If you are like us, you were cautiously awaiting this year’s 2024 Disney D23 Epxo for the Parks Panel announcements. The last two expos left us wanting more, let down, and cynical about the future of new attractions and experiences at Disney parks.
So, last night we were stunned that Josh D’Amaro, Chairperson of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, started the night with these exciting words: “I’ve got a lot to share … and everything we’re going to share is in active development. This isn’t Blue Sky.” It was like a weight was removed and I can start get excited about the future of Disney Parks again.
You might be asking “why this is so important’. Well, in the Disney universe, there a hundreds of projects that Imagineers work on every year. Many of them never see the light of day. These are called “Blue Sky” projects. Disney often uses these Blue Sky projects to gain excitement about the future in Disney parks and then we are devastated when they never come to fruition. Hearing that every announcement made last night is already in production, not Blue Sky, gives us hope that we can once again have something to look forward to. And boy oh boy, did last night get us excited.
So buckle up, keep your arms and feet inside your ride vehicle, and follow along as we break down all the park news revealed last night! **We are going to do this by park.
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Avatar Land: Coming to Disney California Adventure Park
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Pandora has a new destination inside Disney California Adventure. While Pandora—The World of Avatar at Disney’s Animal Kingdom is based on Oscar-winner James Cameron’s “Avatar” film, this new destination draws inspiration from “Avatar: The Way of Water” and upcoming Avatar films to bring Pandora to life in a brand-new way.
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This new and thrilling excursion will bring all the action, excitement, and wonder of Avatar, taking guests all the way to the wide-open seas of Pandora. Two new attractions will be in this new land. Plans to break ground on this new land in 2026 at Disney California Adventure Park at the Disneyland Resort. Stay Tuned for more details as we hear more about this new land.
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Coco Attraction: Coming to Disney California Adventure Park
Ernesto de la Cruz introduced a brand new attraction coming to Disney California Adventure Park! The attraction will be filled with the characters and music you know and love from the beloved movie, as you join Miguel on a trip to the land of the dead. This marks the first-ever “Coco” ride in a Disney park!
Walt Disney Imagineering will draw inspiration for the attraction from beloved classics, like Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean. “We’re bringing our skeletal cast of characters to life in a big way through the latest Audio-Animatronics technology,” Josh told the crowd. “These figures will appear in ways you’ll have to see to believe.” No opening date was given for this at this time but it was said “breaking ground in 2026.”
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Walt Disney Audio-Animatronics Figure Coming to Disneyland
“Walt Disney – A Magical Life” will debut inside the Main Street Opera House, and after its initial run, the attraction will play in rotation with “Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln.” A fitting acknowledgment of Walt’s significant advances with Audio-Animatronics about 60 years ago when he first introduced the groundbreaking technology.
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For the first time ever, when it debuts in 2025, you’ll actually be able to see Walt Disney through the magic of Audio-Animatronics technology in “Walt Disney – A Magical Life.” Walt Disney Imagineering’s first Audio-Animatronics figure of Walt Disney is being created for this very special experience.
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Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Opening at Disneyland November 15th, 2024
The Happiest Place on Earth will open their attraction inspired by the Walt Disney Animation Studios’ film “The Princess and the Frog” on Nov. 15, 2024 (at the start of the Holiday season at Disneyland Resort)! And not only that, but Critter Country will be appropriately renamed Bayou Country when Tiana’s Bayou Adventure opens. Gather up your friends and family, a celebration is coming!
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Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run Update
When the upcoming “The Mandalorian and Grogu” movie blasts off in theaters in 2026, it will also touch down at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. A brand-new story featuring Mando and his youngling is coming to Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run.
Avengers: Infinity Defense and Stark Flight Lab Coming to Avengers Campus
New images were released and additional details as well for the two new attractions coming to Avengers Campus inside Disney California Adventure Park. Construction of Avengers: Infinity Defense and Stark Flight Lab will begin in 2025.
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Stark Flight Lab, you’re going to sit in two-person pods and deploy to a test station. Then a robot arm grabs your pod and starts whirling you around in a simulated flight. And, a familiar face will join you at the Stark Flight Lab — Mr. Stark himself. Robert Downey Jr. reprises his role as Tony Stark for the attractions in the land.
Get ready for a multi-world adventure experience with Avengers Infinity Defense. Technology that allows the Avengers to jump between worlds has gone missing, and King Thanos is using it to wreak havoc everywhere. Recruits will travel to iconic locations like Asgard, Wakanda, and New York City alongside the likes of big, and small, heroes. You also just might find yourself face-to-face with King Thanos, too.
This is all we have for the Disneyland Resort at this time! On to Walt Disney World!
Walt Disney World
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All-New Nighttime Parade Coming to Magic Kingdom in Summer 2025
We have been waiting for a new nighttime parade at Walt Disney World for so long! And beginning next year we will finally get one!
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“Disney Starlight” will continue the nighttime spectacular legacy started by the “Main Street Electrical Parade” using the latest technology to tell new stories about the characters you love. All of this is brought to life by the magic of the Blue Fairy, in addition to beloved characters from Walt Disney Animation Studios films “Peter Pan,” “Encanto,” “Frozen,” and more.
Tropical Americas at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park
A new adventure awaits at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park with the addition of a new space themed around Tropical Americas. This new 11-acre section of the park is set to begin later this year. Just like Harambe, the land feels lived in, with a long, rich history — plus there’s a large hacienda which will be one of the largest quick-service restaurants at Walt Disney World Resort.
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The space will be lush and sprawling, featuring a large fountain in the center where the villagers like to gather and tell stories. Additionally, a woodcarver has created a giant working carousel featuring his favorite animals from Disney stories. It’s a new take on a classic attraction that young families are going to love.
That’s not all that will be located here – the new land will include not one but two signature attractions!
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Indiana Jones
A new Indy experience is set to arrive in Disney’s Animal Kingdom and will be different from any other Indiana Jones experience around the world.
In this new venture, the man with the hat has recently discovered a perfectly preserved Maya temple, and that can only mean one thing: it’s time to explore it.
He’s heard rumors about a mythical creature deep within the temple — and he’s got to see it for himself. So, he brings us along on the adventure… but will there be snakes? We’ll just have to wait and see.
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Encanto
If you’re a fan of drawers, floors, and doors, let’s go! The first-ever “Encanto”-themed ride-through attraction is coming to Animal Kingdom, featuring the beloved Madrigal family from the Walt Disney Animation Studios film. Inside the Casita, Antonio has just received his special gift — the ability to communicate with animals — and his room has transformed into a rainforest. It’s time to go explore alongside him, and you never know what member of the family you might bump into…
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Josh D’Amaro said the entire land opens in 2027 and the work will be done in phases, which means work should start first on Encanto, the carousel and land – and Dinosaur will likely close later.
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Zootopia: Better Together coming to Animal Kingdom
While very little information was released, it looks like a new tree projection show is coming to Discovery Island at Disney’s Animal Kingdom park called Zootopia: Better Together in 2025.
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New Pirates Lounge and Spaceship Earth Lounge Coming to Magic Kingdom and EPCOT
Set course for the Magic Kingdom! First announced at Destination D23 last year, this rambunctious watering hole will offer a welcoming haven for all pirate-kind, big and small, and everyone in between. Here, bandits and buccaneers-to-be from every corner of the seven seas are welcome to join together and raise a toast to the pirate life! In the newly released artwork, X marks the spot for a sea-worthy selection of grogs and grub inside this tavern location coming to Magic Kingdom Park.
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For over 40 years, Spaceship Earth has welcomed visitors to EPCOT as a shining beacon of optimism and hope. This just-announced lounge is inspired by the stories, shapes, and enduring legacy of this timeless icon. Taking inspiration from the geometric sphere, the zen space to gather and enjoy refreshments will be draped with rich textures and warm metallic tones, giving it a mysterious and elegant intimacy.
Both spaces will welcome their first guests in 2025.
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Monsters, Inc. Land Announced for Hollywood Studios
It’s laughter they’re after when a brand-new land themed around Pixar Animation Studios’ “Monsters, Inc.” comes to life at Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World Resort. Last night it was revealed a not-at-all-scary “Monsters, Inc.” inspired area is coming where you’ll be able to stroll the streets alongside some of your favorite monsters.
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Picking up after the events of Pixar’s beloved film, humans have now been invited to visit the world of Monsters, Inc. — and the monsters need laughter to power the city and keep it running smoothly. But it’s not a true visit without the factory itself. You’ll be able to see the sights, hear the laughs and zoom through the building just like James P. Sullivan (a.k.a. Sulley) and Mike Wazowski — via a door!
Yes, a door. If you’ve been dreaming of riding through the door vault since the movie was released in 2001, you’re not alone — Josh has been thinking about this, too. “The first time I saw Monsters, Inc., all I wanted to do was ride on one of those doors like Mike and Sulley,” he told the crowd. “You’ll go into the factory and experience the first suspended coaster ever in a Disney park. Remember in the movie how those claws grab the doors and hoist them up into the air to take them away? We’re doing that, too. And you’re going along for the ride.”
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Two Cars Attractions Coming to Magic Kingdom
It’s not the Cars Land we wanted but two new Cars-themed attractions are coming to Magic Kingdom beyond Big Thunder Mountain.
A new area inspired by the Pixar Animation Studios film “Cars” will be coming to a reimagined section of Frontierland at Magic Kingdom. “The American West has always been about keeping your eyes on the horizon … believing in yourself, carving your own path, and striving toward success. That goes for miners in the mountains, bears from the country, a princess from the bayou … or a racecar from the big city,” Josh told the crowd.
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Don’t get too comfortable in Radiator Springs because it’s time to leave the pit stop and head west into exciting new frontiers. On this adventure, guests will be able to experience not one but two exciting new “Cars”-themed attractions. One attraction will invite you on a thrilling rally race through the mountains. Take on wild terrain as you race across the landscape climbing mountain trails, dodging geysers and — Mater’s favorite — splashing through mudholes.
But what about smaller racers? The second attraction will be geared towards them and will be fun for the whole family. Get ready to start your engines! Work on this new space in Frontierland will begin in early 2025.
Villains Land Coming to Magic Kingdom
This was BY FAR the most exciting news of the night. We have been dreaming this land into reality for YEARS. You can even find this article I wrote where I made suggestions on what we would like to see in a Villain Land! The space will be home to two major attractions, dining, and shopping on an incredibly twisted grand scale.
A place where poison apples are aplenty and magic potions can ruin your whole day. For all those things hiding in the shadows, it’s time to join them as we lift the veil on a forthcoming Villains Land at Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. This new land will be home to the Disney Villains we know and loathe from our favorite Walt Disney Animation Studios classic films — “Which means happily ever after may feel like just a distant dream.”
That’s a wrap on the US parks and the announcements we received last night. Stay tuned for more updates and news on new attractions and lands coming to Disneyland Paris, Hong Kong, and Shanghai!
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Heather is the proud owner of Theme Park Professor and Winds in the East Travel. For over 10 years, she has been covering everything from the latest merchandise to breaking news for her readers. As a New York native, Heather makes sure to visit the Orlando parks a few times a month, especially during the colder months. After all, what’s the point of having a Walt Disney World Annual Pass if you don’t use it?
Heather is a self-proclaimed Potterhead and also visits the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and the rest of Universal Orlando Resort multiple times a month. So, “Wands up!” for all the fellow Potterheads out there!
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