During D23 Expo 2022: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, held the weekend of 09SEP, Josh D’Amaro, Chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, shared news and updates for projects in development at Disney theme parks and plans for Disney100 anniversary celebrations.
What's new at Disneyland
At Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, Calif., the Disney100 anniversary celebration will kick off in late JAN 2023 with including two new nighttime shows: World of Color – One at Disney California Adventure Park and Wondrous Journeys at Disneyland Park. The Magic Happens parade is also set to return to Disneyland Park in the spring.
Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure will expand into the multiverse and introduce a third attraction. For a limited time beginning 12SEP, guests may encounter The Incredible Hulk.
The Mandalorian and Grogu will make their first appearance at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland Park in mid-November.
Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel will become Pixar Place Hotel. SoCal favourite Great Maple will open a flagship restaurant on the first floor and operate other food and beverage locations throughout the hotel. Downtown Disney District will welcome Porto’s Bakery and Café in the future.
Other updates included:
-runDisney races will return to the Disneyland Resort in 2024.
-Pacific Wharf in Disney California Adventure will be reimagined into San Fransokyo from “Big Hero 6” – with places to shop, eat and meet Baymax.
-Models or concept artwork were released for the reimagination of Mickey’s Toontown, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure and the evolution of the Downtown Disney District.
What's new at Walt Disney World
Walt Disney World, located in Orlando, Fla., will also be part of the Disney100 anniversary celebrations with a host of new attractions slated for next year, including the opening of TRON Lightcycle Run in the spring in Magic Kindom, a new nighttime spectacular for EPCOT, which is undergoing a major transformation.
Other updates included:
-"Happily Ever After" will return to Magic Kingdom next year with new updates.
-The Hatbox Ghost, a Haunted Mansion icon at Disneyland, will come to Magic Kingdom's Haunted Mansion in 2023.
-Figment will make character appearances at EPCOT next year.
Longer-term projects will see the opening of Tiana's Bayou Adventure at Disney World and Disneyland in late 2024, featuring the familiar voices of many of the actors who worked on The Princess and the Frog. The attraction will replace Splash Mountain. Disney is also looking at retheming of Animal Kingdom's DinoLand to incorporate Zootopia and Moana.
Deals for Disney Plus Subscribers
In other news, Disney announced it is giving Disney Plus subscribers access to deals on cruises and hotels. For Disney Cruise Line, third and fourth guests sail free with two paid full-fare guests in the same stateroom. The deal applies to select sailings on the Disney Magic, Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy from JAN to APR 2023. Disney Plus subscribers can book up to two staterooms under the deal. Subscribers also have access to 20 per cent savings on select hotels at the Walt Disney World Resort from DEC 11 to 25. The cruise line will soon add a sixth cruise ship to be named Disney Treasure.
The 20 per cent savings is applicable to Disney Deluxe and Deluxe Villa Resorts with some lower savings possibly available for other hotel categories.
