Theme park news: looking ahead to 2026 with groundbreaking rides and other resort expansions in the works

Welcome back! We’re running this week’s theme park news roundup a little differently. This week, we’re zooming out to look at theme parks across the country with recently-announced projects slated for completion in 2026. Next year is shaping up to be an exciting one, with groundbreaking rides, resort expansions, and much more on deck. If you’ve been considering a visit to regional parks other than the major industry players, 2026 could be your year. Let’s catch up on what was announced this week and compliment them with a selection of previously-announced, highly anticipated additions to theme parks nationwide.

Newly announced: Dollywood – NightFlight Expedition

One of the two major announcements that took place this week comes out of Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, where Dollywood announced what was behind the $50 million expansion — the park’s biggest investment ever, larger than the entirety of its DreamMore Resort that opened 10 years ago. In the spring of 2026, Dollywood will open the world’s first-ever hybrid indoor family coaster and whitewater river raft ride, NightFlight Expedition.

NightFlight Expedition combines four types of ride experiences into one as riders go on a quest through the Smoky Mountains in search of bioluminescence. 

DOLLYWOOD TO MAKE HISTORY IN 2026 WITH NIGHTFLIGHT EXPEDITION

Newly announced: SeaWorld Orlando – SEAQuest: Legends of the Deep

Not to be outdone, SeaWorld Orlando also made a massive announcement this week: the addition of a brand-new, first-of-its-kind suspended dark ride called SEAQuest: Legends of the Deep.

Details are a little more vague as of this writing, but the reaction is one of excitement from theme park fans looking for more dark ride experiences at SeaWorld Orlando. According to SeaWorld, guests will “discover dazzling ecosystems, legendary sea life, and breathtaking stories of resilience and wonder.” The ride is scheduled to open sometime in 2026.

Previously announced: Universal Studios Hollywood: Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift

Over on the West Coast, all eyes are on Universal Studios Hollywood. Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift is an upcoming roller coaster with a groundbreaking 360-degree rotation of the individual vehicles. With top speeds of 72 mph, it’s a major dose of thrill that’s being added to the park in 2026. The new coaster will launch sometime in 2026.

THREE THINGS THAT SURPRISED ME AT UNIVERSAL EPIC UNIVERSE

Previously announced: Silver Dollar City Resort

New rides aren’t the only thing that’s coming to theme parks across the country in 2026. Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri, is preparing to open its first-ever resort hotel and the first theme park resort in America’s Heartland: Silver Dollar City Resort.

Scheduled for completion in late 2026, Silver Dollar City Resort will feature 262 rooms with sweeping views of the surrounding Ozark Mountains and Table Rock Lake. Also found in the resort will be a full-service restaurant, an indoor and outdoor pool, and 17,000 square feet of of indoor and outdoor meeting space.

The resort is part of a half a billion dollar investment plan over the next decade for Silver Dollar City, so expect to hear more exciting news in the years to come!

LEARN MORE ABOUT SILVER DOLLAR CITY

Rapid-fire news!

• Walt Disney World and Shanghai Disneyland launched the temporary overlays at TRON Lightcycle/Run in anticipation of the opening of TRON Ares. The red-hued lighting effect and Nine Inch Nail soundtrack will be featured on TRON Lightcycle/Run for a limited time.
• It’s time to start planning for the holiday season at Walt Disney World! This year’s Candlelight Processional now has a full schedule of celebrity narrators. New guest speakers include Constance Wu, Jennifer Garner, Leslie Uggams, Henry Winkler, Lauren Daigle, Joel Smallbone, Brie Larson, and Sheryl Lee Ralph. Candlelight Processional dining packages will be available for booking on October 14.

• The Disney Destiny departed Meyer Werft’s shipyard late in the night on September 19 as it begins her Ems River conveyance. The next stop expected this weekend is Eemshaven, Netherlands. The Disney Destiny’s maiden voyage is scheduled for November 20, 2025.

• Disney Vacation Club announced a new lineup of Moonlight Magic after hours events for the remainder of 2025 and into 2026. The new dates are as follows:
  • Animal Kingdom: Oct. 29, 2025; Nov. 18, 2025; Dec. 15, 2025; Jan. 20, 2026
  • EPCOT: Feb. 12, 2026; Sept. 10, 2026
  • Disney California Adventure: Feb. 23, 2026
  • Disney’s Hollywood Studios: April 22, 2026; July 20, 2026
  • Typhoon Lagoon: June 25, 2026; Aug. 4, 2026

START BUDGETING YOUR 2026 DISNEY WORLD VACATION TODAY!

Theme Park News: Looking Ahead to 2026 With Groundbreaking Rides and Other Resort Expansions In the Works originally appeared on The World of Spark.

More from FamilyVacationist: