After all the movie and TV announcements Friday night, Saturday at D23 was all about what’s coming next to the Disney Parks.
The Horizons: Disney Experiences Showcase gave us updates on projects we already knew were coming, along with plenty of new details and surprises. Hosted by Neil Patrick Harris and inspired by Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress, the presentation took us around Disney destinations across the world.
There was a LOT announced, but I’m going to focus on what I’m most excited about at Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World.
And after seeing some of these projects up close at the Imagineering pavilion earlier in the weekend, I’m even more excited to watch them come to life.
Disneyland Resort
While some of the biggest announcements of the night focused on Walt Disney World, Disneyland still had a few updates that caught my attention.
More Details on the Coco Attraction
We got another update on the new Coco attraction coming to Disney California Adventure.
This is one I’ve been excited about since it was first announced. Coco has such a beautiful world, and the idea of experiencing the Land of the Dead in an attraction has so much potential.
It may not have been one of the biggest announcements of the night, but I’m excited to see this project continue to take shape.
Avengers Campus Is Getting a Major Expansion
We’ve known for a while that Avengers Campus is getting a major expansion, but D23 finally gave us an idea of when we’ll actually get to experience it.
Disney confirmed that both Avengers Infinity Defense and Stark Flight Lab will open in 2028, doubling the size of Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure.
We also got some new details about what to expect from the attractions. Avengers Infinity Defense will take guests on a multiverse adventure against King Thanos, with Ms. Marvel welcoming new recruits before the mission begins. The attraction will feature several familiar MCU heroes, including Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, and Hawkeye.
Stark Flight Lab will put guests inside Tony Stark’s workshop, where two-person pods are picked up by robotic arms for a high-flying test experience. Iron Man, Captain America, and Captain Marvel will serve as flight instructors.
I’m glad we finally have an opening window for these attractions. Avengers Campus has always felt like it needed another major ride, and adding two completely different experiences could finally make the land feel more complete.
2028 is still a little ways away, but between this expansion and everything else coming to Disney California Adventure, there is going to be a lot to look forward to over the next few years.
Tomorrowland Is Getting Some Attention
One of the smaller announcements that really caught my attention was the news that Disney is looking toward the future of Tomorrowland.
Tomorrowland is one of those areas of Disneyland that I’ve wanted to see get some love for a while, so naturally this announcement left me with a lot of questions. What does this mean for the attractions that are already there? Could we see updates to some longtime favorites? And, maybe more excitingly, what completely new experiences could be coming?
Disney hasn’t given us all the details yet, which honestly makes me even more curious. Tomorrowland has so much potential, and I’m excited to see how Imagineering balances bringing something new to the land while keeping the attractions and history that make it such an iconic part of Disneyland.
For now, this is definitely one announcement I’ll be keeping a close eye on.
A Closer Look at the Avatar Experience
Avatar wasn’t part of the Horizons presentation, but we did get a much closer look at the upcoming Disney California Adventure experience inside the Imagineering pavilion.
And honestly, this is where being at D23 made a difference.
The pavilion gave us the opportunity to see Imagineering’s work on the project up close, including a model of the ride vehicle for the new boat attraction.
I’m especially excited that Disneyland’s Avatar experience won’t simply be a copy of Pandora at Animal Kingdom. It’s being designed as its own experience, which makes me even more curious to see how Imagineering brings this version of Pandora to California.
Seeing pieces of the project in person made it feel much more real than simply looking at concept art online.
Walt Disney World
This is where Disney really has A LOT happening.
Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, and EPCOT all have major projects in the works, and D23 gave us a much better idea of what some of them will actually look like.
Villains Land at Magic Kingdom
This continues to be one of the Disney Parks projects I’m most excited about.
Disney gave us a closer look at the creative direction for the upcoming Villains-themed land, including the Dark Forest that will help set the tone for the area. Imagineers are creating a darker, twisted environment filled with unusual trees, dramatic architecture, and plenty of Disney villains.
The land is expected to feature two major attractions along with dining and shopping.
I love Disney villains, so the idea of an entire land dedicated to them already had me excited. Seeing more of the Imagineering behind it at D23 only made me want to know more.
I also really like that Disney isn’t simply building an attraction and calling it a day. This sounds like it’s going to be an entire environment that feels completely different from anything else in Magic Kingdom.
Piston Peak Is Taking Shape at Magic Kingdom
This was one of the projects that really benefited from being at D23 in person.
The Imagineering pavilion featured a huge model of Piston Peak, the new Cars-inspired area coming to Magic Kingdom. Seeing the scale of the project made it much easier to understand what Disney is actually building.
The new area will include a major off-road rally attraction along with a second family-friendly ride.
I’m especially curious to see how this area fits into Magic Kingdom. Cars already has such a strong presence at Disney California Adventure, so I’m glad Disney World isn’t simply recreating Radiator Springs.
Piston Peak looks like it will have its own identity while still feeling unmistakably Cars.
Monstropolis Is Coming to Hollywood Studios
I have been excited about the Monsters, Inc. land since Disney first announced it, and D23 made it feel much more real.
Monstropolis is coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, complete with the long-awaited door vault coaster.
Yes, we’re finally going through the door vault.
The land will also bring the world of Monsters, Inc. beyond the coaster, with themed shops, restaurants, and details throughout Monstropolis. New concept material shown around D23 included places like Tony’s Grossery and Harryhausen’s.
Monsters, Inc. feels perfect for a theme park land, and I’m really excited to see Disney finally build one.
But let’s be honest—the door vault coaster is the part I can’t wait for.
Tropical Americas at Animal Kingdom
Animal Kingdom is getting one of its biggest transformations with the new Tropical Americas area.
The land will include attractions inspired by Indiana Jones and Encanto, and D23 gave us more details about what Imagineers are creating.
One of the things that caught my attention was seeing more of the Encanto attraction. The experience will take guests into the Madrigal family’s world, and the Imagineering work suggests a trackless-style dark ride experience.
There’s also a new carousel featuring animals inspired by Disney characters.
EPCOT Is Getting Some Love Too
I wasn’t expecting some of the EPCOT announcements, which made them even more exciting.
Disney revealed plans for updates to Spaceship Earth and Journey Into Imagination. And yes, Dreamfinder is coming back.
Figment has remained such a beloved EPCOT character, so seeing Disney give Journey Into Imagination some attention feels long overdue.
I’m very curious to see how much of the attraction changes and what bringing Dreamfinder back will actually look like.
Carousel of Progress Is Getting an Update
Carousel of Progress is getting a pretty major refresh, and D23 gave us some fun new details about what to expect when it returns.
One of my favorite announcements was that Jamie Lee Curtis and Bryan Cranston are joining the attraction as the new voices of Mom and Dad. I wasn’t expecting either of them to become part of Carousel of Progress, but I love these casting choices and can’t wait to hear them in the updated show.
We also got a first look at the new 1980s scene, which will be part of the attraction’s journey through more recent decades.
The updated Carousel of Progress is expected to reopen at Magic Kingdom in late spring 2027.
There’s A LOT Coming to the Disney Parks
If there was one takeaway I had after the Disney Experiences Showcase, it’s that the next few years are going to be very busy for Disney Parks fans.
Disney isn’t just adding one or two attractions. Entire areas of Disneyland and Walt Disney World are being transformed.
What made D23 especially fun for me was being able to hear about these projects at the showcase and then see some of the Imagineering work up close on the convention floor.
The Imagineering: Horizons pavilion was actually my favorite experience on the entire D23 show floor, and getting to see models, concept art, ride vehicles, and other pieces of these projects made the announcements feel much more real. Disney described it as its largest Imagineering pavilion ever, showcasing projects underway at Disney Parks around the world.
Which Disneyland or Walt Disney World announcement from D23 are you most excited about? Let me know in the comments!
Beyond the Screen