This weekend, the news is flowing from the popular D23 Expo event in Anaheim, California. There has been a lot of information about upcoming entertainment, updates at the theme parks, and more. Based on the information just announced, here are 5 amazing reasons to plan your next Disney vacation!

With 2023 being the 100th anniversary of Disney, it was long anticipated to be an exceptionally magical year at the Disney Destinations. The announcements today did not disappoint and it’s truly the perfect time to plan your 2023 visit to the theme parks!

The Return of Beloved Entertainment

Last year, right before the start of the 50^th-anniversary celebration, the nighttime spectacular “Happily Ever After” was seen for the last time at the Magic Kingdom. That was what everyone thought! Today, it was announced that the popular show will once again fill the skies of the Magic Kingdom with fireworks and beloved music! Although a return date was not announced, it was revealed that the show would return in 2023.

With the 50^th-anniversary celebration ending in April 2023, perhaps the show will return at that time!

At Disneyland Park, it was announced that the “Magic Happens” Parade will also return in spring 2023. This parade debuted in 2020, right before the parks closed due to the pandemic, and features music from artist Todrick Hall. This popular parade celebrates the magic in Disney stories and features many beloved characters including Anna and Elsa, Coco, Aurora, Mickey and Friends, and more!

New Nighttime Shows

One of the highlights of any Disney vacation is ending your day in the parks with a magical nighttime show. Luckily, the parks on both coasts have some amazing shows to choose from and in the near future, there will be new shows to enjoy too!

At the Disneyland Resort, there are TWO new nighttime spectaculars coming to celebrate Disney’s 100 years of Wonder.

These two shows will start in January 2023. World of Color – One will be at Disney California Adventure and will celebrate the storytelling legacy started by Walt Disney. Featuring many beloved characters, Josh D’Amaro teased that it will be “a World of Color like nothing you’ve ever seen before”.

At Disneyland Park, “Wonderous Journeys” will feature nods to all 60 Walt Disney animated films to date, filled with music and all the feels!

On the other coast, Josh D’Amaro announced that another new nighttime spectacular will be coming to EPCOT, in celebration of the 100^th anniversary of Disney. The show is currently in development and is expected to debut later next year.

New Attractions

New attractions are another reason to consider a visit in 2023! We have previously shared news about the newest attractions coming to the Disney parks. At the D23 Expo, more details were revealed, including timelines for opening.

We have seen the construction of TRON happening for months and recently testing started as well. So, it was very exciting to hear that TRON will open in Spring 2023 at the Magic Kingdom! In addition, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is expected to open in 2024 at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World.

In EPCOT, the Journey of Water attraction, inspired by Moana, is expected to open in late 2023.

The Re-Opening of Mickey’s Toontown at Disneyland Park

Last year, Mickey’s Toontown closed to undergo a major refurbishment that includes the addition of the new attraction “Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway”. This newly reimagined land is expected to reopen in early 2023. The land will feature inclusive experiences for the whole family, including sensory-friendly areas.

The Future of Disney Destinations

Although timelines were not given for all the upcoming changes, there were many other big announcements made about the future of Disney Destinations! Some of the projects below were noted as being in the “blue sky phase”, meaning that ideas are flowing but nothing concrete has been decided.

• Villains Land Expansion at the Magic Kingdom
• Encanto and Coco attractions at the Magic Kingdom
• “Tangled”–themed attraction at Disneyland Paris
• Zootopia and Moana at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
• Lighthouse Point for Disney Cruise Line guests
• The third attraction at Avengers Campus in Disney California Adventure
• The Disney Treasure is the next ship in the Disney Cruise Line fleet

There is clearly so much to look forward to at the Disney Destinations around the world. The future looks bright!

With so much happening in 2023 and more coming in the future, now is the time to plan your Disney vacation! Bookings for both the Disneyland Resort and the Walt Disney World Resort are open through 2023. It’s always best to get those hotels booked early!

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