This weekend’s D23: The Ultimate Fan Event yielded a flood of announcements from around the Disney universe, but none were more anticipated than the plans revealed on Saturday night during the Disney Experiences Showcase. Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro took the stage to announce a slew of new lands, attractions, dining and cruise ships, much of it with a bare minimum of detail.
The internet will spend the next several weeks dissecting every comment and piece of concept art to try to make sense of it all, and we’ll likely join in as well. But for those who just want a simple overview of what was announced – plus the where and when to whatever degree it was revealed – we have that here for you. I’ve also included links to the Disney Parks Blog announcements where available.
The lengthier dive into how – and possibly WHY!?! – will come later as Alan and I compare notes.
Disneyland Resort
We did not hear anything specifically regarding the Disneyland Forward project, or how Disney plans to use the new zoning permissions approved by the Anaheim City Council. Still, there are at four new attractions and two major refurbishments in the works in Anaheim, with D’Amaro promising, “Plans are drawn. Dirt is moving. I just want to be clear about this: We are doing everything you’re going to hear tonight.”
Disneyland
“Walt Disney – A Magical Life” will open sometime in 2025. The new show at the Main Street Opera House will feature an all-new audio-animatronic figure of Walt Disney. “The Walt Disney Story Featuring Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln” will also reopen in the theater, which is currently closed for refurbishment. Disney says after the debut run of “Walt Disney – A Magical Life,” the two shows will play in rotation. (Disney Parks Blog announcement)
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will officially open at Disneyland on November 15, at which Critter Country will officially reopen as Bayou Country. (Disney Parks Blog announcement). Disney says some areas may reopen earlier. Today Disney also released the menu for the new Hungry Bear Barbecue Jamboree.
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run will be updated in 2026 with a new ride film tied to the upcoming feature film, “The Mandalorian and Grogu.” This change will be made at both Disneyland and Hollywood Studios. (Disney Parks Blog announcement)
Disney California Adventure
The long-awaited third Avengers Campus attraction, announced at the 2022 D23 Expo, now has a name. Aventures Infinity Defense will open at Disney California Adventure. Disney revealed a model of the attraction’s ride vehicle at the Imagineering Pavilion inside the D23 convention floor.
Stark Flight Lab was announced as a surprise fourth attraction for Avengers Campus. The ride appears to be based on the KUKA Coaster platform. Robert Downey Jr. lends his performance as Tony Stark in both attractions. With these two additions, Avengers Campus will double in size, and construction will begin in 2025. (Disney Parks Blog announcement)
The very first attraction themed to Pixar Animation Studios’ “Coco” will break ground in Disney California Adventure in 2026. Based on concept art, this trip into the land of the dead appears to be a boat ride. ( Disney Parks Blog announcement).
Disney has teased an Avatar experience for Disney California Adventure, and now says the area will take visitors to a whole new location on Pandora inspired by Way of Water, Fire and Ash, and “future Avatar films.” One attraction is confirmed, which again appears to be a boat ride into the “wide-open seas of Pandora.” No timing was announced, beyond “in the future.” (Disney Parks Blog announcement.)
Walt Disney World Resort
Big changes were announced for each of the four Florida parks, though the lack of details has many fans concerned for the fate of existing attractions.
Magic Kingdom
The Pirates of the Caribbean-themed tavern first announced at the 2023 Destination D event will open in Adventureland in 2025. (Disney Parks Blog announcement)
A Cars-themed expansion of Frontierland was announced Saturday night, and earlier today, Disney further announced that the “the Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island will be transformed into vast and rugged terrains for a rally race with some of the world’s most iconic racers.”
The expansion will include two attractions, one which appears to be a variation of Radiator Springs Racers, and one described as being “fun for the whole family.” Work will begin in 2025, which Disney says gives fans “plenty of time to experience the charm and nostalgia of Frontierland as it is today.” (Disney Parks Blog announcement)
The first-ever Disney Villains land is also in the works for the space Beyond Big Thunder Mountain, answering the question Josh D’Amaro first posed at the 2022 D23 Expo. No timeline was announced for the multi-acre expansion, which Disney says “will include two major attractions, plus dining and shopping.” Between the Cars and the Villains additions, Disney says this is the largest expansion of the Magic Kingdom to date. (Disney Parks Blog announcement)
Disney Starlight will step out on Main Street, U.S.A. in summer 2025 as the Magic Kingdom finally gets a long-awaited nighttime parade. Disney says the new parade uses the latest technology to “continue the nighttime spectacular legacy started by the ‘Main Street Electrical Parade’.” (Disney Parks Blog announcement)
Hollywood Studios
A Monsters, Inc. land will be built at Hollywood Studios, and include the first suspended roller coaster in a Disney park. The attraction takes riders through the Monsters, Inc. door vault. Concept art also shows what appears to be a play area in the land, and a Harryhousens logo in one corner has fans hoping there will be a restaurant. (Disney Parks Blog announcement)
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run will be updated in 2026 with a new ride film tied to the upcoming feature film, “The Mandalorian and Grogu.” This change will be made at both Disneyland and Hollywood Studios. (Disney Parks Blog announcement)
EPCOT
Test Track will reopen in 2025. Disney says new show scenes will showcase technological advances, and notes that the exterior of the pavilion is a nod to the original design. (Disney Parks Blog announcement)
A new Spaceship Earth-inspired lounge will open in 2025. Based on the concept art, Alan Dalinka believes this will be located in the attraction’s former sponsors lounge, which has not previously been open to the public. (Disney Parks Blog announcement)
Animal Kingdom
A new Tropical Americas land will replace the existing DINOLAND, U.S.A., with two new rides and a retheming of the existing Dinosaur attraction planned.
Replacing Dinosaur is a new Indiana Jones attraction, with Indy exploring a Maya temple on a search for a mythical creature.
Encanto will come to life in a new ride-through attraction which takes us through the rooms of the magical Casita and into Antonio’s rainforest.
The 11-acre land will also include a new carousel featuring carved-wood style animals from Disney stories, and what Disney claims will be one of the largest quick-service restaurants in Walt Disney World. Construction begins this fall and should be complete in 2027.
“Zootopia: Better Zoogether!” debuts in winter 2025 as the newest show in the Tree of Life Theater. (Disney Parks Blog announcement)
Around the World
There was also news for the international Disney parks.
Disneyland Paris
The park will debut a new fireworks show in January, 2025. The show will include projection mapping on Sleeping Beauty Castle and on the buildings of Main Street for the first time. (Disney Parks Blog announcement)
Disney Adventure World, Paris
The renamed second park at Disneyland Paris will get a new area themed to The Lion King, complete with a new flume ride, plus shopping, dining and character meet-and-greet areas. (Disney Parks Blog announcement)
The World of Frozen has previously been announced for this park, and construction is underway.
Shanghai Disneyland
A Spider-Man rollercoaster is coming to the park. No timeline was given. (Disney Parks Blog announcement)
Hong Kong Disneyland
Stark Expo will be expanded with the addition of a new Spider-Man attraction. Based on concept art, this looks to use the same ride system as Disney California Adventure, but with a different story. Again, no timeline was provided. (Disney Parks Blog announcement)
Tokyo Disneyland
“Reach for the Stars”, a new nighttime spectacular, debuts on September 20. (Disney Parks Blog announcement)
Disney Cruise Line
The Disney Cruise Line fleet will expand once more, with four new ships announced on Saturday. When complete, the ships will grow the fleet to 13 vessels. Disney has not provided a timeline for these additions, saying names, designs and itineraries are still in development.
“Disney Hercules” was announced to be the Broadway-style main stage show coming to the Disney Destiny in November, 2025.
The company also provided a first look at “Disney The Tale of Moana,” which will premiere on the Disney Treasure when that ship sails in late 2024. (Disney Parks Blog announcement)
