The D23 Expo took place at Walt Disney World Resort this past weekend, and man was it jam-packed full of magical announcements! In case you missed it all, we have gathered some of the top updates and announcements so you can get the Disney 411 here, all in one place!
1. Disney Adventure is the name of Disney Cruise Line’s newest ship!
Three new ships are in development, along with Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point – a brand-new island destination! Disney teams are collaborating with talented artists and cultural advisors in the Bahamas to shape an experience that celebrates the one-of-a-kind nation’s natural beauty, traditions, and artistry.
2. At EPCOT, Test Track will be reimagined! 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 details to come in the future!
3. A new nighttime spectacular at EPCOT called “Luminous The Symphony of Us” will debut on Dec. 5, 2023!
4. Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana, will open on Oct. 16, 2023! Journey of Water is a new walk-through experience located within World Nature – the EPCOT neighborhood dedicated to understanding and preserving the beauty and balance of the natural world. Read more about this new attraction here!
Also, on Oct. 16, Moana will arrive in World Nature and appear in her dedicated space near Journey of Water.
5. At EPCOT, the World Celebration neighborhood will begin welcoming guests this December! World Celebration will unite the front of the park, tying together the other two new EPCOT neighborhoods, World Discovery and World Nature. Completingf the last of the park’s three neighborhoods will be the latest major milestone multi-year transformation of EPCOT.
6. A new Pirates of the Caribbean-themed lounge is coming to Adventureland at Magic Kingdom Park! 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.
7. At Walt Disney World, the Country Bear Jamboree is getting new songs, and the Bears will be performing a new act in 2024! The bears will be reinterpreting favorite Disney songs in different country music genres. Imagineers envision 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.
8. 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. The ride vehicle features a design that combines elements of Tony Stark’s time suits with Xandarian jump points and Wakandan technology.
9. Hatbox Ghost is coming to the Haunted Mansion attraction in Florida in late November! Hatbox Ghost will materialize in the Haunted Mansion as you pass the attraction’s Endless Hallway.
10. Asha, from the new Disney animated film “Wish,” will also soon be coming to EPCOT, Disneyland Resort, and Disneyland Paris.
11. Ahsoka will become part of the popular Star Tours attraction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Florida, Disneyland Park in California, and Disneyland Paris beginning next spring.
12. Figment will begin meeting guests inside the Imagination Pavilion at EPCOT starting Sept. 10!
13. 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!
14. A new show based on “Zootopia” is being created for the Tree of Life theater at Disney’s Animal Kingdom! The current concept for the new “Zootopia” experience has guests visiting the different biomes you only glimpse in the film, traveling along with Judy Hopps, Nick Wilde, and other characters. Imagineers are currently finalizing the concept and more details will be coming in the future.
So much exciting news and updates! Next year, the D23 Expo will be headed back to Anaheim, California, BUT there will be a bit of a change. D23 Day on Aug. 4, 2023 will be celebrated at Angel Stadium for the Los Angeles Angels vs. New York Mets game. There will also be a D23 kickoff event at Disneyland Resort on Aug. 8. Exhibits, panels and presentations will take place on Aug. 9 – 11 at the Anaheim Convention Center during the day with additional evening activities at the Honda Center. Tickets for the upcoming D23 fan event will go on sale in spring 2023, and additional details for the convention will also be announced early next year.
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