Disney dropped so much theme park news during this year’s D23 they magnitude of news would have exceeded even the Dreamfinder’s wildest imagination. And he was one of them! Whether you’re a Disneyland regular, Walt Disney World fanatic, or love visiting Mickey around the globe, there was plenty to get excited about. Here’s everything the Mouse House announced at D23 that we think matters, as well as insights we picked up from the convention floor and what we think it all means.
DISNEYLAND NEWS
Disneyland’s Tomorrowland Is FINALLY Getting a Major Overhaul
To put it as politely as possible, Disneyland’s Tomorrowland leaves something to be desired. Mostly because it has left a whole lot of buildings empty or abandoned. Every years fans have expected Disney to announce a major overhaul of the park’s most underwhelming land. Every year – nothing. Until now. This is a much, much, much needed update/upgrade/reimagining. And Disney says it’s doing exactly that for the park’s 75th anniversary, which is just four years away, so expect a whole lot of work to begin sooner than later.
Some fans were upset Disney provided very few specifics about what it actually has planned for Tomorrowland. But it’s no surprise they held back. This announcement is big enough on its own. And the Mouse House will draw a whole new round of stories when they share more details well after D23. That’s the point. Disney knows how to generate excitement and coverage, and that often comes from holding back information.
The New DCA Coco Ride
Disney’s first-ever Coco ride is already under construction at DCA in Anaheim, but D23 provided our best look yet at what to expect when the family-friendly attraction with no height requirement opens. The ride’s story takes place one year after the first film (a sequel is on the way). It looks absolutely gorgeous. Coco’s Land of the Dead is one of the most beautiful locales to ever appear in any Pixar movie. The new concept art and ride description have us confident it will capture all of that beauty while also celebrating both Mexican culture and the film’s themes.
Disney also did something very cool at D23. In the spirit of Coco, it asked fans to write and share their most special memory from Disneyland. Those notes will be placed in the soil of a tree at the attraction. That way you and your loved one can be part of the attraction forever.
Avengers Campus Expansion
We got more details about the massive Avengers Campus expansion well underway at Disney California Adventure. D23 is where we learned more about the gigantic rides that will finally give the Avengers a giant theme park land that matches the franchise’s oversized place in the Disney portfolio. This news was more filling in the gaps on two upcoming attractions we already know a lot about, but what we learned only enhanced our enthusiasm.
Returning Disneyland Shows and a Popular Parade
A “refreshed” version of the former “Remember… Dreams Come True” fireworks show will return to Disneyland in February 2027. As will an updated version of the original “World of Color” over at DCA. But our DL crew gave the biggest thumbs up to the news that next summer will see the “Magic Happens” parade return to Disneyland’s streets during the day.
We hope it’s not long before we report “Paint the Night” will once again light up Main Street U.S.A.
WALT DISNEY WORLD
Dreamfinder and Figment
Figment’s best friend Dreamfinder is finally returning to EPCOT for a renewed Journey Into Imagination ride. This news was so big Disney ended the Experiences Showcase at the Honda Center with it.
This….this made me very happy. I was not alone in those sentiments. The arena erupted at the site of Neil Patrick Harris dressed as Dreamfinder. But I explained why this overhaul has to be bigger than just one ride or returning character: the entire Imagination Pavilion needs a lot of love.
Carousel of Progress Updates
D23’s Imagineering Booth provided a look at costumes, photos, and scene models for the new version of Carousel of Progress coming to Magic Kingdom next year. They also revealed Bryan Cranston and Disney Legend Jamie Lee Curtis will voice Mother and Father in the show.
I spoke to Imagineers working on the attraction, and they told me the development of the new show’s script has included pouring through every single version ever written for the ride. They really love and care about this attraction, its history, and its importance to Disney. My bet is Disney historian’s won’t even find every Easter egg for years.
Spaceship Earth
EPCOT’s geodesic symbol, the majestic Spaceship Earth, is finally getting the update it was supposed to receive before COVID ruined those plans. Disney says the new version of the ride will stay true to the park’s original ethos. Only, instead of focusing on humanity’s history of communication, it will focus on human connection.
That sounds great, so long as the ride still makes sure we thank the Phoenicians.* That is our only “must-have.”**
*If you get that joke you’re a huge nerd and definitely as excited as I am about this announcement.
**Joking. Spaceship Earth’s Project Tomorrow play area is even more dated than the ride. The attraction is still charming and delightful. The play area? No.
Bye Bye Disco Yeti
Expedition Everest’s broken 25-foot Yeti animatronic is finally getting fixed after almost 20 years. This was wholly unexpected and got one of the loudest cheers of the night from the Experiences Showcase crowd. The news is bigger and better than a single animatronic, though. I explained why this is symbolic of a renewed focus on letting Imagineers create the best possible park experience for visitors.
Tropical Americas and Encanto
Disney Imagineering legend Joe Rohde said during his career he tried and failed three times to bring a Tropical Americas land to Animal Kingdom, the park he created. That will finally happen when an Encanto-inspired land replaces the former DinoLand. Some people will miss DinoLand. I will not. It was perfectly executed, sure. It was also perfectly antithetical to what guests want from a Disney experience. Everything Disney showed at D23 about what is replacing it, with a land that will embrace Animal Kingdom’s “realism” theme, made me feel better about Tropical Americas. Early concept art didn’t quite sell me on it the way new art, photos, and information did.
Learning more about the all-heights family-friendly Encanto attraction—named Antonio’s Fiesta de Encanto—also helped. The dark ride will take guests upstairs into the magical house on the day Antonio earned his powers. It will also feature the original cast reprising their voice roles. Most exciting is that I was told by an Imagineer the concept art and description doesn’t come close to capturing how incredible the attraction will really be. He said it’s so much better and innovative than it sounds.
And while I originally thought the area’s previously carousel felt uninspired, seeing some of the ride’s hand-carved seats won me over. They’re based on beloved Disney animals and fit wonderfully with everything else we saw from the land already under construction. It’s going to look specially great at night.
Well, that is the few days of the year’s we’re allowed in Animal Kingdom at night. We still need Disney to find a way to let us see that park when it’s dark. Maybe Tropical Americas will convince them to do exactly that.
The New Indiana Jones Ride
Tropical Americas will also be home to a wholly re-themed ride. The former Dinosaur attraction is getting transformed into a new Indiana Jones ride called Indiana Jones and the Myth of the Jade Serpent. It will see Indy (with animatronics based on Harrison Ford for the first time ever) heading into the Mayan underworld. Mayan mythology says a giant serpent protects that realm.
Having a humongous snake (and we mean humongous, look at that mini model) as the ride’s monster seems like reason enough to choose Mayan culture for the attraction’s theme. But the retired Rohde, who is serving as a consultant on the project, said it was more that the Mayans were an “extremely theatrical storytelling culture.” They also built some very cool temples, which Imagineers went to great lengths to get right with their ride’s exterior. They got it so right the Imagineering legend said a convention of Mayan archeologists broke out into a standing ovation after seeing the temple’s model.
The story for Animal Kingdom’s Indy ride sounds perfect, but if you’re expecting a similar experience to the outstanding Indy ride at Disneyland adjust your expectations. Based on what Imagineers told me, it’s going to be like the old Dinosaur in terms of scope. (We already knew it will use the same ride track.) That means like Dinosaur this Indy ride will traverse a series of smaller rooms without entering a gigantic one like massive lava room that makes Anaheim’s Indy ride one of Disney’s best. But it sounds like the Myth of the Jade Serpent story is designed to work within that setup. Ultimately fans will compare the two rides, which will share many similarities, but if Disney’s World’s Indy succeeds at doing its own thing it won’t matter. It has a chance to be great in a different way.
Piston Peak
We now know what Magic Kingdom’s giant Piston Peak expansion will include. It should put any and all doubt some had to rest. It’s not only going to be great unto itself, I wrote about why it will completely transform Magic Kingdom by turning it’s most underutilized space into one of the park’s best lands.
Villains Land
Speaking of doubt, while rumors and speculation about big changes to Villains Land dominated Disney fansites for the last year, the actual announcement of its two signature rides was so much better than any reports. A giant Malificent coaster and a villains dark ride that will seemingly feature all-new patented tech is everything I wanted and more from this land. We’re getting a scary thrill ride and something new that will incorporate so many great Disney villains.
Our Ella R. Dunn has you covered on the specifics of what Disney shared about the massive Magic Kingdom expansion.
Hollywood Studios’ Monstropolis
The biggest D23 news about Monstropolis is that it will partly open in 2027. Wasn’t expecting that! And while the new animatic we saw for the land’s door coaster makes waiting for that to open even harder, I’d rather get some of Monstroplis sooner than wait for everything to be finished.
While we got some news, new looks at characters, concept art, animatronics, and in-world newspapers, what I found most interesting about Monstropolis is how excited everyone at Disney is for it. Imagineers and executives alike kept telling me they can’t wait for people to see. I was told a big reason why is because it will be among the most interactive/reactive lands Imagineers have ever created.
You know when people are excited for something versus when they are capital “E” Excited for something. Monstroplis feels like Disney is EXCITED for it. (That’s also the impression I got talking to Imagineers about Piston Peak.)
GENERAL DISNEY PARKS NEWS
The Imagineering Story Season 2
One of the best docuseries ever, The Imagineering Story from leslie Iwerks, is finally getting a second season. I actually gasped at this announcement because I’m a huge freaking nerd. Fortunately for me being a huge freaking nerd is my literal job, so you can read all about why I’m so excited for this Disney+ show to come back.
Star Wars, Fortnite, and Galaxy’s Edge
Disney has made an idea Imagineers said they have long hoped to pull off a reality by mixing fictional worlds. Visitors to Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland and Hollywood Studios’ can earn points riding Smuggler’s Run which will then transfer over to bonuses in the video game. This won’t change much for non-gamers in the parks. I have already seen Fortnite fans asking for help from visitors to Galaxy’s Edge, though. So the people this meant for are certainly excited.
DISNEY PARKS AROUND THE WORLD
At D23 Disney also shared new looks at the Lion King ride coming to Disneyland Paris, Avengers lands and attractions planned in Hong Kong Disneyland and Shanghai Disney Resort, the Sugar Rush: Sweet Rescue Wreck-It Ralph ride arriving at Tokyo Disneyland, the Spider-Man land at Shanghai, and new and re-themed Space Mountain attractions set for both Paris and Tokyo.
They all make me wish I had more frequent flier miles to cash in.