Lots of Walt Disney World Announcements! But What’s Coming at D23?

Several weeks ago D23 put out their agenda for their upcoming event being held the last weekend of August. Surprising to so many was the fact that there was no parks panel. In the interim, Walt Disney World came forward with a press event a few days ago giving insight and updates on a large number of attractions and offerings coming the “Most Magical Place on Earth”. We’ll dissect all of these announcements–and they are really fun announcements–and then look at the D23 agenda to see if something is happening far beyond what has already been announced. With this comes an overview of what the Beak and Barrel looks like, as it opened this last weekend. If you love all things Walt Disney World this is a very interesting moment in time. Join us as well look at these Florida announcements and wild predictions of announcements that could come from the upcoming D23 event.

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Play ‘n’ Preview: Walt Disney World Announcements

Walt Disney World Portfolio Executive Creative Producer Michael Hundgen presented and reminded everyone of what is going on throughout Walt Disney World.

Zootopia–Better Zoogether

• The message is focused on how we are all connected together. Story takes place on Zoogether today (Earth day meets New Years Day). All of it is intended to really tied to the Tree of Life.
• 9 minute attraction.
• Glasses are referred to Carrot-Vision from Hopps Family Farm
• New scent–but not a stink smell
• Heidi Howler–This is a new character and sounds like she is greeting guests in the queue with different posters shown
• During the show you visit places like
  • Tundratown Ice Ballet
  • Marsh Market with the Marshmaids
  • Little Rodentia with the Shrew Angels
  • Sahara Square with Gazelle singing “Try Everything”
• Benjamin Clawhauser, Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde are all in the show
• We are “Zoonighted” song for the finale.
• New meet ‘n’ greet spot that is considered a tail gate party. It includes new costumes (Nick has the tie that Judi gave him at the end of the first film.
• Opens on November 7th 2025
• Film is coming this Fall.

Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin

• Buddy is the robot being added as a support robot that gives mission tips and helps you test out your blasters.
• All new vehicles are being added to the attraction.
• Blasters come off of the vehicle.
• There are two different lights from the blasters. Plus new sounds and feel
• Targets will get a glow-up as you go through

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

As you take off into the miner cave. There are warning signs. as you turn the corner there will be hundreds of bats staring at you. You come into the rainbow caverns. With the beauty of nature there is a crack of thunder that takes over the caverns which turns to an eerie red tone, before sending you out.

Barnabas T. Bullion plays into the story as the owner. As he rules with a golden fist the mountain pushes back. Unexplained things are happening as they try to extract the gold.

More on the concluding scene at a later date. The attraction opens next year. Part of refreshing classic attractions.

The Magic of Disney Animation

• Inspired by Once Upon a Studio. This space mirrors the Roy E. Disney Animation Building in Burbank
• New animated short film with a new twist.
• New space called “Drawn to Wonderland” themed to the Tulgey Wood. Much of it is inspired by Mary Blair’s original renderings
• Animation courtyard will be transformed to align with the original Burbank Studio. This means that a new Studio sign similar to the Burbank Studios will be added and the original Disney-MGM Studios gate will be removed. This will tend to open up the courtyard more to people visiting.
• A new Disney jr. Show will be added as well. No mention of Bluey, but that is expected in the future.

Of great interest is that the poster reflects many of the films created at the Disney-MGM Animation Studios such as Hercules and Mulan. But a new version of the poster has added Robin Williams as one of the Lost Boys of Neverland.

By the way it will be interesting what will come of the portion that looked over the new Animation studios during its last years. It was a window view of an open space in that studio. Of course animation is long gone and they are offices used for different purposes. But with that view and the glass, you could do some fun things to make characters come to life. It currently sits behind a wall showing Star Wars models.

Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run

• All this is tied to the new movie on May 22nd based on Mandolorian
• It is tied to the Mandolorian and Grogu
• This is more interactive and with better graphics than ever before
• Engineer position gets to communicate with Grogu and most importantly pick the location which could include the
  • Visit the cloud city of Bespin
  • See the Wreckage of the Death Star
  • Fly over the City of Coruscant

Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Muppets

• Kermit and the gang visited to share what was happening with this new attraction.
• Title is Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring the Muppets
• The giant guitar has a vibrant psychedelic look on the guitar
• There is a nod to Dr. Teeth’s golden tooth on the piano sitting at the base of the guitar.
• Electric Mayhem is in the recording studio. Penguins play as engineers. Kermit and Miss Piggy play a cameo roll via video.

• Scooter has to get you to the concert. Scooter is an animatronic in the pre-show. It’s an interesting nod since the original Muppet Vision show was supposed to have a heavy dose of Scooter. His uncle, J. P. Gross wanted to diversify his real estate portfolio and bought the record label. You could say that he puts the G in G-Force Records.
• The band is vocally harmonizing “various tunes” during the ride.
• While not mentioned, expect the car outside to be rethemed perhaps with a keyboard added. At least the poster suggests it.
• No discussion of when it opens or when Aerosmith closes. Probably after the holidays.
• With Muppets, Animation and Millennium Falcon (not to mention the new shows this year) the Studios will have a great plussed up-offering by this time next year. This leaves big questions for Epcot going into 2026.

Beak and Barrel

Over the weekend Beak and Barrell opened to social media enthusiasts.

• This same week Beak and Barrel opened with grand social media presence
• Jack is not welcomed there until he squares away his tab
• There are several spaces within this setting:

The Mess. So named as it once was a mess hall for Spanish soldiers before it was claimed by a cunning crew of pirates.

Cursed Bar. This is a skull-shaped bar anchored to the side of The Mess. It’s here we find Rummy, a parrot stepping out to offer a story, joke or song from his main roost inside the skull.

Captains’ Quarters. A higher quality of tavern–perhaps more a lounge than tavern. Once the private residence of the Spanish Comandante, it offers artwork and rich drapery along with an elegant fireplace. There in lies small vessels in bottles that seem to come alive on their own.

Captains’ Booths. These intricately carved wooden panels can be found throughout this area as well.

Mapmaker’s Room. Finally there is a setting where you find maps all over the this section, and with that comes many treasured secrets that were held by a crazed pirate cartographer.

The essence of this is that there are many facets of Beak and Barrel that will make you want to come back again and again.

Finally, A world about Cool Kid Summer–Being repeated next year, though attendance at Epcot is sparse every time I go into it. The challenge with what is happening to Epcot next year is something that has not been spelled out. Cool Kid Summer is not Epcot’s solution.

Upcoming D23 Event

There is no formal Parks & Resorts panel for this event at Disney’s Coronado Springs. But there is a thought that the entire program may have announcements sprinkled in. Let’s consider what they might be.

Walt Disney Studios Showcase–This could bring in several opportunities to talk about cinematic ties to the park:

• Avengers films and their tie to both attractions being created at Disney California Adventure
• Coco has a far away announcement for 2029 given this last March, but again a possible tie to DCA
• The Lion King coming to Paris might be addressed here, as well as in the later France event.
• Could have more about the Magic of Disney Animation–though it was already addressed last week

Three Caballeros: From El Gringo to Goodwill Classics–Two events in the program–each only 10 minutes. Could it open up an announcement about Brazil finally coming to Epcot. But I would have thought it might have been announced at D23 in Brazil last year. Still, who knows?

Disney Around the Globe: India–Potentially fascinating topic. Five minutes for the entire presentation. Weird. I don’t see a park being announced here, but like Brazil, it’s been one of the most likely possibilities for a World Showcase Pavilion.

Creating the Happiest Place on Earth–30 minutes. Probably tied to the new book. Could again be a vehicle for discussing upcoming Disneyland projects.

What’s Cooking with Disney Eats? Fairly big 45 minute discussion. Could new restaurant offerings be discussed? What about the original Tiana’s offering for the Lakeshore Lodge?

Part of Our World–40 minutes. Could be anything park related covering any corner of the globe. Or something like Cars Road Rally coming to Frontierland. Also possibilities include Spaceship Earth, Figment or more.

Disney Around the Globe: France–5 minutes. Again short like India, but could include some quick update from their parks.

Beyond the Spires: An Insider Look at Disney Castles. Could there be more about the castle for Abu Dhabi?

Disney Icons, Villains of Evil–45 Minutes. Clearly a window to talk about the upcoming Villains Land. If nothing was discussed, it would be surprising.

NOTE: D23 Gold Members who are unable to attend Destination D23 will have the opportunity to catch the panels, presentations, and more through a livestream, which you can access on the D23 website. Currently, the link will take you to a D23 Gold Theater countdown for the event.

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