We hate to say it, but Disney doesn’t always keep their promises.

Frequently — and especially over the last few years — they’ll announce an opening timeline for a new attraction, restaurant, or hotel refurbishment, but that date keeps getting pushed back further and further. We understand that some things are largely out of their control; for example, many projects were paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and lots of construction work was likely delayed due to widespread global supply chain issues. So here’s the big question: Will Disney actually finish all the projects it has promised for 2023? 

Let’s take a look at everything that’s SUPPOSED to open in Disney World and other Disney theme parks before the end of this year!

Disney World Projects

EPCOT

Figment Character Meet-and-Greet

Back in 2022, Disney announced that a Figment meet-and-greet would be coming to EPCOT by the end of 2023 (and the crowd went wild!!!). This meet-and-greet will be located in the Imagination! pavilion.

It’s supposed to arrive later this summer, which means it should open sometime soon!

Click here to learn more!

100th Anniversary Fireworks Show

The nighttime fireworks show Harmonious ended its run on April 2nd, 2023, and EPCOT Forever returned on April 3rd. But soon there will be an all-new fireworks show in this park! We learned at the D23 Expo last year that a new fireworks show is coming to EPCOT in late 2023.

This new show will celebrate The Walt Disney Company’s 100th anniversary. Disney stated that EPCOT is the center of that celebration at Walt Disney World. Disney showed a first look at some concept art for the show during a media event. They announced that the show is meant to “reflect the commonality in all of us.”

From the picture, it looks like the new show will make use of pyrotechnics, laser lights, and water features (like we’ve seen with EPCOT Forever and Harmonious). The fireworks in the middle are making the shape of a heart, and there’s water and more fireworks shooting out from the center.

Learn more about the new show here!

CommuniCore Hall and Plaza

CommuniCore Hall is a NEW area that’ll essentially be the “home base” for EPCOT’s festivals and live events and will serve as sort of a “hub” for Festival activity toward the front of the park. It will be located in World Celebration (a.k.a. toward the front of EPCOT).

This area is set to have some seriously exciting stuff. As many of you likely already know, EPCOT hosts 4 festivals throughout the year: the EPCOT International Festival of the Arts, the EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival, the EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival, and the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays. CommuniCore Hall will play an integral part in these events, holding a demonstration kitchen, a mixology bar, and exhibition and gallery space.

CommuniCore Hall will technically be housed within something called CommuniCore Plaza. The areas in the Plaza beyond CommuniCore Hall are meant to provide an outdoor space where guests can come to relax and experience all that the Festivals have to offer.

One of the main spaces appears to be attached to the end of one side of CommuniCore Hall. There, you’ll find a space that can host large-scale concerts or an intimate performance that extends out into the gardens nearby. All of this is supposed to be finished in EPCOT by late 2023.

Learn more about CommuniCore Hall and Plaza here!

NEW Mickey Meet-and-Greet

CommuniCore Hall will also be the location of a new Mickey & Friends meet-and-greet! We got a first look at what the outside of that meet-and-greet location will look like as well, and you can check it out below. It looks like the classic geodesic Spaceship Earth pattern will be repeated on the outside of this building — we can’t wait to see what it will look like in person.

So far, Disney hasn’t shared too many details about the new meet-and-greet, other than its location and that we can expect the experience to open “later this year.”

Want to know more? Click here!

Journey of Water — Inspired by Moana

Journey of Water — Inspired by Moana is a new attraction — the first-ever inspired by Moana — coming to EPCOT’s World Nature in the fall of 2023.

In this attraction, visitors will be able to explore what Disney has described as a “lush exploration trail” that allows explorers to “play with magical, living water” through an immersive walk-through attraction.

Learn all about this new attraction here!

Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakaya

UPDATE: Shiki-Sai has opened for walk-up reservations and official reservations are available for dates starting August 28th, 2023!

A brand-new restaurant is opening in EPCOT’s Japan pavilion in the summer of 2023! Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakaya will be a table-service restaurant presenting, according to Disney, a “festive dining experience in a sharable Izakaya-style.”

The menu will feature “Japanese delights like sushi and teppan items,” plus an open sushi bar and grill. Sushi fans can enjoy the Kobore Sushi, Tokyo Negi Roll, and Funamori. Not only that, but you’ll be able to enjoy Japanese Izakaya, a type of casual pub-style restaurant that puts an emphasis on drinks and conversations with friends.

Every month will bring a brand new celebration of Japanese food, and each month, changing menu items will represent a different Japanese seasonal festival! The restaurant will be located in the Japan Pavilion, on the second floor — above the Mitsukoshi Department Store (in the location of the former Tokyo Dining).

Learn all about Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakaya here!

Magic Kingdom

Mirabel Character Meet-and-Greet

UPDATE: Disney has announced that the Mirabel meet and greet in Magic Kingdom will officially open on September 15th.

Disney has announced that Mirabel from Encanto will soon get her own meet-and-greet in Magic Kingdom. She will meet guests in Fairytale Garden, which is currently home to Merida’s meet-and-greet.

This new offering is set to open sometime in the fall of 2023. The existing space that is currently home to Merida’s meet-and-greet will be “transformed with whimsical decor inspired by La Familia Madrigal,” so you’ll get an extra special experience if you stop by to say hello to Mirabel.

Find out where Merida has moved in Magic Kingdom!

Hatbox Ghost Arrival at Haunted Mansion

Back in September of 2022, Disney announced that the ICONIC Hatbox Ghost would be making his way over to Disney World’s version of the Haunted Mansion ride. Disney has shared that, later this year, the Hatbox Ghost will pop up in the Haunted Mansion, specifically as guests pass the Endless Hallway.

Disney notes, “The Hatbox Ghost will appear to guests as they pass the Endless Hallway, welcoming himself inside from the swinging wake in the cemetery and grinning at the Doom Buggies as they set off deeper in.”

Learn more about the Haunted Mansion change here!

Disney’s BoardWalk

The Cake Bake Shop

The Cake Bake Shop by Gwendolyn Rogers is coming to Disney World’s BoardWalk in 2023! This new Table Service restaurant will serve items for brunch, lunch, and dinner featuring both sweet and savory menus. Afternoon tea service will be offered as well. We’re also excited about the spot’s Champagne Bar!

Guest will also be able to pop in for a quick treat by grabbing something to-go from the bakery case if they don’t have time for a full meal.

Click here to learn all about The Cake Bake Shop!

Blue Ribbon Corn Dogs

Blue Ribbon Corn Dogs is coming to Disney’s BoardWalk! If you’re unfamiliar, Blue Ribbon Corn Dogs currently serves hand-dipped Corn Dogs and other unique Corn Dog creations over in Disneyland at the Blue Ribbon Corn Dogs kiosk in Downtown Disney.

This new spot will replace the BoardWalk To Go stand. We’re still waiting on a menu and official opening date for this location, so stay tuned for additional updates. (We’re keeping our fingers crossed that the famous — or infamous, depending on who you ask — PICKLE Corn Dog will be available at the Disney World location.) Blue Ribbon Corn Dogs should open on the BoardWalk sometime “later this year.”

Learn more about this new spot here!

Disney Springs

EET by Maneet Chauhan

EET is a new restaurant by James Beard Award-winning chef and Food Network star Maneet Chauhan together with hospitality entrepreneur (and Chauhan’s husband) Vivek Deora, and it’s coming to Disney Springs later this year!

Disney shares that EET will present a “modern, fun Indian-inspired concept.” Though full details have not yet been shared for this new Disney Springs restaurant, we’ve gathered some information on what EET might have to offer based on another restaurant by Maneet Chaunan located in Nashville, Tennessee: Chauhan Ale & Masala House. You can check it out here.

Learn more about EET by Maneet Chauhan here!

Summer House on the Lake

Summer House on the Lake is a new restaurant coming to Disney Springs in late 2023. Summer House currently has locations in Chicago and North Bethesda, Maryland. Though an official menu has not yet been revealed for the new Disney Springs restaurant, pizzas, sandwiches, salads, pasta, wood-grilled dishes, and more are featured at the existing locations. The Disney Springs restaurant will also serve a Weekend Brunch.

You can enjoy seating inside or on one of the spot’s outdoor patios. Additionally, tucked inside Summer House on the Lake will be The Cookie Jar, which is “a dessert-focused market” that serves “freshly baked cookies and house-made pastries.”

Learn all about Summer House on the Lake here!

Disneyland Projects

Disneyland Park

Tiana’s Palace Restaurant

UPDATE: Disney has announced that Tiana’s Palace Restaurant will open on September 7th, 2023.

Make way for Tiana’s Palace — a NEW restaurant coming to New Orleans Square in Disneyland Park later this year! It will be replacing the former French Market Restaurant. The Mint Julep Bar, which was located in the French Market, is also closed; however, it will reopen to serve its famous beignets and Mint Juleps along with Tiana’s Palace!

Tiana’s Palace was announced in September 2022, and Disney provided the following information about its backstory: “With its mouthwatering menu, exceptional entertainment, and warmhearted hospitality, Tiana’s Palace quickly became a treasured meeting place in New Orleans. Princess Tiana used her newfound success to support surrounding neighborhoods, which led to her role as a community leader.”

Disney also shared that “the new Tiana’s Palace will have much of the same pinch of pizzazz and flair as the restaurant from the film, offering authentic New Orleans flavors inspired by Tiana’s friends and adventures in this quick-service style restaurant.” The menu will feature an expansion on the current favorites served at this location, in addition to exploring seasonal flavors and offering New Orleans classics.

Learn more about Tiana’s Palace here!

Disneyland Hotels

Pixar Retheme of Paradise Pier, including Great Maple Restaurant

At the 2022 D23 Expo, we learned that Disneyland’s Paradise Pier Hotel is being re-themed to be allllll about Pixar! Not only that, but Disney shared that the re-themed hotel will be named Pixar Place Hotel, and it will “weave the artistry of Pixar into its comfortable, contemporary setting.”

Chairman of the Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products division, Josh D’Amaro, announced that Pixar Place Hotel will be a spot where you’ll feel like you’ve stepped into a Pixar art gallery. You’ll also find new interpretations of your favorite Pixar pals and what looks like a very special Finding Nemo-themed splash pad.

Disney also shared that the team from Great Maple will open a restaurant on the first floor and operate the other food and drink locations at the hotel.

Great Maple will be a “Southern California-based modern American eatery.” It will serve upscale dishes of fan-favorite comfort foods like fried chicken, burgers, and even salads. Sounds like guests are in for an exciting new hotel experience AND delicious eats.

Learn more about Great Maple Restaurant here!

We also got to see a glimpse of the new stripes that have been painted on the side of the hotel — looking colorful like a Pixar movie already.

This re-theme is expected to be completed this winter.

Learn more about the re-theme here!

The Villas at Disneyland Hotel

Another change coming to Disneyland is the NEW DVC Villas building at the Disneyland Hotel! We already got a first look at some of the rooms, which are expected to open on September 28th, 2023. There will be completely new duo studios, deluxe studios, one- and two-bedroom villas, and grand villas.

The rooms are themed after a variety of Disney films, from classics like The Jungle Book to modern favorites like The Princess and the Frog. The lobby has a unique feature of its own; inside will be a mural created exclusively for the resort by Disney Animation artist Lorelay Bové, who has worked on Disney films like Tangled as well as Disney books.

Learn more about the Villas at Disneyland Hotel here!

Hong Kong Disneyland

World of Frozen

Hong Kong Disneyland’s World of Frozen will be the first of THREE Frozen-themed lands in Disney Parks around the world. It will include a restaurant, stores, character meet-and-greets, and several attractions, including a version of Frozen Ever After (similar to the ride in EPCOT) and the first Frozen-themed roller coaster, Wandering Oaken’s Sliding Sleighs.

World of Frozen is set to open in November 2023 — that’s not that far away at all! We’ll keep an eye out for an official opening date and more sneak peeks, so stay tuned to DFB for more.

Get a sneak peek at this upcoming land here!

So what do you think — will Disney be able to get it all done? It’s definitely a LOT of work, and they’ve only got about four and a half months left until 2024 arrives (can you BELIEVE that??). But hey — if we’ve learned anything from The Princess Diaries, it’s that miracles happen once in a while!

We’ll keep you updated with all the latest Disney news, so stay tuned to DFB.

Click here to see 17 CRITICAL dates for Disney World fans in 2024.

What do you think — will Disney get it all done? Let us know in the comments!