Coming out of the annual D23 fan event, Disney is sharing a ton of exciting announcements that will touch every corner of Disney Parks destinations around the globe, including Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort, as well as Disney Cruise Line. As a theme park journalist, showcases like D23 are my Super Bowl. They’re my Academy Awards. They’re my Olympics. They contain Disney’s biggest announcements of the year, and Disney certainly did not hold back this time.
Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro emphasized at the top of the presentation that all of these announcements are in active development, meaning they are no longer in the ambiguous “blue sky” phase. As far as Disney is concerned, the following projects are indeed happening! While many of these announcements will not come to fruition for a few years, some of these changes will be very soon. You’ll definitely want to catch up on what was announced as you prepare for your family’s future Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort vacations.
Walt Disney World
Let’s start with the biggest expansion ever happening at Magic Kingdom. We’re finally learning what’s “beyond Big Thunder Mountain.” A reimagined portion of Frontierland will be inspired by Pixar’s Cars, including two brand-new rides. Construction for this new section of Frontierland begins in 2025.
That’s not all. A land themed entirely to Disney villains is also coming to Magic Kingdom! This land will also feature two rides. No exact timeline was announced, so I would expect completion to be at least a few years out. A villain-themed land has been at the top of Disney fans’ wish lists (mine included), so this was a much-welcomed announcement.
Also coming to Magic Kingdom sooner rather than later is a previously announced Pirates of the Caribbean-themed lounge. It will open in 2025. At long last, a new nighttime parade is on its way to Magic Kingdom, too. It’s called Disney Starlight, and it will debut in the summer of 2025.
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Disney’s Hollywood Studios is also getting a new land inspired by Monsters, Inc.! In this land, guests will be able to visit the world of Monstropolis. The hallmark attraction in this land will be a roller coaster that fulfills the long-asked-wish of soaring through the door warehouse. This will be the first suspended coaster at a Disney park. Construction begins next year.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom continues to work on the previously announced Tropical Americas land that we now know will replace DinoLand U.S.A. Work on this land begins this fall, though D’Amaro did note fans will be able to get one final ride in on Dinosaur. So, it sounds like DinoLand will close in phases. The entire Tropical Americas land will debut in 2027.
When completed, the Tropical Americas land will have three attractions. We’re getting an Indiana Jones-themed ride with an entirely new storyline not seen in any other Indy-inspired ride at a Disney theme park, a carousel, and a ride inspired by the Disney Animated film Encanto. It was also confirmed that a Zootopia-inspired show will replace “It’s Tough to Be a Bug” in the Tree of Life theater in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The show will debut in the winter of 2025.
While EPCOT was light on announcements this year, that park just wrapped up a massive multi-year transformation that brought new rides and experiences. However, it did get a little love in the form of a new lounge coming to the park. Spaceship Earth Lounge looks like a great spot for adults! It will debut in 2025. Also officially debuting in 2025 is the new version of Test Track.
Disneyland Resort
Disneyland Resort also received some very exciting bits of news at the Experiences Showcase. Disneyland Park turns 70 in 2025, and it was announced that there will be a celebration to mark the occasion (not a huge surprise here; Disney loves anniversaries).
One of the most intriguing announcements is that an Audio-Animatronic Walt Disney is finally on its way to Disneyland Park. The figure will be part of a new show called Walt Disney – A Magical Life, located in the Main Street Opera House, where Great Moments With Mr. Lincoln is located. Don’t worry, though, Great Moments isn’t going anywhere. After the debut run of the show with the new Walt animatronic, the two shows will play in rotation at the theater.
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Over at Disney California Adventure, it was an entirely different story, with a lot of new additions coming to the park. First is a new land inspired by the Avatar franchise. The land was previously announced, but fans got a closer look at more details. It will feature a brand-new attraction “that will bring all the action, the excitement, and the wonder of Avatar to life in a completely new and thrilling way.”
A ride inspired by the Pixar film Coco is also on its way to California Adventure. This will be the first ride-through experience inspired by the film, “inviting guests to join Miguel on a trip through the Land of the Dead.” The ride breaks ground in 2026.
Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure will also receive two new rides, Avengers Infinity Defense and Stark Flight Lab. This will double the size of the land! Construction on Avengers Infinity Defense will begin in 2025. Another minor but very important final update from Disneyland Resort: Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will open on November 15!
Disney Cruise Line and Beyond
Disney Cruise Line’s update at the Disney Experiences Showcase was quick, but don’t let that fool you—it was a massive announcement! Between 2027 and 2031, Disney Cruise Line will add four (yes, four) new ships to the fleet in addition to the ones currently in development. That will bring the size of the fleet to 13 ships by the time all is said and done.
It was also announced that the Broadway-inspired show coming to the Disney Destiny (launching in November 2025) will be inspired by the Disney Animated film Hercules. Additional announcements were made for Disney’s international theme parks, including a new “Lion King area at Disney Adventure World at Disneyland Paris,” “a Spider-Man-themed, high-energy thrill coaster” coming to Shanghai Disneyland, and “a major new attraction coming to Tomorrowland featuring Spider-Man and one of his most formidable villains” coming to Hong Kong Disneyland.
