What’s Coming To Disney World, Disneyland And Disney Parks Worldwide
This weekend at the D23 Expo, we learned just what magical things are coming to not just Disney World and Disneyland but to all of the Disney Parks worldwide. As the world begins to slowly return to normal, Disney Parks took us all on a magic carpet ride and showed us sneak peeks as to what the future has in store for Disney World, Disneyland as well as the other Disney Parks and Disney Cruise Lines. Walt Disney once said, “If you can dream it, you can do it.” And as the D23 Expo came to a close in Anaheim, never has his vision been more alive as we were first to see beyond the curtain as to just what big dreams are waiting for guests who visit Walt Disney World, Disneyland, and around the world. Here’s a look at just some of the magic that we can expect to see, some starting this week!
Walt Disney World
The “Most Magical Place on Earth” is known for inspiring imagination and creating unforgettable memories for generations. Well, get ready because the magic at Walt Disney World Resort is flourishing with all-new attractions, the return of fan favorites, and the addition of beloved characters. Here is a glimpse of the magic that is coming to Walt Disney World as shared by Disney Parks, Experiences and Products Chairman Josh D’Amaro.
Dazzling Additions to Magic Kingdom Park
Ready to begin … Those words will fill the air with the popular anthem “Happily Ever After” when an updated nighttime spectacular lights up the skies at Magic Kingdom Park in 2023.
That won’t be the only addition lighting up the skies at Magic Kingdom Park. Neon lights and speeding lightcycles will fill Tomorrowland as your chance to enter the grid with TRON Lightcycle / Run arrives in spring 2023. Now you’ll finally be able to climb aboard your very own Lightcycle and race through a dark, computerized world alongside your family and friends. As you swoop and swerve throughout the course, your team will compete to be the first to race through eight Energy Gates and claim victory.
Foolish mortals, prepare yourselves for a new happy haunt at the Haunted Mansion. The Hatbox Ghost has heard your calls and will materialize next year and is already one of the Happy Haunts in residence in The Haunted Mansion attraction at Disneyland Resort in California.
Are you ready to head down the bayou? Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will take you along with Princess Tiana, Prince Naveen, and their friends as they host a party at Tiana’s Place for the people of New Orleans. It’s up to you to help find the missing ingredient when this exciting new attraction opens in late 2024.
The Transformation of EPCOT Continues
The multi-year transformation of EPCOT will soon reach another major milestone with the completion of the World Celebration neighborhood in late 2023. With lush, green space for you to relax, plus the opening of Communicore Hall and Communicore Plaza, this central location in the park will be the new home for festivals and the perfect space to gather with family and friends. It will also be home to Dreamers Point, an inspiring new area where you can view the new Walt Disney statue called “Walt the Dreamer.”
Over in World Nature – the EPCOT neighborhood dedicated to understanding and preserving the beauty, awe, and balance of the natural world – we’re excited to share that Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana, will also open in late 2023. The new exploration trail will allow guests to learn about the story of water on our planet. As you may have seen through Moana’s bond with the ocean, water has a mind of its own, and you’ll get to interact with it throughout this attraction.
Imagination has always been a core theme at EPCOT, with attractions and experiences that push the boundaries. There’s one key character who always comes to mind when we think about imagination, and he’s coming to life in a whole new way by the end of next year. That’s right, you’ll be able to meet Figment in person at EPCOT.
As we look ahead to the future and the celebration of the Walt Disney Company’s 100th anniversary, there will be an all-new nighttime spectacular for EPCOT. The new show is currently in development and will debut late next year, carrying on the park’s legacy of inspiring nighttime entertainment that unites guests around World Showcase Lagoon.
Disneyland
Avengers Campus opened at Disney California Adventure in June 2021 with two attractions, Guardians of the Galaxy — Mission Breakout and Web Slingers: A Spider-Man Adventure. The newest attraction coming to the Marvel-themed land does not yet have a name or an opening date, but it does have an original storyline and a supervillain from the multiverse. Riders will join the Avengers in a battle against bad guys from everywhere and everywhen, including King Thanos — an all-new multiverse variant designed specifically for Avengers Campus.
Since the land’s opening, Disney has consistently added new meet-and-greet characters; this is thanks to new Marvel movies hitting the theaters and series such as “Loki” and “Moon Knight” debuting on Disney+. During the presentation, representatives introduced the newest Avengers Campus walkaround character: a life-size Incredible Hulk. Hulk isn’t a robot or animatronic. Instead, Disney developed a full-body exoskeleton, allowing a performer to assume the identity of everyone’s favorite big green guy while walking through the parks and interacting with guests. Hulk will be making appearances at Avengers Campus for a limited time beginning in mid-September.
Also in Disney California Adventure, the Pacific Wharf area that is currently themed as a California fishing port is going to receive a “Big Hero 6” makeover. The area will take on the look of San Fransokyo (the fictional city that served as a setting for the 2014 animated film); it will have new spots to shop and eat and a Baymax meet-and-greet.
In November 2021, Disney announced that Mickey’s Toontown would close in March 2022 for a major refurbishment. During the presentation, we learned that the land will reopen in 2023 with Disneyland’s version of Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway and other additions designed just for families.
Last May at Star Wars Celebration it was announced that Din Djarin and Grogu — better known as the Mandalorian and Baby Yoda — would be coming to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in Disneyland and starting in mid-November guests can meet Mando and Grogu as they join Rey, Chewbacca and all of our other Star Wars favorites.
And it’s back! The Magic Happens parade first made its debut at Disneyland just before the start of the pandemic in early 2020 and now the daytime parade will finally make a triumphant return to Disneyland in early spring 2023.
Disneyland And Walt Disney World
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
Disney has been slowly releasing details of Splash Mountain’s “The Princess and the Frog” makeover at Disney World and Disneyland since the re-theme was announced in the summer of 2020. In July of this year, we learned the name would be Tiana’s Bayou Adventure and would be a continuation of the 2009 hit animated film.
There will be new and returning characters, a New Orleans setting, and a soundtrack of toe-tapping jazz. Although an opening date has yet to be announced, we do that the attraction will be making a splash in Florida and California in late 2024, according to the announcement at the D23 Expo.
Next year marks the 100th year of The Walt Disney Company and Disneyland. Disney parks across the globe will join in the celebration, but Disneyland will serve as the home for the magical centennial. In honor of the special occasion, Disneyland will debut two new nighttime spectaculars in late January 2023. Wondrous Journeys will light up the area around Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland Park, featuring fireworks, an all-new original song, and nods to all 60 Walt Disney Animation Studios to date.
World of Color — One will run nightly at Disney California Adventure’s Paradise Gardens Park with music, projections, fountains, and pyrotechnics.
Disney Parks Worldwide
Frozen is the word of the day when it comes to Disney Parks throughout the world with not one, not two but three Frozen-themed expansions with the first one opening next year at Hong Kong Disneyland with Frozen land opening in late 2023 and a full reimaging for Space Mountain over at Tokyo Disneyland.
Over in Disneyland Paris, a Frozen-themed land will be making its debut alongside a Tangled-themed attraction. Frozen’s presence in Tokyo Disney Resort will be a little different; instead of a full-fledged land, it will be integrated into the Fantasy Springs expansion alongside Tangled and Peter Pan.
Additionally, the Zootopia expansion coming to Shanghai Disneyland is still underway, though it does not have an opening date just yet.
Disney Cruise Line
The magic doesn’t stop with just the Disney Parks because we’re taking to the high seas with the newest addition to the Disney Cruise Line with the Disney Treasure which will be setting sail in 2024, immersing guests in an adventure-themed setting inspired by Asia and Africa — as well as the fantasy land of Agrabah, from Disney’s Aladdin. The main statue at the center of the atrium will feature Aladdin, Jasmine, and the Magic Carpet.
Before that, however, Disney cruise lines will offer limited-time engagements in Australia and New Zealand in late 2023, as well as launch the line’s first South Pacific voyages.
With all of this and so much more, what new magic are you the most excited to experience for yourself at Disney World, Disneyland, and Disney Parks across the world and on the high seas? And to think it was all started by a mouse.
