Every announcement from D23 parks panel 2024, organized by park
Discover every major reveal from the D23 parks panel 2024, with news about upcoming attractions at Disney theme parks around the world.
Disney unveiled major announcements about the future of its theme parks during “Horizons: Disney Experiences Showcase,” aka the the D23 parks panel 2024. The presentation took place at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. on Aug. 10, 2024 as part of D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event.
From a Villains Land at Magic Kingdom to a new Spider-Man roller coaster at Shanghai Disneyland to a “Monsters, Inc.” doors coaster (finally!!), a lot was revealed. Here’s every announcement from the D23 parks panel 2024, organized by each destination and subsequently by each park within that destination.
Disneyland Resort
Disneyland Park at D23 parks panel 2024
Dated: Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will open at Disneyland on Nov. 15, 2024. The log flume attraction replaces Splash Mountain and also opened in June 2024 at Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World. As part of the California opening of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, Critter Country will be renamed to Bayou Country.
Just announced: Walt Disney – A Magical Life will open in 2025 in the Main Street Opera House at the original Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif. The attraction will feature the first-ever Audio-Animatronics figure in Walt Disney’s likeness. After the “initial run,” Disney says, of Walt Disney – A Magical Life, the new presentation will share the Opera House venue with its current occupant, Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln.
Just announced: Disney has plans to formally celebrate Disneyland’s 70th anniversary next year. The park’s official 70th birthdate is July 17, 2025. Disney previously hosted year-long campaigns for Disneyland’s 50th anniversary (The Happiest Homecoming on Earth) in 2005 and 60th anniversary (the Diamond Celebration) in 2015.
Just announced: Din Djarin and Grogu will star in a new version of Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland. The mission will debut around the same time as the new movie “The Mandalorian and Grogu,” which will release May 22, 2026. The new version of the ride will also open at Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World.
Disney California Adventure Park at D23 parks panel 2024
Titled and detailed: The previously announced multiverse attraction starring King Thanos — opening within Avengers Campus at California Adventure — will be called Avengers Infinity Defense. The attraction will transport riders to Wakanda, New York City, and Asgard. Construction will begin in 2025.
Just announced: Stark Flight Lab, a robotic arm flight simulation, will open in Avengers Campus at California Adventure. For both Stark Flight Lab and Avengers Infinity Defense, Robert Downey Jr. will reprise his role as Tony Stark. Construction will begin in 2025.
Just announced: Disney’s first-ever “Coco” ride, a boat attraction, will open at California Adventure. Construction will begin in 2026. Disney did not mention the attraction’s name or location within the park.
Confirmed: Walt Disney Imagineering will build an “Avatar” land at Disney California Adventure. The land, which will include a boat ride, will be completely different from Pandora – The World of Avatar at Disney’s Animal Kingdom in Florida. Disney did not mention a name, opening timeline, or location within the park.
Walt Disney World Resort
Magic Kingdom Park at D23 parks panel 2024
Dated: The previously announced bar themed to Pirates of the Caribbean will open in Magic Kingdom’s Adventureland in 2025 (name TBA). Disney also revealed new concept art:
Just announced: “Disney Starlight” will debut in summer 2025 as Magic Kingdom’s new nighttime parade. The park has not hosted a nighttime parade since the Main Street Electrical Parade concluded its Florida residency in 2016. “Disney Starlight” will feature characters from “Pinocchio,” “Peter Pan,” “Frozen,” “Encanto,” and more.
Just announced: Two attractions themed to Pixar’s “Cars” films will open in Frontierland at Magic Kingdom.
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.
Chris Beatty, portfolio executive creative director at Walt Disney Imagineering
Disney did not mention attraction names. Disney did not specify location beyond saying the attractions will be located in a “reimagined” area of Frontierland, implying they will replace an existing park area rather than be part of the “beyond Big Thunder” expansion. Construction on the “Cars” attractions will begin in early 2025.
Confirmed: Villains Land is “beyond Big Thunder”! Disney villains will be the focus of a new land at Magic Kingdom featuring two attractions plus unique dining and shopping experiences. Construction prep has already commenced. Disney did not mention attraction specifics or any further timeline.
Epcot at D23 parks panel 2024
Just announced: A Spaceship Earth-themed lounge will open at Epcot in 2025.
Dated and detailed: Test Track will reopen in 2025 at Epcot. The ride closed in June 2024 as Disney significantly reimagines the attraction experience.
The queue will feature six distinct exhibits, and within each room celebrate the vehicles — and people behind the vehicles — that push the envelope and help get people to our next chapter in our motion journey.
New show scenes will be added showcasing technological advances and how our lifestyles and relationships to mobility connect everyone. Enjoy a joy ride through scenes focusing on onboard technology, customization and personalization. Followed by a trip through a scenic outdoor route reminding us all of the joys of driving, taking in the world around us and spending quality time with friends and family.
Rachel Paige, senior manager of editorial at Disney Experiences
Disney’s Hollywood Studios at D23 parks panel 2024
Just announced: Din Djarin and Grogu will star in a new version of Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Florida. The mission will debut around the same time as the new movie “The Mandalorian and Grogu,” which will release May 22, 2026. The new version of the ride will also open at Disneyland in California.
Just announced: It’s finally happening. A suspended roller coaster inspired by the doors chase sequence from “Monsters, Inc.” will open at Disney’s Hollywood Studios as part of a new Monstropolis land. Construction will begin in 2025. Disney did not mention the exact location within Hollywood Studios where Monstropolis will exist.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park at D23 parks panel 2024
Named and dated: The “Zootopia”-themed replacement of “It’s Tough to be a Bug!” inside the Tree of Life at Disney’s Animal Kingdom will be titled “Zootopia: Better Zoogether!” and will open in winter 2025. The attraction will highlight different animal biomes. Disney did not mention a closing date for “It’s Tough to be a Bug!”
Confirmed: Following previously shared blue sky “possibilities,” DinoLand, U.S.A. at Disney’s Animal Kingdom will be replaced with a Tropical Americas-themed land. The updated area will retheme Dinosaur as an Indiana Jones ride, and introduce a new “Encanto” ride and a carousel. Construction will begin in phases starting fall 2024. Disney did not mention a closing date for Dinosaur or TriceraTop Spin.
Tokyo Disney Resort
Nothing new was announced for Tokyo Disney Resort during the D23 parks panel 2024. Disney reiterated the Sept. 20, 2024 debut of the “Reach for the Stars” nighttime spectacular.
Disneyland Paris
Disneyland Park (Paris) at D23 parks panel 2024
Just announced: A new nighttime spectacular will debut at Disneyland Park in France in January 2025, and will feature projections on Main Street, U.S.A. for the first time. The production will include moments from “Pinocchio,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “The Lion King,” “Mulan,” “Lilo & Stitch,” “Moana,” “Encanto,” and more. Disney did not mention the show’s name.
Walt Disney Studios Park / Disney Adventure World at D23 parks panel 2024
Dated: The previously announced rename of Walt Disney Studios Park to becoming Disney Adventure World will officially be introduced when the now-under-construction World of Frozen opens in 2026. The park’s new lagoon, Adventure Bay, will host a nighttime water show.
Just announced: A land based on “The Lion King” will open at Disney Adventure World sometime after 2026. The area will feature a log flume attraction as well as shopping, dining, and character greeting opportunities. In a press release, Disney said this ride will follow the Walt Disney Animation Studios film (meaning, the original 1994 version of “The Lion King”). However, the concept artwork depicts the photorealistic remake from 2019. The jury’s out, it seems.
Disney Cruise Line
New artwork: The previously announced “The Tale of Moana” live production onboard the Disney Treasure cruise ship will feature a 15-foot-tall puppet representation of Te Kā. The Disney Treasure casts off for its maiden voyage in December 2024.
Just announced: When the Disney Destiny sets sail in 2025, “Hercules,” a new production inspired by the 1997 animated film, will perform onboard the ship. This marks something of a homecoming for Herc, as the satire “Hercules: The Muse-ical” was one of Disney Cruise Line’s earliest live productions.
Just announced: Four new Disney Cruise Line ships will set sail between 2027 and 2031, on top of the four previously announced ships (the Disney Treasure, Disney Destiny, Disney Adventure, and an unnamed ship making port in Tokyo) already in various stages of development and/or construction.
Disney did not announce the names or additional details for the four newly announced ships. The eight forthcoming ships join the five existing Disney Cruise Line vessels for a total fleet of 13 ships.
Hong Kong Disneyland Resort
Hong Kong Disneyland at D23 parks panel 2024
Just announced: Spider-Man and Doc Ock will star in a new ride at Hong Kong Disneyland’s Tomorrowland. If the concept art is any indication, the ride system may be similar to Tower of Terror. Disney did not mention a name or opening timeline.
Shanghai Disney Resort
Shanghai Disneyland
Just announced: An indoor/outdoor Spider-Man roller coaster will debut at Shanghai Disneyland as the park’s first Marvel-themed ride. Disney did not mention the attraction’s name or opening timeframe.
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