Orlando never stops changing, and 2026 has already delivered some of the biggest openings in years. AttractionTickets.com rounds up exactly what's new, what's reopened, and what's still ahead at Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, SeaWorld, Busch Gardens and LEGOLAND Florida, so you know precisely what you'll find when you land.
Quick takeaways:
- Universal Epic Universe now offers 14 days of unlimited park-to-park access on the Universal Orlando All Parks Ticket - a huge upgrade on 2025's one-day entry.
- Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad are both open at Walt Disney World, with Big Thunder's height requirement now lowered to 38".
- Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run has a brand-new Mandalorian and Grogu mission, live since May 2026.
- Universal Celestial Goodnight, a new nightly fireworks and fountain show, debuts at Epic Universe on 7 July 2026.
- LEGOLAND Florida's first indoor coaster, Galacticoaster, has been open since February 2026.
Universal Orlando Resort
Universal Epic Universe's 14-day unlimited ticket is the single biggest reason to plan an Orlando trip around Universal this year. AttractionTickets.com's Universal Orlando All Parks Ticket gives guests 14 consecutive days of park-to-park access to Universal Studios Florida, Universal Islands of Adventure, Universal Volcano Bay and Universal Epic Universe - a major step up from 2025, when Epic Universe access was limited to a single day!
If you're arriving between 20 October 2026 and 24 March 2027, Volcano Bay closes for refurbishment, so you'll book the Universal Orlando Three Park Adventure Ticket instead. It covers the same 14-day unlimited access to the other three parks at a lower price, since Volcano Bay isn't included.
| Ticket | Arrival dates | Parks included | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Universal Orlando All Parks Ticket | 1 Jan - 19 Oct 2026 / 25 Mar - 31 Dec 2027 | Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, Epic Universe, Volcano Bay | Trips that include the water park |
| Universal Orlando Three Park Adventure Ticket | 20 Oct 2026 - 24 Mar 2027 | Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, Epic Universe | Autumn/winter trips (Volcano Bay closed for refurbishment) |
New for summer 2026: Universal has confirmed Universal Celestial Goodnight, an all-new nightly spectacular at Epic Universe, launching 7 July 2026. The show combines roughly 600 synchronised light fixtures, over 350 fountains and a fireworks finale across Celestial Park - the central hub linking all five of the park's lands. It's the first nighttime show built specifically for Epic Universe since it opened in 2025, and it's best watched from the Celestial Park waterfront.
Walt Disney World Resort in Florida
Several of Walt Disney World's most-anticipated 2026 projects have already opened their doors. Here's where things stand if you're booking now.
Rock ‘n’ Rollercoaster Starring The Muppets
- Location: Sunset Boulevard, Disney's Hollywood Studios
- Status: Open since 26 May 2026
- Format: Indoor launch coaster, 3 inversions, retheme of the former Aerosmith version
The classic launch coaster now sends guests speeding to help The Electric Mayhem make their biggest concert yet, with new Audio-Animatronics of Scooter, Statler and Waldorf repurposed from the former Muppet*Vision 3D attraction. One of five songs plays at random each ride, featuring covers performed by the band with guest artists including Jennifer Hudson, Questlove, Def Leppard and Kelly Clarkson.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
- Location: Frontierland, Magic Kingdom
- Status: Reopened 3 May 2026 after a 16-month refurbishment
- Height requirement: Lowered from 40" to 38"
Big Thunder Mountain returned with a full track rebuild, refreshed trains and a new underground sequence called the Rainbow Caverns, where the train passes through phosphorescent pools and glowing rock formations. The lowered height requirement means more younger riders in your party can now experience the attraction.
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
- Location: Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, Disney's Hollywood Studios
- Status: New mission live since 22 May 2026
The ride now ties directly into Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu, with Hondo Ohnaka recruiting flight crews to help Din Djarin and Grogu track down ex-Imperial officers across three possible destinations: Bespin, Coruscant, or the wreckage of the second Death Star. Engineers can also check in on Grogu mid-mission.
The Walt Disney Studios Lot (formerly Animation Courtyard)
- Location: Disney's Hollywood Studios
- Status: Courtyard and Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live open since 26 May 2026; the indoor Magic of Disney Animation experience is still targeting late summer 2026, but there is no confirmed date yet
The reimagined courtyard now nods to the real Walt Disney Studios lot in Burbank, complete with character handprints in the pathways. Once it opens inside the former Star Wars Launch Bay building, The Magic of Disney Animation will add an interactive, "Once Upon a Studio"-inspired experience exploring Disney's animation history.
Still worth experiencing if you missed them in 2025
If you didn’t make it to Walt Disney World Resort in 2025, there’s plenty of new entertainment for you still to experience in 2026 too, including,
- Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away - a new nighttime parade in Magic Kingdom Park (debuted July 20th 2025)
- Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After - a new stage show in Disney’s Hollywood Studios (opened May 27th 2025)
- Zootopia: Better Zoogether! - a new show in Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park (opened November 7th 2025)
SeaWorld Orlando
SEAQuest: Legends of the Deep
A brand new attraction will be opening in 2026 at SeaWorld Orlando - SEAQuest: Legends of the Deep. This will be a suspended dark ride and is a first of its kind for SeaWorld, featuring a smooth, gliding motion system that will move guests between different themed environments as if they were travelling through the sea. This attraction will be part of a new, expanded area of the park, and while there’s no official opening date just yet, we can’t wait to experience it!
Busch Gardens
Edge of Africa’s Lion & Hyena Ridge
The newest addition to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay will not only be great for you as a guest visiting in 2026, but it will also give some of the animals that call the park home even more freedom to explore, interact and thrive! This new expansion of Edge of Africa will have a grand new entrance featuring a serene water feature and naturalistic Kopje rock formations, four shaded glass viewing structures with 270-degree views of the new habitats, and up-close animal interactions. The two new habitats will span nearly 35,000 square feet, featuring multiple enrichment zones and rotating spaces that will support the physical, social and mental wellbeing of each animal.
LEGOLAND® Florida Resort
Galacticoaster
- Status: Open since 27 February 2026
- Format: Indoor family coaster, LEGOLAND Florida's first since 2011
Set in the new LEGO Galaxy land, Galacticoaster lets riders customise their own spacecraft across four build stages before it appears on-screen during the ride itself. It's designed for riders of all ages, with the park's Chief Engineer character, Biff Dipper, hosting the pre-show briefing.
How many days do you need in 2026?
With Epic Universe's 14-day ticket now in play alongside a fully reopened Big Thunder Mountain and the new Walt Disney Studios Lot, a one-week Orlando trip is tight if you want to properly cover both Disney and Universal. A 14-day combo ticket gives you the flexibility to experience the newly reimagined Disney classics and return to Epic Universe more than once, without rushing.
If you're travelling in autumn or winter, build in time for Halloween Horror Nights at Universal and Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom - both consistently rank among the best-reviewed events of the year, and they run alongside the Universal Three Park Adventure Ticket window from 20 October.
Want to experience all this and more in 2026? Book now for 2026 arrivals, including our Orlando combo tickets that will give you access to up to 13 different parks across Walt Disney World Resort, Universal Orlando Resort, and the SeaWorld Parks.
