By Silvana Messina
The Walt Disney Company held its D23 exposition in Florida from Sept. 8-10 at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. This year’s convention was particularly exciting, as the company celebrates its 100-year anniversary with its conception in 1923.
The company announced many new projects around the world.
Walt Disney World in Florida will be adding a “Pirates of the Carribean”-themed lounge at Magic Kingdom’s Adventureland. The Country Bear Jamboree will have a makeover with new songs and performing acts with the help of country artists from Nashville, Tennessee to reinterpret classic Disney songs. This November, the Hatbox Ghost will be a permanent resident of Walt Disney World’s Haunted Mansion.
At EPCOT in Florida, guests will be able to meet Figment, the dragon from the 1988 series Language Arts Through Imagination who explores the five senses and imagination. The infamous EPCOT attraction, Test Track, will be reimagined with nuance of both historical and futuristic technologies.
A new extravagant nighttime show coming Dec. 5 titled “Luminous: The Symphony of Us” will feature fireworks, fountains, lasers, lighting effects and music. Moana’s Journey of Water will be opening at EPCOT on Oct. 16, 2023. This attraction aims to celebrate the beauty of nature and will have appearances by Moana herself.
Imagineering teams also announced new experiences coming soon at Disney’s Animal Kingdom inspired by Disney’s original film Encanto and Indiana Jones. This plan entails removing the classic Dinoland U.S.A at the park. Many Disney fans disapprove of this change.
A new “Zootopia”-themed show is being brought to Animal Kingdom’s Tree of Life theatre. At Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, there will be an expansion titled Beyond Big Thunder Mountain, which will bring new attractions, restaurants and shows to the classic western ride.
Over at Disney’s California Adventure Park in Anaheim, California, a new attraction at Avengers Campus will send characters into the multiverse with the use of Tony Stark’s time-suits, Xandarian jump points and Wakandan technology.
Over at Tokyo Disney Resort, Fantasy Springs Rapunzel’s Forest, Peter Pan’s Never Land and Frozen Kingdom will be opening in 2024. Disneyland Paris is also experiencing reimagining with Arendelle, inspired by the Kingdom of Anna and Elsa from the movie “Frozen.”
Shanghai Disney Resort will expand its imagineering of “Zootopia,” with experiences from dining to attractions and entertainment.
This November, Hong Kong Disneyland will open World of Frozen, a culmination of Arendelle from Disney’s film Frozen combined with nature features.
Many new attractions are coming to multiple parks. Asha, the Afro-Latina heroine from Wish will now be at EPCOT, Disneyland Resort and Disneyland Paris. This spring the Star Tours attractions at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Florida, Disneyland Park in California and Disneyland Paris will feature Ashoka, themed by the series exclusive to Disney+.
Disney Cruise Line is also undergoing new endeavors at sea with Disney Adventure. This expedition is quite a trailblazer for the company, as it is their first endeavor throughout Southeast Asia.
Disney Signature Experiences is also expanding with their new island, Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point, which will be a destination spot for three vessels in the making.
Disney is planning to expand the D23 expo to D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event for 2024.
“The one-of-a-kind experience will have spectacular shows, new venues, and multiple days of entertainment that bring together the wonderful world of Disney,” said The Walt Disney Company.