Everything We Just Learned at Destination D23
This past summer, Disney revealed the hastily announced Destination D23, a pseudo-replacement for the canceled 2021 D23 Expo.
At the time, nobody was quite sure what to expect.
On Saturday, November 20th, D23 hosted Connections: A Look at the Future of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products.
Josh D’Amaro, the Chairman of the Disney Parks Division, hosted the event.
Disney Parks, Experiences and Products Chairman Josh D’Amaro shares exciting new details during #DestinationD23 on ways Disney is connecting fans to the stories they love most through innovative projects around the world. https://t.co/gBccWp30i2 pic.twitter.com/bxQxmQhP1T
— Disney Parks (@DisneyParks) November 20, 2021
While it was short on jaw-dropping announcements, we did learn plenty about the future of Disney parks.
Here are the key takeaways from the event.
International and Cruise News
Next year represents an auspicious event in Disney history – the shaky debut of Disneyland Paris.
While snooty Parisians bristled at the notion in 1992, Disneyland Paris has since become the most popular paid attraction on the continent.
As part of the 30th-anniversary celebration, this park will get new amenities, including a Mickey costume that looks nearly EARidescent.
Also, D’Amaro confirmed that this version of Avengers Campus will open next summer.
At Hong Kong Disneyland, Follow Your Dreams is once again playing on the Castle of Magical Dreams stage.
Disney is also building a Frozen-themed area with two new rides at this park. D’Amaro showed a construction update.
It doesn’t quite look like the artist’s rendering yet, but you can see some tracks and the outline of a mountain.
Really, that’s the running theme from this presentation. But, of course, a lot of this stuff will look much better a year from now.
D’Amaro also showed aerial footage of the upcoming Fantasy Springs at Tokyo DisneySea. However, he stated that it’s still two years away from opening.
The final international update came at Shanghai Disneyland. The park is currently celebrating its fifth anniversary, but more importantly, it’s working on a Zootopia themed land.
Here’s a quick video of Yax, a yak, a new Zootopia animatronic.
In sometimes international news, the Disney Wish has confirmed two new stage shows.
During cruises, the Walt Disney Theatre will present Disney The Little Mermaid. It’s a Broadway version of the story with a more modern take.
The Disney Wish will premiere 2 new stage shows, including “Disney The Little Mermaid,” an original Broadway-style reimagining of the Walt Disney Animation Studios classic with a modern & innovative take on a young woman learning the power of her voice. pic.twitter.com/BhBz6agGsJ
— Disney Parks (@DisneyParks) November 20, 2021
Disney has promised state-of-the-art special effects and theatrical design.
The other new show is Disney Seas The Adventure, which sounds incredibly child-friendly. Captain Minnie helps Goofy learn how to master his inner captain.
This one will feature Pixar characters, in addition to Disney ones, and sounds delightful.
Disney Resort Updates
Disney revealed tidbits about two of its upcoming hotels, although one of them is technically a galactic starcruise.
The bigger news for Disney Vacation Club members is the upcoming DVC Tower Hotel adjacent to Disneyland Hotel.
Disneyland Resort currently only operates three official hotels. Also, in a weird bit of trivia, the only one that Imagineers built is Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa.
DVC members can only book less than 100 rooms in Anaheim with their membership points, so this upcoming resort is a massive upgrade.
Disney showed renderings of the hotel and hotel rooms.
The most fascinating part was this image that shows how Disney designed hotel rooms.
Look at the notes that show how parts of the decor take inspiration from beloved Disney animated films. Isn’t that wild?
Of course, that hotel only appeals to a small niche.
Conversely, Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser is THE hotel everyone will want to visit in 2022.
To wit, this hotel has already sold out its first four months.
Well, D’Amaro provided a bit of a flex when he showed off the most attention-grabbing item from this hotel.
The Lightsaber Update
People have wondered whether the working lightsaber from an Imagineering video was real.
D’Amaro came out on stage and proved its authenticity, and oh, he looked so proud and happy. This one’s a showstopper, folks.
Yes, Mr. D’Amaro, that is pretty cool.
Disney won’t be selling these, at least not at first. Instead, they’ll be exclusive items for characters on the Halcyon. That’s the name of the ship in Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser.
So, you will get to watch a real lightsaber in action when you stay at the hotel.
You’ll also get to participate in lightsaber training and some interactive gaming elements. All of them will immerse you in the Star Wars experience.
Here’s a clip of D’Amaro doing this for the first time on Galactic Starcruiser.
Imagineer Scott Trowbridge, who helmed Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge, excitedly showed off elements from Galactic Starcruiser as well. His pride is tangible.
Disney believes it has a Grand Slam here.
On November 28th, one of the characters from the Halcyon, Gaia, will perform in the ABC Holiday Special. That’s the next exciting reveal for the Star Wars hotel.
Park Updates
I joked with a friend yesterday that we’d either get no news of note or confirmation of a fifth Walt Disney World theme park during this event.
I feel this way because Disney’s gotten so good at keeping secrets.
We definitely didn’t get the fifth gate, but we learned about several exciting park events coming soon.
For example, Disney revealed that Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind will open this summer.
We’d expected that, but Disney hadn’t confirmed it until now.
D’Amaro also added that it’s one of the longest indoor roller coasters in the world, and it will start with an extended reverse launch.
Glenn Close appeared to confirm that she will play her Nova Prime character from the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise on this roller coaster experience.
Disney showed some images of the upcoming Wonders of Xandar pavilion as well.
Even More Park Updates
In previously hinted park news, the Main Street Electrical Parade will return for its 50th anniversary at Disneyland in 2022.
Also, World of Color and Fantasmic! are coming back to Disneyland next year.
D’Amaro updated fans on planned improvements at Downtown Disney. These changes will start in 2022 when the AMC theater gets removed.
Yes, that means some of the places that closed and then reopened, such as Earl of Sandwich, will close again.
Disney officials really have it in for Earl of Sandwich for some reason.
Not to be left out, Magic Kingdom will bring back the Festival of Fantasy Parade next year as well.
The park will also receive a new castle stage show called Mickey’s Magical Friendship Faire, replacing Mickey’s Royal Friendship Faire.
Additionally, Hollywood Studios will bring back Fantasmic! at some point in 2022.
Meanwhile, at EPCOT, Creations Shop will get another sibling. Disney is adding Connections Cafe and eatery, a Quick Service restaurant.
Josh also shared the name of a new quick-service restaurant, Connections Café and Eatery, debuting in the World Celebration neighborhood of EPCOT as part of the park’s ongoing transformation. #DestinationD23 pic.twitter.com/eW64zfM8po
— Disney Parks (@DisneyParks) November 20, 2021
You can think of it as the new Electric Umbrella, although this updated version is nicer inside.
MagicBands
Perhaps the most unexpected announcements involved MagicBands.
The new MagicBand+ devices will bring back Glow with the Show technology, the thing we all used to love with the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights.
We’ve still used our Fantasmic! hat fairly recently, but Disney had mostly disavowed the technology. Now, it’s coming back in force.
In fact, Disneyland Resort will get MagicBand+ in 2022. Anyone who tells you they saw that coming is lying.
MagicBands looked dead six months ago. Now, they’re coming back stronger than ever.
We have no word on when Disneyland will start installing MagicBand+ reader kiosks. Still, this decision indicates a long-term commitment to the technology.
Yes, Disney’s back in the wearable game again.