While it seems like there’s always something exciting going on in the wonderful world of Disney, 2018 might just be their biggest year yet. Those planning to visit Walt Disney World in Florida or Disneyland in California this summer can expect to find many new additions at both parks. These additions include new rides, new events, and even new areas added to the beloved parks, giving families the chance to make new memories they’ll treasure for years to come. You might want to go ahead and book an extra night just to make sure you’ll have enough time to see it all!

At Walt Disney World, the toys are taking over; the ones from Pixar’s classic Toy Story film series, that is! This year marks the opening of the much-anticipated Toy Story Land, which will serve as an 11-acre addition to the existing Disney’s Hollywood Studios park.

Like the movies it’s based on, Toy Story Land is larger than life, literally. Visitors to this new part of the park will feel like they’ve been shrunk down as they explore a large-scale recreation of Andy’s backyard. It features towering statues of characters like Woody and Buzz Lightyear, along with Toy Story-themed attractions like the Slinky Dog Dash roller coaster and Alien Swirling Saucers, where riders have to dodge alien invaders attempting to catch them with a giant mechanical claw.

Walt Disney World’s West Coast counterpart will be seeing its fair share of grand openings in 2018 as well, the grandest of which being Pixar Pier in Disney California Adventure. The pier will be made up of themed areas modeled after some of Pixar’s most popular films, including Toy Story, Inside Out, and The Incredibles, whose long-awaited sequel, Incredibles 2, is slated for release in June of this year.

Unlike Toy Story Land, Pixar Pier is not an addition but rather a replacement for Paradise Pier, a part of the park which opened back in 2001. As such, many of the existing rides at Paradise Pier are in the process of being re-themed. This re-theming entails major updates to Mickey’s Fun Wheel, the park’s landmark Ferris wheel, and California Screamin’, which is set to become the Incredibles-inspired Incredicoaster.

To coincide with the opening of Pixar Pier, a series of Pixar-themed events spanning both of the resort’s parks, dubbed Pixar Fest, will be taking place daily. In true Disney fashion, Pixar Fest is poised to be an explosive jamboree, complete with character meet and greets, parades, extravagant nighttime fireworks displays, and more.

Want to know more about these and other exciting things to look forward to this year in Disney parks all over the world? Check out this list from loveEXPLORING as well as the official Disney Parks Blog. Also, if you’re planning to try and save money during your upcoming visit to Walt Disney World, this article from Hotels4Teams should definitely come in handy: How To Have an Amazing Trip to Disney World on a Budget. Happy travels on your trip to the happiest place on earth!