Major Destination D23 Announcements Deciphered
Josh D’Amaro hosted a major presentation at Destination D23 where many new and newly revised attractions were announced as well as the details of many attractions already announced. We go into detail and study each of them. We also talk about attractions and other offerings not mentioned at all, yet still very much in the works. And we talk about projects announced only a year go that seem to have gone on the cutting block. In short, there are well over 50 attractions, hotels, entertainment offerings, restaurants, ships and more coming to Disney Parks and elsewhere around the world. There is truly a lot going on and we want to make sure you get the entire big picture along with available details. Join us for major Destination D23 announcements.
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Below is what was shared last summer. At that time only 32 were mentioned compared to over 50 that we now have in the works.
Disneyland Resort
Disneyland
REDO-–Adventureland Treehouse Inspired by Swiss Family Treehouse–No Discussion
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure–Animatronics–See Walt Disney World
Haunted Mansion Queue Changes
Haunted Mansion Exit Store
Magnolia Park
New Star Wars Meet ‘n’ Greets
Pandora–Not Discussed
Disney California Adventure
Hyperion Theater Show–Not Discussed, But Rogers the Musical Is Closed
Avengers Campus Retail/Attraction
At Disney California Adventure Park, a new world-jumping vehicle is coming to the next attraction in Avengers Campus to help transport Super Heroes into the Multiverse. This looks like a Universal Spiderman vehicle in a Guardians of the Galaxy setting. They state the vehicle combines elements of Tony Stark’s time-suits with Xandarian jump points and Wakandan technology.
Downtown Disney & Resort
Pixar Hotel–They noted some 7000 rooms rehabbed in recent years. But no discussion on this hotel
Villas at Disneyland Hotel–Little reference to this.
Downtown Disney–No discussion on this hotel.
Walt Disney World
Magic Kingdom
Hatbox Ghost Coming in Late November–Image is unusual.
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure–Mention of Animatronics
Should include Princess Tiana, Prince Naveen, Louis, Eudora, Charlotte, “Big Daddy,” Mama Odie, the King and Queen of Maldonia, and Prince Ralphie.
Remodel of Pecos Bills–Not Discussed or Referenced
Smellefant–Not Discussed
REDO: Pirates of the Caribbean Themed Lounge
A new Pirates of the Caribbean-themed lounge is coming to Adventureland at Magic Kingdom Park in Florida. This first-of-its-kind experience will extend the story of Pirates of the Caribbean. Imagineers are in the design process now and more details are coming in the future. This is building on the success of the Cantina.
REDO: Country Bear Musical Jamboree
At Walt Disney World, the Country Bear Jamboree is getting new songs and the bears will be performing a new act in 2024!
When the show debuts, the bears will be reinterpreting favorite Disney songs in different genres of country music. Imagineers are envisioning the new experience as a homage to the classic musical revues in Nashville and they’re working with Nashville musicians to get the authentic country sound.
The Country Bear Jamboree will still have the fun and friendly tone fans enjoy with the same famous characters like the loveable Trixie, Big Al and others.
Coco, Encanto and Villains Lair–Chris Beatty, Jennifer Lee and Josh D’Amaro presented all this in 2022. These were alluded to but not discussed further by Bruce Vaughn, who came in the Spring to be the new Chief Creative Officer at Walt Disney Imagineering. Here is what they say:
Future expansion plans for Magic Kingdom in Florida are the largest ever for the park, according to Bruce. Imagineers are looking to tell stories “Beyond Big Thunder Mountain” similar in scale to things like Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and Pandora – The World of Avatar – adding new attractions, restaurants, shows and more! More details to come in the future.
Epcot
World Celebration opens in December
That doesn’t mean that CommuniCore will open at the same time. What will happen is a major landscaping package, a Walt Disney Statue, and a new center fountain.
Moana: Journey of Water Opens on October 16th, 2023
Moana will appear with the attraction in a dedicated meet ‘n’ greet.
Image by Disney.
Return! Figment–Starts Tomorrow!
NEW REDO: Test Track with inspiration from World of Motion
Imagineers along with teams from Chevrolet are reaching back into history for inspiration – from the original World of Motion – and bringing that spirit of optimism to the next iteration of the Test Track attraction! More to come in the future.
New Fireworks Show has a new Title:
The brand-new show that’ll feature fireworks, fountains, lasers, lighting effects and music. Note there is no mention of drones. Other than this, there were NO entertainment offerings announced or discussed.
It was just announced that David Duffy will be coming back to head up entertainment at Walt Disney World from Disneyland Paris. I could see the drones coming to Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
It was announced that some 200 shows had been launched in the last couple of years across the Disney universe. My guess is that includes shows that came back from Covid.
Asha: From the new Disney animated film “Wish” will also soon be coming to EPCOT, Disneyland Resort and Disneyland Paris.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
New Redo: Star Tours. Ahsoka will become part of Star Tours attraction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Florida, Disneyland Park in California and Disneyland Paris – beginning next spring.
Other than Star Tours, nothing else was discussed.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom
NEW REDO: Zootopia taking over the Tree of Life
Gone: Moana & Zootopia
Coming: Encanto, Coco, and Indiana Jones
Walt Disney Imagineering is planning to reimagine Dinoland U.S.A. at Disney’s Animal Kingdom into a new land – inspired by a region sometimes referred to as “tropical Americas.”
As part of their research, Imagineers are looking at some of the most biodiverse areas on the planet in the regions just north and south of the equator here in the Western Hemisphere – the northern part of South America, stretching up into Central America.
This exciting location has been the inspiration for many magical stories over the years!
Walt Disney World Resort
New Polynesian DVC Tower–Slightly Mentioned
New Fort Wilderness DVC Cabins
Disneyland Paris
Disneyland Paris Hotel–Set to reopen the first quarter of 2024
Alice in Wonderland BMX Show–Not mentioned
Rapunzel Addition
Studio 1 Changes–Not Mentioned
Lake Restaurant–Alluded to
Frozen Land
Disney Village Transformation–Not Alluded To
Tokyo Disneyland
Fantasy Springs–The eighth themed port of Tokyo DisneySea will feature Rapunzel’s Forest, Peter Pan’s Never Land and Frozen Kingdom – all inspired by the Walt Disney Animation Studios Films.
Fantasy Springs Hotel
These offerings along with Shanghai, and Hong Kong constitute an entire park the caliber or greater of Epic Universe. It’s just not in Orlando.
Shanghai Disneyland
New Hotel
Zootopia
Hong Kong Disneyland
A World of Frozen
Walt Disney Statue
Other
Covina
Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point
Disney Treasure
Disney Adventure
Want to Sail on the Treasure?
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