All the Confirmed Park Expansion Changes Coming Soon

The Walt Disney Company has finally turned its Imagineers loose on an unsuspecting world.

CEO Bob Iger has handed his team a check for $60 billion, and he’s told them to work their magic at all Disney theme parks.

With so much happening, it’s tough to remember which projects are real versus which ones are rumored.

Here are all the Disney park changes we know are happening.

The Avatar Experience

Last year, Bob Iger surprised Ken Potrock, the President of Disneyland Resort, by announcing a new Avatar “experience.”

Nobody remembered to tell the person in charge of the park that would host this attraction. I laugh every time I think about that.

Since that awkward moment, Disney has commented about Avatar several times.

To this moment, we still don’t know what that “experience” will be.

Disney thoughtfully showed an illustration of a boat ride, though.

While that’s not much to go on, it hints that the Avatar change will include a new attraction. And that’s music to our ears!

Country Bear Musical Jamboree

The turnaround time on this one is quite short.

At the 2023 D23 Expo, park officials announced the classic Country Bear Jamboree attraction would change forever.

Disney was throwing out the old western music soundtrack and adding a new one.

In January, the previous version of Country Bear Jamboree, the one we’ve known since 1971, closed.

I’m hesitant to describe the change as permanent, as Disney could always bring back the soundtrack for limited-time engagements.

We watch the same thing happening with Soarin’, as an example.

But when the attraction reopens later in 2024, it’ll be the new top-tapping revue, Country Bear Musical Jamboree.

The updating show will take classic Disney songs and give them Country and Western spins.

As a happy bonus, my beloved Mac McAnally of Jimmy Buffett’s Coral Reefer Band is involved with at least some of the tracks.

Disney Adventure World

Walt Disney Studios Park at Disneyland Paris will soon change forever.

Management plans to change the name of the park to Disney Adventure World.

In the process, park officials hope to reinvigorate what is historically Disney’s least successful park in the Western Hemisphere.

The only other park that struggles on a similar scale is Hong Kong Disneyland, but it was on an uptick before the pandemic.

 

Frankly, we need Disney Adventure World and its confirmed upcoming themed land based on Frozen.

The Tropical Americas

These next three changes all tie together while allowing Disney to fulfill a promise.

Park officials had hinted that Disney’s Animal Kingdom could add The Tropical Americas themed land.

That proclamation came with the asterisk that Disney wasn’t promising anything, though.

Then, in early 2024, park officials confirmed that DinoLand, U.S.A. will close forever.

At that point, Disney will re-theme this space into The Tropical Americas. And we know what two of the experiences will be…

An Encanto Attraction

While Disney has confirmed The Tropical Americas and the stories it will tell, nobody has said anything about the form they’ll take.

However, we’re sure that some sort of Encanto attraction will appear at this park.

Based on Disney’s previous comments, it is expected to take the form of the Casa Madrigal.

Will that experience include a ride or show of some sort? That’s the part we don’t know yet.

I believe we’ll get some sort of Encanto ride, but that’s pure speculation.

An Indiana Jones Ride

Conversely, while Disney hasn’t confirmed this one either, we have a firm idea about the other experience.

Disney will convert the former DINOSAUR into Indiana Jones Adventure.

These two rides share the same underlying mechanic, the Enhanced Motion Vehicle.

Now, Disney may yet surprise us, but there’s already a building park officials could re-theme to Indiana Jones.

That sounds inexpensive for them and fun for fans.

The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure

Here’s another change coming very soon.

For years before the pandemic, the previous Little Mermaid show at Disney’s Hollywood Studios appeared to be on the brink of extinction.

Once the pandemic started, Disney chose not to bring back the show. So, many fans believed it had closed forever.

Technically, that’s true, at least for the production we’ve always known.

This fall, a modern version of the idea called The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure will debut.

Importantly, the classic songs from the movie like Part of Your World and Poor Unfortunate Souls will play during the show.

That’s what really matters, as The Little Mermaid’s music is pretty much perfect.

Test Track 3.0

We recently reported the closing date for the current version of Test Track, which will shut down in June.

Before the body was even cold, Disney had filed the paperwork for its replacement, the so-called Test Track 3.0.

Notably, the ride’s sponsor, Chevrolet, asked for this change, and it’ll apparently pay tribute to the original World of Motion attraction.

When Disney re-themed a ride, it typically takes anywhere between five months and two years to reopen.

Hopefully, Disney will pin down a timeline for us at D23.

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure

You know this one because we’re posting construction photos of it multiple times a week.

This ride’s close to opening, as Disney has confirmed a summer debut.

So, it’s the most exciting change happening soon, but it’s also the biggest known from this list.

We’re about to enter the summer of Tiana, and I’m here for it.

What Lies Beyond Big Thunder Mountain

Here’s the biggie of the bunch, even over The Tropical Americas.

That themed land already exists. Disney’s just gonna transition it into something fresh and new.

Conversely, the most dramatic change coming to the parks will occur at Magic Kingdom.

Disney will build out the space beyond Big Thunder Mountain to add…something.

We still don’t know how big this project is, although I’ve certainly tried to guess.

The belief is that Disney will build a themed land here, although more than one isn’t beyond the realm of possibilities.

Sure, we’re all hoping it’s a fifth gate, but that seems like a stretch.

Nobody knows what this change entails, but Disney describes it as the largest Magic Kingdom expansion ever.

That’s reason enough to be excited that it’s coming!

Overall, Disney has confirmed hallmark changes coming to Disneyland Paris, Animal Kingdom, and Magic Kingdom.

Meanwhile, new attractions are coming to EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, and Disneyland Resort.

Buckle up, folks! Disney expansion is about to kick into overdrive!

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Feature Photo: Disney