News Destination D23 2025

BrianLo

BrianLo

Well-Known Member
JD80 said:
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?
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Historically absolutely nothing apart from product flushing, with the very rare exception of 2023.

We’ve technically already had a similar Destination slate announced since the last mainline D23. Villains show, monsters show, RnRc. So I suspect something of note has been withheld.

—

*ironically I wrote this post yesterday… but felt it worth swinging back to hit publish on. So now we’re eight domestic announcements deep between D23s. Villains Show, Monsters Show, RnRC, Eastern Gateway, Animation Courtyard, Lakeshore Lodge, Buzz, Big Thunder.
 
Theme Park Nerdo

Theme Park Nerdo

Active Member
Might as well get my Destination D23 Parks Panel predictions for Walt Disney World out of the way.

Magic Kingdom - Reopening Date of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad earlier than expected, by December 2025/January 2026, a peek at some reimagined effects and show scenes. Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin should be back online by February/March 2026. More new Piston Peak information, including the reveal of a second smaller Whip-style flat ride for families, no opening date expected, but I suspect it'll be around 2028/2029.

EPCOT - Journey Into Imagination 4.0 revealed, with brand-new trackless dark ride, the return of the upstairs ImageWorks, and a new show for the Magic Eye Theater. DVC Lounge will be relocated to The Land pavilion's third-floor VIP lounge. JIIWF closes in November 2025 and 4.0 will open between Late 2026/Early 2027.

Disney's Hollywood Studios - More information about the new Walt Disney Studios area, including the reveal of a potential new animation-themed dark ride as part of the Magic of Disney Animation pavilion and a new Disney Jr. stage show featuring Bluey. Potential name reveal of Monsters Inc. door factory coaster and reveal of a relocated Laugh Floor to the former Muppet-Vision 3D theater. Sneak preview into the pre-show of Rock N' Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets, and new concept art, targeting a Summer 2026 opening. Monstropolis will be open by mid/late 2027 depending on how fast shovels get onto the ground.

Disney's Animal Kingdom - Opening Date for Zootopia: Better Zoogether, a brief sneak peek of the film, and reveal of one of the songs and the Clawhauser animatronic. More in-depth Tropical Americas information, including name and story details for both Encanto and Indiana Jones attractions, might be some footage of effects testing at Imagineering and CGI mockups. Dinosaur's closing date is revealed to be on January 31st, 2026. Tropical Americas is still on-track for a 2027 opening.

/ WILD CARD PREDICTIONS \

Magic Kingdom - Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor will be replaced with a clone of Stitch Encounter from Disney Adventure World and Tokyo Disneyland, easy and cheap way to retain the interactive show elements whilst taking advantage of the resurgence of popularity of Lilo & Stitch at the parks.

EPCOT - Stealth-drop announcement that the "temporary closure" of Spaceship Earth is actually going to be a major refurbishment in collaboration with Apple that will include newly refreshed and restored show scenes, and a brand-new fully-physical descent sequence. Touchscreens will remain, but only for riders to select language and if they want to hear either a male or female narrator and can be used for Closed Captioning if needed.

Disney's Hollywood Studios - Walt Disney: A Magical Life will replace The Little Mermaid: A Musical Adventure, which was likely meant to be a temporary solution until Animation Courtyard gets a major reimagining, which it's getting now. Walt Disney Presents will close to make room for a future experience.

Disney's Animal Kingdom - Pandora: The World of Avatar receives it's much needed expansion, which would include Disney's first flying roller coaster, the same coaster model from Vekoma as F.L.Y at Phantasialand.

We can dream, can we? 😅
 
DisDude33

DisDude33

Well-Known Member
mattpeto said:
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?
View attachment 872252
Click to expand...
I think I can say this without it being a problem but I don’t know that there was serious talk about trying to get the magical experience back last year but it was proving to be difficult and non cost effective and it seemed like it wasn’t going anywhere but my limited access to that kind of information has come and gone so it’s possible they found a way to do it by now.
 
Rockishcoco

Rockishcoco

Well-Known Member
Throwing my hat into the ring

Magic Kingdom:
- Refreshed Cars concept art and family flat ride detailed.
- Look at new BTM finale and some other updated elements
- Surprise renovation news (Space Mountain, or Tiki Room my primary suspects)
- Pirates Bar opening date.
- WILDCARD: Maybe the Walt animatronic makes its way to COP

EPCOT:
- 50th time's the charm, Figment revamp gets announced.
- Wondrous China resurfaces(?)

Animal Kingdom:
- New details and concept art for Indy and Encanto
- Tropical Americas food and play area details
- Zootopia opening date
- Fire and Ash tie in at Pandora (Walk around character, photo op, food items, etc).
- WILDCARD: Maybe the Dreams that Soar drones fly over here.

Hollywood Studios:
- RNRC closing date and more Muppet retheme art
- Look at the new short for Disney Animation experience
- Mando Falcon New details
- Monsters Inc updates (Maybe an early look at what they're planning for MV3D space)
WILDCARD: Probably too early, but Muppets replacement for villains to build some hype?

Misc:
My one insider contribution (grain of salt) is I've heard some rumblings that Level99 at Springs not only has some new details coming soon but also might incorporate some Disney IP in the minigames themself.

(Apropos of nothing wouldn't be surprised if VR makes its way back to Springs at some point)
 
ChrisFL

ChrisFL

Premium Member
It would be nice for them to update the Frozen ride...but they're probably not wanting to do a big upgrade since it's already packed every day.
 
rd805

rd805

Well-Known Member
MK: By taking Laugh Floor and Former Stitches Great Escape buildings, could a new experience be built using both former attraction spaces? I do like the idea of flipping Laugh Floor to Stitch, especially if HS is getting a new Monsters show in Monstopolis. With already so much happening at MK, it doesn't seem likely either of it gets touched for a while though.

HS: AC dropping early was interesting, maybe more information or a rehash of that. I'd like to see the Walt Animatronic somewhere in WDW, so some sort of little show at the studios whether One Man's Dream, or at that upcoming Animation Building seems probable.

EPCOT: Journey into Imagination doesn't seem like a "now" sort of announcement, but an entire overhaul of the ride plus a new 3D show would be really cool. Not expecting it... I think I'd settle for the SSE actual update and enhancement as a very low bar, but would love the Mary Poppins small attraction added in UK area of WS.

AK: So much already happening, tough to expect anything else "new" news wise at this time; but you'd have to think the Lion King Flume will be in the park within 7-8 years.
 
OptimusPrime

OptimusPrime

Well-Known Member
In the Parks
No
rd805 said:
MK: By taking Laugh Floor and Former Stitches Great Escape buildings, could a new experience be built using both former attraction spaces? I do like the idea of flipping Laugh Floor to Stitch, especially if HS is getting a new Monsters show in Monstopolis. With already so much happening at MK, it doesn't seem likely either of it gets touched for a while though.

HS: AC dropping early was interesting, maybe more information or a rehash of that. I'd like to see the Walt Animatronic somewhere in WDW, so some sort of little show at the studios whether One Man's Dream, or at that upcoming Animation Building seems probable.

EPCOT: Journey into Imagination doesn't seem like a "now" sort of announcement, but an entire overhaul of the ride plus a new 3D show would be really cool. Not expecting it... I think I'd settle for the SSE actual update and enhancement as a very low bar, but would love the Mary Poppins small attraction added in UK area of WS.

AK: So much already happening, tough to expect anything else "new" news wise at this time; but you'd have to think the Lion King Flume will be in the park within 7-8 years.
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Would not be surprised if they replaced Laugh Floor with Stitch Encounter from Tokyo. Gives families a Stitch fix, and I doubt enough work that would require building codes to be updated and such with asbestos would be done. Unless the Buzz building doesn’t have asbestos in it?
 
P

Parker41056

Active Member
Great thread. I feel that this event will mostly focus on the already announced projects withs some new information sprinkled in. I could see a few wildcard surprises.

Magic Kingdom:
- New concept art for Piston Peaks along with announcement of 2nd attraction. Area may showcase a kids play area along with food options. Many will still miss ROA but this looks more promising after the full details are released.
- New concept art for Villains with a tease of what the two attractions will be.
- Liberty Bell info and plans to keep on Disney property somewhere
- BTM details of enhancements and show scenes
- Updates and art for Buzz Lightyear refresh
- Will announce the closure of Laugh Floor and tease new show. Top Candidates: Wall-E, Wreck it Ralph, Lilo & Stitch,
- Does Lilo and Stich come back to Tomorrowland with Stitches Great Escape 2?
- Wildcard: Space Mountain announces major overhaul with new track and side-by-side cars.
- Wildcard: Moana attraction in Adventureland

EPCOT:
- New video and updated screens for Soarin'
- Spaceship Earth refresh
- Return of a central fountain
- Magic Eye theatre news
- Wildcard: Figment gets more than a reskin, it get a new trackless system with Dream finder and Inside Out overlay
- Wildcard: Wonders of Life Pavilion gets a new attraction announcement

Animal Kingdom:
- New details and concept art for Indy and Encanto with a new kids play area announced for this section.
- Zootopia opening date and sneak preview
- New nighttime lake show with drones to open in conjunction with the Tropical Americas opening
- Wildcard: Lion King Water Flume attraction
- Wildcard: Pandora expansion with a new thrill ride. Maybe a coaster tied to the new Fire and Ash movie

Hollywood Studios:
- New details for the Mandalorian overlay for Smugglers Run
- RNRC closing date and Muppets Mayhem art
- Beauty and Beast show announced closure and transition to Tangled or Frozen.
- More info on the Animation Courtyard refresh with detail about the new Disney Jr. show. Wildcard, could another Dark Ride attraction, connected Launch Bay, be announced.
- Monsters Inc updates with show detail and concert art for new show
- WILDCARD: New attraction and expansion for Galaxy's edge into the parking lot adjacent to new Monster land area. Speeder Bike coaster?

Resort Wide
- Updates on Lakeside Lodge
- Skyliner extension announced. Possible a route to DAK
- Updates to Water Parks and a possible Ice Age overlay to Blizzard Beach
- Maybe some new experiences coming to Disney Springs.
- Wildcard: Disney Magic service to return to and from airports.
 
DreamfinderGuy

DreamfinderGuy

Well-Known Member
Anybody who gets caught up in discussing Figment's popularity at all as a serious conversation topic has lost the plot. If you make a good ride featuring good, marketable, lovable characters (which Dreamfinder and Figment absolutely are), you'll develop a following. You'll sell merchandise. You'll get good word of mouth. People are only familiar with Pirates and Haunted Mansion because they started off as good theme park rides that gained huge followings. Splash Mountain was one of Magic Kingdom's most popular attractions and sold plenty of merchandise, yet 90% of people at best didn't know those characters until they rode the ride.

Figment has a fandom, which is great, and probably the only reason his ride will ever get "fixed", but even if he didn't the company could easily turn that around with a good ride. People show up for great experiences.
 
Starship824

Starship824

Well-Known Member
In the Parks
No
Predictions: We will get news about Disney theme parks.

We've been burned so many times by these panels I just don't care anymore lol. I'm sure we'll get updates on the projects they announced last d23. I give a 0% chance of figment. If it happens I will purposefully have water to spit out if it gets announced. We will definitely get more art for piston peak, I suspect they'll show the 3d rendering of walking from mansion to big thunder they shows the press and I'm sure everyone will complain about how it's the worst decision ever blah blah blah. Hopefully more villains land concept art. By the end of the last d23, once we learned monsters Inc. and cars were replacing beloved attractions. I gave up and decided the only thing to be excited about was Starlight cause it wasn't replacing anything and I actually like that parade so I got one win out of last year after all was said and done. This is destination d23. I'm expecting nothing.
 
MisterPenguin

MisterPenguin

President of Animal Kingdom
Premium Member
The funny/sad thing is that all signs pointed to an Imagination refurb as part of the EPCOT refresh. The Pavilion was featured in the Odyssey sculpture indicating it was going to be an announced project... but no announcement.

This is why one shouldn't rely on rumors or even insiders who tell us what will be announced. Things change right up to the last minute.
 

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