News & Updates From Destination D23

Destination D23 is underway, and we’re sharing all the news and updates coming to Disney Destinations across the globe!

Disney Parks, Experiences and Products Chairman Josh D’Amaro presented “A Celebration of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow” at the event and offered a look at what’s coming to life at our parks, resorts, and beyond – along with a few special surprises!

Ahsoka will become part of our popular Star Tours attraction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Florida and Disneyland Park in California – beginning next spring.

Asha, from the new Disney animated film “Wish” will also soon be coming to EPCOT and Disneyland Resort.

Hatbox Ghost is coming to the Haunted Mansion attraction in Florida in late November! Disney Imagineer Daniel Joseph is joining Josh on stage for the exciting announcement and sharing more about Hatbox Ghost – one of our most well-known grim grinning ghosts. Hatbox Ghost will be materializing in the Haunted Mansion as you pass the attraction’s Endless Hallway.

At Disney California Adventure Park, a new world-jumping vehicle is coming to the next attraction in Avengers Campus to help transport Super Heroes into the Multiverse. Brent Strong, executive creative director at Walt Disney Imagineering, is sharing an early peek at the ride vehicle featuring a design that combines elements of Tony Stark’s time-suits with Xandarian jump points and Wakandan technology. More details on this high-tech vehicle that’ll travel to new worlds are coming in the future!

At Walt Disney World, the Country Bear Jamboree is getting new songs and the bears will be performing a new act in 2024! Disney Imagineer Chris Beatty is on stage with Josh and says 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 a 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 in Florida. 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.

Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana will open on Oct. 16, 2023! Journey of Water is a new walk-through experience located within World Nature – the EPCOT neighborhood dedicated to understanding and preserving the beauty and balance of the natural world. For more details on the experience, check out our new story. Also, on Oct. 16 – Moana will arrive in World Nature and make her first appearance in her own dedicated space near Journey of Water. Also, on Oct. 16 – Moana will arrive in World Nature and make her first appearance in her own dedicated space near Journey of Water.

At EPCOT, the World Celebration neighborhood will begin welcoming guests this December! 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 multi-year transformation of EPCOT.

A new nighttime spectacular at EPCOT called “Luminous The Symphony of Us” will debut on Dec. 5, 2023!

Also at EPCOT, Test Track will be reimagined! 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 to come in the future.

Thomas Mazloum, president of Disney Signature Experiences, is joining Josh on stage to share updates on Disney Cruise Line as it prepares for a period of growth unlike anything ever experienced before! Right now, there are three new ships in development along with Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point – a brand new island destination! Disney teams are collaborating with talented artists and cultural advisors in the Bahamas to shape an experience that celebrates the natural beauty, traditions and artistry of the one-of-a-kind nation.

Disney Adventure is the name of Disney Cruise Line’s newest ship! Disney Adventure is the seventh ship in the Disney Cruise Line fleet and work is currently underway in Germany. It’ll be the first Disney ship to sail from Singapore and throughout Southeast Asia and feature the Disney service, storytelling and entertainment everyone knows and loves.

A new show based on “Zootopia” is being created for the Tree of Life theater at Disney’s Animal Kingdom! The current concept for the new “Zootopia” experience has guests visiting the different biomes you only glimpse 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.

Bruce Vaughn, Chief Creative Officer at Walt Disney Imagineering, is joining Josh for a special “Blue Sky” look at what’s possible when dreaming big at Disney Parks. Future expansion plans for Magic Kingdom in Florida are the largest ever for the park, according to Bruce. Imagineers are looking to tell stories “Beyond Big Thunder Mountain” similar in scale to things like Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and Pandora – The World of Avatar – adding new attractions, restaurants, shows and more! More details to come in the future.

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! Bruce says there’s a long way to go and a lot more to discover but Imagineering teams in Florida are up for the challenge. Stay tuned for more details in the future.