News Destination D23 2025

[Johnwdwguy]

I know it may not happen but here's my wishlist for Destination D23...

• More Info on the Return of the Magic of Disney Animation (And how it'll work for 2026) at Hollywood Studios
• More info on The Lion King Ride at Disney Adventure World (Formely Walt Disney Studios Paris)

 

[Nickm2022]

My dream for MK to take it from my 3rd favorite to possibly my favorite would be Moana + Coco in the current expansion plots (One for Adventureland, One from Frontierland). MK doesn't need all that in 10 years but.. man if it did.

I completely agree. I will say I do see a world where they do ad an additional attraction atop of the cars villains expansion

 

[Nickm2022]

My predictions:
MK: - New Space Mt (just retrack and new interior + queue
- New concept art for Cars & Villains, plus concept art showing both areas together plus next to already existing land, hopefully even a model
- Limited addition Tron: ARES promotion at TL

EPC: - Something new. Who knows if it's COCO, new Figment, or new SSE. But just something new-ish ride wise

HS: - Monsters Inc land updates
- Muppets Coaster major updates, concept art, details, music, etc
- AC updates (Including Bluey show and or meet and greet)

AK: - Zootopia opening date
- Details on TA, play area, ride systems, more concept art, etc
- Drone/water nighttime show
- Limited Edition FIRE AND ASH promotion

Other:
More Disney Cruise info
New Lakeshore Lodge hotel info
Updates on Avatar, COCO, and Avengers at DCA (new concept art, maybe even model)
More info on Adventure World
Marvel at Shanghai and Hong Kong
Rumored Pixar expansion at Hong Kong



Darkhorses/ Wild Cards
Updated SEA pavilion for EPCOT
Another new land (or mini-land) for HS, replacing ST and/or Indy. (personally thinking Incredibles or Inside Out)
New TL (F4) for DL
Another new ride for AK (hoping for Lion King or UP)

 

[Disnutz311]

SO... here we are. 24 days before D23 and we still don't have a firm schedule of what is being offered. Just placeholders of "presentations". Is this typical? I can't remember, but this is my first and hoping for something next week. Are we even guaranteed a parks panel or presentation? They have to give us something parks focused, no?

My long shots, but not going to happen, are Figment and a return of the Adventurer's Club. One can dream!!!

 

[DCBaker]

SO... here we are. 24 days before D23 and we still don't have a firm schedule of what is being offered. Just placeholders of "presentations". Is this typical? I can't remember, but this is my first and hoping for something next week. Are we even guaranteed a parks panel or presentation? They have to give us something parks focused, no?

The full schedule in 2023 was released about 2 weeks before the event.

 

[Figments Friend]

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.

This.

People are getting themselves all whipped up into a frenzy thinking something major will be announced, and it just leads to disappointment.

Perhaps, just maybe, there may be a little unexpected surprise….but if I could have a dollar for every time the Disney Company decides at the last possible moment to cancel a announcement or reveal at one of these events I would be a very wealthy dragon right now.
Maybe even give Bob a bit of financial competition….

-

 

[Parker41056]

I find it interesting that so many Disney announcements have come in the last two weeks ahead of Destination D. Animation Courtyard, Opening of Beak and Barrel, New ESPN/NFL/WWE news, among others. Feels like these could have easily been saved for later this month unless their is much more in the tank. Today's earnings are also interesting. The parks and specifically the Orlando parks faired very well against the opening of EPIC. Could this mean that Disney may not have to spend more CapEX to keep guests interested and scale bag some investment plans. Time will tell.

 

[rd805]

I find it interesting that so many Disney announcements have come in the last two weeks ahead of Destination D. Animation Courtyard, Opening of Beak and Barrel, New ESPN/NFL/WWE news, among others. Feels like these could have easily been saved for later this month unless their is much more in the tank. Today's earnings are also interesting. The parks and specifically the Orlando parks faired very well against the opening of EPIC. Could this mean that Disney may not have to spend more CapEX to keep guests interested and scale bag some investment plans. Time will tell.

I'm hopeful it's the opposite: Look at the $$ it made, we need to keep this going with new offerings as we have the cash to do so.

 

[flyerjab]

For this event, I typically expect updates on things assist announced at other events or times. But who knows? Doubling the attendance could signify a change in strategy for this. With so much going on in the parks space for WDW, it could be a good idea to keep announcements and updates flowing. It will, however, be interesting to see how they tap dance around Piston Peak and Monsters, as both new lands are obviously facing pushback from the diehards.

 

[Parker41056]

I'm hopeful it's the opposite: Look at the $$ it made, we need to keep this going with new offerings as we have the cash to do so.

Agree - The narrative could be spend spun both ways. I hope the parks continue to invest to create incentives for guests to visit more frequent. From the exec point of view, I could see them saying we are creating stock value and return without diving deep in to CapEX. All of the recent announcements are still a few years away. Could see them waiting another cycle before more is announced. On the other hand, with more cash flow and more EPIC news coming soon, double down on CapEX for a greater ROI.

 

[OptimusPrime]

For this event, I typically expect updates on things assist announced at other events or times. But who knows? Doubling the attendance could signify a change in strategy for this. With so much going on in the parks space for WDW, it could be a good idea to keep announcements and updates flowing. It will, however, be interesting to see how they tap dance around Piston Peak and Monsters, as both new lands are obviously facing pushback from the diehards.

In ‘23, we got announced Test Track and the new Country Bears. I think it makes sense that it’s mostly updates, but Florida gets a new announcement or two.

As for PP and Monsters, I think that the room is full of mostly people who have drank the Disney kool-aid, so it’s gonna be people cheering on whatever new things gets announced.

 

[Gusey]

I always got the impression that Destination D23 in 2023 had announcements to make up for the lack of announcements in 2022 (2022 when they announced 2 rides in total, a Rapunzel flat ride at DLP and the Avengers E-Ticket at DCA, again). With the amount of announcements we got last year, I'm not expecting anything major, especially with Magic of Animation being announced already

 

[OptimusPrime]

I always got the impression that Destination D23 in 2023 had announcements to make up for the lack of announcements in 2022 (2022 when they announced 2 rides in total, a Rapunzel flat ride at DLP and the Avengers E-Ticket at DCA, again). With the amount of announcements we got last year, I'm not expecting anything major, especially with Magic of Animation being announced already

I’m expecting something on the level of Test Track and updates. The Animaiton Courtyard announcement feels like it should’ve been THE easy win at the convention, but at the same time it seems like they’re focusing on younger audiences with the contents so they might not have felt the need to announce it at the convention with mostly adults.

 

[AidenRodriguez731]

I’m expecting something on the level of Test Track and updates. The Animaiton Courtyard announcement feels like it should’ve been THE easy win at the convention, but at the same time it seems like they’re focusing on younger audiences with the contents so they might not have felt the need to announce it at the convention with mostly adults.

Imagine they elaborate with a new dark ride teased to be coming into Animation Courtyard following a little more of Once Upon a dream featuring some really rare characters in animatronic form that usually wouldn't have been.


I would anticipate that this could be the year they announce their plans with SSE (Figment could be up but I feel like they would want to save that for a rainy day)

 

[AidenRodriguez731]

My D23 Predictions:
- Look at the new BTM finale scene/updates
- Official ride system announcement for Encanto with a more detailed look at Tropical Americas (possible opening season?)
- Updates on Piston Peak (perhaps announcing both ride systems officially)
- Small updates on Villians land (maybe annoucing a new villian Bippity Boopity Bootique + the Maleficient Coaster officially)
- More info on Monsters/Muppets (possible tease on Muppetvision entering Sunset Showcase with Villian show being updated for Villians Land)
- New lounge somewhere (they seem to love them right now, a crowd pleaser would be the Hollywood Tip Top Club)


Stretches:
- SSE Refurb
- Space Mountain Refurb
- Stitch's replaced with Stitch or Incredibles?
- Imagination Pavillion Rework
- Fountain for Epcot Center

 

[OptimusPrime]

Imagine they elaborate with a new dark ride teased to be coming into Animation Courtyard following a little more of Once Upon a dream featuring some really rare characters in animatronic form that usually wouldn't have been.


I would anticipate that this could be the year they announce their plans with SSE (Figment could be up but I feel like they would want to save that for a rainy day)

Where was the dark ride teased?

 

[AidenRodriguez731]

Where was the dark ride teased?

Sorry I misspoke, I meant the Animation Courtyard transformation was teased, not the ride

 

[OptimusPrime]

Sorry I misspoke, I meant the Animation Courtyard transformation was teased, not the ride

Aw rats. I got my hopes up lol

 

[Bocabear]

I’m expecting something on the level of Test Track and updates. The Animation Courtyard announcement feels like it should’ve been THE easy win at the convention, but at the same time it seems like they’re focusing on younger audiences with the contents so they might not have felt the need to announce it at the convention with mostly adults.

I am not sure how much of a "win" this will be... On the outside it sounds great to re-claim this space that has been mostly shuttered for literally a decade or two... THat said, aside from a playground I am not sure there will be much that is very compelling. Especially with the short turnaround. YES, I am glad it is something...but it falls short of the Toontown type park addition they could have done....Where you are literally walking into Disney animation environments complete with a couple attractions etc...
but it is something... so that is a very small win.

 

[James Alucobond]

I am not sure how much of a "win" this will be... On the outside it sounds great to re-claim this space that has been mostly shuttered for literally a decade or two... THat said, aside from a playground I am not sure there will be much that is very compelling. Especially with the short turnaround. YES, I am glad it is something...but it falls short of the Toontown type park addition they could have done....Where you are literally walking into Disney animation environments complete with a couple attractions etc...
but it is something... so that is a very small win.

The point is that this level of introspection about the announcement wouldn’t have taken place in the moment, so it would’ve been sensible to save as a nice capstone for a hypothetical WDW section of the presentation assuming there’s nothing “better” waiting in the wings.