News Destination D23 2025

[Mr. Sullivan]

Yeah, but Inside Out 2 did make a billion dollars so Iger might overrule him

I wouldn't count on it. He has not ever really done this in the past when it comes to Pixar saying no to something for the parks, and I imagine it's because if they're gonna do a Pixar attraction, they'll want Pixar all in on helping the creative process. Sure he could just order them to do it, but it's much easier to get stuff done with a willing participant than one who is doing it because they have to. I imagine if he wanted to overrule any nos, then he wouldn't have asked to gauge interest in the first place.

 

[JD80]

They typically don't announce new major projects for the parks at D23. Usually they just announce updates and reveals for existing known projects.

Exceptions are usually along the lines of transportation and resort projects I think?

 

[phillip9698]

Figment is also the mascot of Epcot, so there's a lot of merch that just happens to have Figment on it for festivals. I don't know what percentage of people buying festival merch buy it BECAUSE Figment is also on it or not

This is correct. I have a couple F&W shirts that have figment on them. I would have purchased the shirt even if it didn’t have Figment.

 

[MJL92]

They typically don't announce new major projects for the parks at D23. Usually they just announce updates and reveals for existing known projects.

Exceptions are usually along the lines of transportation and resort projects I think?

2023 DD23 gave us:

• New Country Bears
• Zootopia Show replacing It's Tough to be a Bug
• Pirates Lounge
• New Test Track
• New Blue Sky direction for Dinoland redo (From Moana/Zootopia -> Tropical Americas). This was then confirmed to be happening at D23 2024

In addition to updates on already existing projects, I would look for some under the radar entertainment refreshes, ride refreshes, new lounge openings, new characters.

Obviously some bigger projects I'd love to see, but here's a few that would make sense to me for this expo:

• A new musical replacing Beauty and the Beast (Moana? Encanto?)
• Some sort of new theater show replacing Pixar Shorts at Magic Eye (Inside Out?)
• Something to replace Vacation Fun (anything)
• A new nighttime show in Animal Kingdom opening alongside Tropical Americas
• Removing the timeline restrictions from Galaxy's Edge and moving all the meet and greets there (as a preemptive "launch bay is closing" announcement)
• Meet and greet with lifesize Na'vi in Pandora
• A new lounge space in Pandora
• Tiki Room Enhancements / Changes
• A replacement for Monster's Inc Laugh Floor

They are currently looking at optimizing existing space through the rest of the decade. Look for attractions/areas that are empty / less popular / not generating any revenue.

Other spaces I'm keeping an eye on in the near future:

• Stitch Space
• Speedway
• Swiss Family Treehouse
• Hall of Presidents
• Wonders of Life
• Imagination
• The Seas
• Mission Space
• Animation Courtyard
• Rafiki's Planet Watch

I know everyone has been talking about most of those forever, but at some point they're going to make an investment.

 

[Gusey]

Stuff I think they might announced:

• Opening date for Barrel & Beak
• Announcement of the 2nd Cars ride/more concept art
• An Epcot attraction update (Either Spaceship Earth, Figment or Magic Eye Theatre)
• Updates on already existing projects, specifically Monsters Inc's new show, Cars & Tropical Americas (Concept art of play area amungst new concept art?)
• Disney Adventure World opening date
• More info on Avatar Land at Disneyland and smaller construction updates on Avengers and Coco
• Filmed updates on international projects acting as transitions between main segments (Marvel at Shanghai and Hong Kong, Tomorrowland at Tokyo)

Stuff that I think won't be announced (so if it is it'll be a nice surprise):

• New from the ground up rides - they'll try and save anything like that for D23 2026
• New nighttime show for AK to open in time for Tropical Americas - judging from the timeframe of Starlight getting announced a year before it debuts, something similar could be announced at D23 2026 to open in 2027
• New Tomorrowland update - I do think that's the next section of Disneyland to receive and update but again think they're saving that for D23 2026

 

[Cmdr_Crimson]

He is among a certain demographic, but among people around my age, he is only brought up to speak about how disliked he is. Can't get into the reasons why here, but I'm sure you can guess. It's not been a secret the last few years.

If they pull the trigger on him coming back into the fray, there will be a segment of audiences who are excited and a segment who will be very unhappy. Disney is gonna have to weigh which one is gonna be more impactful.

This is the most recent video they have of him "secretly" do M&G's in DL or have they gone the route where they have a really decent look a like roaming around....

 

[Cmdr_Crimson]

2023 DD23 gave us:

• New Country Bears
• Zootopia Show replacing It's Tough to be a Bug
• Pirates Lounge
• New Test Track
• New Blue Sky direction for Dinoland redo (From Moana/Zootopia -> Tropical Americas). This was then confirmed to be happening at D23 2024

You forgot the Biggest little disappointment we got...

 

[flyerjab]

They typically don't announce new major projects for the parks at D23. Usually they just announce updates and reveals for existing known projects.

Exceptions are usually along the lines of transportation and resort projects I think?

The transportation topic is one I was wondering about. I know there was talk of a train station stop with Brightline or Sunrail. Then that was terminated. But last year or so didn’t Iger mentioning looking into something with that again? I don’t live in Florida so I am not up on the train expansion projects. I will say I wish that more of country would do some rail expansion projects. Was in England for the first time recently and their rail system is wonderful.

 

[Gremlin Gus]

I'm going to put my predictions here for WDW because why not?

(Guaranteed or likely to get announced)

• Tropical Americas update with ride details, story, and more concept art for both the Encanto and Indiana Jones attractions
  • Maybe we'll get to know what the play area is going to be and perhaps know what the names for the Encanto and Indiana Jones attractions?
  • And maybe an opening date for the land, but that might be announced at D23 2026?
• Monstropolis update with details about the stage show and door coaster coming there
• Piston Peak update with the possible play area coming there?
• Villains Land update with more finalized concept art and maybe some details about what is going in that land
• (EDIT) Rock 'n' Rollercoaster retheme to Muppets details

(50/50 or low chance, but not an outright "No")

• Journey into Imagination with Figment overhaul cope.
• Animation Courtyard replacement possibly revealed here? (probably not, but idk)
• A New Nighttime show for AK

(Not going to happen, or not going to get announced until D23 2026 or beyond)

• Tomorrowland Overhaul
• Storybook Circus retheme/overhaul
• Beyond BTMRR (if that's still even in the cards, if it is, then probably not until after Villains Land opens)
• New countries at World Showcase
• Josh D'Amaro doing a backflip on stage

 

[bmr1591]

I know DW fans love Figment, specifically older fans who grew up with the original JII. But the average person in the US who loves Disney movies has zero clue who Figment even is. They may have gone to EPCOT and seen the purple dragon, but has no idea what it was besides some random character they ignored.

What they should do is come out with a great Figment movie so that the casual Disney fan actually knows who he is.

 

[Cmdr_Crimson]

I know DW fans love Figment, specifically older fans who grew up with the original JII. But the average person in the US who loves Disney movies has zero clue who Figment even is. They may have gone to EPCOT and seen the purple dragon, but has no idea what it was besides some random character they ignored.

What they should do is come out with a great Figment movie so that the casual Disney fan actually knows who he is.

There was plans to but got sheveld and they are looking at other sparks.

Figment Show Teased by Bob Iger, Seth Rogen Movie Remains Uncertain

Disney CEO Bob Iger is hinting that some sort of Figment show might be in the works. Figment is a Disney character that is featured in the Journey Into Imagination With Figment theme park ride at Walt Disney World Resort’s Epcot. The small purple dragon was originally created by Tony Baxter and...

www.yahoo.com

 

[JEANYLASER]

What about Rock n' Rollercoaster with the Muppets for next year Destination D23 Event for 2026?

 

[Charlie The Chatbox Ghost]

I'm going to put my predictions here for WDW because why not?

(Guaranteed or likely to get announced)

• Tropical Americas update with ride details, story, and more concept art for both the Encanto and Indiana Jones attractions
  • Maybe we'll get to know what the play area is going to be and perhaps know what the names for the Encanto and Indiana Jones attractions?
  • And maybe an opening date for the land, but that might be announced at D23 2026?
• Monstropolis update with details about the stage show and door coaster coming there
• Piston Peak update with the possible play area coming there?
• Villains Land update with more finalized concept art and maybe some details about what is going in that land

(50/50 or low chance, but not an outright "No")

• Journey into Imagination with Figment overhaul cope.
• Animation Courtyard replacement possibly revealed here? (probably not, but idk)
• A New Nighttime show for AK

(Not going to happen, or not going to get announced until D23 2026 or beyond)

• Tomorrowland Overhaul
• Storybook Circus retheme/overhaul
• Beyond BTMRR (if that's still even in the cards, if it is, then probably not until after Villains Land opens)
• New countries at World Showcase
• Josh D'Amaro doing a backflip on stage

I’m interested on your thoughts about Storybook Circus- is there any reason for Disney to redo it?

 

[Charlie The Chatbox Ghost]

What about Rock n' Rollercoaster with the Muppets for next year Destination D23 Event for 2026?

I think they’ll talk about that this year and have it open next year tbh

 

[virtualangel]

What about Rock n' Rollercoaster with the Muppets for next year Destination D23 Event for 2026?

well destination d23 is not happening next year but it will be talked abt at it next month since it'll open next year

 

[Gremlin Gus]

I’m interested on your thoughts about Storybook Circus- is there any reason for Disney to redo it?

In my opinion at least, Storybook Circus feels very "wasted space" as it is, I Disney retheming Storybook Circus into something like Mickey's Toontown in Disneyland Anaheim would be a much better utilization of space. Now yeah, they probably aren't going to clone MMRR or RRCTS over to this, but I think the ideas of say a Ducktales dark ride, Oswald trolley ride, and various other parts of Mickey's Toontown in Disneyland Anaheim like Donald's Boat and Mickey/Minnie's house for meet-and-greets would be a much better use of land than Storybook circus.

The only issue I see is that in terms of space, it's a very tight, they would have to get rid of Tomorrowland Speedway and maybe use the water retention pond in the back (highlighted in red) to make it possible.

Though I do not at all expect Disney to announce a Storybook Circus overhaul/retheme until a Tomorrowland overhaul is finished or they plan to merge a Tomorrowland AND Storybook Circus overhaul and do it in phases like Tomorrowland is Phase 1, Storybook Circus is Phase 2.

 

[Stupido]

In my opinion at least, Storybook Circus feels very "wasted space" as it is, I Disney retheming Storybook Circus into something like Mickey's Toontown in Disneyland Anaheim would be a much better utilization of space. Now yeah, they probably aren't going to clone MMRR or RRCTS over to this, but I think the ideas of say a Ducktales dark ride, Oswald trolley ride, and various other parts of Mickey's Toontown in Disneyland Anaheim like Donald's Boat and Mickey/Minnie's house for meet-and-greets would be a much better use of land than Storybook circus.

The only issue I see is that in terms of space, it's a very tight, they would have to get rid of Tomorrowland Speedway and maybe use the water retention pond in the back (highlighted in red) to make it possible.

Though I do not at all expect Disney to announce a Storybook Circus overhaul/retheme until a Tomorrowland overhaul is finished or they plan to merge a Tomorrowland AND Storybook Circus overhaul and do it in phases like Tomorrowland is Phase 1, Storybook Circus is Phase 2.

View attachment 872177

It's a cute idea of armchair imagineering, and something I've never heard before so you have my respect for that. But I doubt Disney will ever get rid of Dumbo, and I have a hard time believing they'd go from Toontown -> Storybook Circus -> Toontown again. Dumbo's popularity is the entire reason for the Storybook Circus land, they built that subsection of Fantasyland so that Dumbo has a home. I could see them maybe expanding the circus theme to maybe have a Pinocchio Pleasure Island attraction or something? But I think the circus theme is here for good.

 

[CoastalElite64]

 

[Charlie The Chatbox Ghost]

In my opinion at least, Storybook Circus feels very "wasted space" as it is, I Disney retheming Storybook Circus into something like Mickey's Toontown in Disneyland Anaheim would be a much better utilization of space. Now yeah, they probably aren't going to clone MMRR or RRCTS over to this, but I think the ideas of say a Ducktales dark ride, Oswald trolley ride, and various other parts of Mickey's Toontown in Disneyland Anaheim like Donald's Boat and Mickey/Minnie's house for meet-and-greets would be a much better use of land than Storybook circus.

The only issue I see is that in terms of space, it's a very tight, they would have to get rid of Tomorrowland Speedway and maybe use the water retention pond in the back (highlighted in red) to make it possible.

Though I do not at all expect Disney to announce a Storybook Circus overhaul/retheme until a Tomorrowland overhaul is finished or they plan to merge a Tomorrowland AND Storybook Circus overhaul and do it in phases like Tomorrowland is Phase 1, Storybook Circus is Phase 2.

View attachment 872177

The thing is, we already had a ToonTown-like land, with ToonTown Fair, and I doubt Disney would want to rebuild a land they already demolished. I love ToonTown, I think it's absence is felt in the park (the fact that the only places to meet Mickey and friends in MK are in places where they're not in their iconic outfits is baffling), but I don't think MK is ever getting a ToonTown again. At least not for a few decades, sadly.

Dumbo would need to stay though, and I'm sure you could build a decent sized ToonTown while leaving Dumbo in place as-is.

 

[mattpeto]

I don’t even know if the parks will have a panel.

Maybe they lean in to easy wins at D23 like HEA returning that would pump up the audience?

Like this one?