Disney Parks Updates from D23 in Anaheim, CA
D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event is a one-of-a-kind, multi-day Disney, Marvel, Pixar, Star Wars fan experience showcasing stars, storytelling, innovation, news and more from across all the various worlds across the Walt Disney Companies.
One of our favorite and one of the most-anticipated panels this year was the Disney Experience Showcase (formally called the Disney Parks panel), where major developments to Disney’s theme parks, cruise line and more are announced! This year at the Horizons showcase, Josh D’Amaro said “everything we’re going to share is in ACTIVE development. This isn’t Blue Sky.” This means, plans are drawn, and dirt is moving!
Here are highlights from some of the exciting announcements shared at Saturday’s 2024 Disney Experience Showcase at the Honda Center in Anaheim we feel our MAT families are going to be excited about!
With all of the talk about the Epic Universe opening in 2025, many fans have been anticipating what will be coming next from Walt Disney World. Plenty of rumors have been going around for months in anticipation for Disney’s next steps in Orlando, and now we do not have to wait ANY longer!
Walt Disney World - Magic Kingdom D23 updates
Josh D’Amaro, Chairman of Disney Experiences teased us something could be coming “Beyond Magic Kingdom” a little while back with a blue sky idea that could include Encanto, Coco or Disney Villains, now we have answers!
The Pirates of the Caribbean-inspired lounge announced for Adventureland last year will open in 2025 and is expected to be right next to the Pirates of the Caribbean ride where the pirate makeovers used to take place where construction walls are currently up.
In Summer 2025, a brand new nighttime parade called Disney Starlight is coming to Disney’s Magic Kingdom! This parade will be focused on Disney dreams brought to life by the magic of the Blue Fairy and will feature moments from Peter Pan, Encanto, Frozen and more!
Cars “land” is coming to a re-imagined Frontierland in which construction will begin in 2025; but this cars integration will not be like the Cars area in Disneyland. This will be an exploration of the American Wilderness with 2 new attractions, one the whole family will be able to enjoy and one will take you off-roading through the mountains.
AND WE ARE GETTING A VILLAINS LAND in Magic Kingdom with 2 brand new attractions, dining, shopping and more!!! We are beyond excited for the confirmation of this project which is already in development!
Walt Disney World - Animal Kingdom D23 updates
Previously at D23 in 2022, Disney announced they would be re-theming DinoLand U.S.A. and at Destination D23 it was shared the land would be re-imagined after the “tropical Americas” with Encanto and Indiana Jones attractions possibly under development. Now we have full confirmation, approved plans, and dates!
Construction on the transformation of Dinoland USA into “Tropical Americas” will start THIS FALL (2024) but will be done in phases so we can still ride Dinoland a little longer.
Included in the new land:
– A Indiana Jones attraction which will replace Dinosaur eventually will be based on a COMPLETELY NEW story, and will NOT be a copy of the Indiana Jones ride in Disneyland.
– Pueblo Esperanza will be the new entrance to this land
– a beautiful new Carousel themed with animals from Disney movies will be featured
– The first Encanto themed attraction to be featured in a Disney Park and you will experience CASITA on the day where Antonio receives his gift!
It was also previously announced that a new Zootopia show would be replacing It’s Tough to Be a Bug in the Tree of Life Theater, and it will open WINTER 2025 and be called Better Together.
Walt Disney World - Epcot D23 updates
It was previously announced that Test Track would be reimagined in partnership with Chevrolet to be more inspired by the legacy EPCOT attraction, World of Motion. That construction has already began and the newly reimagined Test Track is now slated to open in 2025.
There is a new Spaceship Earth inspired lounge also opening in 2025.
Walt Disney World - Hollywood Studios D23 updates
You will get to tour the Laugh Factory and zoom through the door vault from Monsters Inc in the first suspended coaster at a Disney Park! Construction starts in 2025, and we CAN NOT wait!
Also, announced by Dave Filoni a “Mandalorian and Grogu” story is being developed for the Millennium Falcon ride!
Disneyland - D23 Updates
With the DisneylandForward project approved by Anaheim’s City Council in May 2024, we figured there would be some exciting initial information coming forward about the project. DisneylandForward was presented as theme park attractions, dining, parking, infrastructure, entertainment and housing improvements and here is what the D23 panel had to say about what is coming next to the Happiest Place on Earth!
Disneyland’s 70th Anniversary will be celebrated in 2025 (more details to come in the coming months)
The new Avatar experience will be coming to California Adventure (no date given) but plans are already underway and will be based on the second and third movies, Avatar: Way of Water and Avatar: Fire and Ash. The artist renderings shown were INCREDIBLE and will “bring all the action all the excitement and all the wonder of avatar to life in a completely new and thrilling way” in what appears to be a boat ride that sails through dense forests, bioluminescence flora but opens up into open seas and it looks like nothing we have seen before!
The first EVER Coco attraction will break ground at Disneyland’s California Adventure in 2026 and is inspired by classics like the Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean. The artist rendering looks like a boat ride as well and will feature the latest in audio and animatronic technology.
One of the most exciting announcements, a brand new show for the Main Street Opera House called Walt Disney A Magical Life that feature for the first time, an audio animatronic Walt Disney! EEEEEEEK! No date yet, but we will keep you posted.
We have an opening date for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure in Disneyland- November 15th, 2024!
Avenger’s Campus is DOUBLING in size with the addition of 2 new attractions that will begin construction in 2025:
-Avengers Infinity Defense, which we knew was coming but we received an additional surprise 4th attraction!
-Stark Flight Lab
Disney Cruise Line - D23 Updates
There has been a significant investment into new ships by Disney Cruise Line, with the addition of the Disney Wish sailing in 2022, the Disney Treasure in 2024 and the Disney Destiny sailing in 2025.
Last week, there was a lot of information shared about what the Disney Treasure will offer when bookings open next month. In addition to the brand new rotational dining experience, Pride Lands: Feast of the Lion King being announced, it was announced the Beauty and the Beast and Disney’s Seas the Adventure who be performed on the Disney Destiny, but the third show was mysteriously kept secret.
No more waiting needed! A brand new show, Hercules is coming to the Disney Destiny when she sails beginning in 2025!
And we are getting 4 NEW DISNEY CRUISE SHIPS expected to deliver from 2027-2031, bringing the total number of ships in the Disney Cruise Line fleet to 13! An incredible expansion for one of our favorite ways to experience the magic of Disney, on a Disney Cruise.
A Great, Big, Beautiful Tomorrow with Disney Parks and Experiences!
As you can see there are lots of exciting things coming to Walt Disney World, Disneyland and Disney Cruise Line and we can’t wait to watch these projects develop for enjoyment by our MAT families!
Don’t worry, your MAT Travel Advisors will stay on top of all the changes and exciting updates at the Disney Parks, Disney Cruise Line, Aulani, Adventures By Disney and National Geographic Expeditions so you do not have to!
If you are ready to experience a little Disney magic on your next vacation, or to get onto the waitlist for a future trip, reach out to your MAT Advisor, or if you don’t have one already, start a conversation with us here and I will help find the best Advisor for you!
