UPDATED September 6, 2026

BEWARE… there is something wicked on the way to Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom. In August 2024, Disney officially announced that Magic Kingdom is expanding the theme park with a brand new Villains Land!

In September of 2022, Disney announced a “blue sky” project — “Beyond Big Thunder Mountain” — that would potentially bring a NEW land (or possibly lands) to Magic Kingdom. Then, in April of 2024, Disney shared that the first steps had been taken to begin this massive expansion. Finally, in August 2024, Disney confirmed that a previously-hinted-about Villains Land is indeed becoming a reality!

VILLAINS LAND IS CONFIRMED FOR MAGIC KINGDOM AT #D23!!! pic.twitter.com/KvJegH7utx

— Disney Food Blog (@DisneyFoodBlog) August 11, 2024

The “dark and thorny” new land — or perhaps we should say, new LAIR — will be home to those famously evil Disney Villains and might just make happily ever “feel like just a distant dream,” according to Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro.

Click on any of the links below to hop to a Villains Land section:

• Stepping Into Villains Land — The Story
• Villains Land Attractions
• Villains Land Location
• Villains Land Characters
• Villains Land Behind the Scenes
• Villains Land Timeline

Stepping Into Villains Land

At D23: The Ultimate Fan Event in August 2026, Disney shared that the entrance to Villains Land will take a page from classic fairytales, in which the real journey often begins when characters stray from the safe path into a foreboding forest.

Upon entering Villains Land, you’ll encounter a Wishing Well with a dark twist. Disney explained the backstory of the Wishing Well: “Once upon a time, someone made an evil wish here – a wish so evil it corrupted the stone and broke open the structure, spreading the Well’s poisoned magic throughout the forest.”

But, as you might anticipate, the magic of the Well is hard to resist, especially to those with — shall we say — ill intentions. So the villains have come to this place in an attempt to claim the last of the Wishing Well’s power.  Disney said, “Villains Land will be shaped by those who have used this dark magic to conjure the perfect new lairs for themselves. These mighty fortresses and gleaming palaces not only reflect the personality of the villains who own them, they invite guests into a tantalizing treasure trove of treats, trinkets, and more temptations.“

Villains Land Attractions

So, what’s coming to Villains Land?

When the project was initially announced, it was shared that TWO major attractions, along with new dining and shopping experiences will be presented “on an incredibly twisted grand scale.”

Maleficent-themed Roller Coaster

Further details were revealed at D23: The Ultimate Fan Event in August 2026. Disney confirmed that a Maleficent coaster will headline one of the land’s attractions.

Guests “will come face-to-face with the Mistress of All Evil herself, Maleficent. You’ll race through enchanted briar surrounding her frightening mountaintop fortress – if you’re feeling brave enough to answer her invitation.”

Disney also shared that the attraction will be complete with elements they’ve never attempted before on similar rides, and has since provided a behind-the-scenes look at the design of the attraction including a complete look at a model. 

Dark Ride Featuring the Magic Mirror

There will also be a dark ride in Villains Land hosted by the Evil Queen’s Magic Mirror! Yes, that Evil Queen, of course, whose best-known quote from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs remains, “”Magic Mirror on the wall, who is the fairest one of all?”

But she is not alone… Disney shared that “you’ll find the Magic Mirror where the Evil Queen keeps him in the catacombs beneath her pristine palace. After making your way to him, he’ll magically transport you into his mystical Mirror Realm to see things on the other side of the mirror.  There, in his ethereal realm, you’ll be transfixed by countless Disney Villains conjured in ways only the Magic Mirror can do. A combination of special effects and physical set pieces will bring his Mirror Realm – and these iconic Villains – to life.”

Among those “countless Disney Villains” that can be spotted in the concept art above include Jafar, Dr. Facilier, Ursula, Cruella, and Scar, so far!

Villains Land Location

So, where will Villains Land be located in Magic Kingdom? According to the Disney, “guests will be able to venture Beyond Big Thunder Mountain into an all-new land dedicated to Disney Villains. Inspired by the wicked characters fans know and loathe, the multi-acre expansion will include two major attractions, plus dining and shopping. Walt Disney Imagineering is pushing creative boundaries to dark and mysterious levels to bring this new, first-of-its-kind land to life.”

There is some land past Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (which is in Magic Kingdom’s Frontierland) that has been deemed suitable for new construction.

That’s right — Villains Land will literally be located beyond Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.

This massive new Villains-themed land, together with the also-announced Cars expansion coming to Magic Kingdom’s Frontierland, will make up the largest expansion in the history of Disney World’s original theme park. 

As D’Amaro teased, “Be prepared, you poor unfortunate souls, it’s going to be a fearless new vision for what a Disney experience can be.”

Villains Land Characters

At D23: The Ultimate Fan Event in August 2026, Disney shared that while the overarching story of Villains Land is brand new, the characters you find throughout the land may feel familiar since Imagineers are referencing classic characters from Walt Disney Animation Studios as inspiration. Basically, we can look forward to a new adventure with an original take on some iconic baddies!

In November 2024 at the D23 Brazil event, Disney presented a glimpse at the Villains that serve as the inspiration for Villains Land! Let’s take a look at this photo posted by @omelete.

I spy with my little eye… the Queen of Hearts, Jafar, the Evil Queen, Yzma, Cruella, Captain Hook, Maleficent, Gaston, Mother Gothel, Ursula, Hades, Chernabog, and Maleficent as a Dragon.

According to Entertainment Weekly, the new land will is where the villains have been summoned to converge in one place. Chairman of Disney Experiences Josh D’Amaro said, “In our story, a mysterious spell has been cast, summoning villains from every realm. In this land, heroes don’t come to save the day — and there may not be a happily ever after!”

Villains Land — Behind the Scenes

Disney has confirmed that Disney Legend and former animator Andreas Deja — best known for helping to bring some of the evilest Disney Villains to life onscreen, including Gaston, Jafar, and Scar — is officially consulting on the Villains Land project.

In August 2025 at the Destination D23 event, Disney shared about the company’s research trips to draw inspiration from specific architecture to add to the theming of the land, researching certain elements to represent the villains throughout.

Disney Imagineers checked out details such as stained-glass windows and painted metals to determine how to bring the deep jewel tones of the animated villains to life in Villains Land.

They specifically studied the Art Nouveau style, which was big in the late 1800s. Imagineers spoke with local professors and art and architectural historians to bring the details to life. Imagineers loved the natural motifs and swirling designs, and how they reminded them of cursed magic stuck in time.

Ultimately, Disney shares that the Imagineers coined the term “Conjured Architecture.” This term “refers to the blend of historical components and fantastical worlds that have merged to ultimately create something wicked that will be able to be experienced firsthand – a villains-inspired land.”

Villains Land Atmosphere

In addition to the concept art posted above, Disney presented a model in August 2026 at D23: The Ultimate Fan Event.

Called the Dark Forest, these ominous trees will be featured within the Villains Land, and it gives us the first tangible sense of how the vibes might feel in this new Disney World area.

Villains Land Timeline

Disney has not shared a timeline for the opening of Villains Land; however, the company has confirmed that preparation is already underway at Magic Kingdom. In April 2024, Disney confirmed that permits were going to be filed for storm drainage and other foundational work, and the permit — Project 407 Basin Stormwater Modifications — was approved in February 2025. This means that work is officially happening NOW on this new land!

Preparations are already underway at Magic Kingdom where Villains Land will join the existing Main Street, U.S.A., Fantasyland, Tomorrowland, Liberty Square, Frontierland, and Adventureland!

We CAN’T WAIT to share EVERYTHING about this positively frightful new land as it is revealed. In the meantime, find a COMPLETE GUIDE to Disney World’s Magic Kingdom HERE!

Looking for the latest news about Villains Land? Click any of the links below!

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Disney Reveals Storyline and Character Inspirations for New Villains Land

BREAKING: Ride Name and Details Announced for New Catacombs Dark Ride in Villains Land!

Name REVEALED For Villains Land In Magic Kingdom

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