Disney Confirms Opening Date for Long-Awaited Villains Experience

Disney has confirmed the opening date for its new villains-themed destination at the Walt Disney World Resort, and it’s coming soon.

Last year, Disney revealed that the Lightning McQueen Racing Academy at Disney’s Hollywood Studios would be closing permanently and in its place would be a new villain-themed destination. It was later revealed that the show would be called Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After, featuring beloved antagonists from across the House of Mouse’s 100-year legacy.

While it was previously announced that Disney would be opening the new experience in 2025, a release date was not confirmed…until today.

“You don’t need to wait for a cursed spindle, a litter of puppies, or your motley pirate crew for this wickedness coming soon. Just announced, “Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After” will cast a spell over Hollywood Studios this Summer, starting on May 27, 2025,” Disney Parks Blog officially confirmed on March 26, 2025.

“In this new show, the villains we love to loathe take center stage. To figure out who has been the most misunderstood, the Magic Mirror summons you (yes, you!) to help him decide who’s been the most unfairly treated,” the blog post added. “The likes of Cruella de Vil, Captain Hook, and Maleficent step into the spotlight to make their case about why they’ve been treated the most unfairly over the years. Step into this mysterious realm, where Disney’s most infamous baddies finally get their chance to share their side of the story.”

Disney shared that there will be plenty of showtimes throughout the day for guests to experience and also included an updated look at the stage, which has been developed by a “dedicated team” for over two years.

This is not the only new addition coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios in late May. Alongside the opening of Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After, the new Little Mermaid-inspired show–The Little Mermaid: A Musical Adventure–will also begin performances on May 27.

Further ahead, Hollywood Studios will also lose the Grand Avenue area as guests know it, with the Monsters, Inc. franchise taking over. Monstropolis will officially replace locations like Muppet*Vision 3D and PizzeRizzo, while the Muppets will eventually take over Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith.

As for the villains, Unfairly Ever After is not the only addition to Disney World that will feature these famous and fan-favorite characters. Over the next decade, Disney will overhaul various parts of Magic Kingdom Park, bringing the Cars franchise to Frontierland and the villains to the space commonly known as “Beyond Big Thunder.”

No details have been shared on what villains or attractions this new Magic Kingdom location will include, but Disney has said the developments at its flagship theme park are the biggest expansions in its history.

How do you feel about the new experiences coming to Disney World this summer? Let us know in the comments down below!