A lot was riding on the 2024 D23 Expo for Walt Disney World and Disneyland. The same could be said for Parks Chairman Josh D’Amaro, who had spent the last couple of years and events like this dreaming of possibilities and what could be on the horizon. Now, it was time to deliver.
Leading up to the Parks Panel, I felt what could be described as secondhand pressure or nervousness. For what feels like an eternity, I’ve been a D’Amaro Defender, pointing out that a lot of unpopular decisions came directly from the top via Bob Chapek (which has since been vindicated–it was the latter who pushed for more layoffs and price increases). Not only that, but D’Amaro’s hands have been tied for the last couple of years when it comes to new investments due to the mounting losses of the streaming services and studios.
In fairness, there’s also the reality that D’Amaro has next to no accomplishments under his belt. Aside from a handful of favorable moves to improve guest satisfaction, there’s little you can point to that’s attributable to D’Amaro. He’s very well liked among Cast Members and past colleagues, and seems to have a solid grasp of the parks, but he does not have any major achievements to speak of. Basically, the 2024 D23 Expo Parks Panel was a make or break moment not just for Walt Disney World and Disneyland, but for Josh D’Amaro as head of the Parks & Resorts division.
D’Amaro delivered. The Parks Panel was a massive success both in style and substance, with something for everyone. The presentation began with Patrick Warburton arriving for a Soarin-style pre-show with nods to fan-favorite moments and continued with Uncle Jesse performing to a full house. The first few musical numbers were packed with homages to Disney parks past and present, and demonstrated that this would be something special for fans.
Music was the centerpiece of the Parks Panel, breaking up the shorter and meatier substantive announcements with tremendous style. I’ve been attending D23 Expos (minus one) since the beginning, and this was the longest Parks Panel I can ever remember. It (mercifully) didn’t quite rival the interminably long studios panels, and (thankfully) was better than all of those. (They’ve become formulaic trailer + celebrity on stage sessions over the years.)
After John Stamos, I’ll admit that I didn’t know most of the other entertainers who performed (not counting Billy Crystal and Darren Criss–I’m a fan of American Crime/Horror Story). But D23 attendees seemed to go crazy for the other musicians, and I appreciated the changes of pace, giving each announcement breathing room and time to marinate. This was easily the best produced D23 panel I’ve ever seen–the only thing that would’ve made it better is Tom Cruise scaling down from the Honda Center stage and riding a motorcycle up to Josh D’Amaro. But he seemed to have other engagements this weekend.
Of course, for anyone not actually in the room–and for all of us in the long term–substance is what actually matters. Josh emphasized in his opening remarks to the Parks Panel at the 2024 D23 Expo, “Everything we’re going to share with you is in active development. Plans are drawn. Dirt is moving. I just want to be clear about this: We are doing everything you’re going to hear tonight. This isn’t Blue Sky—we’re going to do all of this.”
Those were magic words that we all needed to hear. One of the things on our D23 wish list was “No Blue Sky Nonsense.” That explained how a lot of the goodwill and patience fans might otherwise have had has been exhausted, and that these public blue sky brainstorming sessions just feel like a tedious tease or even a brand withdrawal to many fans.
We implored D’Amaro to say something substantive or nothing at all: “Show concept art. Share when shovel will hit soil. But don’t go up there and talk about the endless possibilities that Imagineers are dreaming up or whatever. That’s just a waste of everyone’s time. It might garner some cheap cheers, but once fans realize that there’s no there there, sentiment will sour.”
It sure seems like he got the message, as every single announcement carried a concrete timeline–either an opening or when construction will start. Moreover, the time horizon is not remote–everything discussed will “start to come to life over the next five years.” (As a side note, it’s not completely clear what this means. We were separately advised the announced projects would open in the next 5 years, which would mean by 2029. That verbiage leaves a bit more wiggle room–and I’m skeptical that Villains Land, for example, will open by then.)
Other things that I appreciated were that D’Amaro didn’t filibuster or fixate on the past. When it came to the meat of the news, there wasn’t fluff–like that excruciating bit about “innovative fog” on Tiana’s Bayou Adventure from last Expo. In fact, TBA is a good example because it was barely even mentioned. Just a few seconds for an opening date at Disneyland as part of a musical montage.
In the past, there would’ve been a whole 15 minute segment recapping stuff they just did. Personally, I’m glad we didn’t have to celebrate churros or whatever. But at the same time, it’s pretty wild how some pretty big near-term news was just breezed over, only getting passing mention. Between that and other announcements that I’ve heard didn’t make the cut, it should be an interesting few months as even more announcements are made.
The biggest (very pleasant) surprise for me was the lack of clones. For the longest time, the conventional wisdom has been that cloning attractions and lands makes sense to minimize development costs. Despite the vocal minority of Disney fans who travel arguing otherwise, each park largely catered to its regional audience.
With a bunch of new attractions instead of clones–in particular for Avatar, Marvel, Cars and Coco–it seems like the tide may be turning on this. The world is now more accessible than ever, which also might be why we’ve seen the international parks highlighted so much more by Disney (albeit not so much at this presentation–it was largely the domestic parks).
Finally, I also greatly appreciated not just the dates for the 5-year plan, which made it all feel more real, but that there were at least a half-dozen solid announcements for 2025. It’s great that we’re getting new lands and rides starting in a few years, but in the here and now, I want to know what I have to look forward to next year. Knowing Magic Kingdom is getting a night parade was huge for me. Personally, I would’ve liked more on Disneyland’s 70th Anniversary, but I can appreciate that the panel had a lot of ground to cover.
Nevertheless, this was the blockbuster D23 Parks Panel I had been hoping for, exceeding my expectations that it would rival the 2017 slate as the best-ever. I still can’t believe just how many announcements we got, including a few that were out of left field. But let’s cut to the chase and get rolling with the rankings. You can click on any of the headlines to read our articles with full details and comprehensive commentary…
SETTING SAIL FROM 2027 to 2031 – The Disney Cruise Line fleet is expanding, bringing the total number of ships docked around the world to 13. Plus, new details about the Disney Treasure and Disney Destiny were revealed.
Even though it’s not technically Walt Disney World or Disneyland news, I’m including this because DCL is usually lumped in with the domestic parks. Not only that, but my commentary on this news largely revolves around my fears about fleet expansion, and how it could end up having negative ramifications for investments in WDW and DLR.
OPENING NOVEMBER 15, 2024 — Blue skies and sunshine up ahead! Tiana’s Bayou Adventure inspired by Disney Animation’s “The Princess and the Frog,” at Disneyland opens at the start of this holiday season.
I’m mostly nervous about this. I like Tiana’s Bayou Adventure even though it’s a “warts and all” attraction. However, that’s also with one big caveat: when it’s working. That hasn’t been the case–at least not consistently–since it opened at Walt Disney World.
My sincere hope is that Disney figures out what’s wrong with the Florida version of the ride and opens something reliable and without constant downtime at Disneyland. Beyond that, I’d love to see some of the obvious issues with the staging and show scenes fixed. I’m not sure a Christmas-time opening is sufficient to address all of that–I was kind of hoping Tiana’s Bayou Adventure would be pushed into 2025.
COMING 2025 — Relax with friends and family at two themed lounges coming to Walt Disney World inspired by Pirates of the Caribbean and Spaceship Earth.
I’m really looking forward to the Pirates of the Caribbean Tavern, which should be like a cross between Oga’s Cantina and Trader Sam’s–but with pirates. The Spaceship Earth lounge should boast great views, especially at night.
Some fans might groan about more bars, but I think lounges are something Walt Disney World does really well. They’re usually family-friendly and with often with great food (although I’m skeptical of that in these cases). This is Disney showing once again that it views the theme parks as their own intellectual property, and views Walt Disney World fans as a distinct demo to whom it’s worth catering.
CONSTRUCTION STARTS IN 2025 — Ready to save the world and galaxy? Well, suit up, because new Avengers experiences are coming. At Disney California Adventure, Avengers Campus will double in size with the addition of two new attractions – Avengers Infinity Defense and Stark Flight Lab.
This would rank higher, but we’ve been hearing about the Marvel E-Ticket attraction (now known as Avengers Infinity Defense) since the 2019 D23 Expo. It’s old news at this point and, frankly, should be open by now. So getting an announcement that construction will be starting next year–which probably means a 2027 or 2028 opening–is hard to get all that excited about.
With that said, I’m a huge fan of the ride system, and am optimistic in general about this expansion. If Stark Flight Lab has decent capacity, this will be a big and much needed win for DCA.
OPENS IN WINTER 2025 – Zootopia: Better Zoogether has guests visiting the different biomes you only glimpse in the film, traveling along with Judy Hopps, Nick Wilde and other characters. This is a replacement for “It’s Tough to Be a Bug,” the 3D show inside the Tree of Life. That attraction is expected to close at some point in early 2025.
I have no major issue with Zootopia inside the Tree of Life. It’s tucked away and relatively insignificant, and the animals and their biomes will be highlighted rather than the metropolis they inhabit in Zootopia. For me, that’s still not ideal, but it’s close enough. But it does take Zootopia out of play as a standalone land a Animal Kingdom, which is hugely positive.
I’m looking forward to Zootopia: Better Zoogether. It’s based on a fun movie we love with great characters and catchy music. It certainly won’t be as significant as the Avengers attractions, but it’s coming sooner and Animal Kingdom urgently needs help. (This list is graded on a curve, to some degree, giving weight to what’s on the horizon in the next year.)
CONSTRUCTION BEGINS 2026 — Seize your moment! Travel to the Land of the Dead with Miguel and his skeletal family from Pixar’s “Coco” in this all-new attraction coming to Disney California Adventure.
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 D23 crowd. “These figures will appear in ways you’ll have to see to believe.”
This would rank higher for me, since I love Coco and the attractions inspiring this, but for the start date. Due to that, this is the announcement that felt the ‘least real’ of everything that was shared. And even it still felt fairly concrete, especially as compared with the past Blue Sky sessions. It’s probably just that this wasn’t on anyone’s radar–at least not for DCA–and the starting timeframe is more remote than just about anything else.
JUMP TO LIGHTSPEED IN 2026 — Mando and Grogu have a new adventure on the horizon coming to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Join the Mandalorian and Baby Yoda on brand-new adventures coming to Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run in celebration of the new Star Wars film “The Mandalorian and Grogu” coming to theaters in 2026.
I have consistently and repeatedly been advocating for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge to have a soft reboot. I’m not going to rehash all of that here, but the bottom line is that I’d like to see Batuu break the sacred timeline and use the setting of the land as a jumping off point for new adventures. (See Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Needs to Break the Rules for my take on all of that.)
As things currently stand, Millennium Falcon is arguably the third place Star Wars ride after Rise of the Resistance and Star Tours. I love Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run and think it’s a better overall experience from start to finish, but the ride portion of Star Tours blows it away. Imagine how great Smugglers Run could be if it combined the settings of Star Tours with the interactivity and complete package of the Millennium Falcon?! Bringing a new mission with Mando and Grogu could be a complete gamechanger–elevating Galaxy’s Edge as a whole along with it.
RACING TO OPEN IN 2025 — Explore the past, present, and future of automation with a newly-rethemed Test Track, which Disney confirmed will open next year (as widely expected). Additionally, new details were shared about the pre-show, queue exhibits, and show scenes.
I loved Test Track 2.0 when it debuted, but time has done it no favors. From that perspective, Test Track 3.0 has a lot of upside and virtually no downside. Pretty much everything that anyone loves about Test Track (the thrills) will be staying, so there’s very little risk of this reimagining “messing up” what people like about the current ride.
Not only that, but Test Track gets an update inspired by World of Motion! That’s exciting news that is aimed squarely at longtime Walt Disney World fans. While it remains to be seen exactly what that means, it’s cause for optimism. Test Track 3.0 is a low-floor, high-ceiling kind of project…and one being paid for by someone else, so it’s not even coming at the expense of another (higher priority) Walt Disney World project! Win-win!
CONSTRUCTION BEGINS 2319 2025 — It’s laughter they’re after when Sulley, Mike, and the rest of the crew from Pixar Animation Studios’ “Monsters, Inc.” move into Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and let humans inside the factory for the first time.
Picking up after the events of Pixar’s beloved film, humans have now been invited to visit the world of Monsters, Inc. The monsters need laughter to power the city and keep it running smoothly, so you’ll be able to visit the Laugh Factory, hear the laughs and zoom through the building just like Sulley and Mike Wazowski, via a door. The Monsters, Inc. Doors Coaster will put you right in the middle of the monster action.
This could rank higher, but for my fear that it’ll end up replacing Grand Avenue and MuppetVision 3D. If it ends up in Animation Courtyard instead, which is where it belongs and the obvious answer, I’ll be fully on board. Even so, it would only move up one slot. It’s hard to get that excited for a ~2 minute roller coaster, even if the concept is awesome.
DEBUTING IN 2025 — Stop by for a visit when “Walt Disney: A Magical Life” begins playing at the Main Street Opera House at Disneyland. After its initial debut, the show will then play in rotation with “Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln.”
As someone who is cynical about the company using Walt Disney as a corporate mascot, shield for unpopular decisions, and other superficial purposes (like trying to redeem the aggressively underwhelming World Celebration with Dreamers Point), I’m prone to skepticism towards any invoking of the man who started it all. And while I think there are still potential landmines with the Walt Disney Audio Animatronics, I’m still on board.
The key difference is that “Walt Disney: A Magical Life” is substantive and comes at a time when younger generations know less–or nothing at all–about the man who made the magic. Honoring and preserving Walt Disney’s legacy and passing on his life story to new audiences so he isn’t forgotten trumps all else. That is why this ranks so highly–this is my sleeper pick from the D23 Expo.
ZOOMING TO CONSTRUCTION IN 2025 – Start your engines, fan favorite stories and characters from Pixar’s “Cars” race into Magic Kingdom with two new attractions and fun for the whole family.
In isolation, I’m actually somewhere between cautiously optimistic and flat-out excited for two new Cars rides coming to Frontierland at Magic Kingdom. The movie isn’t my favorite, but Cars Land at DCA is incredible–and the franchise’s settings and characters work well when adapted to theme parks. Radiator Springs Racers is one of our favorite rides, and I cannot wait to see Imagineers roll out for the next Cars rides.
Subsequent to D23, Walt Disney World revealed that the Cars area will actually replace the Rivers of America, meaning that Tom Sawyer Island and the Liberty Square Riverboat will permanently close. This news let a lot of the air out of the tires, so to speak, from Walt Disney World’s otherwise blockbuster D23. But for that, this would make the top 3. And it still might, depending upon execution.
OPENING IN 2027 — Tropical Americas will come to Disney’s Animal Kingdom featuring everyone’s favorite archeologist, Indiana Jones, and the magical casita from Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Oscar-winning film “Encanto.” (We have separate posts for the Encanto Magical Madrigal Casita Dark Ride and Indiana Jones Adventure.)
On the one hand, I’m still sad that Walt Disney World never went all-in on dinosaurs and gave the awesomest animal the land they deserve. On the other hand, Dino-Rama, as it actually existed, sucked. There’s no two ways about it. Dino-Rama was awful, and not up to Disney’s high standards. This will undoubtedly be a massive upgrade as compared to what was there before.
I’m particularly excited for Indiana Jones Adventure, and getting a third version of this attraction with a storyline that’s unique and fitting for DAK. The two current incarnations are among my favorite rides in the world, and I’ve heard that this could be the best of the bunch. The Encanto dark ride is more of a wild card. My fear is that fans are expecting Mystic Manor, and what we might get will be more along the lines of the Little Mermaid. It doesn’t need to be trackless to be great, but it does need to be actively engaging and enchanting.
EXPLORE MORE OF PANDORA – Sivako! Announced for Disney California Adventure, travel to a whole new corner of Pandora, inspired by “Avatar: The Way of Water” and future Avatar films.
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. This is going to be a dynamic, intense and emotional experience on a grand scale that we know our guests will love. The excursion will take guests in search of majestic natural wonders that can only be found on Pandora, discovering dense forests, and more along the way.
The innovative attraction is rumored to use the same ride system as Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure at Shanghai Disneyland. That’s an excellent attraction, arguably top 10 in the entire world, and a big part of why is its innovative ride system. From a technological perspective, I can’t think of many attractions that approach Shanghai Pirates–probably Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, but I’m not sure what else. It’s actually the perfect ride system for combining the vibe of Na’vi River Journey and Avatar Flight of Passage!
CONSTRUCTION STARTING SOON — This is no happily ever after. Get ready to see a darker side of your favorite fairytales when the Villains cast a spell over Magic Kingdom. Villains Land will be home to two major attractions, dining, and shopping on an incredibly twisted grand scale.
Years from now, Disney fans will still be talking about the energy in the room when Josh D’Amaro revealed Villains Land at Magic Kingdom as his “one more thing” announcement. Either in a bad way since it’ll be another victim in pile of unbuilt concepts, or a good way as it comes to life.
Even with the likelihood that Villains Land will debut in the early 2030s (it should open in 2029 if this is truly a 5-year plan, as suggested), this still ranks near the top of my list. How could it not? Have you seen that concept art?!?! After being rumored for as long as I’ve been a fan (with concepts dating back to the 1990s), it’s kind of wild to see this finally coming to life at such an epic scale.
Villains Land fits the mold for a perfect Magic Kingdom themed land. Even though it’s become a franchise or brand, at its heart, this is a more open concept like the existing lands, rather than a single intellectual property, movie or character. As much as I enjoy Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, I still think it feels odd and disconnected from the rest of Disneyland. So I’m glad to see Villains Land as opposed to Encanto or Coco lands.
Competing with Universal’s Dark Universe plus the fan enthusiasm for Villains Land means the Imagineers are going to bring their a-game with Villains Land. More importantly, it means that instead of proceeding with apprehension, Walt Disney World will go all-in on this expansion, giving it the budget and space needed to create something truly…well, magical feels like the wrong word.
ARRIVING ON MAIN STREET, U.S.A. IN 2025 — When the sun sets in the Magic Kingdom, a new parade will waltz down Main Street! Get ready to witness “Disney Starlight.” This all-new parade 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.
This was the announcement I wanted most out of the 2024 D23 Expo. I know Disney Starlight is not as sexy or exciting as new lands or attractions, but we also don’t have to wait 3+ years for it and Disney Starlight is one of the few things that can actually serve as an “answer” to Epic Universe. Obviously, entertainment cannot compete with a new gate–but it does serve as counterprogramming to peel some people away from Universal.
Along with the fireworks, the night parade sets the nighttime mood in Magic Kingdom. It’s more than that, though. Walt Disney first introduced fireworks as his “kiss goodnight” to guests at the end of a long day, as a way to send people home on a high note. It’s very similar to the grand finale of the show itself, but for the guest’s day as a whole. We cannot wait to experience Disney Starlight as a family, making new memories together and rekindling old ones along the way. That’s why the Disney Starlight Parade is #1, surpassing even Villains Land.
Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page. For where to eat, read our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will help. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know!
YOUR THOUGHTS
What are your reactions to the various announcements for Walt Disney World and Disneyland at the 2024 D23 Expo? What has you most and least excited? Were any of these announcements downright bad or negative news, in your view? Anything you’re hoping does not end up coming to fruition? Do you agree or disagree with our assessments? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
