Sunday, August 11, 2024 At The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, presented by Visa, Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro led an unforgettable musical celebration for Disney enthusiasts, revealing exciting future plans for Disney parks, cruise ships, and more. Among the highlights was a visionary partnership with Epic Games, set to revolutionize the future of storytelling. Day two of the fan extravaganza concluded with major announcements, surprise celebrity appearances, and remarkable musical performances, leaving fans eagerly anticipating what’s to come.
The announcements included exciting plans for four brand-new cruise ships and six immersive themed lands that will allow guests to dive even deeper into their favorite stories. These new areas will feature beloved franchises like Monsters, Inc., Cars, Indiana Jones, Encanto, Avatar, The Lion King, and the iconic Disney Villains.
D’Amaro also revealed that 14 entirely new attractions will be added, highlighting fan-favorite stories such as The Avengers, Spider-Man, and the first-ever Coco-themed ride at Disney California Adventure park, where guests can join Miguel on an adventure through the Land of the Dead. Additionally, Disney parks around the globe will introduce five new shows and nighttime spectaculars, including “Disney Starlight,” a brand-new nighttime parade coming to the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort. 1.
Expansion of Disney Cruise Line – Disney Cruise Line is set to expand its fleet with four new ships between 2027 and 2031. Once completed, guests will have 13 unique opportunities to enjoy Disney’s signature entertainment, exquisite dining, and exceptional guest service across the globe. 2 .
Monsters, Inc. at Disney’s Hollywood Studios – This new area will feature Disney’s first suspended coaster, allowing guests to soar through the iconic door vaults of the factory just like Mike and Sulley. 3.
Cars at the Magic Kingdom – The beloved Cars franchise from Pixar Animation Studios is coming to a reimagined section of Frontierland at the Magic Kingdom. The new area will include two attractions: a high-speed off-road rally race and a family-friendly ride designed for even the youngest racers. Construction is set to start early next year.
4. Villains Land at the Magic Kingdom – A new land dedicated to Disney Villains is in the works at the Magic Kingdom. This area will feature two attractions, as well as themed dining and shopping, creating an immersive experience where “happily ever after” might just be out of reach.
This bold new vision promises to deliver an experience only Disney can create. 5. Tropical Americas at Disney’s Animal Kingdom – Scheduled to open in 2027, Tropical Americas at Disney’s Animal Kingdom will introduce two signature attractions: a thrilling adventure with Indiana Jones exploring an ancient Maya temple, and a journey through the Casita Madrigal from “Encanto,” following Antonio’s story the day after he receives his magical gift.
Additionally, a carousel featuring animals from beloved Disney stories will offer a perfect experience for young families. 6 . Expanding Avengers Experiences in California, Shanghai, and Hong Kong – Super Heroes are set to make an even bigger impact at Disney parks worldwide.
At Disneyland Resort’s Disney California Adventure, the original Avengers Campus will double in size, adding two new attractions: Avengers Infinity Defense and Stark Flight Lab. Shanghai Disney Resort will unveil its first major Super Hero attraction, a high-octane Spider-Man-themed thrill coaster. Meanwhile, at Hong Kong Disneyland, the Avengers’ presence will grow with a significant new attraction in Tomorrowland, featuring Spider-Man and one of his fiercest adversaries.
7. The Lion King Area at Disney Adventure World in Disneyland Paris – Following the much-anticipated opening of World of Frozen in 2026, Disneyland Paris will introduce the first-ever ride-through attraction based on “The Lion King” in a newly themed Lion King area at Disney Adventure World. This area will include dining, shopping, and character meet-and-greets.
The water-based attraction will take guests through the caves beneath Pride Rock, following Simba’s journey from cub to king, echoing the beloved story from the classic Disney film. 8. Collaboration with Epic Games – During a live-streamed event in Fortnite, Josh D’Amaro was joined on stage by creative leaders from across The Walt Disney Compan.
Fans can look forward to seeing their favorite characters and stories converge in a connected universe where they can watch, play, and even create Disney narratives. The team also announced upcoming characters and skins for Fortnite, featuring Disney Villains, The Incredibles, and The Mandalorian, and showcased a trailer for the next Marvel season featuring Doctor Doom, debuting on August 16. These new experiences promise to offer fans around the globe even more opportunities to immerse themselves in the joy and magic of Disney’s timeless stories.
Fans at the Anaheim Convention Center were treated to a day full of thrilling announcements, with five stages featuring an array of extraordinary programming. Among the highlights, Disney Experiences revealed that the “Directing at Disney” concept is expanding from page to exhibition. This original exhibit is set to open on October 17 at The Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco, curated by Pixar’s Chief Creative Officer Pete Docter and author Don Peri.
Mirroring the themes of the book, this special exhibition will celebrate the legendary directors behind Walt Disney’s iconic animated films, showcasing a remarkable collection of archival photographs and rare film artifacts from The Walt Disney Studios. The Disney+ Original series *Percy Jackson and the Olympians* made waves at D23 with a star-studded panel on the Premiere Stage. Hosted by Juju Green, also known as Straw Hat Goofy, the panel featured key cast members including Walker Scobell (Percy Jackson), Leah Sava Jeffries (Annabeth Chase), Aryan Simhadri (Grover Underwood), Charlie Bushnell (Luke Castellan), and Dior Goodjohn (Clarisse La Rue), who are all series regulars this season.
They were joined by executive producers Jonathan E. Steinberg, Dan Shotz, and Craig Silverstein. The panel also surprised fans with appearances by Toby Stephens (Poseidon), Jason Mantzoukas (Mr.
D/Dionysus), and Daniel Diemer (Tyson). This event marked the first public gathering of all six season-two regulars. Mantzoukas also confirmed his return as the quirky Camp Half-Blood director, Mr.
D. At this weekend’s D23 fan event, Disney Cruise Line surprised attendees with a major announcement: the fleet will grow by four additional ships, with their debut scheduled between 2027 and 2031. This expansion will bring Disney Cruise Line’s total fleet size to an impressive 13 ships, marking a significant growth from just a few years ago when the fleet comprised only four vessels.
This remarkable increase highlights Disney’s commitment to enhancing its cruise offerings and providing more magical experiences at sea. The four newly announced ships are in addition to the ones we are already anticipating. The Disney Treasure is set to make its debut in 2024, followed by the Disney Destiny and Disney Adventure in 2025.
Additionally, a yet-to-be-named ship is planned to set sail in Tokyo in 2029. With these upcoming launches, Disney Cruise Line is poised to offer an even wider array of adventures and destinations for its guests around the world. Details about these upcoming ships remain largely under wraps, leaving much to the imagination regarding whether they will join an existing class or introduce a brand-new class of vessels.
However, the mere announcement has sparked tremendous excitement among Disney cruise enthusiasts, who are eagerly anticipating the potential innovations and magical experiences that these new ships might bring. The anticipation is building as fans speculate on how Disney will continue to elevate its cruise offerings, ensuring that each new addition to the fleet delivers the enchantment and adventure that have become synonymous with the Disney Cruise Line experience..
