EPCOT and Animal Kingdom Favorites Are Gearing Up for Big Changes

Roller coaster car with passengers racing into a dark icy cavern as a snarling, clawed, wolf-like creature lunges toward the track.

Some beloved Walt Disney World icons are getting ready for their next act—and one of them has considerably more fur than the others.

During the “Horizons: A Carousel of Progress” showcase at D23, Walt Disney Imagineering shared new plans for fan-favorite attractions at EPCOT and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park. Spaceship Earth is due for a reimagining, Dreamfinder is returning to EPCOT alongside Figment, and the Yeti inside Expedition Everest is set to come back to life.

Spaceship Earth Is Ready to Tell a Bigger Story

The giant geodesic sphere at EPCOT is preparing for its next evolution. For the first time in nearly two decades, Spaceship Earth will receive updates that broaden its story beyond human communication to explore the larger idea of human connection.

Disney says the refreshed attraction will keep the optimism and sense of wonder that have shaped its journey for generations, with new touches of Disney magic planned along the way. A grand and miraculous refurbishment, indeed.

Dark faceted sphere under a glowing arc of light and the words THE NEXT CHAPTER BEGINS over a star-speckled background

One Little Spark Brings Back Dreamfinder

Figment will soon have a familiar companion back at EPCOT: Dreamfinder. The original Imagination pavilion dream-chaser, who first brought imagination to life in the pavilion’s original attraction, is returning for a new adventure with EPCOT’s favorite purple dragon.

Details of the new experience have not yet been announced, but the reunion puts Figment and Dreamfinder back together where they belong: in a place where a little spark can still start a very big idea.

The Yeti Is Waking Up at Expedition Everest

Over at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park, explorers should keep a close eye on the Himalayas. The iconic Yeti Audio-Animatronics figure inside Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain will come back to life.

That means the legendary creature waiting deep within the mountain is preparing to make its presence known again. Consider this a polite reminder that the Forbidden Mountain earned its name for a reason.

A giant furry monster lunging at passengers on a roller coaster train racing through a rocky tunnel

Three Big Reasons to Watch What’s Next

These announcements bring fresh momentum to three attractions with devoted followings across Walt Disney World Resort: Spaceship Earth’s reimagined journey through connection, a new Figment and Dreamfinder adventure at EPCOT, and a fully animated Yeti encounter on Expedition Everest.

Disney has not shared opening dates or further details for these projects yet, so the exact timetable remains tucked safely inside the Imagineering workshop. Still, the news is official—and EPCOT and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park have a few very interesting pages ahead.

Your Disney
Dream is Waiting

Let’s turn your wish list into a plan and your plan into an unforgettable vacation. From the first idea to your final day, we’ll make every moment effortless and magical.

Your Magical Journey Starts Here