Walt Disney Company CEO Josh D’Amaro toured construction at Walt Disney World with Walt Disney Imagineering. He walked Monstropolis at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Tropical Americas at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Disney’s Lakeshore Lodge on Bay Lake. D’Amaro shared the visit in a new Instagram post, saying there is “an incredible energy” at Walt Disney World right now. All three projects are set to open in 2027.
I got to walk Monstropolis, Tropical Americas and Disney’s Lakeshore Lodge with our Imagineers, hear what they’re dreaming up, and watch it become real. The ideas, the details and the stories are all coming together, and seeing it in person makes me even more excited for what’s ahead.
He also thanked the Imagineering team and said their “imagination and creativity knows no limits.”
D’Amaro took over as CEO of The Walt Disney Company from Bob Iger on March 18, 2026. Before that, he ran Disney’s parks, resorts and cruise ships as chairman of Disney Experiences, and he once served as president of Walt Disney World. All three projects were announced while he was in charge of the parks. They are part of Disney’s plan to spend $60 billion on parks and cruises over 10 years. Now he gets to see them come to life as CEO. We looked at his path to the top last December.
Monstropolis: The Monsters, Inc. land is replacing the old Muppets Courtyard at Hollywood Studios. The first coaster track is in, and the storefronts are getting brick, trim and colorful shingles. The first phase opens in 2027 with the Welcome to Monstropolis show at the Glob Theater, Harryhausen’s and Archie’s Scare Pig Pizza, the Monsters University Alumni Club and the Scareporium shop. The suspended door coaster comes later. Imagineers Michael Hundgen and Scott Mallwitz have been the faces of the project. See our latest Monstropolis photos.
Tropical Americas: The land replacing DinoLand U.S.A. at Animal Kingdom will have the Encanto Casita with an Encanto ride inside, El Carrusel de los Animalitos and Indiana Jones and the Myth of the Jade Serpent. A big stone arch is up, the village buildings are getting roofs and the carousel’s first carvings match the concept art. Joan Hartwig leads the creative team, and Disney Legend Joe Rohde, who designed Animal Kingdom, is helping out. It is set to open in 2027. See our latest Tropical Americas photos.
Disney’s Lakeshore Lodge: The new Disney Vacation Club resort on Bay Lake has 967 rooms, including Lake Houses themed to Brother Bear, and a water taxi to Magic Kingdom. Imagineers have already installed giant otter figures at its pool area. It opens July 1, 2027, and reservations are open now. You can even see the whole resort as a 3D model at Walt Disney Presents. See the Lakeshore Lodge model.
We have been watching these sites almost every week, and it is fun to see the CEO walk all three in one trip. Monstropolis, Tropical Americas and Lakeshore Lodge all open in 2027, so next year is going to be a big one at Walt Disney World. Catch up on everything coming in Disney’s 2027 fiscal year.
