Tons of Disney parks announcements were made during the D23 Expo Disney parks, products, and services panel! Find out what changes are coming to Disney Parks, Disney Cruise Lines, and Disney products in the next two years as announced during D23 Expo!
Changes Coming to Disney Parks
Have you heard all of the big news Disney made about changes coming to Disney Parks? I wrote an entire post about all of the Epcot changes so if you’re interested in those, read that post first.
This post will be about ALL the other changes or updates announced during the D23 Expo panel this weekend.
Get ready because it’s a lot. I couldn’t even tweet the announcements fast enough, they just kept coming and even with how fast they were announcing things, the panel still when 30 minutes over!
So did the Disney+ panel and Walt Disney Studios panel for that matter.
But we’re here to talk about parks, so let’s talk about the Disney parks!
Walt Disney World
Other than the epic Epcot transformation, the details given about what’s coming to Disney World were pretty light.
Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary Celebration
There’s going to be a big 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World celebration in 2021 but for the first time ever, the celebration won’t be limited to Magic Kingdom. They’re going to celebrate in all four parks.
Guess what that means? More Disney World food for me to try!
And some incredible entertainment, merchandise, and more. And at least a few new attractions opening before that time.
Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
Walt Disney World’s newest Hollywood Studios attraction Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway will feature a brand new design of the Chinese Theater with the ride opening in 2020 and Disneyland (in Toontown) in 2022.
The ride will take guests on a journey onto the screen of Disney’s Mickey Mouse carton shorts for what I’m sure will be a fun, unique, and family-friendly ride. I’m just excited that Mickey and Minnie are finally getting a ride of their own!
Location for Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway. Photo Credit: Disney
Railroad cars for Mickey & Minnie’s Runway Railway
Rise of the Resistance in Galaxy’s Edge
During the presentation we also got a sneak peek at the brand new Star Wars ride Rise of the Resistance and I’m not quite sure how it all works still but the sneak peek made it look pretty epic.
Hopefully it’s a cooler experience than Smugglers Run, which I’d call meh. Maybe my opinion will change if I ever get to actually fly the ship.
You can watch the video in this post!
Star Wars Space Cruise
The bigger and more exciting news for me was details about the brand new Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser coming to Walt Disney World Resort. This new ship called the Halcyon will have windows featuring views into space, moving space that is, as you go on an epic space cruise.
Think of it as a totally immersive 2-day cruise into a galaxy far far away. Lodging, dining, activities – all included, just like a regular cruise. They talked to us more about it and pretty sure I’m booking our space cruise the moment itineraries open.
Here’s just a quick look at what might be included in a 2-day itinerary.
- Entering at the space terminal, being taken on a space pod to the cruise ship where the doors will do that Star Wars woosh thing as you walk on board.
- A “spaceport” excursion into Batuu at Star Wars: Galaxy Edge
- Activities like light saber training (like Luke did in the early Star Wars movies
- Exploring into the mechanical working of the ship, including crawling through the various spaces with the possibility of course that something goes wrong, like it does in every good Star Wars story
It sounds pretty much incredible, especially for Star Wars fans. The rumored prices are astronimcal but I guess if you consider it like a regular cruise (and everything is included) then maybe it’s not so bad.
Start saving now!
Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser photos. Photo Credit: Disney
Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser photos. Photo Credit: Disney
Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser photos. Photo Credit: Disney
New Lakeside Lodge Resort
Outside of the parks, Walt Disney World Resort will also be adding a brand new resort called Reflections: A Disney Lakeside Lodge, which will feature treehouse rooms and more features inspired by nature.
Reflections: A Disney Lakeside Lodge photo. Photo Credit: Disney
Disneyland Changes
Let’s start with the not so exciting, well not so exciting.
Disneyland will be getting a brand new daytime parade in spring 2020 called Magic Happens. Music created in partnership with singer-songwriter Todrick Hall and from the sneak peek we saw, it will be energetic, colorful, and a lot of fun.
Magic Happens Parade float. Photo Credit: Disney
Sleeping Beauty Float in Magic Happens Parade. Photo Credit: Disney
Magic Happens Parade float. Photo Credit: Disney
Now let’s get to the super stuff!
Avengers Assemble at Avengers Campus
The announcement I’ve been waiting for is how Marvel is being incorporated into the parks. And it’s official – there will be an Avengers Campus at both Disney California Adventure Park and Disneyland Paris. Those two lands will be joined in one cohesive Avengers story with the already created in Hong Kong with the Iron-Man experience.
The idea is that the Avengers Campus locations are places for recruits (you and me) to go and become the next set of superheroes to help save the world.
Both campuses will feature a brand new area called WEB – website engineering brigade (WEB for short) where the first ever Disney ride featuring Spider-Man will have guests slinging webs of their own to catch Spider-Bots.
Who knows what it’ll really be like, but the artwork we saw made it almost seem like a Buzz Lightyear type ride but where you’re slinging 3D webs to catch Spider-Bots running around the campus. If it’s anything like the Spider-Man ride at another theme park, I’m in.
Spider-Man WEB ride. Photo Credit: DIsney
Avengers Campus will also feature the Pym Test Kitchen where Pym Technologies is being used to grow and shrink food – and guests will also be able to meet Ant-Man and the Wasp for the very first time!
I can only imagine how many things I’ll be able to add to my Disneyland food post from that kitchen!
Speaking of meet and greets, Avengers Campus will be the home to tons of your favorite superheroes including Spider-Man, Thor (and sometimes Loki), Star-Lord, Gamora, and more!
The Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure Park will open in 2020 and later in Disneyland Park.
They also mentioned something about being able to dabble in the mystic arts with Dr. Strange but didn’t give any details. Not sure if that’s just a meet and greet, an interactive experience, or a soon to be ride! Or how cool would it be if they did something with Dr. Strange and Mickey’s Halloween Party!
No matter what, it’s still an exciting time to be a Marvel fan!
And even more exciting is phase 2 where guests will get the chance to board a Quinjet for an brand new E-Ticket attraction (aka most thrilling/popular ride) that will take guests on an epic adventure to Wakanda.
Rendering of new Quinjet attraction at Disney California Adventure. Photo Credit: Disney
And if you can’t wait for Avengers Campus but still want to enjoy some Marvel adventures during a trip to Disneyland Paris, Disney’s Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel – will be opening summer 2020. Rooms will feature designs inspired by your favorite Avengers and more.
International Park Announcements
Outside of the U.S., there are some more major changes happening at Disney Parks across the world.
Zootopia Themed Land to Open in Shanghai
Shanghai Disney Resort will be getting a brand new Zooptopia themed land that will include a new storytelling attraction inspired by the world of Zootopia.
Zootopia Land at Shanghai Disney. Photo Credit: Disney
Hong Kong Disneyland to Get a New Castle & Frozen Land
Hong Kong Disneyland’s castle will be undergoing a major transformation to become a castle that features the stories of 13 Disney princesses and heroines. The castle will be the feature of shows, entertainment, and more. And a brand new Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique will be added as well!
New castle at Hong Kong Disneyland. Photo Credit: Disney
Hong Kong Disneyland will also be adding the world of Frozen, which will include both Frozen Ever After (like in Epcot) and a brand new coaster called Wandering Oaken’s Sliding Sleighs. And guests will get to see what it’s like when Elsa creates a beautiful “winter-in-summer” day.
Land of Frozen at Hong Kong Disneyland – Photo Credit: Disney
Disney Cruise Line News
Speaking of cruises, a space cruise isn’t the big cruise news Disney announced. They also announced that the name of their fifth cruise ship, set to set sail in 2021, is the Disney Wish.
The ship will feature Rapunzel on the front and be a place where wishes come true!
Disney Wish – Photo Credit: Disney
Three-story atrium on the Disney Wish. Photo Credit: Disney
Disney will also be adding a second Disney owned port (similar to Castaway Cay!) in the Bahamas called Lighthouse Point.
Disney Lighthouse Point. Photo Credit: Disney
Other Disney News
These don’t necessarily impact the parks but the other main highlights announced during the presentation are still fun little details!
Disney Genie
Last but not least, Disney announced that they will be offering a new service called Disney Genie beginning in late 2020 that will make planning a Disney World vacatiom easier.
It’s a digital service that will make all your wishes come true. Or something like that.
It’ll also guests to create itineraries that are catered to their own preferences. Want a princess trip – there’s an itinerary for that. Want a thrill ride trip – an itinerary for that. Need to make a change? Just tell the genie and it’ll make it happen.
I’m actually really interested to see what the Disney Genie is all about because to be honest, planning a Disney World vacation is a headache, especially if you’re trying to book it within 60 days. I’m hoping maybe the Disney Genie will make a last-minute trip to Disney World possible, fingers crossed!
Disney Genie planning app. Photo Credit: Disney
Disney Cirque Du Soleil
The first ever Disney Cirque Du Soleil show is in the works and will be inspired by Disney animation. I’ve been waiting for this for a long time – so excited to see it when it’s done!
Disney Animation Cirque du Soleil show. Photo Credit: Disney
Target & Disney
Target and Disney will be partnering to create a unique Disney Store shopping experience in 25 stores across the country. They’ll also be offering more Disney Store merchandise on their website for online ordering or in-store pickup! As someone who loves both the Disney Store and Target, this could get expensive for me!
Don’t forget to pin these Disney parks updates for later!
Thanks to Disney for providing me with a media pass to cover the Disney parks panel!
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