While Disney fans flock to the box office ahead of the new films, D23 also provided new reasons to visit the parks.
At the “Horizons: Disney Experiences Showcase” on Saturday during the D23 Expo, Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro had a lot to announce, including new attractions for Disneyland, Walt Disney World Resort and parks around the world, as well as some out-of-this-world online experiences.
From a new Avatar: The Way of Water land at Disney California Adventure The Lion King At Disneyland Paris and an expansion of Avengers Campus, several experiences will bring some of Disney’s biggest films to life. Stars including Billy Crystal, Darren Criss and Skylar Astin were on hand to share the news.
“At Disney Experiences, Imagineers dream, create, design and build those stories into real places,” D’Amaro said. “And we have Imagineers all over the world right now, because everything we’re about to share with you is in active development. Plans are being drawn. The earth is moving. I just want to be clear: We’re making everything you’re about to hear tonight.”
Thanks to some renderings from Disney Imagineer artists, fans can get a glimpse of what’s to come
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“Avatar” themed attraction at Disney California Park
Photo credit: 20th Century Studios/Disney
Although Disney World’s Animal Kingdom in Orlando, Florida, already has its own Pandora – “The World of Avatar” based on James Cameron’s original 2009 film – the new attraction in Anaheim will be inspired by “Avatar: The Way of Water” (2022) and future installments.
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Expansion of the Avengers Campus
Photo credit: Disney/Marvel
Next year, Disney California Adventure will begin expanding its Avengers Campus, which will include the Avengers Infinity Defense and Stark Flight Lab attractions. Additionally, Spider-Man will swing into Hong Kong and Shanghai’s Disneylands with new attractions.
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“Cars” attractions in the Magic Kingdom
Photo credit: Disney/Pixar
A new “Cars”-inspired area is being built in Frontierland at Walt Disney World Resort’s Magic Kingdom Park, featuring two new attractions: a rally race through the mountains and a family attraction for smaller races.
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Attraction “Coco” at Disney California Adventure
Photo credit: Disney/Pixar
The very first attraction from the 2017 Pixar film is coming to Disneyland in 2026, along with characters and music from the film brought to life by animatronics in the style of The Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean.
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Four new ships from Disney Cruise Line
Photo credit: Disney
Disney Cruise Lines has announced that it will be adding four new ships to its fleet, arriving between 2027 and 2031. Disney Hercules will take the stage aboard Disney Destiny when it sets sail next year, and Disney Treasure will premiere Disney The Tale of Moana later this year.
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Indiana Jones and “Encanto” in the Magic Kingdom
Photo credit: Disney/Pixar/Disney/Lucasfilm
At Disney World Animal Kingdom, the Tropical Americas theme area will be expanded to include Pueblo Esparanza. The new area of the park will feature an Indiana Jones attraction and the first Encanto attraction.
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Disney collaborates with Epic Games
Photo credit: Disney/Pixar/Lucasfilm/Marvel
With its $1.5 billion investment in Epic Games, Disney is partnering with the Fortnite developers to create a new online universe that will include characters from Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar, Star Wars, Marvel Studios and more.
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Mando and Grogu at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
Photo credit: Disney/Lucasfilm
With the premiere of The Mandalorian and Grogu in 2026, the title characters are coming to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge for a new Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run mission at both Disneyland and Disney World.
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“Monsters Inc.” lands in Hollywood Studios
Photo credit: Disney/Pixar
Mike and Sulley are coming to Disney World’s Hollywood Studios with a “Monsters, Inc.”-themed land, where visitors can ride on a door through the laugh factory from the film.
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Disney Starlight Parade at the Magic Kingdom
Photo credit: Disney
In summer 2025, Disney World’s Magic Kingdom will see a new spectacular nighttime parade. Disney Starlight will parade down Main Street, USA, using new technology to tell fan favorite stories, from Peter Pan to Encanto, Frozen and more. Meanwhile, Reach for the Stars will premiere at Tokyo Disneyland on September 20, and another spectacular nighttime spectacle will be held at Disneyland Paris in January 2025.
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Two new lounges in Disney World
Photo credit: Disney
For those looking to relax after a long day of rides at Disney World, there are two new lounges in the park, both of which will open in 2025. Visitors can grab a drink at EPCOT’s Spaceship Earth and the previously announced Pirates of the Caribbean tavern.
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Newly designed test track at EPCOT
Photo credit: Disney
EPCOT’s reimagined Test Track, presented by Chevrolet, will feature a new attraction and six exhibits highlighting the past, present and future of vehicles currently under construction.
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“Lion King” ride at Disneyland Paris
Photo credit: Disney
Simba and his friends are coming to the City of Lights with a new area at Disney Adventure World themed to the 30th anniversary of the Lion King movie. The attraction will include restaurants, shopping, characters and a Pride Rock ride.
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Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at Disneyland
Photo credit: Disney
Beginning November 15, fans of 2009’s The Princess and the Frog can take a journey through Bayou Country to Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at Disneyland. The land will also be the new home of The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Davy Crockett’s Explorer Canoes and the newly reimagined Hungry Bear Barbecue Jamboree.
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Villains Land at the Magic Kingdom
Photo credit: Disney
The dark side of Disneyland is about to open. Villains Land features attractions, shopping and dining inspired by Ursula, Gaston, the Evil Queen and more of our favorite villains from Walt Disney Animation Studios.
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Walt Disney Animatronic at Disneyland
Photo credit: Disney
The man, the myth, the legend. In 2025, “Walt Disney – A Magical Life” will premiere at Disneyland, the first audio-animatronics homage to Walt Disney, showing a realistic visit to Walt’s office.
