The Ten Best Things That Happened at Walt Disney World in 2023
I can say with total confidence and complete sincerity that Walt Disney World just experienced a terrific year.
I know this because I created a shortlist of potential nominees for this category, and it totaled more than 30!
So, yes, the theme parks were great this past year.
Here are the best ten things that happened at Walt Disney World in 2023.
Characters Everywhere
As Disney theme parks grow more crowded, which happens seemingly every year, park planners face more challenging decisions.
What are the best ways to ensure that guests don’t congregate in the same space throughout the day, thereby causing bottlenecks? One of the best solutions is also one of the easiest. Disney fans never tire of character greetings.
Not coincidentally, Disney leaned hard into the premise in 2023, as several new interactions arrived. For the first time ever, Moana held court at EPCOT, while Mirabel from Encanto met guests at Magic Kingdom.
Popular characters from The Incredibles like Frozone and Edna Mode interacted with guests at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Other new offerings for 2023 included the Parr family from The Incredibles and the triumphant return of Ariel at Magic Kingdom.
During after-hours ticketed events, park officials doubled down on the concept by offering encounters with rare Disney characters as well.
This overall strategy did an excellent job of keeping attraction wait times steady throughout the year.
Figment Returns
I’m making special note of one other character interaction because EPCOT never felt the same without it.
Nothing exemplifies the Imagination! pavilion more than Figment. That’s why fans openly wondered why Disney dialed back the character’s presence.
Currently, Disney hosts a mediocre Figment ride that’s not as good as the original. Also, until 2023, you couldn’t meet Figment at the parks.
Thankfully, management figured out an easy way to make guests a bit happier. Disney brought back a Figment character greeting that delighted guests.
We love Figment and wish the EPCOT icon got more respect from park officials.
Where’s a Figment movie and a better Figment ride, Disney?
I’m serious about both topics, but at least we got the Figment interaction this year. It’s a permanent part of an Imagination! pavilion visit once more.
Hatbox Ghost Materializes
Similarly, Magic Kingdom fans have often gazed with envy at their Disneyland Park counterparts.
The West Coast version of Haunted Mansion offers something special, an appearance by the spookiest haunt of all, the Hatbox Ghost.
In 2022, Disney confirmed that the dapper apparition would appear at Magic Kingdom this year.
While Disney waited until the last minute, the Hatbox Ghost finally materialized as the newest part of Haunted Mansion. I love him so.
Jollywood Nights
Speaking of after-hours events, Disney introduced a new one at Hollywood Studios.
Disney Jollywood Nights catered to a decidedly more adult crowd.
It was like a Disney holiday cocktail party wherein everyone drank and danced the night away.
While the party struggled on opening night, the underlying concept proved wildly popular. The event consistently sold out.
Fans adored the idea of an upscale event at the park with the hottest Disney rides right now.
By the final event of the year, fans had fallen in love with Jollywood Nights, and we hope that it will become a new annual tradition at Hollywood Studios.
Journey of Water | Inspired by Moana
Disney opened two new attractions this year, and both of them dazzled in their own ways. At Journey of Water, guests could interact with the “smart water” from the movie Moana.
Disney created a tranquil setting where fans could splash around with the water and learn more about its importance in nature.
In that manner, the arrival of Journey of Water paid tribute to the origins of EPCOT, which park planners originally intended as the home of infotainment attractions.
That description aptly fits Moana, which is educational if you want to learn.
But even if you don’t, you’ll find Journey of Water relaxing, making it the ideal respite during a park visit.
Luminous The Symphony of Us
We all know the story with Harmonious. Bob Chapek wanted a new show-stopping nighttime presentation to replace IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth.
Disney put those hideous barges in World Showcase Lagoon to tell a different kind of story, a more unified one.
The storyline proved sound, but the barges were too much of a non-starter. So, Disney canceled the show after just a year.
While EPCOT Forever returned as a temporary stopgap, everyone knew that Disney would work on a replacement. Thankfully, when Luminous The Symphony of Us opened, the barges were gone.
In their place, the show leaned more heavily on fireworks, including a showstopping 360-degree boom as part of the grand finale.
As for the music, Luminous utilizes classic Disney music, albeit with remixes or new singers to freshen up the pieces.
You’ll also find a couple of original songs during the show as well.
Overall, Luminous seems like a worthy spiritual successor to IllumiNations.
The Return of Buffets
Don’t call it a comeback! Yes, the All-You-Care-to-Enjoy meal service has returned to all your favorite Walt Disney World resorts.
While some foolish analysts had predicted we might have seen the last of them – confession, it was me who said it – Disney chose otherwise!
Now, you can enjoy bottomless plates of food again at places like Hollywood & Vine and Chef Mickey’s.
Rodeo Roundup BBQ
Speaking of huge plates of food, Hollywood Studios finally opened its long-promised barbecue restaurant.
How long had fans waited for this place? Well, it was part of the original plans for Toy Story Land.
Disney faced some hard choices about budget cuts as it built Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at the same time as Toy Story Land.
So, management pushed the Table Service restaurant plans to a later date. Everyone presumed this expansion would occur quickly, though.
Then, the pandemic delayed everything. Eventually, Disney was able to make forward progress on Rodeo Roundup BBQ.
When the restaurant opened, it delighted guests and MickeyBlog’s staff as well. You can see the food (and our joy) here:
Tron Lightcycle / Run
Here’s probably the biggest story of them all for 2023.
Since Shanghai Disneyland introduced a Tron roller coaster in 2016, American fans have clamored for one of their own.
We finally got our wish in April when Tron Lightcycle / Run debuted and wowed guests with its innovative design.
We probably won’t get a new roller coaster at Magic Kingdom for a long time. Thankfully, Tron was definitely worth the wait, though.
World Celebration Gardens
Finally, we have one of the most recent additions at Walt Disney World.
This new Neighborhood has delighted guests and almost fundamentally changed the trajectory of nighttime guest activity at EPCOT.
The very ground at World Celebration Gardens glows in tandem with whatever is happening on Spaceship Earth at the time.
This special effect makes nights at EPCOT that much more magical.
During the day, this place is pretty great, too. You can visit Dreamers Point and take a photo of yourself with the Walt Disney statue.
Then again, you don’t have to do anything. You can hang out at one of the tables or seats here and use the recharging stations to power your devices while you soak up the ambiance.
World Celebration Gardens embodies those subtle changes that Imagineers make to improve every park visit.
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Feature Photo: Disney