Top News From Destination D23: What’s New and What's Next for Disney Parks, Resorts and Disney Cruise Line

Disney Parks, Experiences and Products Chairman, Josh D’Amaro, took the stage at Destination D23 at Walt Disney World today to provide updates and announcements on all the new attractions and experiences coming to Disney Parks, Resorts and Disney Cruise Line. Here, we recap all the highlights.

Walt Disney World Updates

EPCOT

Figment Meet & Greet

Starting Sept. 10, 2023, EPCOT guests can meet fan-favorite dragon Figment in the Imagination Pavilion.

Soarin’ Over California Returns

For a limited time during the DIsney 100 celebration, Soarin’ Over California will return to EPCOT.

Test Track Reimagining

Walt Disney Imagineers in collaboration with teams from Chevrolet will reimagine Test Track, taking inspiration from the original World of Motion.

New Nighttime Spectacular

EPCOT’s new nighttime spectacular, "Luminous The Symphony of Us," will premiere on Dec. 5, 2023.

Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana and Moana Meet-and-Greet Opening Date Revealed

EPCOT’s newest attraction, Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana, will officially open in World Nature on Oct. 16, 2023.

A new Moana meet-and-greet will also debut on Oct. 16 in a new dedicated location across from Journey of Water. 

World Celebration Officially Opens in December

World Celebration, EPCOT’s final new neighborhood to be completed, will officially open to guests in December 2023.

New Asha Meet-and-Greet

Asha, from Disney’s forthcoming animated film “Wish,” will begin appearing “soon” in EPCOT, Disneyland Resort and Disneyland Paris.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Dinoland U.S.A. Reimagining Announced

Walt Disney Imagineering revealed grand plans to transform Dinoland U.S.A. at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Drawing inspiration from "the tropical Americas" region, encompassing the northern part of South America up into Central America, Imagineers are “considering” elements from "Encanto" and “Indiana Jones” for the new land.

New Zootopia Show

A “Zootopia”-inspired attraction will replace “It’s Tough to Be a Bug” at the Tree of Life theater.

Magic Kingdom Park

The Hatbox Ghost Will Finally Materialize

The Hatbox Ghost will debut at the Haunted Mansion at Magic Kingdom Park in late November 2023.

The Country Bears Will Debut a New Show

Country Bear Jamboree will premiere a new act in 2024, featuring new songs inspired by Disney classics.

Pirates of the Caribbean-themed Lounge Announced

A new Pirates of the Caribbean-inspired lounge is being developed for Adventureland. The “first-of-its-kind experience” will continue the storyline of the nearby attraction. No timeline has been shared.

Magic Kingdom to Get Biggest Expansion Ever

A major expansion is in the works “beyond Big Thunder Mountain” at Magic Kingdom Park. Bruce Vaughn, Chief Creative Officer at Walt Disney Imagineering, called the plans “the biggest thing we’ve done in Magic Kingdom — probably even bigger than new Fantasyland.” Vaughn says the expansion will be at a scale comparable to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and Pandora — The World of Avatar, and will include new attractions, shows and restaurants.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Ahsoka Joins New Star Tours Adventures

Beginning in Spring 2024, Ahsoka will appear in new adventures debuting on Star Tours at Disney’s Hollywood Studios as well as Disneyland Park and Disneyland Paris.

Disney Cruise Line

Name Revealed for Seventh Ship

Disney Cruise Line’s seventh ship, setting sail from Singapore in 2025, will be called the Disney Adventure. The new ship will feature Disney, Pixar and Marvel stories.

Name Revealed for New Island Destination

Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point will be the official name for Disney Cruise Line’s new island destination in the Bahamas. Lookout Cay will celebrate “the natural beauty, traditions and artistry of the one-of-a-kind nation.”

Disneyland Resort

Disney California Adventure Park

Disney shared a first look at the ride vehicle for a new attraction in development for Avengers Campus. A “world-jumping” vehicle that will enable superheroes to travel across the Multiverse, the vehicles “combine elements of Tony Stark’s time-suits with Xandarian jump points and Wakandan technology.”

Disneyland Park

As mentioned above, also coming to Disneyland Park are new adventures with Ahsoka on Star Tours in spring of 2024 and an Asha meet-and-greet.

International Parks

Tokyo Disney Resort

Disney shared a new look at Fantasy Springs, set to open in 2024. The new land will include areas like Rapunzel’s Forest, Peter Pan’s Never Land, and Frozen Kingdom.

Hong Kong Disneyland

Earlier this week, Disney announced that World of Frozen will open at Hong Kong Disneyland Resort on Nov. 20, 2023. The land will transport guests to Arendelle and will include attractions Summer Snow Day, Frozen Ever After, and Wandering Oaken’s Sliding Sleighs.

Shanghai Disney Resort

Earlier this week, Shanghai Disney Resort shared details about its upcoming Zootopia-themed land, set to open by the end of the year. The main attraction, "Zootopia: Hot Pursuit," allows guests to join the Zootopia Police Department and embark on an adventure to save Gazelle, who has been kidnapped on the day of her big concert. The new area also offers live entertainment, Zootopia characters, themed food and drinks at Jumbeaux’s Cafe, and shopping at Fashions by Fru Fru.

Disneyland Paris

A "Frozen"-themed land is also in development at Disneyland Paris. Disney also shared the news noted above that Asha will appear for meet-and-greets soon, and Star Tours will introduce new adventures with Ahsoka in spring 2024.

Big Changes Announced for D23 Expo

D23 announced that in 2024, D23 Expo will be replaced by a larger event: D23 — The Ultimate Disney Fan Event. The celebration will be a week long, with core events taking place Aug. 9-11, 2024.

Hall D23 presentations will move to the Honda Center, nearly doubling the capacity.

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