Villains Land is a new themed area coming to Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. Announced at the D23 Expo in August 2024, the expansion will bring Disney’s most iconic villains to life through immersive attractions, dining, and shopping. Construction is underway, and while no official opening date has been announced, this is one of the most anticipated additions to Magic Kingdom in years.
Table of Contents
- What Is Villains Land?
- When Was Villains Land Announced?
- Where Will Villains Land Be Located?
- What Rides and Attractions Will Villains Land Have?
- When Will Villains Land Open?
- How Does Villains Land Fit Into Disney’s Expansion Plans?
- What About the Rumored Plan Changes?
- What This Means for Magic Kingdom Visitors
- Shark Take
- FAQ
What Is Villains Land?
Villains Land is a brand-new themed land coming to Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. It will be dedicated entirely to Disney’s roster of classic animated villains, the characters fans love to hate. Think dark, theatrical, and unlike anything currently in Magic Kingdom’s lineup.
When Josh D’Amaro (then Chairman of Disney Experiences, now incoming CEO effective March 2026) unveiled the project at D23 2024, he set the tone: “This new land will be home to the villains you know and loathe.”
The confirmed plans include at least two new attractions alongside dining and shopping experiences built around villain IP. The announcement was one of the most talked-about moments of the entire D23 Expo, and for good reason, Magic Kingdom hasn’t seen a major new land in years.
When Was Villains Land Announced?
Disney officially announced Villains Land at the D23 Expo in Anaheim, California, in August 2024. The reveal was theatrical, the presentation included a live performance of “Trust in Me” from The Jungle Book, setting a tone that was dark, dramatic, and deliberate.
D’Amaro made the announcement during Disney Parks’ D23 presentation, drawing one of the biggest crowd reactions of the event. The announcement confirmed the land is coming specifically to Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World, not to Disneyland or any international park.
Since the initial announcement, Disney has not released additional official details about specific attractions, timelines, or design specifics beyond what was shared on stage at D23.
Where Will Villains Land Be Located?
Villains Land will be built behind the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad area of Magic Kingdom. This puts it in the back corner of the park, adjacent to Frontierland, an area that has historically been underutilized compared to the park’s more central sections.
The location makes both logistical and thematic sense. It’s tucked away from the park’s classic Main Street approach, which helps sell the idea of entering a darker, villain-centric environment. Aerial photos from early 2026 confirm construction activity in the area, per reporting from CNET in February 2026.
The specific footprint and how it connects to the existing park layout hasn’t been officially detailed by Disney. What’s clear is that ground has been broken and the project is moving forward.
What Rides and Attractions Will Villains Land Have?
Disney has confirmed that Villains Land will include at least two new attractions, along with dining and shopping. The specific ride concepts, names, and which villains they’ll feature have not been officially announced.
Based on the D23 presentation and Disney’s track record, the expectation is that these will be substantial, headline-worthy attractions, not just walk-through experiences. The theatrical nature of the reveal suggests Disney is approaching this land with serious creative ambition.
Here’s what’s officially confirmed about Villains Land’s offerings:
- At least two new attractions (ride concepts unannounced)
- Dining (themed to the land’s villain IP)
- Shopping (merchandise and retail experiences)
- Villain characters from classic Disney animated films
Any specific ride names, capacity estimates, or attraction types circulating online are unofficial speculation at this point. I’ll update this page as Disney releases more details.
When Will Villains Land Open?
Disney has not announced an official opening date for Villains Land. As of February 2026, there is no publicly confirmed timeline for when the land will welcome guests.
Construction is underway, confirmed by aerial photo reporting through early 2026. Given the scale of a new land build at Magic Kingdom, land clearing, infrastructure, show building construction, ride installation, and soft opening preparation, a realistic estimate puts opening no earlier than 2027, though that is not confirmed by Disney.
Disney typically announces hard opening dates 6 to 12 months in advance for major park additions. Until that announcement comes from Disney directly, any specific opening year should be treated as speculation.
How Does Villains Land Fit Into Disney’s Expansion Plans?
Villains Land is part of Disney’s broader $60 billion global parks investment announced over the next decade. This is the largest capital commitment in the company’s parks history, and it spans both Walt Disney World and Disneyland, along with international properties.
Magic Kingdom hasn’t received a major new land since New Fantasyland opened in phases between 2012 and 2014. Villains Land represents Disney finally going big at its flagship park, and the timing is not a coincidence.
Universal’s Epic Universe opened in Orlando in May 2025, bringing five entirely new themed worlds to Universal’s footprint. That’s a direct challenge to Disney’s dominance in the Orlando market. I’ve covered the full scope of Universal’s new park in the Epic Universe Complete Guide, the competition is real, and it’s significant.
Villains Land, alongside other announced expansions across Walt Disney World, signals that Disney is not treating Epic Universe as a minor competitive threat. The $60 billion commitment is a direct response to the changing competitive landscape in Orlando.
Josh D’Amaro, who championed much of this expansion vision at D23 2024, was later named incoming Disney CEO, effective March 2026. His promotion, covered here in the D’Amaro CEO announcement, reinforces that parks expansion is a company-wide strategic priority, not just a parks division initiative.
What About the Rumored Plan Changes? (Unconfirmed)
In February 2026, several fan outlets published reports suggesting that Disney’s initial plans for Villains Land may have been revised and expanded. BlogMickey and Len Testa (of TouringPlans) both reported that sources indicated the original scope had been reworked to make the land “bigger and bolder.”
WDWNT subsequently reported that these claims were exaggerated, suggesting the plans were already ambitious from the start and hadn’t been fundamentally changed.
Important context: None of these reports are from official Disney sources. Disney has not officially commented on any changes to Villains Land plans, and the company has not confirmed or denied any of the details in these fan blog reports.
The only confirmed information about Villains Land remains what was announced at D23 in August 2024: a new land behind Big Thunder Mountain, featuring villains from classic Disney films, with at least two attractions plus dining and shopping.
I’m noting these rumors because they’re trending and readers deserve to know they exist, but framing them as anything more than unconfirmed fan blog speculation would be inaccurate. I’ll update this page if Disney makes an official statement.
What This Means for Magic Kingdom Visitors
If you’re planning a trip to Magic Kingdom in the near term, Villains Land is not yet open and won’t affect your visit. Construction is happening behind the scenes in the Big Thunder Mountain area, but existing attractions, pathways, and experiences remain accessible.
For future trip planning, here’s what to keep in mind:
- No rush to delay a trip, there’s no confirmed opening date, and Disney World is worth visiting now with or without Villains Land.
- Watch for official Disney announcements, when a hard opening date is set, Disney will announce it. Any specific date circulating before that is not official.
- Expect high demand at opening, Disney’s new land openings historically generate massive crowd surges. Planning a trip for opening months will mean larger crowds and longer waits.
- Disney’s overall investment timeline is long, the $60 billion plan spans a decade, meaning multiple phases of additions and upgrades are coming to Walt Disney World beyond just Villains Land.
Shark Take
Here’s my honest read on Villains Land: this is the most interesting thing Disney has put in development for Magic Kingdom in over a decade, and the competitive pressure from Epic Universe is exactly why it’s happening now.
Magic Kingdom has relied on legacy IP and nostalgia for years. The Fantasyland expansion gave it new rides, but nothing that fundamentally changed the park’s identity. Villains Land has the potential to do something different, to attract an audience that isn’t just there for the princess castles and classic dark rides. Villain fans are passionate, merchandise-buying, repeat-visit guests. This land will serve them well.
The Epic Universe factor is real. Five new worlds opening a few miles down I-4 is not something Disney can ignore, and Villains Land, along with the rest of the $60 billion pipeline, is the clearest signal that Disney isn’t planning to cede ground. Whether the execution matches the ambition is what matters. The D23 presentation was theatrical and genuinely exciting. Now the build has to deliver.
The rumor churn around plan revisions doesn’t concern me much. Major theme park projects get refined constantly during development, that’s normal. If the land ends up bigger and bolder than originally conceived, that’s good news, not a problem. The only version of this story that would be worth worrying about is one where Disney significantly reduces scope, and there’s no credible evidence of that right now.
FAQ: Villains Land at Magic Kingdom
Is Villains Land officially confirmed?
Yes. Villains Land was officially announced by Disney at the D23 Expo in August 2024. The announcement was made by Josh D’Amaro (then Chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products) during the parks presentation. It is a confirmed project, currently under construction at Magic Kingdom.
What is the official opening date for Villains Land?
Disney has not announced an official opening date for Villains Land. As of February 2026, no timeline has been confirmed. Construction is underway, but any specific opening year you see online is speculation, not an official Disney statement.
Which villains will be featured in Villains Land?
Disney has not officially announced which specific villains will be featured in the land’s attractions. The D23 presentation confirmed that it will feature “villains that you know and loathe” from classic Disney films, but no individual characters have been officially confirmed for specific attractions.
Will Villains Land have roller coasters or thrill rides?
Disney has confirmed at least two new attractions for Villains Land, but has not specified ride types, intensity levels, or attraction formats. The details of what those attractions will be have not been officially announced.
Is the “scrapped plans” story about Villains Land true?
Reports about plans being revised or expanded come from fan blogs, BlogMickey and WDWMagic, not from Disney. Disney has not officially commented on any changes to Villains Land plans. Treat those reports as unconfirmed rumors until Disney makes an official statement. The only confirmed facts remain those from the D23 2024 announcement.
Where exactly is Villains Land being built in Magic Kingdom?
Villains Land is being built behind Big Thunder Mountain Railroad in Magic Kingdom’s Frontierland area. Construction activity in that area has been confirmed by aerial photography reported in early 2026.
Will Villains Land be at Disneyland too?
The announced Villains Land is specifically for Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World in Orlando. Disney has not announced a Disneyland version of this project.
Related Articles
- New Magic Kingdom Land Announced at D23: Villains Land Coming
- Breaking: Josh D’Amaro Named Disney CEO
- Epic Universe Complete Guide: Everything You Need to Know
This article is a living hub page and will be updated as Disney releases new information about Villains Land. Last updated: February 2026.
