It has been a weekend for the books at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event! 

One of the most anticipated events of the weekend was the Horizons: Disney Experiences Panel. This panel was focused on the parks, resorts, cruises, and more. In this panel, Disney usually shares a lot about their upcoming plans, and Disney did not hold back on the announcements this year.  

There were SO many announcements made during the Disney Experiences Panel at D23: The Ultimate Fan Event.  It could be hard to keep track of everything they ended up announcing, but have no fear! We are here with a round-up of all the major announcements made by Disney during the panel. Like we said, there are a lot, so grab some popcorn and let’s get into it!

Disney World

Magic Kingdom

Pirates Themed Lounge

At last year’s D23 event, Disney announced that a NEW tavern would be coming to Adventureland in Magic Kingdom and this year we got more details as well as an opening timeline. This “rambunctious watering hole will offer a welcoming haven for all pirate-kind, big and small, and everyone in between.” That means this lounge will NOT be reserved for adults only. Disney teased a selection of “grogs and grub,” so it sounds like we could get some PIRATE FOOD! The lounge is scheduled to open in 2025.

New Nighttime Parade

Following in the footsteps of previous iconic nighttime spectaculars like the Main Street Electrical Parade and Spectromagic, the new Disney Starlight is scheduled to launch in the summer of 2025! This new nighttime entertainment will use “the latest technology” to tell new stories about Disney’s classic characters. The parade’s floats are expected to include new characters like some of our favorites from Encanto and Frozen, along with a few nostalgic ones like Peter Pan!

Cars Land 

Magic Kingdom will also be getting a Cars Land! The cars are leaving Radiator Springs to explore the West and into new frontiers. There will be two NEW Cars attractions coming to Magic Kingdom. One will take you on a race through the mountains and wild terrain along mountain trails, dodging geysers and splashing through mud holes. The second ride will geared toward smaller racers and will be fun for the whole family! Construction on this new area in Frontierland will begin early in 2025!

Villains Land

Disney also announced that a VILLAINS LAND is coming to Magic Kingdom! The new land will encompass all our nightmares and may make happily ever after feel like a distant dream, according to Disney. Look out for new dining and shopping “on an incredibly twisted grand scale.” This new land will feature fan-favorite Disney Villains and two new attractions!

EPCOT

Opening Timeline for Reimagined Test Track

Walt Disney Imagineering is collaborating with Chevrolet to embrace the spirit of innovation while celebrating a human “drive” for a brighter tomorrow. The updated version of the ride is anticipated to highlight the past, present, and future in its upcoming design. Disney confirmed the queue will feature six distinct exhibits, and within each room, celebrate the vehicles as well as the people behind the vehicles who usher in that next chapter in our collective journey. Imagineers are adding new show scenes that will showcase technological advances and show “how our lifestyles and relationships to mobility connect everyone.” Disney has an anticipated reopening timeline of 2025.

Spaceship Earth Lounge

A new lounge is coming to EPCOT, and its sleek look is inspired by the “stories, shapes, and enduring legacy” of this beautiful icon. The decor draws inspiration from its unique geometric sphere and hopes to offer a zen space for families filled with “rich textures and warm metallic tones, giving it a mysterious and elegant intimacy.” This NEW lounge is set to open at EPCOT in 2025. Based on the concept art, this Spaceship Earth-inspired space looks like it will have an AMAZING fireworks view.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Zootopia: Better Zoogether

The new show ‘Zootopia: Better Zoogether’ will officially be coming to the Tree of Life theater in the winter of 2025! Disney explained that the show will take us on an adventure through different biomes seen in the film. Based on the concept art, it looks like this will be an updated 3-D experience — we recognize those iconic yellow glasses!

Tropical Americas Land

Disney has officially confirmed that DinoLand U.S.A. will become Pueblo Esperanza and will feature Encano and Indiana Jones. The new land will feature classic Spanish-style architecture with a large hacienda that will be one of the largest quick-service restaurants at Disney World There will also be two signature attractions — an Encanto ride featuring the beloved Madrigal family and a new Indiana Jones adventure ride! Construction on the new land will begin this fall and the land will open in 2027.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

New Missions coming to Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run

Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run will soon include one of the most popular Star Wars characters,the Mandalorian! New missions are going to be added to Millennium Falcon: Smugglers run in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge! We don’t know much about these new missions, but we know that they will feature the Mandalorian and Grogu. This new Mandalorian and Grogu storyline will coincide with the release of upcoming films in 2026!

Monsters, Inc. Land

Monsters, Inc. Land will officially be in Hollywood Studios! The story of the land will pick up after the events of the film, and humans have now been invited to visit the world of Monsters, Inc. For the first time ever, we’ll finally get to visit the laugh factory with Sully and Mike. You’ll go into the factory and experience the first suspended coaster ever in a Disney park. Construction on the new land will begin next year.

Disneyland Resort

Disney California Adventure

Avatar-themed Land

A new Avatar experience is coming to Disney California Adventure at Disneyland Resort! The new area of Pandora will be different than the one in Animal Kingdom and will feature new exciting sights and experiences. The new destination will have all-new adventures that explore Avatar: The Way of Water, Avatar: Fire and Ash, and more upcoming Avatar films. There will also be a brand-new ride that will take you on a thrilling excursion all the way to the wide-open seas of Pandora.

Walt Disney: A Magical Life

Disney has now announced that the first-ever audio-animatronic of Walt Disney himself will be coming to Disneyland in a brand-new show. The new show, “Walt Disney — A Magical Life” will share a space inside the Main Street Opera House with “Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln.” After the initial run of the new show, “Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln” and “Walt Disney — A Magical Life” will alternate screenings at the Main Street Opera House.

Avengers Campus Expansion

The Avengers Campus is going to get a huge expansion that will double its current size. Disney announced TWO new Marvel attractions coming to the land. First up is the LONG-AWAITED Avengers E-Ticket. Teased at events going back to 2019, the latest and final version of the attraction will be called Avengers Infinity Defense. A new Iron Man attraction is also coming to the land, with Robert Downey Jr. reprising his role as Tony Stark! In Stark Flight Lab, “you’re going to sit in two-person pods and deploy to a test station. Then a robot arm grabs your pod and starts whirling you around in a simulated flight.”

Coco Attraction

The smash hit Disney/Pixar film Coco is coming to the Disneyland Resort in the form of a brand-new attraction. The attraction will be a boat ride in Disney California Adventure that will see music play a large role. Disneyland’s new Coco attraction is set to break ground in 2026.

Disneyland Park

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will officially open in Disneyland on November 15th! According to Disney, “The Happiest Place on Earth will open their attraction inspired by the Walt Disney Animation Studios’ film The Princess and the Frog on Nov. 15, 2024 (at the start of the Holiday season at Disneyland Resort)! And not only that but Critter Country will be appropriately renamed Bayou Country when Tiana’s Bayou Adventure opens.”

Disneyland Paris

Disney Adventure World

Lion King Land

An all-new Lion King Land is on the horizon in Disney Adventure World! The new Lion King Land will have you exploring the Price Lands with new areas of dining, shopping, and attractions. There will be characters, and the land will be set at Pride Rock (which looks to be a new log-plume style ride).

World of Frozen

World of Frozen will be coming to the park in 2026! Disney recently opened World of Frozen in Hong Kong Disney, and this new Disneyland Paris land looks like it may be a similar concept. We’re excited to have another park representing an entire dedicated land to Frozen! 

Shanghai Disneyland and Hong Kong Disneyland

New Avengers Experiences

At Shanghai Disneyland, a Spider-Man roller coaster is on the way. Plus a new Marvel ride was announced for Hong Kong Disneyland. Disney is expanding its Marvel-themed area at Hong Kong Disneyland Resort by adding a brand new Avengers-themed ride. The idea for the Marvel area at Hong Kong Disneyland is that Tony Stark has chosen Hong Kong as the Asian headquarters for Stark Industries. It will also become home to the Stark Expo, showcasing all the latest Stark Industries tech.

There you have it! A full roundup of ALL the announcements Disney made about the Disney parks during the Disney Experiences Panel. There is definitely a lot of great expansions, attractions, and experiences to anticipate in the coming years. We can’t wait to see how all these additions progress, and we will be sure to keep you updated with all the latest news.

Stay tuned to DFB for all your Disney parks news!

Check out everything we experienced while at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event!

What announcement are you most excited for? Let us know in the comments!