What’s Coming Soon to Disney Parks and Resorts
Disney theme parks, resorts, and cruises are always improving.
The caretakers at The Walt Disney Company lovingly honor the wish of the company’s founder.
Walt Disney believed that Disneyland will never be completed. “It will continue to grow as long as there is imagination left in the world.”
No matter when you take a Disney vacation, something will always be new.
For example, Disney recently opened Tron Lightcycle / Run, Rodeo Roundup BBQ, and the reimagined Mickey’s Toontown.
Meanwhile, Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser recently celebrated its first birthday, while the Disney Wish will do the same in July 2023.
So, what’s coming soon to Disney parks, resorts, and cruises? Well, it’s a LOT!
Adventureland Treehouse
The former Tarzan’s Treehouse at Disneyland Park will soon return to its original state.
Disney is currently converting this interactive playset attraction to Swiss Family Robinson, which is what it had been from 1962 through 1999.
Imagineers are modernizing the experience, but it will still take inspiration from the 1960 movie, Swiss Family Robinson.
Disney has indicated that the newly renamed Adventureland Treehouse should open during the first half of 2023.
Some previous reports suggested a February 2023 return, but Disney still shows Tarzan’s Treehouse on its website for the time being. It doesn’t list a return date.
The Cake Bake Shop by Gwendolyn Rogers
The rebuilding of Disney’s BoardWalk continues as management has torn down the former ESPN Club.
Disney intends to replace that now-defunct franchise concept with a Table Service restaurant, The Cake Bake Shop.
Gwendolyn Rogers has become quite the celebrity for her bold reimagining of the bakery. This will be the first restaurant of its kind, though.
Recent reports indicate that The Cake Bake Shop will open in “late 2023,” according to the official website.
CommuniCore Hall
By the end of 2023, the new iteration of CommuniCore will open as a gathering place of sorts.
According to recent information, Disney will host a permanent Mickey Mouse & Friends character interaction here. That’s reason enough to get excited!
However, CommuniCore Hall will also double as the principal hosting area for all EPCOT festivals, thereby making it a seminal part of the park from now on.
The Disney Treasure
As mentioned, the Disney Wish isn’t even a year old at the time of publication.
Still, Disney Cruise Line is already nearing completion on its next vessel. Behold the Disney Treasure:
That’s some Grand Hall, isn’t it?
Disney expects this cruise ship to set sail in 2024. Remarkably, it won’t be Disney’s biggest ship for long, though…
The Disney Singapore Cruise
Last October, news leaked regarding a fascinating Disney rumor. Inside reports suggested that Disney may purchase a massive cruise ship for cheap.
Disney apparently had a coupon for a 90 percent discount on a cruise ship. Genting Hong Kong apparently invested more than $1 billion.
Once the company went broke, the shipyard builder, Meyer Werft, reached out to its pandemic buddies at Disney.
Meyer Werft agreed to complete the boat if Disney would pay for it…and here we are!
This deal has happened, with Disney planning a Singapore cruise in 2025!
At that point, Disney Cruise Line will have introduced three new luxury vessels in three years!
Harmonious Replacement
On April 2nd, Disney performed its final performance of Harmonious.
The intended long-term replacement for IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth never struck a chord with mainstream tourists.
Ultimately, management chose to end the nighttime presentation with the completion of Walt Disney World’s 50th anniversary celebration.
In the interim, EPCOT Forever will return to light up the night at EPCOT.
However, Disney confirmed during the 2022 D23 Expo that a (hopefully) permanent replacement will debut. Its presumed arrival date is either late 2023 or, more likely, 2024.
This seems like a good time to mention that Harmonious suffered numerous delays in the run-up to its opening, though.
The Expansion Tower at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
The monorail resorts near Magic Kingdom have thrilled guests since Walt Disney World’s opening day…and technically a few days earlier than that!
Alas, the Polynesian had nearly run out of space due to its sustained popularity. In my opinion, it’s THE best of all Disney resorts.
Park officials may agree, as they have doubled down on the concept.
Imagineers are currently constructing a multi-level expansion tower right by the beach!
The ETA on this project suggests a 2024 opening. Given the scale of the expansion, I won’t be surprised if it runs a bit late, though.
Figment Character Greeting
Last year, Disney declared that Figment would return as an interactive character greeting at EPCOT. That’s as it should be.
Disney theme parks have historically employed previous/current Disney intellectual properties (IP) rather than creating anything new.
Figment stands as distinctively an EPCOT character, though. He should always be a presence at the park. And, thanks to this new option, he will be!
Figment should arrive later this year in some adorable dragon form.
Journey of Water | Inspired by Moana
If you want pictures of this project, MickeyBlog’s the place! Our intrepid park reporters have dutifully covered all phases of construction.
Now, Journey of Water | Inspired by Moana nears completion. Management has indicated it’ll debut later this year, presumably in the fall.
The only question at the moment is whether the experience lives up to the hype. If it’s anything like the memory water in the movie, Moana, it’ll be incredible!
The Hatbox Ghost
We still don’t have many details about this enhancement. During the 2022 D23 Expo, Disney announced that the Hatbox Ghost would finally make his way east.
Since the 1960s, you could only find the dapper trickster at Haunted Mansion…and not even then for a few decades.
However, the passion of Disney fans has forced park executives to double and triple down on this character.
The Hatbox Ghost will have a presence at Magic Kingdom’s Haunted Mansion at some point this year.
King Thanos
I don’t have any sort of timeline to offer you here.
All I know is that during the 2022 D23 Parks panel, Disney made arguably its biggest splash in confirming a Thanos multiverse ride at Avengers Campus.
The planned Disney California Adventure attraction will unify Avengers from across dimensions and realities in a war against The Thanos Who Won.
Visually, King Thanos is stunning, and we all welcome any E-ticket attractions based on Marvel IP.
Summer House on the Lake
I always feel like I’m telling a bad poker story when I discuss this project.
The entrepreneurs behind Summer House Santa Monica, which is a restaurant in Chicago, are building a new eatery at Disney Springs.
As the name implies, Summer House Santa Monica has delivered a brilliant take on California cuisine.
Presumably, Summer House on the Lake will do the same, albeit with a more beachy lake-day vibe.
The official website indicates this restaurant will open in 2023.
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
Disney continues to make progress on the reimagining of Splash Mountain at Magic Kingdom.
While the Disneyland Park version remains operational for now, Disney has already confirmed that both versions of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will arrive in 2024.
Based on the images we’ve seen thus far, this ride looks like an absolute show-stopper!
The Villas at Disneyland Hotel
The day has finally arrived! Guests can now book the expansion tower coming soon to Disneyland Resort!
Variants of this hotel have been underway for more than five years, as Disney has negotiated with Anaheim City Council officials and residents.
On September 28th, all the hard work finally pays off as Disney opens The Villas at Disneyland Hotel.
Since Disney had nothing to do with the original opening of Disneyland Hotel, this is a VERY BIG deal!
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Featured image: Disney