(Photo: Disney Parks Blog)
Disney hosted the D23 Expo 2017 last week and made many exciting announcements about the future of Disney Parks and Resorts. There are a number of changes and additions planned for Disney Parks and Resorts from an opening date for Toy Story Land, a new Star Wars hotel, three new ships coming to Disney Cruise Line, and so much more. Here is a recap of the plans announced at D23 Expo 2017:
Walt Disney World Resort
(Photo: Disney Parks Blog)
Toy Story Land to Open at Walt Disney World Resort in Summer 2018: In 2018, you’ll find yourself shrunk to the size of a toy to explore the world of Andy’s backyard with your favorite Toy Story characters, including Woody and Buzz, in Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Toy Story Land will feature two attractions, Slinky Dog Dash and Alien Swirling Saucers. Slinky Dog Dash will be a family coaster attraction where you’ll zip, dodge and dash around many turns and drops that Andy has created to really make Slinky and his coils stretch to his limits. Alien Swirling Saucers was designed as a toy play set that Andy got from Pizza Planet, inspired by the first “Toy Story” film. Aliens are flying around in their toy flying saucers and trying to capture your rocket toy vehicle with “The Claw.”
(Photo: Disney Parks Blog)
Star Wars-Inspired Themed Resort Coming to Walt Disney World Resort: According to Bob Chapek, Chairman of Walt Disney Parks & Resorts, this revolutionary new vacation experience will be a living adventure that allows guests to immerse themselves in an entirely new form of Disney storytelling.
“It’s unlike anything that exists today.” Bob said. “From the second you arrive, you will become a part of a Star Wars story! You’ll immediately become a citizen of the galaxy and experience all that entails, including dressing up in the proper attire. Once you leave Earth, you will discover a starship alive with characters, stories, and adventures that unfold all around you. It is 100% immersive, and the story will touch every single minute of your day, and it will culminate in a unique journey for every person who visits.”
(Photo: Disney Parks Blog)
First Mickey- Themed Ride-Through Attraction, Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, Coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios: A new attraction featuring international icon Mickey Mouse is coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios at the Walt Disney World Resort! On Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, you’ll step through the movie screen and join Mickey and his friends like never before. The attraction will put you inside the wacky and unpredictable world of a Mickey Mouse Cartoon Short where you’re the star and anything can happen. This zany out-of-control adventure features surprising twists and turns, dazzling visual effects and mind-boggling transformations that happen before your very eyes. In order to begin to prepare the new home of Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway at the Chinese Theatre in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, August 13, 2017 will be the final day of operation for The Great Movie Ride presented by Turner Classic Movies.
(Photo: Disney Parks Blog)
Disney Skyliner to Transport Guests Around Walt Disney World Resort: A brand new transportation system is coming to the Walt Disney World Resort to add even more magic to your future vacation experiences. The Disney Skyliner will soon give guests a bird’s-eye view of Walt Disney World Resort. The transportation system will connect Disney’s Art of Animation, Pop Century and Caribbean Beach resorts and other locations with Disney’s Hollywood Studios and the International Gateway at Epcot. And many of the gondolas with Disney Skyliner will feature favorite Disney characters.
(Photo: Disney Parks Blog)
New Tron Attraction Coming to Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort: Tron – the highest-rated attraction at Shanghai Disneyland– is coming to Walt Disney World Resort in Florida! The new Tron attraction will sit in an entirely new area right next to the Space Mountain attraction at Magic Kingdom Park. The TRON Lightcycle Power Run attraction at Shanghai Disneyland is a coaster-style attraction where riders board a train of two-wheeled Lightcycles. It offers access into the energy, lights and excitement of TRON’s high-tech universe and is one of the most thrilling adventures at any Disney park.
(Photo: Disney Parks Blog)
Guardians of the Galaxy Replacing Universe of Energy in Epcot: A “Guardians of the Galaxy”-inspired attraction will be added to Future World, adhering to the original vision of Epcot’s Future World as the place to experience the excitement and adventure offered by space travel. Epcot’s brand new E-ticket attraction will be based on the rockin’ and action-packed world of “Guardians of the Galaxy” and is the next step in how guests can encounter these characters at the Walt Disney World Resort. Epcot just may be the perfect place for a “Guardians”-inspired attraction as you can see in the photo above – Peter Quill (aka Star Lord) actually visited Epcot as a kid! (Note: This new attraction will replace the current Universe of Energy attraction, which will close August 13, 2017).
(Photo: Disney Parks Blog)
Ratatouille Attraction Coming to The France Pavilion in Epcot: A Disney•Pixar’s “Ratatouille”-inspired attraction will be added to the France Pavilion in World Showcase. The attraction will expand the pavilion. Similar to the 4-D attraction Ratatouille: The Adventure that opened at the Walt Disney Studios Park in Paris in 2014, guests will be able to shrink to Remy’s size and scurry to safety in a dazzling chase across a kitchen with the sights, sounds and smells of Gusteau’s legendary Parisian restaurant.
(Photo: Disney Parks Blog)
New Minnie Vehicle Service Begins in July at Walt Disney World Resort: A new transportation service featuring vehicles themed to the one-and-only Minnie Mouse will soon be taking you everywhere you want to go at the Walt Disney World Resort. Starting later this month, guests at Disney’s Boardwalk Resort and Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Resorts will be able to arrange their own private Disney vehicle right from their smartphone. It’ll be simple to do. Just arrange a Minnie vehicle and a Disney cast member will arrive and drive you anywhere you wish at the Resort in a magical way that only Disney can do.
(Photo: Disney Parks Blog)
New Space Restaurant to Offer “Out of this World” Dining Experience at Epcot: Disney will be creating a new restaurant at Epcot that’ll offer amazing meals with spectacular views high above Earth – from space! The restaurant, which will be located adjacent to the park’s Mission: SPACE attraction, will invite guests to travel into space for amazing dining experiences in the stars.
(Photo: Disney Parks Blog)
New Theater Inspired by Kansas City’s Willis Wood Theater to Debut at Walt Disney World Resort: A new venue for world-class entertainment is coming to Main Street, U.S.A. at Magic Kingdom Park in Florida. If the image of the theater looks familiar, that’s because the new entertainment venue will be based on the iconic Willis Wood theater in 1920s Kansas City, where Walt lived after he left Marceline. And as you can see from the design, it’ll fit well right off Main Street, U.S.A.
(Photo: Disney Parks Blog)
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Announced as Name for Star Wars Lands at Disney Parks: The official name of the Star Wars-inspired lands that are currently under construction at the Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts, will both be called Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. These new areas will allow guests to visit a remote trading port on the edge of wild space, where Star Wars characters and their stories come to life – and where guests will find themselves in the middle of the action.
The lands will feature two major attractions that put guests in the middle of a battle between the First Order and the Resistance. Each attraction – and even the land itself – will offer guests the chance to immerse themselves in the Star Wars universe like never before.
(Photo: Disney Parks Blog)
One attraction will make you feel like you’re on a Star Destroyer inside a hangar bay. The second attraction will give guests the opportunity to fly the Millenium Falcon, piloting the ship, shooting blasters or preparing for hyperspace – all while completing a critical mission. But how you perform on the mission holds even bigger stakes: perform with skill and you may earn extra galactic credits, while bringing the ship back banged up could put you on the list of a bounty hunter. End up on Harkos’s list and you may face a problem if you show up at the local cantina!
Guests will also encounter many familiar faces inside Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, including BB-8, Chewbacca, members of the First Order and – among many others – Rex, the troublesome pilot you may remember from the previous version of a certain Disney attraction who takes on a new role in this land as the DJ at the cantina. And speaking of the cantina, here guests will be able to try unique concoctions like blue milk. Nearby, they’ll also be able to acquire trinkets and treasures from across the galaxy.
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge will open in 2019, first at the Disneyland Resort and later in the year at the Walt Disney World Resort.
Disneyland Resort
(Photo: Disney Parks Blog)
Immersive Super Hero Experience Coming to Disney California Adventure Park: Soon, the Guardians of the Galaxy will be joined by Spider-Man and the Avengers in what will become a completely immersive Super Hero universe at Disney California Adventure Park. These new stories will build on the success of the new and already popular Guardians of the Galaxy — Mission: BREAKOUT! and create a place where you can team up with your favorite Super Heroes like never before.
(Photo: Disney Parks Blog)
New Pixar Pier to Bring Favorite Pixar Stories to Life at Disney California Adventure Park: In 2018, more of your favorite Pixar stories will come to Disney California Adventure park with the new Pixar Pier. Pixar Pier will feature a brand-new look for the area now known as Paradise Pier, as some of your favorite characters come to life on this seaside waterfront. You will discover whimsical neighborhoods filled with your friends from “The Incredibles,” “Inside Out” and even more of your pals from “Toy Story.”
This permanent addition to the park will open during a new limited-time celebration taking place throughout the Disneyland Resort in 2018 — Pixar Fest! Experience the magical worlds of Pixar in brand new ways as the entire resort comes alive with some of your favorite stories.
(Photo: Disney Parks Blog)
Limited Time Pixar Fest Celebration Coming throughout Disneyland Resort: At Disneyland park, Pixar Fest will feature a brand-new fireworks spectacular as well as the return of the guest favorite, Pixar Play Parade. The popular “Paint the Night” parade will also return — this time, to Disney California Adventure park! There may even be a new float joining this already amazing nighttime parade.
Disney Cruise Line
(Photo: Disney Parks Blog)
Disney Cruise Line Adding Three New Ships in 2021, 2022, and 2023: Disney Cruise Line is planning not two, but three new ships in the next phase of expansion. By the time these three ships are sailing, Disney will have nearly doubled the size of their fleet, which means that more families than ever before will be visiting spectacular destinations around the globe and creating magical memories at sea! All three ships are going to be built at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany with scheduled completion dates of 2021, 2022, and 2023.
All ship names, design plans and itineraries are still in development, with each of the ships expected to have their own unique experiences. The three new ships will be powered by clean-burning liquefied natural gas and be the same size – approximately 135,000 gross tons with about 1,250 guest staterooms planned – which is slightly larger than the newest Disney Cruise Line ships, the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy.
Disneyland Paris
(Photo: Disney Parks Blog)
Disneyland Paris Brings Favorite Marvel Characters to Disney’s Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel: Disney’s Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel is coming to Disneyland Paris! Disney is planning a “reImagination” of the Disney’s Hotel New York into a new Marvel-themed wonderland. Disney’s Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel will transport guests to the action-packed, inspiring world of Super Heroes including Iron Man, The Avengers, and Spider Man among others!
Siera is a travel agent with Destinations in Florida, an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner. She would love to help you plan your next vacation at no cost to you. Contact Siera today at siera@destinationsinflorida.com or at 734-771-1290 for more information or your free, no obligation quote.