Disney Destinations News from the D23 Expo

Logo for D23 Expo

Friday, Sep. 9 through Sunday, Sep. 11, 2022, fans of The Walt Disney Company flocked to the D23 Expo Anaheim Convention Center in beautiful Southern California to celebrate everything Disney – past, present and future!

During every D23 Expo, we find out additional details around yet-to-be-announced and highly-anticipated attractions and experiences coming to Disney Destinations! The A Boundless Future: Disney Parks, Experiences and Products presentation at the 2022 D23 Expo was no exception, providing us with many great details!

Below is a recap of the latest Disney Destinations news from the D23 Expo.

Walt Disney World® Resort

  • [Magic Kingdom® Park – Spring 2023] TRON / Lightcycle Run will invite guests to enter the Grid
  • [Magic Kingdom® Park – 2023] Popular anthem “Happily Ever After” will play again when an updated nighttime spectacular returns to light up the skies over Cinderella Castle
  • [Magic Kingdom® Park – 2023] At the Haunted Mansion, the Hatbox Ghost will materialize
  • [Magic Kingdom® Park – Late 2024] Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, the reimagining of the current Splash Mountain® attraction, is expected to be completed
  • [EPCOT® – Late 2023] Completion of the World Celebration neighborhood and Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana
  • [EPCOT® – 2023] Fan-favorite character Figment will also appear live to park guests
  • [EPCOT® – Late 2023] A brand-new nighttime spectacular will come to the World Showcase Lagoon as part of the Disney100 Celebration

Disneyland® Resort

  • [Disneyland® Park – mid-November 2022] Mandalorian and Grogu will be the two newest characters whom guests will encounter at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
  • [Disneyland® Park – Early 2023] Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway will invite guests into a cartoon when it and Mickey’s Toontown reopens
  • [Disneyland® Park – Late 2024] Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, the reimagining of the current Splash Mountain® attraction is expected to be completed
  • [Disney California Adventure® Park – TBD] Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure® park will expand with a third attraction
  • [Disney California Adventure® Park – mid-September 2022] Incredible Hulk will debut in Avengers Campus in his Quantum Suit for a limited time
  • [Disney California Adventure® Park – TBD] Pacific Wharf will be reimagined as San Fransokyo from Disney Animation film Big Hero 6, complete with a place to meet Baymax, as well as new spots to eat and shop
  • [Disney California Adventure® Park – Late January 2023] To celebrate Disney’s 100 years of Wonder, two new nighttime spectaculars—World of Color – One and the new fireworks show Wondrous Journeys—will kick off
  • [Disneyland® Park – Spring 2023] The long-awaited return of the Magic Happens parade in Spring 2023
  • [Disneyland® Resort – TBD] Progress continues on the reimagining of the Paradise Pier Hotel to Pixar Place Hotel
  • [Disneyland® Resort – TBD] More than a dozen new and reimagined locations are planned at the Downtown Disney District, including Din Tai Fung and a Southern Californian favorite, Porto’s Bakery & Café
  • [Disneyland® Resort – 2024] runDisney races will return to the resort in 2024 for the first time since 2017

Disney Cruise Line

  • The sixth ship in the Disney Cruise Line fleet, the Disney Treasure, will set sail in 2024. It’s theme will be adventure, celebrating Walt Disney’s lifelong love of exploration and the signature statue in the Grand Hall will feature Aladdin, Jasmine, and their Magic Carpet.
  • Disney Cruise Line will sail from Australia and New Zealand for the first time during limited-time cruises in late October 2023. Additionally, repositioning cruises for the Disney Wonder will be the first South Pacific voyages for Disney Cruise Line, giving guests the chance to experience destinations like Fiji and Samoa
  • Progress continues in the Bahamas on a beautiful new island destination at Lighthouse Point

Artist Renderings

Actual construction may vary from Concept Art. All Concept Art © Disney © Disney/Lucasfilm © Disney/Pixar © MARVEL