The Disneyland Resort is going to look VERY different over the coming years, and Disney California Adventure will be at the forefront of that change!

In 2024, it was announced that a new Avatar experience would be coming to Disney California Adventure at some point over the next few years. Thematically different from Pandora — The World of AVATAR located in Disney World’s Animal Kingdom, this unique-to-Disneyland expansion will “bring Pandora to life in a brand-new way,” inspired primarily by Avatar: The Way of Water, Avatar: Fire and Ash and the following sequels. While the land specifics have been scarce, we have learned some fascinating tidbits over the past year-plus, and we’re sharing everything we know so far!

How the layout will look and what kind of shopping and dining options will be available is all still pretty murky. HOWEVER, we do know about a MAJOR ride coming to the land that could take a page out of Shanghai Disney’s highly-touted Pirates of the Caribbean attraction.

Disney has teased an innovative boat ride coming to this new Avatar land — one which will let you explore new areas of Pandora in a “thrilling excursion that will bring all the action, excitement, and wonder of Avatar, taking guests all the way to the wide-open seas of Pandora.” Disney added, “This is going to be a dynamic, intense and emotional experience on a grand scale that we know our guests will love.”

The ride won’t be your average boat ride attraction, featuring “the beauty – and danger – that come along with the journey.” 

In June 2025, Disney confirmed suspicions of where the new land — and this promising attraction — will go. Disney California Adventure doesn’t have an obvious open space to fit a new land, so either expansion or replacement would be needed. Disney is opting for the latter when it comes to this project (although the Avengers Campus and new Coco ride projects will see the map of Disney California Adventure expand). The land could (and probably will) expand the Disney California Adventure walls, but it will also require the sacrifice of a beloved dark ride.

It’s been officially stated by Disney that the Avatar expansion will take over a portion of the current Hollywood Backlot area in Disney California Adventure, meaning we’ll be saying goodbye to Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue! PERMANENTLY in early 2026.

When the attraction closes, a multi-year construction project will begin in the fall of 2026 — but other than that, Disney hasn’t shared any further construction timeframes or more land details.

We CAN’T WAIT to learn more about this new Avatar experience and will share all the details as they’re made known! In the meantime, continue to follow us here at DFB for all the latest Disneyland Resort updates!

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Where are your hype levels at for this new Avatar Land coming to Disney California Adventure? Let us know in the comments!

The post Expansion Plans CONFIRMED for Disney’s NEW Avatar Land first appeared on the disney food blog.