Figment will begin meeting guests inside the Imagination Pavilion at EPCOT beginning tomorrow – Sept. 10!
On September 9, 2023, Destination D23 took over Disney’s Contemporary Resort with exciting reveals from Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products Chairman Josh D’Amaro. Fans got a look at what’s next for Disney theme parks, cruise ships, and international destinations. If you missed the livestream, here’s a full recap of the biggest Destination D23 2023 announcements!
Magic Kingdom Expansions & New Attractions
Magic Kingdom is set for major growth, with plans to expand beyond Big Thunder Mountain. While details are still in development, Disney has hinted at possible themes inspired by Encanto and Indiana Jones.
At Walt Disney World, the Country Bear Jamboree is getting new songs and the bears will be performing a new act in 2024! The Country Bear Jamboree will still have the fun and friendly tone fans enjoy with the same famous characters like the loveable Trixie, Big Al and others.
Meanwhile, Country Bear Jamboree is getting a full musical refresh, featuring new Nashville-style country tunes while keeping the beloved bears intact. Also, a brand-new Pirates of the Caribbean-themed lounge will be added to Adventureland, bringing even more pirate fun to the park.
EPCOT’s Transformation & Nighttime Spectaculars
After years of updates, EPCOT’s reimagining is nearly complete! The park’s multi-year transformation will wrap up with Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana, opening in October 2023.
Other EPCOT announcements included:
Soarin’ Over California making a limited-time return.
Test Track getting a new reimagining, inspired by the classic World of Motion attraction.
Figment meet & greet arriving at EPCOT.
Luminous: The Symphony of Us, a new nighttime spectacular replacing Harmonious, debuting in December 2023.
Animal Kingdom is set to undergo big changes, as Disney teased the reimagining of DinoLand U.S.A.. While still in early planning, the area may transform into Tropical Americas, featuring Zootopiaand Encanto elements.
Disney Cruise Line & International Park Updates
Beyond the theme parks, Disney also revealed major cruise and international park updates, including:
Disney Adventure – A new Southeast Asia-based cruise ship.
Disney Treasure – More reveals for the new Disney Treasure ship, including a Jungle Cruise-themed lounge and a Coco dining experience.
Shanghai Disneyland’s Zootopia Land – Set to open by late 2023.
Hong Kong Disneyland’s Frozen Land – World of Frozen will open in November 2023.
What’s Next for Disney Parks?
While some projects are still in early development, Destination D23 2023 delivered a thrilling look at the future of Disney Parks, cruise ships, and resorts. With Magic Kingdom expansions, EPCOT updates, and new experiences around the world, fans have plenty to look forward to!
Disney Parks, Experiences and Products Chairman Josh D’Amaro is presenting “A Celebration of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow” at the event and offering a look at what’s coming to life at our parks, resorts and beyond – along with a few special surprises!
Disney Parks, Experiences and Products Chairman Josh D’Amaro is presenting “A Celebration of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow” at the event and offering a look at what’s coming to life at our parks, resorts and beyond – along with a few special surprises!
Ahsoka will become part of our popular Star Tours attraction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Florida, Disneyland Park in California and Disneyland Paris – beginning next spring.
World Celebration neighborhood will begin welcoming guests this December!
World Celebration will unite the front of the park, tying together the other two new EPCOT neighborhoods, World Discovery and World Nature.
EPCOT, Test Track will be reimagined!
Imagineers along with teams from Chevrolet are reaching back into history for inspiration – from the original World of Motion – and bringing that spirit of optimism to the next iteration of the Test Track attraction! More to come in the future.
A new nighttime spectacular at EPCOT called “Luminous The Symphony of Us” will debut on Dec. 5, 2023!
Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana will welcome adventurers in EPCOT soon. Guests can explore a serene walking trail that entertains, inspires and educates as they engage with water in magical ways like Moana did with the ocean. The new attraction is located in the World Nature neighborhood of EPCOT at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Amy Smith, Photographer)
Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana will open on Oct. 16, 2023! Journey of Water is a new walk-through experience located within World Nature – the EPCOT neighborhood dedicated to understanding and preserving the beauty and balance of the natural world.
Disney California Adventure Park, a new world-jumping vehicle is coming to the next attraction in Avengers Campus to help transport Super Heroes into the Multiverse.
Brent Strong, executive creative director at Walt Disney Imagineering, is sharing an early peek at the ride vehicle featuring a design that combines elements of Tony Stark’s time-suits with Xandarian jump points and Wakandan technology.
A special peek at what’s to come at Disneyland Paris is being shared!
In Paris, Imagineers and teams are busy transforming Walt Disney Studios Park. The resort’s future “Frozen”-themed land that’ll highlight the kingdom of Anna and Elsa is taking shape and just a part of an exciting transformation. Keep checking the Disney Parks Blog for more details.
Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point – a brand new island destination!
Disney Adventure is the seventh ship in the Disney Cruise Line fleet and work is currently underway in Germany. It’ll be the first Disney ship to sail from Singapore and throughout Southeast Asia and feature the Disney service, storytelling and entertainment everyone knows and loves.
A new show based on “Zootopia” is being created for the Tree of Life theater at Disney’s Animal Kingdom!
The current concept for the new “Zootopia” experience has guests visiting the different biomes you only glimpse in the film, traveling along with Judy Hopps, Nick Wilde and other characters.
A new Pirates of the Caribbean-themed lounge is coming to Adventureland at Magic Kingdom Park in Florida. This first-of-its-kind experience will extend the story of Pirates of the Caribbean. Imagineers are in the design process now and more details are coming in the future.
Walt Disney Imagineering is planning to reimagine Dinoland U.S.A. at Disney’s Animal Kingdom into a new land – inspired by a region sometimes referred to as “tropical Americas.”
As part of their research, Imagineers are looking at some of the most biodiverse areas on the planet in the regions just north and south of the equator here in the Western Hemisphere – the northern part of South America, stretching up into Central America.
Hatbox Ghost is coming to the Haunted Mansion attraction in Florida in late November!
At Walt Disney World, the Country Bear Jamboree is getting new songs and the bears will be performing a new act in 2024! The Country Bear Jamboree will still have the fun and friendly tone fans enjoy with the same famous characters like the loveable Trixie, Big Al and others.
A new look at what’s coming to Fantasy Springs at Tokyo Disney Resort is being shared!
The eighth themed port of Tokyo DisneySea will feature Rapunzel’s Forest, Peter Pan’s Never Land and Frozen Kingdom – all inspired by the Walt Disney Animation Studios Films.
A new look at what’s coming to Zootopia at Shanghai Disney Resort
A sneak peek of the world’s first Frozen-themed land debuting at Hong Kong Disneyland in November is being shown.
Figment will begin meeting guests inside the Imagination Pavilion at EPCOT beginning tomorrow – Sept. 10!
