The D23 Expo was held last week at its usual host, the Anaheim Convention Center. Throughout the weekend, exciting announcements were made regarding the Walt Disney Company, Marvel, and Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products. On Sunday, DPEP Chairman Josh D’Amaro gave attendees an exciting look into the future of the Disney Parks.
Starting with the Nighttime Spectaculars, Disney fans were excited to hear that the fan-favorite popular anthem “Happily Ever After” will play again when an updated nighttime spectacular returns in 2023 to light up the skies over Cinderella Castle in Magic Kingdom Park.
News that many Disney Parks have been waiting for has finally come! TRON Lightcycle / Run will debut in Spring 2023, which features groundbreaking technology and exciting lights, sounds, and visual effects.
Along with this, a new update is coming to The Haunted Mansion. The Disneyland Park fan-favorite “Hatbox Ghost” will make its way to the Haunted Mansion at Walt Disney World in 2023.
Following its debut at the D23 Expo last week, the “Walt the Dreamer” statue will head over to its new home of “Dreamers Point” at EPCOT in Walt Disney World.
A model of Te Fiti for Moana’s “Journey of Water” attraction was displayed at the expo as well, giving fans a new look at the upcoming EPCOT attraction.
It was announced that the World Celebration neighborhood in EPCOT will be complete in late 2023. With lush, green space for guests to relax, plus the opening of Communicore Hall and Communicore Plaza, this central location in the park will be the new home for festivals and the perfect space to gather with family and friends.
So many exciting changes are coming to the Disneyland Resort that left guests looking forward to the future of the original Disney park. From nighttime spectaculars, to ride rethemes, and exciting new areas in both Disneyland and California Adventure, the future of the Disneyland Resort is shining bright!
To celebrate The Walt Disney Company's 100th anniversary, an all-new nighttime spectacular will debut at Disneyland park in late January 2023. "Wondrous Journeys" will ignite the wonder in all of us and feature nods to all 60 Walt Disney Animation Studios films to date, taking viewers on a journey filled with artistry, music, storytelling and heart. Disney 100 Years of Wonder (Disney100) will be the biggest celebration in the history of the company.
Continuing in Disneyland Park, the “Magic Happens” parade will make its exciting return in the spring of 2023. This parade made its first debut down Main Street U.S.A in 2020 for a short run, but will finally have its time to shine at the resort. This parade features extravagant costumes, beautiful floats, and will feature many of Disney’s beloved characters.
A first look inside Goofy's House coming to Mickey's Toontown at Disneyland Park in Anaheim, Calif., when the newly reimagined land reopens in 2023. Mickey's Toontown is currently undergoing an exciting transformation into a vibrant symphony of sights, sounds and sensations. Inside Goofy's house, Goofy has set up a candy-making contraption that only he could imagine.
Goofy's How-to-Play Yard, complete with a playful sound garden, is coming to Mickey's Toontown at Disneyland park when it reopens in 2023. Mickey's Toontown is currently undergoing an exciting transformation into a vibrant symphony of sights, sounds and sensations. We are stepping into a new era of inclusive experiences in the land for families of all ages.
Visitors to Batuu may find the Mandalorian and Grogu inside Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge at Disneyland park starting in mid-November 2022. The Mandalorian and Grogu and their journey together can be seen in the first two seasons of "The Mandalorian" on Disney+.
Continuing as a part of Disney 100, “World of Color - One” is another new show that will celebrate 100 years of the Walt Disney Company. In its trademark water fountains, mist displays, lights, lasers, and music, this show will tug at your heartstrings as it walks viewers through all of the storytelling and magic Walt’s legacy has brought us throughout the past century.
Starting in September 2022, Marvel fans will have a chance to meet the Incredible Hulk at Avengers Campus. This larger-than-life meet and greet will be an exciting new experience for Marvel fans as part of a limited time experience.
A third exciting new attraction is coming to Avengers Campus in California Adventure. This thrilling adventure will take riders through the Multiverse, where they will be able to experience many of their favorite characters, and come together to defeat villains from different parts of the MCU.
Fans of Big Hero 6 were excited to learn about the upcoming redesign to Pacific Warf in California Adventure. The San Francisco Warf is planned to be rethemed to “San Fransokyo,” the combination of “San Francisco” and “Tokyo” that is featured in the Big Hero 6 movie. This retheme will include new food options and opportunities for a meet and greet with Baymax. Imagineers are in the early phases of this work, but there is something coming for children of all ages, for the young and young at heart.
Josh and his team continued on to share that the Paradise Pier Hotel has officially been renamed “Pixar Place Hotel.” This hotel will feature all of our favorite pixar pals, and will also host new experience areas like the “Finding Nemo Splash Pad,” an outdoor water play area. The hotel will bring us through the creative journey that led to all of the stories that are held so near to our hearts. It will fully immerse you into the story and keep you connected to your favorite characters when you are away from the parks.
A new restaurant “Great Maple” has also been planned into the reimagining of Pixar Place and will coincide with the opening of the newly designed hotel.
Even more exciting changes are coming to the Downtown Disney District. Since beginning it’s updates in 2018, Downtown Disney has revealed new food additions, shopping additions, and more experiences for guests to enjoy. Particularly exciting to D23 attendees, Josh and his team announced that Porto’s, a socal favorite, will be making its way to the Downtown Disney District. Porto’s also provided samples of it’s bakery items to guests attending the panel.
runDisney races will return to the Disneyland Resort in 2024. Details on specific dates, registration information and more will be announced at a later date.
After the recent opening of Avengers Campus at Disneyland Paris, parks fans were anxiously awaiting what’s coming next for Disneyland Paris.
A new show will be coming to the Walt Disney Studios Park next summer at the Studio Theatre. “Pixar: We Belong Together” will feature characters from Pixar favorites and will highlight how these stories, and the characters within them, bring us all together. Through state of the art on stage theatrics, technology, video, art, and stage design, this show will truly celebrate what it means to be a part of something magical.
Lots of changes are coming to the Walt Disney Studios Park. The biggest reimagining will be a new walkway that will connect Walt Disney Studios Park to its extension, and will offer beautiful new experiences, including gardens, a lake, and new areas to discover. These gardens will feature unique themes that will connect park goers to their favorite characters and stories. Fan favorites like Toy Story and and all new immersive Kingdom of Arendale will be featured around the gardens and the lake.
Along with the Kingdom of Arendale coming to Walt Disney Studios Park, Disneyland Paris’s Disneyland Hotel will be getting its on retheme, and will feature a new royal theme. Suites inspired by royal Disney classics such as Frozen, Cinderella, Tangled, and many more.
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