The Walt Disney Company recently hosted their biennial fan event, D23, in Anaheim, California. The event is one of the most anticipated moments for fans of Disney as the company always reveals new attractions, cruise ships, experiences, and more, and this year was no exception.
At D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, one of the most anticipated parts of the three-day expo-style event is the Disney Experiences panel. At the Experiences Panel, executives and creatives share what the future holds for the company’s theme parks, resorts, cruises, and more.
The panel this year was titled “Horizons: Disney Experiences Showcase,” and highlighted future plans of what’s to come to the Disney Parks within the next few years. In the past, there were other featured plans for the parks presented at D23 with no clear-cut path as to when the projects would be completed.
However, at this year’s event it was promised that all of the announcements made by Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro have already been approved, and the groundwork for these plans are already in the works,” according to Forbes Magazine.
“At Disney Experiences, Imagineers dream, create, design and build these stories into real places. And we have Imagineers in place right now all around the world because everything we’re going to share with you is in active development,” said D’Amaro.
“Plans are drawn. Dirt is moving. I just want to be clear about this: We are doing everything you’ve heard here tonight.”
The Disneyland Resort in California is set to celebrate its 70th anniversary next year, and D’Amaro said the park has some big new plans coming up.
In 2025, Disneyland will be debuting their first Walt Disney inspired attraction called, “Walt Disney – A Magical Life.” According to reports, the show will take place in the same theater as Great Moments With Mr. Lincoln. After the new show’s initial viewings, each show will play in a rotation of one another.
The show will feature Disney’s first Audio-Animatronic of Walt Disney himself, and will take viewers through what it would be like to stop by his office. “There is no better tribute to Walt Disney than honoring him through the Audio-Animatronics technology that he helped pioneer,” said D’Amaro.
Forbes contributor Megan duBois reported that “the size of Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure will double as the land debuts two new attractions in the coming years. On Avengers Infinity Defense guests will board a ride vehicle that can “jump between worlds” like Asgard, Wakanda and New York City to unite with the Avengers and fight King Thanos.
The second new attraction is Stark Flight Lab, where guests will sit in two-person pods and test simulated flights a la Iron Man. Robert Downey Jr. is set to reprise his role as Tony Stark for this and Avengers Infinity Defense. Construction on the expansion will start in 2025,” duBois wrote.
“Over the next few years Walt Disney World will [also] get an abundance of new attractions and entertainment offerings.”
“Since the beginning, our Disney Villains have given us endless possibilities to tell new stories. In this new land, you’ll see storytelling on a grand scale that only Disney can deliver,” said D’ Amaro.
Walt Disney World will also experience the return of a nighttime parade at the Magic Kingdom. This new parade will be known as “Disney Starlight,” and is set to debut in summer 2025.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios also announced that a land themed after hit Pixar film “Monsters, Inc.” is being built. The biggest attraction set to be in that part of the park is Disney’s first suspended roller coaster that will be designed to look like the factory and door vault from the movie.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom will also be getting new attractions and themed rides, including the park’s first “Encanto” themed ride.
“Over the next handful of years, Disney experiences around the world are getting new attractions, lands and even new names. For Disney, the heart of everything is storytelling. Whether that means connecting with a Disney character from a movie and seeing that same character in the theme parks, or as fans will see next year, Walt Disney in Audio-Animatronic form sharing stories of his own at Disneyland Park,” duBois wrote.
“No other brand connects emotionally with fans as powerfully as Disney. With our size and scope, we have an unmatched opportunity to reach fans all over the world, and we have so many more stories to tell,” said D’Amaro.
Eric Mastrota is a Contributing Editor at The National Digest based in New York. A graduate of SUNY New Paltz, he reports on world news, culture, and lifestyle. You can reach him at eric.mastrota@thenationaldigest.com.
