What's opening when in 2020 at Disney's theme parks?

December 31, 2019, 1:56 PM · More than a dozen new rides and shows will open at Disney's theme parks around the world in 2020, highlighted by a major expansion at Tokyo Disneyland, a new Marvel-themed land at the Disneyland Resort in California, and Disney's first-ever Mickey Mouse ride at Walt Disney World. Let's look at the official schedule of opening dates for new Disney theme park attractions in the new year.

January

17 - Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance at Disneyland

The west coast installation of Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge gets its copy of the land's flagship attraction on January 17. It's a clone of the wildly successful hybrid dark ride at Disney's Hollywood Studios in the Walt Disney World Resort. Review of Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance (with queue and on-ride video)

17 - Awesome Planet at Epcot
17 - Beauty and the Beast Sing Along at Epcot
17 - Canada Far and Wide at Epcot

On the same day, back at Disney World, Epcot continues its multi-year transformation with three new film attractions: two in World Showcase and one in the future World Nature neighborhood. Awesome Planet replaces the Circle of Life movie in The Land, and Canada Far in Wide is the new CircleVision 360 movie in the Canada pavilion. But Beauty and the Beast will run in rotation with the current Impressions de France film. Sneak peek at Beauty and the Beast Sing Along

February

28 - Magic Happens at Disneyland

Disneyland gets its new daytime parade at the end of the month, featuring a new theme song from Todrick Hall.

March

4 - Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway at Disney's Hollywood Studios

Disney's first ride attraction themed to its original star opens in the Chinese Theatre at Disney's Hollywood Studios on March 4. Sneak peek at Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway

20 - Drawn to Life at Disney Springs (Previews. World premiere on April 17)

Later that month, Walt Disney World's new Cirque du Soleil production opens for previews in the old La Nouba theater in Disney Springs. The show officially premieres on April 17.

Tokyo Disneyland expansion

April

15 - Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast at Tokyo Disneyland
15 - Mickey's Magical Music World at the Fantasyland Forest Theatre in Tokyo Disneyland
15 - Minnie's Style Studio at Tokyo Disneyland
15 - The Happy Ride with Baymax at Tokyo Disneyland

Tokyo Disneyland opens its largest expansion on April 15 with four new attractions, including a new Beauty and the Beast-themed mini-land expansion of the park's Fantasyland.

Spring

HarmonioUS at Epcot

There's no official opening date yet for Epcot's new nighttime spectacular on the World Showcase Lagoon, but the replacement for IllumiNations (and the fill-in Epcot Forever) is slated to open sometime in the spring.

Summer

Avengers Campus at Disney's California Adventure
Castle of Magical Dreams at Hong Kong Disneyland
Remy's Ratatouille Adventure at Epcot

That leaves three big projects for this summer, including an expansion of the former Sleeping Beauty Castle at Hong Kong Disneyland, a clone of Walt Disney Studios Paris' Ratatouille trackless dark ride in the France pavilion at Epcot, and the new Marvel-inspired land that is taking over the former A Bug's Land space at Disney California Adventure in Anaheim. Sneak peek at Remy's Ratatouille Adventure

What are you most looking forward to from Disney in the new year?

Replies (6)

December 31, 2019 at 2:21 PM

Compared to the last couple of years, 2020 doesn't hold as much anticipation for me. We're going on an out-of-sequence trip to WDW at the end of January, but probably won't be back again until at least late 2021 or maybe 2022.

I guess for me Ratatouille holds the most excitement, because I maintain that MMRR will be probably be underwhelming. I also think Avengers Campus will not be the big hit that everyone thinks it will be, and will do little to improve attendance at DCA. Ultimately, the expansion at Tokyo Disneyland holds the most promise, but it's unlikely I'll visit that park in the foreseeable future.

You know it's a down year for the US parks when the most interesting projects are shows and restaurants.

December 31, 2019 at 5:38 PM

DHS opened 'Rise of the Resistance' and 'Smuggler's Run'. People are flocking to the park.and that will continue well into 2020. FOP is still boasting two hour waits.

No. It's not going to be a "down year for the US parks."

December 31, 2019 at 6:57 PM

I would hardly call MMRR an uninteresting project. I’ll be sure to be the first in line to tell Russell “I told you so” when MMRR is a rousing success.

December 31, 2019 at 9:04 PM

Without a doubt Rise of the Resistance and the Avengers Campus are the most I’m excited about since Disneyland is my home Park. I disagree with those who have low expectations of the Avengers campus. Idk if the Spider-Man ride will wow me but I looking forward to a new land and Mission Breakout finally not looking so out of place. As for the rides at the other parks the one I’m most excited about is the Beauty and the Beast ride at Tokyo Disneyland even though I’m unlikely to go back to Asia this year. The Rat ride looks cute but doesn’t do much for me and I can wait for the Mickey Mouse ride to open at Disneyland.

January 1, 2020 at 3:34 PM

I visited Disneyland Paris this past year. The Ratatouille ride is excellent. THe ride view is from the perspective of being the size of a rat.

January 2, 2020 at 5:30 PM

Honestly, I'm most excited about the transformation of Hong Kong's castle. It'll no longer be a clone of Disneyland's, and will be a totally new icon for the park.

It'd have been nice if they had the forethought to add a restaurant, a la Cinderella's Royal Table at MK. All 5 people who visit the park could dine there.

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