Recapping D23 announcements - PREP 422

We were at the 2024 D23 Expo in Anaheim, CA, and bring you the details on all of the exciting announcements during the Disney Parks and Experiences Showcase!

In this article

Expectations

Prior to D23 we expected most of the announcements to be about Disneyland. Our expectations were set and we were blown away. The event was absolutely incredible and really well done.

Disneyland Announcements

70th Birthday Celebration

In 2025 Disneyland will celebrate 70 years. Paint the Night parade will return and is one of the prettiest evening parades. This started for their 60th Birthday and will be back.

California Adventure

A new Avatar attraction is coming to California Adventure. This will be a brand new attraction inspired by “Avatar: The Way of Water” and future Avatar films. It will not be a copy of previous attractions.

Plus, California Adventure will receive the first ever attraction inspired by the movie Coco. This will be a boat ride with theming based on the animated movie Coco.

Avenger’s Campus will also get two new attractions. Avengers Infinity Defense and Stark Flight Lab will expand this land.

Disneyland

In 2025 Disneyland will get a new Walt Disney Animatronic. This will be part of a new experience that will play in rotation with “Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln.”

Disneyland’s Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will open on November 15, 2024 just in time for the holiday season.

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Disney Cruise Line

This presentation was really fun and included announcements of 4 new ships joining the fleet. Once these ships, and the other 4 in production are complete, there will be 13 total Disney Cruise Line ships.

The new ships announced will be in production and expect to be completed between 2027 and 2031.

It was also announced that the Disney Destiny will be getting a stage show themed after Hercules and the Disney Treasure will get a stage show with a Moana theme.

Disney World

Magic Kingdom

Next summer there will be a new evening parade called Disney Starlight. This will be the end of eight years without a regular nighttime parade at Disney World.

The previously-announced Pirates-themed tavern was furthered defined. It was first announced in 2023 and will be heavily themed. It will open in 2025.

There will also be two new Cars attractions coming to Disney World. These will be two brand new attractions and they will begin construction in 2025.

It was finally announced that beyond Big Thunder Mountain will be a Villains-themed land. This will likely not require any closures because it is in a new area. There is not an expected open date at this time.

Epcot

There will be a lounge opening in 2025 that is themed for Spaceship Earth. The concept artwork shows that this will have fireworks viewing.

Test Track will be rethemed and will reopening in 2025. This construction has already begun.

Hollywood Studios

Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run will have a new themed mission that includes Mando and Grogu. This will launch at both Hollywood Studios and Disneyland.

Monsters, Inc. Land will be coming to Hollywood Studios. This highly-themed land will include the first suspended coaster at any Disney park.

Animal Kingdom

Dinoland will be rethemed to Tropical Americas and will include a new attraction themed for Encanto. This land will likely begin transformation soon with a scheduled open date of 2027.

DINOSAUR will be rethemed to an Indiana Jones ride. This will be a different and unique attraction from what is currently at Disneyland.

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