Horizons: Disney Experiences Showcase took place over the weekend at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, and WOW there is a lot of news to digest! This was the big event fans have been waiting for, as the Disney Experiences Showcase is when the year’s biggest announcements from the Disney theme parks and Disney Cruise Line take place.
There was a lot of hype and anticipation leading into this year’s Experiences Showcase. Let’s go park by park and destination by destination and review the biggest announcements. Were your predictions accurate? Let’s find out!
Walt Disney World News
MAGIC KINGDOM
We’re starting off with the announcement that came last. The bit of news that received the most unanimously visceral reaction in the best way possible (a.k.a. the longest applause at Honda Center) is a Disney Villains-themed land coming to Magic Kingdom. That’s right, the Villains Land we’ve all been wishing for is finally coming in the form of a new land–we’re finally learning what’s Beyond Big Thunder Mountain.
When complete, the villains land will have two brand-new attractions. It represents the largest expansion in the history of Magic Kingdom. This was also the most open-ended (Josh D’Amaro said no Blue Sky, but I’d say this is just one half step past the Blue Sky phase). There was no timeline given as to when we can expect this land to be completed, or for construction to even begin. But it’s exciting nonetheless!
In the meantime, an area in Frontierland is being reimagined to welcome the characters from the Pixar Cars franchise. This new area in Magic Kingdom will feature two attractions. We learned following after D23 concluded that this reimagined section of Frontierland is currently where the Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island are located.
Disney states in a press release, “Ahead of work revving into high gear next year, guests will have plenty of time to experience the charm and nostalgia of Frontierland as it is today.”
At long last, Magic Kingdom is getting a nighttime parade again! It was announced at the Disney Experiences Showcase that “Disney Starlight” will debut in the summer of 2025. It has been years since a nighttime parade was at Magic Kingdom, so fans are thrilled for Disney Starlight to begin performances.
Also coming to Magic Kingdom in 2025 is the Pirates of the Caribbean-themed tavern that was previously announced at last year’s Destination D23. An exact opening date has yet to be announced.
EPCOT
EPCOT’s updates from D23 were on the light side, but the park did just go through a multi-year transformation that brought in new rides including Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, Journey of Water, and more! I think it’s safe to say EPCOT could use a break from the construction walls for a little bit.
That said, it doesn’t mean nothing is coming to EPCOT. It was announced at D23 that a new lounge space is coming to EPCOT. Specifically, Spaceship Earth Lounge is opening in 2025! I’m always down for a new spot in EPCOT to grab a glass of wine and enjoy the view.
Also opening in 2025 is a new version of Test Track. The ride closed this past June for its transformation, and as I expected, the ride will open sometime next year — though it was not specified exactly when next year.
DISNEY’S HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS
Big changes are also on the way to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. During Horizons: Disney Experiences Showcase, Billy Crystal came out to announce that the first-ever land inspired by the Pixar film Monsters Inc. was coming to the park.
Once completed, guests will be able to visit Monstropolis and fully immerse themselves in the world of Mike Wazowski, Sully, Boo, and more. The hallmark attraction in the land will be a roller coaster that brings riders through the Door Warehouse at Monsters Inc.
This roller coaster concept has been on the wishlist of many Disney fans ever since Monsters Inc. was first released!
There’s no official word yet from Disney as of this writing on where the Monsters Inc. land will be located. Keep an eye on this space for updates!
DISNEY’S ANIMAL KINGDOM
We aren’t done with Disney World yet! Disney’s Animal Kingdom is also due for some major changes over the next few years. Work on the previously-announced Tropical Americas land will start in the fall of 2024, officially taking the place of DinoLand U.S.A.
D’Amaro noted that DinoLand will close in phases, so while work begins, you’ll still be able to get one final ride in on Dinosaur.
We learned that the land will include three new attractions: an Indiana Jones-themed ride with an entirely new story not seen in any other Indiana Jones ride at a Disney park…
…a carousel featuring beloved Disney animals…
…including Kevin, who was one of the models on display at the Imagineering Pavilion…
…and an Encanto-themed ride that takes you through the Casita!
The Tropical Americas land is set to be completed in 2027.
It was also announced that the Zootopia show replacing “It’s Tough to Be a Bug” at the theater inside the Tree of Life will debut in winter 2025. The show will be called “Zootopia: Better Zoogether!
MAGIC KINGDOM IS CHANGING! READ ABOUT WHAT’S NEW AT DISNEY WORLD’S FLAGSHIP THEME PARK.
Disneyland Resort News
DISNEYLAND PARK
Compared to other theme parks, Disneyland Park didn’t receive quite as many updates at Disney Experiences Showcase, but that certainly doesn’t mean what was announced for the Happiest Place on Earth is any less exciting. We got an important update regarding Tiana’s Bayou Adventure: the ride will officially open at Disneyland on November 15, 2024!
D’Amaro also confirmed that the 70th anniversary celebration of Disneyland will take place in 2025, though little details were given at the time of the announcement. The 60th anniversary celebration lasted around a year and included a new fireworks show, parade, limited-time merchandise, and more. So I would hope we see a celebration that’s of that scale!
This final update from Disneyland is, in my mind, the most intriguing announcement from the entire Experiences Showcase. A new show will debut in the Main Street Opera House called Walt Disney: A Magical Life. What’s unique about this show is it will feature, for the first time ever, an Audio-Animatronic figure of Walt Disney himself.
After the debut run of Walt Disney: A Magical Life, it will play in rotation with Great Moments With Mr. Lincoln. The show is debuting in 2025, though no specific date was mentioned (I’d guess it would be in time for the park’s 70th anniversary, which is on July 17, 2025).
DISNEY CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE
Disney California Adventure got a lot of love at this year’s Experiences Showcase!
The first announcement for this park is the previously-announced “Avatar experience.” We got a glimpse at concept art at this year’s Shareholders Meeting for the Walt Disney Company, and now we finally know more important details about this land! Yes, an Avatar land is coming to Disney California Adventure. No official word yet on where in California Adventure this land will be located.
This version of an Avatar-themed land will be in a different location in the Pandora universe than what we’ve been visiting at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The land will be inspired by Avatar: The Way of Water, the newly-named Avatar: Fire and Ash, as well as other future Avatar films. The land will feature a new attraction that appears to be a boat ride (love a good boat ride).
Also coming to Disney California Adventure is the first-ever Coco-themed ride! We didn’t get too many details of the ride, other than hearing that ground breaking will take place in 2026, so it’s still a few years out from completion.
Let’s move on to Avengers Campus, where we learned about not one, but two new rides coming to the land! Avengers Campus is doubling in size–a much needed addition in my opinion! The King Thanos ride is indeed happening, as hinted by the presence of a model of the ride vehicle in the Imagineering pavilion at the Anaheim Convention Center.
The ride will be called Avengers Infinity Defense. In this attraction, will have the ability to defend beloved locations in the Marvel universe, including Asgard, Wakanda, and even New York City. Construction on this ride will begin in 2025.
But wait; there’s more! A second ride was announced for Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure. It’s called Stark Flight Lab, and it will feature Robert Downey Jr. reprising his role as Tony Stark.
The ride mechanism bears a striking resemblance to Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey at Universal Orlando and Universal Studios Hollywood, so if you’ve been on that ride before, you have a sense at what this ride could feel like. D’Amaro noted that Stark Flight Lab will have multiple ride capabilities, making it a fun repeatable ride for thrill seekers!
PACK THESE PARK BAG ESSENTIALS BEFORE YOUR NEXT DISNEY WORLD OR DISNEYLAND VACATION.
Disney Cruise Line News
There wasn’t much time spent talking about Disney Cruise Line during the Disney Experiences Showcase, but they didn’t need to spend a lot of time on the subject — there was really one announcement, but it was a BIG one! There were some updates on the entertainment offerings coming to the Disney Treasure and Disney Destiny. We got a look at concept art from Disney The Tale of Moana, the Broadway-style show performing on the Treasure (setting sail beginning in December 2024).
We also learned that the Broadway-style show that will be on the Disney Destiny is Hercules!
Ok, time for the major announcement: FOUR new ships are joining the Disney Cruise Line fleet! The four vessels will make their maiden voyages between 2027 and 2031. In total, there will be 13 ships available on Disney Cruise Line by 2031.
No details were given on the four new vessels during the presentation, including anything regarding their names, ship class, etc. Looks like there is plenty to look forward to if you’re a Disney Cruise Line fan!
READ UP ON WHAT DISNEY CRUISE LINE FANS CAN LOOK FORWARD TO IN 2024 AND 2025.
International Disney Parks News
DISNEYLAND PARIS
Let’s head overseas and see what’s in store for the international Disney theme parks in the coming years. The first change guests will see at Disneyland Paris is a new fireworks show arriving this January. Work is underway on World of Frozen at Disneyland Paris, which will open at the newly-named Disney Adventure World in 2026. That is when the official park name change will take place as well.
A new fireworks spectacular will debut in 2026 as well to mark the occasion, which will be a full 360-degree spectacular. World of Frozen isn’t the only new land coming to Disney Adventure World. It was also announced at Horizons that a flume ride based on the 1994 animated film The Lion King is making its way to Disneyland Paris.
The new Lion King area of the park was revealed the following day at the Disney Imagineering Pavilion on the Anaheim Convention Center show floor. Guests were able to get a look at the model for the ride and surrounding area.
TOKYO DISNEY RESORT
The first addition guests will see at an international Disney Park will be at Tokyo Disney Resort. Starting September 20, 2024, a new fireworks show called “Reach for the Stars” will debut at Tokyo Disneyland. The show will feature super heroes making their appearance for the first time at Tokyo Disney Resort.
HONG KONG DISNEYLAND
Marvel is making its way to Hong Kong Disneyland! At the Disney Experiences Showcase, it was revealed that a Spider-Man attraction is on its way to the resort. The ride will feature Spider-Man and his nemesis Doctor Octopus.
SHANGHAI DISNEY RESORT
The newest Disney resort destination, Shanghai Disney Resort, also received an update at the Disney Experiences Showcase. Guests can expect the first-ever Spider-Man themed roller coaster to arrive at Shanghai Disneyland in the coming years (no specific timeline was given).
PHEW! That’s a lot of updates to throw at a bunch of Disney fans over a three-hour presentation. If you ask me, I’d say the future of Disney Experiences is quite bright. New rides, new lands, FOUR new cruise ships…there will be plenty to cover over the next several years. Be sure to follow along for all of the latest Disney Parks and Cruise Line news and planning tips as these new offerings unfold.
START PLANNING YOUR FIRST DISNEY WORLD VACATION (OR FIRST VACATION IN A WHILE) WITH THESE FOOLPROOF TIPS.
