All of Disney’s Potential D23 Announcements
Over the past calendar year, I’ve been tracking all the rumors, obscure or not.
Let’s just say that business has really picked up over the past three months, with some wild possibilities floating around.
With the 2024 D23 Expo occurring on Saturday evening, I wanted to talk through some of the many possibilities.
So, I’m ready to spill the beans on everything I know, although I’ll be honest that there’s so much I may forget something.
Here are the potential D23 announcements.
Animal Kingdom – The Tropical Americas
Let’s start with the knowns. Specifically, let’s talk about Disney’s Animal Kingdom, which is about to close DinoLand U.S.A. for good.
In fact, I don’t mean to be hyperbolic, but that could happen before 2024 ends.
Disney is doing some stuff behind the scenes hinting that construction is about to take place.
Soon, that build will lead to the Tropical Americas, the already-confirmed replacement for DinoLand U.S.A.
Disney has indicated that Indiana Jones and Encanto experiences are coming to this themed land.
Alas, park officials have yet to reveal what those experiences will be.
Barring a surprising decision, one experience is easy to guess.
As mentioned many times, DINOSAUR and Indiana Jones Adventure are ride clones.
The same underlying mechanics power both ride experiences. So, Disney can easily swap out one for the other.
However, the current belief is that we won’t receive an exact duplicate of Indiana Jones Adventure at Animal Kingdom.
Instead, Disney has indicated that this attraction will modernize the premise, a decision I welcome.
I quite like that the new version of Frozen Ever After at Fantasy Springs provides additional details lacking in the one at EPCOT.
Attractions should evolve, grow, and improve over time. Indiana Jones Adventure turns 30 next March. It should be updated, not cloned.
As for Encanto, woof. You wouldn’t believe the sheer volume of rumors I’ve had to chase about this project.
The Encanto Reveal(s)
Perhaps I should say projects.
I’m confident that Encanto will gain a massive park presence during Disney’s decade of upcoming expansion.
We know that some of it will occur in the Tropical Americas.
Whether that’s Casa Madrigal or a dark/boat ride remains to be seen.
Make no mistake on the point. A version of Casa Madrigal, the magical house from Encanto, is going up somewhere.
My guess – and that’s all it is due to the conflicting intel – is that Encanto will arrive in the form of a dark ride.
Disneyland Resort will probably get this, too, although I have no idea whether it’ll be announced at D23.
Park officials may prefer to do a deep dive on the Tropical Americas version.
That approach gives Disney a later boost when it reveals Disneyland Resort gets the attraction, too.
Remember that Disney hosts the equivalent of a D23 parks panel every year now.
We won’t get all the good stuff this time, so I tried to calibrate expectations with the most recent Disney Rumors article.
Executives know that Disney needs to win the press conference here. Ergo, we’re getting several announcements.
Many of them will lean on the hottest properties like Encanto, Frozen, and Moana.
That’s why you shouldn’t be surprised if Encanto gets a presence at several parks.
In fact, the Hyperion Theater at Disneyland Resort is currently casting for an Encanto show. Is it the same one as at EPCOT?
I doubt that, but it underscores how much Disney wants Encanto at the parks.
Expected EPCOT Announcement – Test Track 3.0
Test Track has closed for what looks like a fairly quick reimagining as a new attraction.
I know this because the paperwork only lasts for a calendar year.
Obviously, Disney can change that whenever, but it hints that Test Track 3.0 will take less time than Tiana’s Bayou Adventure did.
I’d expected this accelerated timeline since Disney would prefer to have Test Track up and running next summer for two reasons.
The first is that EPCOT really needs this ride in operation, as the park lacks topline E-ticket attractions targeting adults.
More importantly, Disney officials would like to hype something for the 2025 summer marketing campaign.
A sleeker, more stylish Test Track fits the bill. And Disney’s recent filings suggest that the project is well underway.
I’m genuinely curious about Disney’s approach here as its sponsor, GM/Chevrolet seems to be calling the shots.
The early renderings look visually stunning, but, to be fair, Test Track 2.0 was called the “TRON ride” for a reason. It was gorgeous.
Part of the explanation for the new version is that we have a TRON ride now. So, a change just makes sense.
From GM’s perspective, we live in a transformational era for vehicles, with battery power gradually phasing out gas engines.
Presumably, the Chevrolet connection will involve some sort of green-friendly design that ties Test Track 3.0 to their electric cars.
Expected Disneyland Announcement – DisneylandForward Plans
Due to the pandemic, nobody noticed for a couple of years, but Disney and Anaheim’s City Council were squabbling behind closed doors.
Disney wanted the city to update several zoning ordinances, thereby allowing Disneyland Resort to expand in a new way.
Now, for the first time in park history, Disney will alter the boundaries of the two existing gates.
Some Disney executives have stated on the record that recent changes could expand the parks by 50 percent.
That theoretically means 50 percent more attractions and multiple themed lands opening over the next decade.
I say theoretically because Disney has only guaranteed to spend $1.9-$2.5 billion, which wouldn’t go far.
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and Radiator Springs both cost roughly $1 billion each to create.
So, there’s a pricing hurdle involved if Disney wants to build something like, say, Pandora – The World of Avatar.
Then again, the promised amount of money isn’t a salary cap or anything. Nothing would stop Disney from building more.
We know from previous filings that DisneylandForward allows for the possibility of:
- Two flat rides akin to Alien Swirling Saucers and Mad Tea Party
- Five family-friendly outdoor attractions
- Four family-friendly indoor attractions
- Three indoor thrill rides
- Two outdoor thrill rides
I read thousands of pages of environmental impact studies so that you don’t have to waste your time, and those are the big takeaways.
Nothing forces Disney to build anything beyond the bare minimum, but it sure sounds like a plan is already in place.
At D23, Disney should reveal which parts of the DisneylandForward expansion will occur first.
And we know that one of them is…
Expected Disneyland Announcement — The Avatar Experience
This attraction will always bring a smile to my face due to the odd backstory of its announcement.
Disney kept its new “Avatar experience” so secret that Disneyland President Kent Potrock didn’t even know about it.
CEO Bob Iger revealed the attraction during an earnings call, and I sincerely wish I could have seen Potrock’s face.
That story underscores the mystery surrounding this project, which Disney has stubbornly refused to clarify.
We still don’t know whether a version of Pandora – The World of Avatar is coming to Disneyland Resort.
I’m inclined to say that it’s not, as Disney would/should promote that fact as often as possible. But we don’t know.
All that we’ve seen is an image from the “Avatar experience” that sure looks like a boat ride through Pandora.
However, this one takes place outdoors. So, if it’s a Na’vi River Journey clone, Disney has changed A LOT of stuff.
The prevailing belief is that Disney will build something similar to the ride system for Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure.
That ride has won countless awards, but since it’s at Shanghai Disneyland, most Disney fans remain unfamiliar with it.
Let’s just say that you’ll love the immersive elements, which strike me as ideal for a Pandoran setting.
Still, I think I speak for all of us when I say an entire Pandora-themed land at Disneyland Resort would be amazing.
Presumed Disneyland Announcement – King Thanos
Yeah, remember this one?
At the most recent D23 Expo, Disney confirmed a new attraction coming to Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure.
The so-called King Thanos ride would take us to an alternate reality wherein The Avengers face their most fearsome foe.
This villain is the Thanos who won, the one who avoided the same fate as “our” Thanos in Avengers: Endgame.
You can imagine how powerful that Thanos must be. So, the greatest Avengers from billions of universes must band together.
That may sound like a lot, but I bet there’s only like eight Avengers involved. Anyway, the battle for all existence is coming to DCA.
Well, we think it is. Disney has gone into radio silence regarding the King Thanos ride for two years now.
So, we’re long overdue to get an update on the Avengers Campus expansion. That doesn’t necessarily mean that we will, though.
At this point, Avengers Campus could use something to breathe fresh life into it, though.
The awkward timing of its opening so soon after Disneyland’s return has somewhat deflated the popularity of the rides here.
A King Thanos ride would create an immediate burst of interest.
Then again, given recent events, it’s fair to wonder whether we’ll get a Doom Who Won ride instead.
After all, Robert Downey Jr. is about to become Marvel’s focus in his new role as Doctor Doom, a similarly infamous villain.
To a larger point, a new attraction could mirror plans at Disneyland Paris, which also offers a version of Avengers Campus.
Similarly, we should get other attraction announcements as part of DisneylandForward.
Some of these value adds will mimic ones we’ve seen at Fantasy Springs and other international theme parks.
Presumed Disneyland Announcement – 70th Anniversary
On July 17th, 2025, Disneyland Resort turns 70 years old.
I’m not saying this date is anywhere as significant as Walt Disney World’s 50th anniversary, but everyone loves round numbers.
Also, Disneyland officials have kinda had a chip on their shoulder ever since the park closed for a year during the pandemic.
So, Disney wants to make every anniversary special, especially the ones at five and ten years old.
You can fully expect Disney to announce several limited-time events and maybe even a permanent installation or two.
Historically, Disney has brought back beloved experiences of old as a way of marrying the past with Disneyland’s future.
That’s the kind of thing I’d expect, and I’ll touch on it a bit in the parades and nighttime presentations section later.
Disneyland Rumor #1 – World of Frozen
I’m not saying this one is a mortal lock, but it feels likely to happen.
At this point, Disney has already opened two different themed lands based on the Frozen franchise.
The first one debuted at Hong Kong Disneyland in late 2023, while the other opened at Tokyo DisneySea in June 2024.
A third version will come to Walt Disney Studios Park at Disneyland Paris in the spring of 2025, barring unforeseen delays.
So, all that’s left is for Disney to build an Arendelle in the United States.
During the DisneylandForward public meetings, Disney officials repeatedly referenced World of Frozen as a possibility.
While these executives cleverly signed the paperwork without promising anything specific, I believe this one is happening.
The primary question is whether Disney confirms it at the 2024 event.
I suspect that Disney will talk up Disneyland additions as much as possible because it’s the Anaheim D23 event.
Walt Disney World gets its own at Destination D every other year.
That means some of the Walt Disney World stuff we discuss may not become official until that event next year.
I’m just warning you that it’s a possibility. Disney should know better than to play it cool at this week’s D23 parks panel, though.
Fans have gotten antsy after a couple of exceptionally disappointing years filled with lackluster announcements.
Animal Kingdom Rumor #1
Here’s another one I’ve mentioned quite a bit recently.
I’m not one to lay odds on things, especially not Disney announcements.
The company’s mercurial, and its huge revelations seemingly occur at unpredictable intervals.
Still, on a MickeyBlog podcast last year, I mentioned my ongoing frustration that Disney has never built a Lion King ride.
That’s, like, the most obvious attraction Disney could ever create, yet it’s never happened after 30 years. Until now.
Many insiders have hinted that Imagineers have approval to build a new Lion King attraction.
For a time, Magic Kingdom was reportedly in the mix…and may still be. Remember, we’re only talking in theoreticals about D23 anyway.
However, the prevailing belief is that Disney will add a Lion King boat ride at Animal Kingdom.
Personally, I think a dark ride would make more sense, as I’m decidedly pro-indoor attraction these days, especially at Animal Kingdom.
Then again, a boat ride can be a dark ride. So, maybe it’s both?
Anyway, among all the rumors in discussion, The Lion King is one of the options I perceive as likely. It just makes so much sense.
Animal Kingdom Rumor #2
Of course, Disney itself has previously acknowledged another Animal Kingdom rumor.
During a previous D23 event, park officials admitted that Zootopia had been under consideration for DinoLand U.S.A.
Instead, the Tropical Americas will replace that themed land, something Disney has confirmed. That’s a done deal.
Still, Zootopia as a themed land already exists at Shanghai Disneyland.
So, Disney previously paid the cost of research and development for this project.
Generally, when that happens, other parks get more of the same, albeit with unique variants.
For example, no two World of Frozen-themed lands are quite the same, although the similarities are unmistakable.
Even though Disney will spend $42 billion expanding its theme parks and Disney Cruise Line, it still seeks to stretch the budget.
Thus, a Zootopia-themed land at Animal Kingdom was in play at one point.
While those rumors have died down a bit, they’re still out there in some circles.
That’s primarily because analysts know that Disney loves its Zootopia project and wants to duplicate it at other parks.
The prevailing belief right now is that Disneyland Resort will get Zootopia first. So, that could be an announcement this week.
However, you shouldn’t dismiss Walt Disney World’s chances entirely.
I’ve heard comments linking Zootopia with Animal Kingdom AND Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
It would make sense at What Lies Beyond Big Thunder, too.
I’m not expecting this proclamation, but that’s the point of this week’s updates. It’s about what I’ve heard.
Also, I’ll go ahead and get out in front of the fact that Disney will probably reveal a couple of things that weren’t even rumored.
That’s what happened with the King Thanos project and the Avatar experience at Disneyland Resort.
Bob Iger and Josh D’Amaro can keep a secret.
Disneyland Rumor #2 – Zootopia
Again, Zootopia already has specs available for Imagineers. They wouldn’t be starting from scratch.
So, a Zootopia project at Disneyland would be cost-effective and fairly straightforward to create.
This themed land is also one that Disney officials mentioned repeatedly during the DisneylandForward public hearings.
I’m not listing every single one that they discuss, like a Black Panther roller coaster and Wakanda-themed land, but it all applies.
Disney at least created the perception that multiple themed lands will provide the backbone for Disneyland Resort expansion.
Zootopia: Hot Pursuit is an exceptional attraction. So, it’d be the kind of E-ticket ride that anchors an entire themed land for a decade.
If that sounds familiar, it should. Radiator Springs Racers has done the same thing at Disney California Adventure.
DVC Possibility #1
Okay, let’s talk about one of the less heralded aspects of theme park expansion.
When Disney executives discuss expansion, they don’t shy away from the real reason. It’s money.
Currently, Disney estimates that it only satisfies a small fraction of the overall demand for theme park experiences.
Even at Walt Disney World, many more people would happily attend if it were just more convenient (and cheaper).
One of the ways to satisfy that demand is by adding more hotel rooms.
Personally, I’d suggest that Disney expand its Moderate Tier by adding some new facilities in that range.
As you might imagine, that conversation doesn’t play as well during a corporate Zoom call, though.
Disney wants bigger numbers on the spreadsheet, which means it’s most likely to add hotel rooms that cost more money.
Specifically, one rumor centers on Disney’s Wilderness Lodge area, where officials have made some curious filings recently.
The section near Wilderness Way doesn’t have a hotel. So, why is it filing paperwork in that region of the general Wilderness Lodge campus?
Speculation is that Disney will expand the Wilderness Lodge campus by adding more hotel inventory.
These new hotel rooms would be a part of the Disney Vacation Club program, one of Disney’s hottest growth areas over the past decade.
The belief is that it’d be either more rooms added to the current Boulder Ridge and Copper Creek DVC locations or…something else.
Since Disney has already created two DVC options at Wilderness Lodge, what’s to stop it from introducing a third?
Since non-DVC members can book these rooms as well, it’s a way to sell new DVC contracts, which can cost at least $10,000.
However, all other Disney tourists can stay in these hotel rooms, too, thereby solving the current hotel inventory crunch.
I suspect this rumor ties directly into another one….
DVC Possibility #2
“What is dead may never die.” I’ve long held that belief regarding a fascinating bit of Disney history.
At Destination D 2018, the Walt Disney World equivalent of D23, DVC announced a new property.
This particular project was quite grand, and it would have emphasized nature and Disney’s outdoor characters.
The DVC hotel was Reflections – A Disney Lakeside Lodge, which doesn’t exist.
That’s because when the pandemic struck in early 2020, Disney had barely laid the groundwork for Reflections.
Suddenly, the company suffered a financial shortfall and canceled the project.
Disney even filed paperwork to confirm it had removed everything. There was flattened land left unattended for years.
Since I sometimes write about DVC, I’ve tracked this story for many years now, and a funny thing has happened.
No matter how many times Disney has sworn this project wasn’t moving forward, it somehow never fully went away.
Now, the story has come full circle, with recent filings STRONGLY suggesting that Reflections will rise from the ashes and live again.
Disney understandably hasn’t killed this project because it has already performed much of the heavy lifting.
There’s empty ground right there just waiting for a hotel to spring up and delight Disney fans.
Folks, I think Reflections has risen from the grave. The main question is how much of the original concept Disney will keep.
Another question is whether Disney says anything at D23. I expect that they will, and the reason is once again financial.
Since DVC members are such high-paying customers, Disney likes to have something. It’s a way of throwing them a bone.
Speaking as a DVC owner, I loved the idea of Reflections and sincerely hope it’s finally going to happen.
As I said earlier, I believe these two DVC rumors tie together or may even be the same one, with the message getting muddled.
Magic Kingdom Rumor: The Moana Ride
I’ve covered this several times in 2024. The gist is that Disney views Moana as one of its explosive growth brands.
Moana was THE most streamed movie of 2023, and Moana 2 appears likely to dominate the box office later this year.
While Journey of Water | Inspired by Moana opened last year at EPCOT, park officials apparently want more Moana at the parks.
The current rumor – and it’s a hot one – suggests that a Moana boat ride is coming to Magic Kingdom.
Specifically, Disney would use an area at Adventureland, which fits both the character and the themed land.
I don’t believe anything until Disney confirms it…and not even then after the cancellation of Reflections and the PLAY pavilion.
Things happen, even at D23. A few years ago, insiders were convinced that Disney would announce a Brazil pavilion at EPCOT.
We’re still waiting for that one. Nothing is ever certain.
The Moana boat ride is one that sounds likely to happen, though.
As for World Showcase pavilion expansion, that’s always a possibility as well.
I’m just not mentioning it since it’s always a bridesmaid among Disney rumors.
The Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Ride/Expansion
I’ve harped on this one enough during a couple of recent Disney Rumors articles.
The gist is that Disney officials know that Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge needs more room and another E-ticket attraction.
To a larger point, Hollywood Studios needs more because it’s too top-heavy with its seven E-ticket attractions plus a couple of lesser ones.
Star Wars sells, and fans crave more of it. Plus, Disney would like to remove some of the tarnish from the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser fiasco.
The best way to get over an ex is by dating someone new, right? So, you can think of this as the rebound Star Wars experience.
Well, you could IF we get one. I was hearing more about this possibility earlier in the year and not much lately.
If anything, my expectation for a Galaxy’s Edge announcement is that Disney will add more character experiences.
The fixed timeline aspect needs to go, with Disney tacitly admitting that lately.
As an aside, some Galactic Starcruiser replacement rumors have cropped up from time to time this year, too.
I suspect it’s too soon for Disney to announce anything, though. Those wounds are still fresh.
Hollywood Studios Rumor – Animation Courtyard Reboot
A few weeks ago, I discussed the suddenly ubiquitous rumor that Hollywood Studios would reboot Animation Courtyard.
I suspect that most fans know in their heart of hearts that a change is necessary.
During a Hollywood Studios visit, a disproportionate percentage of guests walk right past this prime piece of real estate.
Disney desperately needs to reinvigorate this valuable section of the park. It’s right in the freakin’ middle!
The problem with an Animation Courtyard reboot is that the Little Mermaid show will return later this year.
So, Disney has pot-committed to using part of this space for something new (ish).
Still, the rumors themselves are tantalizing. One is that the infamous Monsters, Inc. door roller coaster will finally happen.
This attraction would recreate the climactic events from Monsters, Inc., and it’s one I’ve talked about for years.
The roller coaster has been an open secret, and I presume the reason why is that Imagineers loved the idea.
Some folks believe it’s back in play, which would be a fairly shocking turn of events. But Disney fans would LOVE it.
The other rumor is even wilder. It’s that part of Animation Courtyard will transform into a Disney Villains-themed land.
Yes, I squealed the first time I heard the rumor, too. Alas, it’s got some genuinely unbelievable elements to it.
They’re so far out there that this one sounds like Disney intentionally leaking false rumors, something it has admitted to doing with Marvel movies.
One rumor goes so far as to say that it’ll be an entirely indoor-themed land.
The financials on that should preclude it as a possibility. But it’s fun to dream!
What Lies Beyond Big Thunder Possible Reveal #1
During the infamous “blue-sky” D23 where Disney revealed precious little, executives used the parks panel as a crowd survey.
However, the underlying idea was quite real. Disney has every intention of expanding the Magic Kingdom area.
The new addition, the so-called Beyond Big Thunder project, will add multiple new themed lands in the northwestern part of the park.
I’m presuming in this section that it’ll be a Magic Kingdom expansion, but we all know that isn’t the only possibility.
But let’s say that it is. Disney will announce multiple themed lands and attractions over the next few years for a project that will take a while.
Disney itself has indicated that one of those themed lands will be based on the Land of the Dead from Coco.
Some insiders have recently refuted this fact, indicating that other IP will go in this space instead.
However, I’d rather take Disney at its word since it already put the information out there and would disappoint fans by reneging.
So, the E-ticket attraction in the Land of the Dead would employ similar tech to Avatar Flight of Passage.
Guests would ride an alebrije like Dante, the Xoloitzcuintle in the film, who is basically a spirit world flying dog.
As I recently mentioned, if Avatar Flight of Passage is Soarin’ on Steroids, what would that make the Coco ride that comes a decade later?
The answer is “Thrilling from start to finish.”
What Lies Beyond Big Thunder Possible Reveal #2
I fully expect Disney to expand What Lies Beyond Big Thunder in phases. I’m thinking three, but it might just be two.
As such, I don’t quite know how much Disney will reveal during this year’s D23 parks panel.
At a minimum, park officials should cover the basics of Phase One, though. And those can change.
For instance, I haven’t heard any credible rumors about Inside Out, but I KNOW Disney must be debating how to capitalize.
Inside Out 2 just became one of the ten biggest hits ever. People want these characters at the parks…and not just as greetings.
So, even though nobody has hinted at this kind of build, it wouldn’t shock as a big reveal announcement.
Now, something with Deadpool WOULD surprise me, but I’m not even ruling him out as part of the King Thanos experience.
When something Disney-related excels in theaters or on streaming, it’s likely to get a park presence eventually.
Then, we have the meta content that has driven Disney’s success for eons.
At the top of that list are the Disney Villains, whom I mentioned as a possibility at Hollywood Studios.
Well, that rumor is…pretty far out there, even though I happen to love it.
Conversely, Disney officials were the ones who field-tested the idea of a Disney Villains-themed land as part of What Lies Beyond.
Let’s just say that the Disney Villains aced that test. Executives later admitted that the loudly positive response shocked them.
Even if management wasn’t serious about a Disney Villains-themed land then, I can assure you that they are now.
This is one that I’m pretty confident we’ll get in some form. The only questions are where and when.
Since Disney opened this can of worms at D23, that strikes me as the fitting platform to finish the story, hopefully this week.
What Lies Beyond Big Thunder Possible Reveal #3
I’ve already discussed Encanto, but I’ll mention it here as well.
Yes, Disney will add Encanto elements at the Tropical Americas.
However, that doesn’t preclude Imagineers from building more Encanto elsewhere.
After all, we have an Encanto show at EPCOT and one coming to Disney California Adventure.
Then, we have a permanent installation coming to Animal Kingdom and another as a possibility at Disneyland Resort.
So, the prevailing belief is that Disney will choose something else instead of Encanto for Beyond Big Thunder.
I’m mentioning it here because the original parks panel announcement of “Maybe we’ll…” specifically mentioned Casa Madrigal.
While a dark/boat ride appears all but certain at Animal Kingdom, the house itself was promised for Beyond Big Thunder.
That strikes me as Encanto overkill, but I’m also not privy to Disney’s plans for the exceptionally popular film franchise.
Disney hasn’t even confirmed an Encanto sequel yet. That appears to be a formality, though. It’ll happen.
Then again, that’s a reason to hold off on more Encanto until Imagineers know the story for the sequel.
As an aside, I could also list Zootopia at Magic Kingdom instead of Animal Kingdom.
My understanding is that if Disney announces one anytime soon, it’ll happen at Animal Kingdom, which is the right call.
The film about anthropomorphic animals should have its story told at Animal Kingdom.
What Lies Beyond Big Thunder Possible Reveal #4
Here’s a total wild card that has popped up in recent months that I frankly don’t believe.
Still, I’ve done this long enough to realize that anything is possible in the wide world of Disney, especially where IP is concerned.
Park officials love known attractions that are proven draws at various theme parks. Similarly, Disney fixates on intellectual property now.
I’m not saying we don’t get original attractions anymore, but they’re few and far between. Most stuff needs a Disney connection.
Thus, some believe that Disney will bring at least some aspects of Cars to What Lies Beyond Big Thunder.
You can probably guess which attraction that would mean, as it’s arguably the most consistently popular one in America.
Yes, at least one influencer has stuck their neck out and sworn that Radiator Springs Racers is coming east to Magic Kingdom.
The scenario in play is that Disney adds a Pixar land rather than one solely for Coco.
In that situation, more established Pixar brands like Toy Story and Cars, huge merchandise sellers, win out over Coco.
I genuinely hope that doesn’t happen, as the Land of the Dead sounds more Disney than a generic “Hooray for Pixar” Neighborhood.
We already have that at Disney California Adventure, which circles back to Disney loving to introduce similar ideas at different parks.
If it happens, this one strikes me as an overcorrection, but I’m confident a Pixar-themed land would be wonderful, too.
Anything Disney does will be amazing, folks. It’s just a question of what and how.
Logistics Possibility One: Disney Skyliner Expansion
In February 2017, the Reedy Creek Improvement District filed the paperwork for what would become the Disney Skyliner.
Few people noticed at the time because Reedy Creek wasn’t infamous back then. Its filings were mainly for Disney wonks like me.
At the 2017 D23 Expo, Disney announced that it would add a gondola transportation system at Walt Disney World.
That’s when fans went wild with excitement, expecting a delightful trip through the sky above Disney.
Some cynics dismissed the Disney Skyliner as doomed to fail, and their voices grew louder the week after it opened.
One gondola suffered a crash, which led to huge outcries against the entire Skyliner system.
Those reactions proved, well, reactionary. Since that shaky first week, the Disney Skyliner has shown itself to be an exceptional solution.
Guests can ride directly to two theme parks and several Disney resorts. Even better, the bird’s eye view is gorgeous.
Fans love the Disney Skyliner and cannot get enough of it.
Importantly, the gondola system doesn’t cover most of the Disney campus…yet.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Disney Springs remain unconnected, as do several resorts in these areas.
Plans were drawn up at an early stage for the expansion of the Disney Skyliner. Then, they tabled those plans during the pandemic.
Now is the time to bring those plans back to life as Disney strategizes its decade of expansion.
Logistics Possibility Two: Magical Express Replacement
I’m putting my thumb on the scale here and trying to wish this one into existence.
While some analysts disagree with me, I fervently believe that Disney had a plan when it ended the Magical Express service.
Disney figured that once the Brightline station opened at Orlando International Airport, guests would rely on buses less.
Magical Express once transported guests from the airport to official Disney hotels. Remarkably, the service was entirely free.
During the pandemic, Disney canceled Magical Express, partially because the company running the buses laid off most of its staff.
Logistics officials hoped and expected guests to substitute Brightline service instead, but then something happened.
Brightline added the Sunshine Corridor, which gave Universal Studios the first crack at guests flying into Orlando.
This move infuriated Disney and ended the Brightline deal. Then, cooler heads prevailed in recent months.
So, Disney is once again working with Brightline, but the station near Disney Springs won’t open for multiple years.
Disney fans have indicated a willingness to pay for Magical Express. That opens the door for Disney to bring back the service.
Conversely, Disney could announce some other way of helping guests arrive at the parks.
I honestly don’t expect this one, as logistics aren’t sexy as D23 announcements. I’m gonna hope for it anyway, though.
As I said, we first learned about the Disney Skyliner at D23, so anything’s possible.
To a larger point, the Skyliner and Brightline projects eventually should link together at Disney Springs.
When Disney announces one, the other should come soon afterward, if not immediately.
The New Parade(s)
Disney doesn’t just announce new stuff at these events. There’s an Ol’ Yeller factor as well.
Sometimes, we learn something is dying when Disney announces its replacement.
We can’t even say that the body isn’t cold yet. There isn’t a body until Disney makes it dead.
That happened with Harmonious in 2022, when Disney revealed the impending arrival of Luminous: The Symphony of Us.
You should keep that in mind when it comes to parades and nighttime presentations. Everything is on the table here.
Park officials want experiences to feel fresh and new for the next generation of guests.
So, we’ve likely seen the last of long-running shows like Wishes and IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth.
Then again, Disney loves to bring back popular experiences for return engagements.
Something like Paint the Night or the Main Street Electrical Parade could feasibly make a comeback.
Alternatively, Disney might – and I think should – announce at least one entirely new experience of this kind.
Personally, I’d suggest announcements for new/returning experiences at Disneyland and Walt Disney World.
Each park deserves something new. Either way, I fully expect Disney to announce a nighttime parade at Magic Kingdom. It’s overdue.
Similarly, Paint the Night or something similar should return to Disneyland in time for its 70th anniversary.
If not, you can expect Disneyland to add something new for that celebratory event.
International Announcements
I’ll be completely transparent here. I don’t track most international rumors, as the language barriers prevent it.
Each week, I read Disney stories on sites like South China Morning Post and The Japan Times.
However, those sites provide context rather than breaking news for the most part, and they rarely post rumors.
I have better luck with Disneyland Paris since my wife can read French, but it’s still dicey.
Thus, I generally stay away from international rumors until such a time as something is confirmed.
That’s unfortunate in that many of Disney’s best international innovations eventually come stateside.
Pirates of the Caribbean – Battle for the Sunken Treasure, World of Frozen, and Zootopia are three excellent examples I’ve referenced here.
So, I’ll be paying close attention to one announcement I fully expect Disney to detail this time. It’s the Space Mountain reboot.
In case you haven’t heard, Tokyo Disneyland isn’t happy with its current Tomorrowland.
To the credit of leadership there, they’re boldly reinventing Tomorrowland on the fly. And there are no sacred cows here.
As proof, the park permanently closed the original version of Space Mountain just last week.
A new, 21st-century version of Space Mountain will replace it and become the landmark for the next iteration of Tomorrowland.
This project is both exciting and predictive. At some point, Disneyland Resort may do the same thing.
I think the original Space Mountain at Magic Kingdom remains untouchable, but we’ll see.
A lot depends on the new Space Mountain at Tokyo Disneyland. And the early renderings are truly majestic.
Miracle Announcement #1 – Third Gate at Disneyland
Let’s not sugarcoat any of this. Everything else I’ve discussed here would be sublime.
However, the next two topics are the true game-changers, and I’m someone who studiously avoids using that term as a rule.
Should Disney use its DisneylandForward budget to build a new theme park, it’s a revolutionary decision.
All Disney historians know that Disney swung and missed at first with Disney California Adventure. It was a bust due to budget constraints.
Eventually, Disney got the park into great shape – thank you, Radiator Springs! – but it took a decade.
Longtime employees would love another crack at this one, and while I don’t expect it to happen, I’m not ruling it out completely.
Currently, the DisneylandForward plans call for new construction and modifications of existing space. Much of it involves logistics.
None of that is sexy, but Disney is pulling some foot traffic toward a different part of the campus. What if there’s a purpose to that?
We’d all lose our minds if the combination of Pandora, Wakanda, Zootopia, and Frozen became the themed land anchors for a new Disneyland park, right?
Realistically, this practice would go against pretty much the entirety of Bob Iger’s tenure, though.
He’s an ardent supporter of the modular approach to theme park expansion rather than doing everything in one fell swoop.
Also, $2 billion would be nowhere near enough money for such a project.
Then again, Disney has promised to spend that much. Nobody has said that’s ALL they’ll spend. Again, it’s not a salary cap.
Seriously, don’t get your hopes up too high, but it’s fun to dream, right?
Miracle Announcement #2 – Fifth Gate at Walt Disney World
Well, if we’re going to dream, let’s dream big.
Walt Disney World has become the most popular paid tourist destination in the world.
That statement comes with several asterisks, depending on how we define landmarks and the like, but it’s largely accurate.
For this reason, Disney possesses no real urgency to add a fifth theme park in Orlando.
Sure, you’ll hear plenty of discussion about Universal Epic Universe opening next year, but don’t be fooled.
I admit right now that I’ll write several articles about the alleged competition between the two parks over the next 12 months.
However, I’m just doing it for the clicks. Well, that and I genuinely enjoy the discussion.
The reality is that Universal’s impact is barely even a rounding error for Walt Disney World’s overall financials. I’m not even joking.
Disney Experiences earned more than $32.5 billion (!) in revenue in fiscal 2023.
If you think one theme park in one city is going to wreck the company, you must think a bug will shatter your windshield on contact. It’s the same thought process.
Then, there’s the thing I just mentioned. Iger prefers adding attractions and themed lands annually rather than all at once.
Disney’s major expansions under Iger, Shanghai Disneyland and Hong Kong Disneyland, occurred overseas in economically sound markets.
That’s how a company builds a revenue base of $32.5 billion for a single division. It’s also why we’re discussing expansion so much this week.
Eventually, everything Disney announces at D23 will pay for itself many times over.
So, from a financial perspective, a new theme park at Walt Disney World is somehow both overkill and financially justifiable.
Should Disney take that approach, the park would lure even more guests to Orlando – MCO will need to expand again – and allow for price increases.
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