for the finale.

The big difference here is the build-up to that: Soaring Fantastic Flight has an incredibly lavish queue and impressive new pre-show with its own unique storyline that makes a world of difference and has impressive effects. The video also has one scene swapped out, and a new finale that ends over Tokyo Disney Resort. It’s worth seeing even if you’ve experienced Soarin’ elsewhere.

Soaring: Fantastic Flight is not brand-new, but it’s still newer in the grand scheme of things–and insanely popular.

Toy Story Hotel

Across from Bayside Station, nestled between the Hilton Tokyo Bay and Sheraton Grande Tokyo Bay is the Toy Story Hotel. As the name suggests, this brings to life the world of toys and shrinks guests down to become “honorary toys” to take part in the fun that Andy has assembled. In essence, this means a lot of larger-than-life play figures around the hotel.

Toy Story Hotel is a moderate monorail loop resort with 595 guest rooms–575 standard rooms and 20 superior rooms. The guest rooms are inspired by Andy’s bedroom, and there are a range of other fun toy-themed amenities at Toy Story Hotel. With that said, it’s definitely positioned below Hotel MiraCosta and Tokyo Disneyland Hotel, both of which remain the gold standard at Tokyo Disney Resort, and worldwide.

Visit Now or Wait?

If you’re planning a once in a lifetime trip to Japan, we recommend visiting as soon as possible. There’s really no reason to wait at this point, as Fantasy Springs is open. This wrapped up the last major development cycle at Tokyo Disney Resort, and the only things on the horizon at this point are new rides in Tomorrowland. In our view, those are not sufficient reasons to delay a trip–there will always be something new on the horizon.

There’s also the matter of exchange rates. The yen is hovering around its weakest levels since 1998. The strength of the dollar means greater purchasing power when traveling abroad, and to Japan in particular. See Cheap Prices at Disney’s Two Best Parks for the low prices we paid for everything during our recent trip.

Even if that weren’t the case, Tokyo Disney Resort doesn’t nickel and dime. Regular tickets are much more affordable ($55 to $65 for 1-day tickets), all seasonal entertainment is included in the price of normal admission, snacks are inexpensive, as is most merchandise. The only (very big) exception to this is Duffy & Friends–now that stuff is expensive. (We joke that Duffy subsidizes the rest of Tokyo Disney Resort, which may not be that far off!)

All of this will be a breath of fresh air for Walt Disney World fans who have become disillusioned with price increases, entertainment eliminated, and all the nickel & diming. A few years ago, we wrote “Want to Recapture the Disney Magic? Visit Japan.” That’s even more apt today than it was then.

Since then, Walt Disney World has made even more cuts, whereas TDR keeps adding. At Tokyo Disney Resort, you’ll enjoy multiple parades per day (including Dreamlights, Disney’s best night parade by far), seasonal celebrations are included with admission, and prices are less expensive and more fair.

If you’re a Walt Disney World fan who has become disenchanted with the Florida parks, there is no better way to recapture that lost magic than by visiting Tokyo Disney Resort. Seriously. The only downside is that it’ll forever change the way you view every other theme park.

The bad news is that attendance continues to climb at Tokyo Disney Resort. Moreover, Fantasy Springs is massively popular and has exacerbated crowds. Worse yet, Japan as a whole breaks record-after-record for inbound international travelers. Overtourism is definitely an issue throughout Japan, especially in places like Kyoto. However, this is likely to get worse–not better–as Japan has big ambitions to increase visitor numbers even more over the decade to come.

In short, you don’t want to delay visiting for years in search of the “perfect” time. Trust us, the most likely response to your first Japan trip will be, “why didn’t we do this sooner?!” and most definitely not “we should’ve waited longer.” We hear for the former all the time, but never the latter.

Planning a trip to Tokyo Disney Resort? For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Tokyo Disneyland & DisneySea Trip Planning Guide! For more specifics, our TDR Hotel Rankings & Reviews page covers accommodations. Our Restaurant Reviews detail where to dine & snack. To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money post. Our What to Pack for Disney post takes a unique look at clever items to take. Venturing elsewhere in Japan? Consult our Ultimate Guide to Kyoto, Japan and City Guide to Tokyo, Japan.

YOUR THOUGHTS

Looking forward to Fantasy Springs at Tokyo DisneySea? What about the new and refreshed seasonal events this year and in 2026-2027? Which additions coming to Tokyo Disney Resort in the coming years are you most excited to experience? Have you been delaying your first visit to maximize seeing new stuff’ or are you waiting until the Fantasy Springs crowds die down? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!