ANAHEIM, Calif. – The D23 Disney fan event wraps up Sunday in California, but not without Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro doing his thing and announcing the near future of the parks worldwide, as well as hinting at or outright promising the fate of aging fan-favorites.
Disney is said to be investing up to $17 billion into its Florida resort and we now have the clearest-yet picture of what the company intends to do with it.
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We’ll waste no more time getting into it, especially because this was all announced Saturday during the Horizons: Disney Experiences Showcase. Additionally, we’re keeping it to the Central Florida parks.
‘Monsters, Inc.’ land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
‘Ooklay in the agbay.’
Yes, the source material first hit theaters in 2001, but that’s not necessarily what’s got people so stumped about D’Amaro’s announcement of a “Monsters, Inc.” land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. We’ll get to that in a second, but I’m also a bit anxious.
This new land is said to be set after the events of the Disney-Pixar film, in a timeline where humans have been invited to mull about Monstropolis and consort with some of their favorite characters from “Monsters, Inc.” in a heavily-themed, “not-so-scary” area.
Something that’s really quite exciting about this announcement is D’Amaro’s promise of Disney’s first-ever suspended roller coaster, that being a yet-unnamed experience where we get to ride the doors we see stored and shuffled around by the thousands at our beloved green and blue main characters’ workplace.
“The first time I saw ‘Monsters, Inc.,’ all I wanted to do was ride on one of those doors like Mike and Sulley,” D’Amaro said Saturday. “You’ll go into the factory and experience the first suspended coaster ever in a Disney park. Remember in the movie how those claws grab the doors and hoist them up into the air to take them away? We’re doing that, too. And you’re going along for the ride.”
No opening date yet, nor necessarily one for construction to start, but I tell you what — I’m eyeing the recognizable Harryhausen’s restaurant visible in both of those landscape views. Where D’Amaro says he’s always wanted to ride the doors around, I say I want some of that monster sushi.
So, anyway, what could people possibly be worried about?
Well, it’s because we — and I say “we” because I’m very included in the speculation — haven’t been told where the “Monsters, Inc.” land is even supposed to go yet.
A little poll that I came across, shared early Sunday to social media by Alicia Stella of OrlandoParkStop.com, suggests most Disney park fans think (or at least hope) that the “Monsters, Inc.” land could replace the Animation Courtyard, which is primarily used these days for character meet-and-greets. The other options in Stella’s poll were that the land could replace the areas for Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith or, God forbid, Muppet*Vision 3D.
Like I said, they haven’t even shared what the ride is going to be called, so time will tell.
— Bretral Florida Tourism Oversight District (@Schmoofy) August 11, 2024
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‘Cars’ area, attractions at Magic Kingdom
2 new attractions set to park in reimagined Frontierland
It appears Disney’s first Florida park may finally be getting its own rendition of a “Cars” land, as well as two attractions inspired by the IP.
Construction on the area is set to begin in early 2025, with one of the attractions promised to take you on a thrilling rally race through the mountains while the other is more family-friendly, geared toward “smaller racers.”
“The American West has always been about keeping your eyes on the horizon, believing in yourself, carving your own path, and striving toward success. That goes for miners in the mountains, bears from the country, a princess from the bayou, or a racecar from the big city,” D’Amaro said.
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ADDENDUM: It’s come to my attention that the blog has since confirmed this “Cars” land will occupy the Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island.
That’s heavy stuff. Tom Sawyer’s Island opened just a couple of years after the park itself in the early 1970s.
There’s always been some contention between older and younger fans of the parks, in this context about what was the “best.” Normally I see this infighting the most at EPCOT, with Disney’s Hollywood Studios a close second ever since The Great Movie Ride succumbed to that mouse infestation, but I digress.
In my experience, no one ever fought over Tom Sawyer’s Island. The harshest criticism I ever heard of it was that it was “boring,” and looking back, most people thought it was great. As a former little guy myself, sometimes it’s less about planes, trains and automobiles, and more about just wanting to run around a fort, or a cave.
You’ve got until early next year to dust off your camcorders and take it all in, with the blog post at least caring enough to point out “guests will have plenty of time to experience the charm and nostalgia of Frontierland as it is today.”
Villains land at Magic Kingdom
‘Fearless new version’ of what Disney is capable of, D’Amaro says
What’s billed as a “dark and thorny” new land at Magic Kingdom — home to Disney villains of all sorts — will feature two major attractions, dining and shopping.
“Be prepared, you poor unfortunate souls,” D’Amaro said. “It’s going to be a fearless new vision for what a Disney experience can be.”
There’s not much information to draw from besides colorful descriptions of what’s being planned. Visitors are told to prepare for chaos and avoid poison apples, which is just good life advice really.
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Pueblo Esperanza at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Opening 2027 after construction begins this fall
It was promised at last year’s D23, and it’s time to accept once and for all, that Dinosaur is going away for good.
Listen, I know. I’ll miss it too, but I think it’s going to be OK. They only have so many dinosaur-themed songs to keep playing on a loop out there, anyway. There’s nothing we can really do about it besides talk turkey — ocellated turkey that is, given how they’re native to Central America.
What was once Dinoland U.S.A. and is now Donald’s Dino-Bash will begin closing this fall to reopen in 2027 as Pueblo Esperanza at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, a Tropical Americas land that D’Amaro described as comparable to Harambe in terms of its realistic and lived-in feel, set to house areas and rides themed after Disney’s popular “Encanto” and Lucasfilm’s legendary “Indiana Jones” films.
‘Indiana Jones’
Where many people complained about the idea of having two identical “Indiana Jones” rides in the continental U.S. between Disneyland and Disney World, the latest details describe the future ride as “a new Indy experience” and, far more bluntly, as “different from any other Indiana Jones experience around the world.”
Sure enough, the concept art shows Dr. Jones exploring a Maya temple, where he’s said to be investigating rumors of a mythical creature.
Not much else is known, but snake jokes are guaranteed, as well as a gift shop filled with whips and fedoras.
‘Encanto’
For the second of Pueblo Esperanza’s two new major attractions, we’re getting the first-ever “Encanto” ride at a Disney park, complete with what seems to be ambitious animatronics scenes.
You’ll follow along with the Madrigals where, inside the Casita, Antonio has just received his special gift of talking to animals, the blog states. His room transforms into a rainforest that you’re called to explore.
Like we said, construction begins this fall. D’Amaro promises, “you’ll still have plenty of time to experience Dinosaur again (and get that dino).”
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‘Zootopia: Better Zoogether!’ at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Opens next winter
Really? You’re reminding me that “It’s Tough to be a Bug!” is also going away, right after making me feel better about Dinosaur?
Oh well, it’s the truth, anyway. We now know that the “Zootopia” experience coming to the Tree of Life Theater will be titled “Zootopia: Better Zoogether!”
The new experience opens next winter, where guests will be taken on an adventure through the different biomes seen in the film.
It may be tough to be a bug, true, but it’s tougher to be an opening-day attraction at a Disney park. Everything just has to be new and shiny, don’t it? I wonder how many are even left...
Themed lounges
‘Pirates of the Caribbean,’ Spaceship Earth-inspired watering holes
A previously-announced tavern with a “Pirates of the Caribbean” theme is still set to weigh anchor at Magic Kingdom, offering food and drink for bandits and buccaneers-to-be, according to the blog.
What’s new is a Spaceship Earth-themed lounge that the imagineers have planned, but there’s no word yet of whichever park it could be located in, at least if we’re going to ignore the EPCOT scenery visible right through the windows in the concept art. Easy guess, I think.
Each of the lounges are expected to be open in 2025.
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Reimagined Test Track
Opening 2025
Test Track closed in June for its ongoing reimagining, and now we know that it’s expected to rev back up in 2025.
Walt Disney Imagineering is working with Chevrolet to “celebrate today’s innovation while highlighting the past, present, and future,” according to the blog.
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.
Reimagined Test Track Opens in 2025 | Aug. 11, 2024 (excerpt)
Eagle-eyed visitors peering at the ongoing construction may have already noticed that the ride’s new exterior calls back somewhat to the original pavilion design. I mean, I haven’t seen it yet, but that’s what the blog says.
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Smugglers Run gets news mission
Featuring Mando and Grogu
Just when you thought you couldn’t get enough Baby Yoda, here’s a ride.
Well, not a standalone “ride,” per se. Remember how they occasionally add new adventures to “Star Tours,” doing so most recently in April? That’s what’s happening here, for the most part.
The new mission will be launched at Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run within Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge both here and in California, timed to coincide with the upcoming release of “The Mandalorian and Grogu” in 2026.
“The intersection of storytelling and innovation has always been central to Lucasfilm and we’re excited to see where this collaboration will take us next,” said “Star Wars” creative executive Dave Filoni on Saturday. “Just imagine it: you’ll be able to fly alongside Mando and Grogu on thrilling, and dangerous, missions.”
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New nighttime parade at Magic Kingdom
Coming summer 2025
The new parade “Disney Starlight” will march down Main Street U.S.A. at Magic Kingdom in summer 2025, drawing inspiration from the legacy of the “Main Street Electrical Parade” and using cutting-edge technology to tell some new stories.
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.
All-New Nighttime Parade Coming to Magic Kingdom in Summer 2025 | Aug. 11, 2025 (excerpt)
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