During the Destination D23 event that took place at Walt Disney World‘s Contemporary Resort from Sept 8-10, 2023, a number of new additions were announced for the months and years ahead.
Asha, the lead character from the new Walt Disney Animation Studios film “Wish,” opening in U.S. theaters November 22, 2023, will soon be coming to EPCOT
Ahsoka, the popular Jedi from the Disney+ Star Wars show of the same name, will become part of the popular Star Tours attraction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
The Hatbox Ghost is coming to the Haunted Mansion attraction in Magic Kingdom Park in late November 2023. The Hatbox Ghost will be materializing in the Haunted Mansion as guests pass the attraction’s Endless Hallway.
Country Bear Jamboree is getting new songs and the bears will be performing a new act in Magic Kingdom Park. When the show debuts, the bears will be reinterpreting favorite Disney songs in different genres of country music. Imagineers are envisioning the new experience as an homage to the classic musical revues in Nashville and they’re working with Nashville musicians to get the authentic country sound. The Country Bear Jamboree will still have the fun and friendly tone fans enjoy with the same famous characters like the loveable Trixie, Big Al and others.
A new Pirates of the Caribbean-themed lounge is coming to Adventureland at Magic Kingdom Park. This first-of-its-kind experience will extend the story of Pirates of the Caribbean. Imagineers are in the design process now and more details are coming in the future.
The World Celebration neighborhood in EPCOT will begin welcoming guests in December 2023. World Celebration will unite the front of the park, tying together the other two new EPCOT neighborhoods, World Discovery and World Nature. The completion of the last of the park’s three neighborhoods will be the latest major milestone in the multi-year transformation of EPCOT.
A new nighttime spectacular at EPCOT called “Luminous: The Symphony of Us” will debut on Dec. 5, 2023. The brand-new show will feature fireworks, fountains, lasers, lighting effects and music. “Luminous: The Symphony of Us” will continue Disney’s long tradition of nighttime entertainment at EPCOT.
Beginning Oct. 16, 2023, Walt Disney World Resort guests visiting EPCOT will be able to voyage into an all-new adventure with Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana. Guests can explore a beautifully landscaped walking trail with fun and surprises around each turn, as they engage with water in magical ways like Moana did with the ocean. The new walk-through attraction is located in the World Nature neighborhood of EPCOT.
Moana will arrive in World Nature on Oct. 16, 2023, and make her first appearance in her own dedicated space near Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana in EPCOT
Test Track will be reimagined at EPCOT. Imagineers, along with teams from Chevrolet, are reaching back into history for inspiration from the original World of Motion and bringing that spirit of optimism to the next iteration of the Test Track attraction. More details to come in the future
A new show based on “Zootopia” is being created for the Tree of Life theater at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park. The current concept for the new “Zootopia” experience has guests visiting the different biomes seen briefly in the film, traveling along with Judy Hopps, Nick Wilde and other characters. Imagineers are currently finalizing the concept and more details will be coming in the future.
Walt Disney Imagineering is planning to reimagine Dinoland U.S.A. at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park into a new land inspired by a region sometimes referred to as “tropical Americas.” As part of their research, Imagineers are looking at some of the most biodiverse areas on the planet in the regions just north and south of the equator in the Western Hemisphere – the northern part of South America, stretching up into Central America. New experiences inspired by “Encanto” – the Academy Award winning Walt Disney Animation Studios film – and the fan-favorite adventurer Indiana Jones are being considered for the reimagined land at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
