News D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event 2026 in Anaheim

[flynnibus]

I’m still wondering why they are excited for nothing WDW has planned.

I'm excited the company is refreshing the product... but I'm not personally excited for any of the offers right now. I don't think riding through a fake park on big slow plastic cars is that interesting.. they haven't shown anything suggesting interesting show content (I've not even seen Cars 3). I have zero interest in Encanto.. I've already ridden Indy plenty.. I'm more interested to see the design and integration of the new lands than the attractions themselves.

The company has beat me down to assume they can't top their prior work, so things like SSE and Imagination.. while both undefined and far away.. I am just sitting back and hoping they can do something great. Imagination I'm happy just to have ANYTHING but what is there now.

Villians is too far away to care much about right now. Monstropolis I'm curious about, but not personally eager for.

Basically I'm far more curious and interested as a theme park fan than I am as a consumer. They fundamentally need to change the business model before I'm not a begrudged customer even if I'm there for more than a day. I would goto WDW to see the Disney product more than I would goto WDW for a personal vacation. I just find it too much work and overhead to be a real vacation.

 

[nickys]

Disneyland Paris rarely announce new projects, parades, opening dates at D23.

They do it as and when they want to, sometimes in order to boost bookings for the following year, or a later season.

There’s no reason Disney couldn't do that for WDW or DL if they wanted to.

But I suspect D23 generates money and interest in the US. Not so much the test of the world. I dont think they allow gold membership for European fans; they certainly didn't when I tried to get my DS one as a gift a few years ago.

 

[dlfan1313]

There was already a pretty clear roadmap for major additions every year for the next 4-5 years. The only park previously left out of that work also got an announcement of two major long-awaited refurbishments. From a volume standpoint, I’m not seeing the “problem”. From a presentation standpoint, I would always prefer more details and less fluff, but that’s rarely the kind of affair D23 is, particularly in more recent years.

The problem is that people hear words they like and it leads them to reject critical thinking in favor of motivated reasoning. Just as one example Uncie Josh, as likable as is he is, didn’t decide to remake Journey Into Figemenrland, he brought a proposal to the board illustrating the potential financial benefits on the investment. I’m glad as a school who just discovered girls like musicians that’s it’s happening but it isn’t unto itself demonstrable evidence that his leadership tenure will be any better than the last. Doesn’t mean it won’t be and I hope it will be. I’ll just be waiting to see what’s actually done before signing his eternal praises because of words.

 

[dlfan1313]

I'm excited the company is refreshing the product... but I'm not personally excited for any of the offers right now. I don't think riding through a fake park on big slow plastic cars is that interesting.. they haven't shown anything suggesting interesting show content (I've not even seen Cars 3). I have zero interest in Encanto.. I've already ridden Indy plenty.. I'm more interested to see the design and integration of the new lands than the attractions themselves.

The company has beat me down to assume they can't top their prior work, so things like SSE and Imagination.. while both undefined and far away.. I am just sitting back and hoping they can do something great. Imagination I'm happy just to have ANYTHING but what is there now.

Villians is too far away to care much about right now. Monstropolis I'm curious about, but not personally eager for.

Basically I'm far more curious and interested as a theme park fan than I am as a consumer. They fundamentally need to change the business model before I'm not a begrudged customer even if I'm there for more than a day. I would goto WDW to see the Disney product more than I would goto WDW for a personal vacation. I just find it too much work and overhead to be a real vacation.

Brilliant!

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

I've not even seen Cars 3

You’re not missing anything.

I have zero interest in Encanto..

Encanto and Coco are the 2 projects that look really promising. Classic all ages dark ride experiences. The model on display for Encanto showed a large physical set.

I’ll also say that I think the new Indy ride will be really cool. The history and details they are weaving into it will be cool to see. If it’s largely physical sets and effects (fog, fire) it could be a total surprise win.

 

[flynnibus]

You’re not missing anything.

Encanto and Coco are the 2 projects that look really promising. Classic all ages dark ride experiences. The model on display for Encanto showed a large physical set.

I’ll also say that I think the new Indy ride will be really cool. The history and details they are weaving into it will be cool to see. If it’s largely physical sets and effects (fog, fire) it could be a total surprise win.

Im sure indy will be great… i just don’t need to overthink it for years. We know the ride system and just need to see what ride experience they put together.

 

[Centauri Space Station]

Why not both. There’s a whole pavilion building that’s just been sitting there for YEARS moth balled

Accurate but imagination has been in this condition since 99 and SSE is the most iconic attraction in the park. I can wait for a WOL replacement if it means these 2 get what they deserve

 

[HMF]

Updated my article on the history of Tomorrowland at Disneyland with the new info.

The Tomorrowland Problem:Part 1

Disneyland

vocal.media

 

[brb1006]

So what was the pay off with the SEA clues?

 

[HauntedPirate]

So what was the pay off with the SEA clues?

 

[Mr. Sullivan]

When were they accused of giving too many details?

That has been one of the longstanding criticisms of D23 in general since it started. That they let everyone know way too much.

 

[Mr. Sullivan]

My expectations are zero. I don't see how they can come in under that and disappoint me.

Riddle me this - If they didn't have a Parks panel at D23, what becomes their outlet to "keep engagement" for "ultimate fans"? Quarterly shareholder meeting announcements?

There are other places, events, and expos that they could this at if they wanted to. There's entire conventions and expos devoted purely to the theme/amusement park business. They just choose not to have a presence at them.

That's to mention the dozens of other streams of communication they have with the public that they continue to maintain and could even go further in depth on.

For all of the problems Disney may face year over year, an audience is not one of them. Even people who hate everything they do are keeping tabs on it. D23 is not around because they struggle to get their developments out into the public consciousness. Such a struggle does not really exist for them. D23's around because they want the news cycle to themselves and don't want to share a stage with others.

 

[WaltWiz1901]

The yeti being fixed, a new Tomorrowland for Disneyland, AND Dreamfinder returning?!

Josh is already a better CEO than Iger, and it's only been a few months!

I say give him another year or two, and maybe, just maybe, we could be entering another peak point for Imagineering.

hey, maybe he might loosen up on the ever-burdensome IP mandate and give them fuller reign to create an original attraction again...

 

[DCBaker]

Here's the "Special Message from Josh D'Amaro" D23 is sending out after the event:

 

[MisterPenguin]

Here's the "Special Message from Josh D'Amaro" D23 is sending out after the event:

View attachment 938151

Anyone who uses the Oxford comma is OK with me.

 

[No Name]

I like how they’ve juiced up the parks panel the last two years (moving it to a bigger venue, at night, live orchestra, etc.). It really feels like they learned the right lessons from their embarrassing presentation in 2022 and basically rebranded the event to clean themselves of it.

 

[Vinnie Mac]

I like how they’ve juiced up the parks panel the last two years (moving it to a bigger venue, at night, live orchestra, etc.). It really feels like they learned the right lessons from their embarrassing presentation in 2022 and basically rebranded the event to clean themselves of it.

The 2022 presentation is borderline unwatchable compared to 2024 and 2026. It's like a high school football game vs. the Super Bowl

 

[HMF]

The 2022 presentation is borderline unwatchable compared to 2024 and 2026. It's like a high school football game vs. the Super Bowl

Indeed though the actual new announcements were better.

 

[No Name]

Indeed though the actual new announcements were better.

Perhaps you’re misremembering it?

There were no new announcements except for a couple of mundane things like a poorly placed hatbox ghost and a figment meet and greet, both of which didn’t debut until over a year later. They showed a video of Josh riding the Tron coaster and then announced it wouldn’t open until the next year. They ended the presentation by just kind of openly spitballing about some half baked ideas they had. It was bad.

 

[Bocabear]

I would love to see the accounting on how much Disney made on this little event...It is basically a 3 day Informercial for all things Disney.