News Destination D23 2025

[wityblack]

Oh you’re gonna try that?

Capacity is a seat/flow output. Period.

How long you been watching this parks thang?

Oh nevermind…do you share a three bedroom DREW and the Warrior of the box office?

Schools back in session

As I said, there is physical capacity increases, like Monsters Inc, Villains, and Tropical Americas, and functional capacity increases, like Animation and Cars. My career in theme park operational planning probably doesn't mean anything to you.

 

[Sir_Cliff]

They’re spending billions of dollars in the swamp for projects that won’t come online until the end of the decade, unless they’re extremely worried about over promising and under delivering, they need as much hype and excitement behind these developments as possible.

It’s also an admission that for the next several years, they’ve ceded Orlando to the competition.

You'll be eating your words when they announce Cool Kid Summer will be followed by Rad Dad Spring featuring fun new experiences and special discounts for the fathers in our lives!

I will say that Disney gets a lot of heat for announcing things too early while people seem to admire Universal's more tight-lipped approach of not announcing details about projects until they're well under construction. I think that feeds into a sense of Disney over-promising and under-delivering as things get cut along the way that have previously been announced/shown in concept art. The reaction to this suggests to me that people say they want Disney to be more cautious in what they release, but in reality are hungry for every little piece of information Disney will give them.

Also, none of it is opening for a while and they want people to keep visiting in the meantime. Hyping it up too much could be counter-productive.

 

[monothingie]

You'll be eating your words when they announce Cool Kid Summer will be followed by Rad Dad Spring featuring fun new experiences and special discounts for the fathers in our lives!

I will say that Disney gets a lot of heat for announcing things too early while people seem to admire Universal's more tight-lipped approach of not announcing details about projects until they're well under construction. I think that feeds into a sense of Disney over-promising and under-delivering as things get cut along the way that have previously been announced/shown in concept art. The reaction to this suggests to me that people say they want Disney to be more cautious in what they release, but in reality are hungry for every little piece of information Disney will give them.

I genuinely think they pass the pixie dust around and genuinely believe everything they put out is excellent.

Then reality hits.

 

[Disnutz311]

Well, this is what I was worried about. Many pages back I asked if we were even guaranteed a parks panel. Being why I bought my first D23 ticket and the thing I was looking forward to most. Not even announcing something new, but more details on existing. This is disappointing. Hopefully, we will get tidbits layered in. I also see a lack of exhibits or other things to see besides shopping. Not a fan right now of D23. Considering eating the cost of my preferred ticket and not going. Need to sleep on this news.

 

[KatiebugFan]

Well, this is what I was worried about. Many pages back I asked if we were even guaranteed a parks panel. Being why I bought my first D23 ticket and the thing I was looking forward to most. Not even announcing something new, but more details on existing. This is disappointing. Hopefully, we will get tidbits layered in. I also see a lack of exhibits or other things to see besides shopping. Not a fan right now of D23. Considering eating the cost of my preferred ticket and not going. Need to sleep on this news.

There never was a guarantee, people just assumed there was going to be one.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

Not a fan right now of D23.

Yeah…. The early events you could wait until they announced what would be presented and then decide if you should go or not.

I would still encourage you to attend - I’m sure the event will be fun. But I understand the disappointment.

 

[Gusey]

Just for fun, predictions based on the panels they've now announced and that they're sprinkling news throughout:

• 5 minute video updates for DLP construction (they'll just show us Elsa's castle in place and say opening next year), Shanghai (the construction on the coaster begining) and Tokyo (Space Mountain construction and maybe something about Wreck-it Ralph)
• Villains Land updates in the Villains panel (Josh D'maro presenting with Villains rather than Muppets this time
• Happiest Place on Earth will talk about Disneyland's future, (maybe a surprise New Tomorrowland announcement )
• The D2K Animated Classics panel will be where we'll get an update on The Magic of Disney Animation (Considering Lilo & Stitch and Brother Bear are 2000s movies animated at DHS)
• The return of Agent P's World Showcase Adventure to Epcot at the Phineas and Ferb panel
• The Emperor's New Groove Panel will show us some Tropical Americas info with a Kuzco play area
• The 3 Three Caballeros panel will talk about the ride and how they're actually adding them to the Imagination Pavilion instead of Inside Out

 

[JackCH]

I wonder how in depth the villains stuff will go. Is it going to be mostly top level "design philosophy" stuff, or will we get more concrete plans/attractions, etc.

 

[wityblack]

I wonder how in depth the villains stuff will go. Is it going to be mostly top level "design philosophy" stuff, or will we get more concrete plans/attractions, etc.

I feel like it's mostly going to be the former, but we'll see.

 

[michmousefan]

This is utter garbage, by the way. It’s also a very dishonest debate tactic.

You complain about Disney but still go? Your complaints aren’t real and you can be ignored.

You complain about Disney and stopped going because of your complaints? You don’t visit anymore so you can be ignored.

If Disney’s decisions are too “controversial” to announce in front of a fan event, they’re bad decisions. Entertainment companies need both fans and the general public - both are necessary but neither is sufficient. If a company makes one or two decisions that deeply anger fans but appeal to the GP (bearing in mind that this is always a gross and misleading oversimplification), that might be justified as tough-minded business. If that has become an established pattern to the point that it happens more often then not, executives are making terrible choices.

At the very least, they should have a panel discussion with Imagineers where they can go into a little more detail, like some of the decision-making behind the location choices for new attractions. They *could* do that; they just are choosing not to.

Honestly, some of the more interesting conversations I have had with Imagineers were at the Expo's Imagineering "pavilion," where the imagineers I chatted with were more than happy to discuss (some) project/attraction features, down to minutia and other details. But Destination has never been at that kind of scale.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

I wonder how in depth the villains stuff will go. Is it going to be mostly top level "design philosophy" stuff, or will we get more concrete plans/attractions, etc.

Maybe in the middle? I could see some new concept art and discussion of which Villains will be featured, maybe a bit more on the attractions, but not a ton of detail

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

At the very least, they should have a panel discussion with Imagineers where they can go into a little more detail, like some of the decision-making behind the location choices for new attractions. They *could* do that; they just are choosing not to.

Honestly, some of the more interesting conversations I have had with Imagineers were at the Expo's Imagineering "pavilion," where the imagineers I chatted with were more than happy to discuss (some) project/attraction features, down to minutia and other details. But Destination has never been at that kind of scale.

I think that would have been vetoed in a second

WDI isn’t “grounded” at all…and loose lips sink stock price chasing ships

Bad idea

 

[BrianLo]

Definitely agree that if there was one project I would like to see more on it is Villains Land, so I am glad that there is a session for Villains and looks like should get at least some tidbits on Villains Land

Guess the one thing I am a little surprised about is I thought we would get a hit more buzz on Tropical Americas - more on the Encanto ride, etc - as that should be the next big project to come online, but maybe still saving that for Expo next year - but maybe some new concept art, etc will be scattered in to some of the "around the world sections).

Guess the next thing really is the Mando update for Falcon, but maybe they touch on that movie during the studios panel and then slip in something about the ride update

TBA sets a weird recent precedent, but usually they aren’t so chatty on all these projects. There’s nothing to talk about for most of these projects given where they are in their life cycle with their general approach to projects last decade. Most of them have given very recent “reassurances” within the last number of months. The DHS 2026 projects in particular.

The two exceptions would be Villains is due an update since it was really conceptual last year and doesn’t likely represent what they are doing. Then the second cars flat ride they’ve been too cagey on. It’s the one thing I can buy into that might be on the bubble. Everything else has pretty clear timelines now that are too far out from opening to deserve much media blitzing.

I’m also not surprised strategically. Focusing on the one project that needs detailing that people are largely excited for makes sense. Platitudes that everything is still happening that they’ve said multiple times now are happening isn’t meaningful.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

I will say that Disney gets a lot of heat for announcing things too early while people seem to admire Universal's more tight-lipped approach of not announcing details about projects until they're well under construction.

Universal also doesn't have paid attendance conventions where they hype things and have presentations that often include announcements. Disney has set their own precedent and expectations for these things.

 

[BrianLo]

I wonder how in depth the villains stuff will go. Is it going to be mostly top level "design philosophy" stuff, or will we get more concrete plans/attractions, etc.

Think of how much we now know of DCA’s Pandora and the stage approach to that last year.

I would expect surface level discussions and focus around storytelling and villain decisions with 1-3 new pieces of concept art. Scant to no detail on the dark ride. Enough for us conceptually to actually see what they are doing. Without really knowing anything.

 

[BrianLo]

Universal also doesn't have paid attendance conventions where they hype things and have presentations that often include announcements. Disney has set their own precedent and expectations for these things.

And Universal IMO is significantly worse off for it. But I guess everyone but me likes that? I really don’t understand why people think they want Disney to mimic Universal, that’s the antithesis of why we are in this community.

There seems to be difficulty for anyone to acknowledge how much of the hullabaloo at Universal is always presumed in good faith and never actually materializes. I went back in an old post I made on Inside Universal where I had to tell everyone to relax and there was no way what was becoming Epic Universe would occur until 2023+. But here we are 12 years later and still pretending like Pokemon is just right around the corner, but Villains land is mercurial. Or worse, the Monsters Inc show that they’ve reaffirmed multiple times now in the last 10 months.

 

[Sir_Cliff]

And Universal IMO is significantly worse off for it. But I guess everyone but me likes that? I really don’t understand why people think they want Disney to mimic Universal, that’s the antithesis of why we are in this community.

I am also kind of puzzled by that kind of attitude. I don't quite understand what people want: Disney should not hold these conventions? Disney should never announce anything at them? Disney should always have big announcements ready for them?

If people are mildly adult or rational in how they approach these things, they should be able to understand that there are no guarantees of anything being announced and quite often nothing of note is in part because there are not always going to be big new things ready to announce. They're certainly not going to drop $100million+ on a new attraction just so they have an announcement ready to go!

There seems to be difficulty for anyone to acknowledge how much of the hullabaloo at Universal is always presumed in good faith and never actually materializes. I went back in an old post I made on Inside Universal where I had to tell everyone to relax and there was no way what was becoming Epic Universe would occur until 2023+. But here we are 12 years later and still pretending like Pokemon is just right around the corner, but Villains land is mercurial. Or worse, the Monsters Inc show that they’ve reaffirmed multiple times now in the last 10 months.

I am particularly always struck by the way in which everything Universal announces or does is always presumed in good faith. Let's be frank, Epic Universe has opened with a lot of issues which are probably part of the reason Disney hasn't felt much of a sting from its opening as many predicted. It just seems that the attitude is a lot more patient and understanding due to the fact everyone seems to think Comcast means well and puts the happiness of the people of the world above profits while Bob Iger and his minions have a sadistic thirst for money that will never be quenched.

 

[BrianLo]

I am also kind of puzzled by that kind of attitude. I don't quite understand what people want: Disney should not hold these conventions? Disney should never announce anything at them? Disney should always have big announcements ready for them?

As was pointed out to me, this was how Walt ran the parks arm. With direct to consumer flirtatious detailing, marketing, teases and often coffee book fodder pipe dreams.

I don’t want the company to change because adults can’t manage their own expectations. Nothing about the current project cycle would feel better to this community if we didn’t know a thing other than what they are closing. It would feel way worse.

 

[Sir_Cliff]

As was pointed out to me, this was how Walt ran the parks arm. With direct to consumer flirtatious detailing, marketing, teases and often coffee book fodder pipe dreams.

I don’t want the company to change because adults can’t manage their own expectations. Nothing about the current project cycle would feel better to this community if we didn’t know a thing other than what they are closing. It would feel way worse.

Very good points. It does all add to the mystique of the parks and Imagineering that has been central to setting Disney's parks apart from their competitors.

People seem to go back and forth between arguing that Disney shouldn't be giving any details until everything is set in stone and being disappointed that Disney is not sharing more details about upcoming projects. Honestly, I suspect people feel the latter more acutely and would be very disappointed if Disney started behaving more like Universal in this regard.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

And Universal IMO is significantly worse off for it.

I'm not saying Universal is better, just that Disney has always made a large part of their business hyping things and has crafted D23 and its events in particular as a way of doing so, under the guise of exclusive access.

Should people always expect announcements? Technically, no, but Disney is not unresponsible for setting those expectations