Everything Announced for Disney Parks at D23 — From New Lands, Long-awaited Attractions, and More (2024)

It may not be a small world after all.

In a weekend filled with magical announcements at Disney's annual D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, park fans have a ton to look forward to.

“Disney Experiences is embarking on an accelerated path of ambitious growth and innovation,” Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro said in an accompanying press release shared with Travel + Leisure. Of note, the plans include the first ever land dedicated to Monster, Inc., an Encanto-themed attraction, and expansion of Disneyland Resort’s Avengers Campus.

Here’s what we can anticipate from Disney in the coming years.

Walt Disney World

Magic Kingdom

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History is being made as Disney has announced the largest Magic Kingdom Park expansion to date. And at the center of this expansion is a new land inspired by Pixar Animation Studios’ Cars franchise. Lighting McQueen and crew will be racing into a reimagined area of Frontierland that will feature two all-new attractions, including a “thrilling off-road rally race” taking guests beyond the fictional Radiator Springs. “Take on wild terrain as you race across the landscape climbing mountain trails, dodging geysers and — Mater’s favorite — splashing through mudholes.”

With construction expected to begin early next year, the land will also feature a family friendly attraction for younger thrill seekers.

Animal Kingdom

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Tropical Americas

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park will reimagine the existing DINOLAND, U.S.A. into the lush Tropical Americas. The 11-acre land will feature two new signature rides, an Encanto-themed attraction and an “Indiana Jones” attraction. The latter, a reimagining of the existing Dinosaur, will star everyone’s favorite archeologist and tell a completely new story from any other existing Disney Parks Indiana Jones experience.

“In this new venture, the man with the hat has recently discovered a perfectly preserved Maya temple, and that can only mean one thing: it’s time to explore it. He’s heard rumors about a mythical creature deep within the temple — and he’s got to see it for himself.” And we’ll be the ones enjoying the fortune and glory.

For a Disney first, guests will step into the Madrigal family’s iconic Casita on the first-ever Encanto-themed ride-through attraction. The ride continues Antonio’s story following the day he received his magical gift. Along the way, riders will see his room transform into a rainforest and may even spot some familiar family members.

Construction will begin on Tropical Americas later this year with an anticipated opening date of 2027.

Next winter, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park will also welcome a new “Zootopia” show to the Tree of Life Theater.

Hollywood Studios

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Monsters Inc. Land

For the first time ever, guests will be welcomed into the whimsical Monstropolis when a full land dedicated to Monsters, Inc. opens at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Its signature attraction will be Disney’s first ever suspended coaster and take guests through the factory door vault, just like Mike and Sulley did in the film. The colorful area will be “living, breathing, and not-at-all-scary” inviting park goers to stroll along its detailed streets and be immersed in the world of Monsters, Inc.

Work on Monsters, Inc. land is slated to begin next year.

Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Revamp

Located in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, fan favorite Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run will introduce a new mission starring Mando and the loveable Grogu. The new scenes will “jump to lightspeed” in 2026 timed to the theatrical release of The Mandalorian and Grogu.

EPCOT

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The pedal will once again be put to the medal when the reimagined Test Track reopens in 2025. With construction already in motion, the collaboration between Walt Disney Imagineering and Chevrolet will “push innovation forward and celebrate humanity’s enduring drive (pun intended) on the thrilling road to a brighter tomorrow.”

After thanking the Phoenicians, guests can visit a new lounge “inspired by the stories, shapes, and enduring legacy of” Spaceship Earth, EPCOT’s iconic geometric sphere and attraction.

Disneyland Resort

California Adventure Park

Avatar

Additional details were announced for a previously revealed Avatar experience coming to Disney California Adventure Park, bringing the “awe-inspiring sights and experience” of Pandora to the west coast. The land will draw inspiration from the Avatar film as well as the upcoming Avatar: The Way of Water and teased future films. Its feature will be “an innovative new attraction” that takes riders to the “wide-open seas of Pandora.”

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Avengers Campus Expansion

Even more heroes will soon assemble when Avengers Campus doubles its footprint with two news attractions. Recruits will come face-to-face with King Thanos on the “multi-world” adventure on Avengers Infinity Defense, that is set across iconic locations including Wakanda and New York City. The second new attraction, Stark Flight Lab, will use a robotic arm system to simulate a flight experience. Robert Downey Jr. will reprise his role as Tony Stark for both attractions.

Construction is expected to begin early next year.

Disneyland

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Coco

Disney fans will certainly go “Un Poco Loco” for the first ever attraction based on Pixar Animation Studios’ phenomenon Coco. Walt Disney Imagineering drew inspiration from iconic rides, like the Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean, for the all-new ride. Using the latest audio-animatronic technology, riders will join Miguel on a trip to the land of the dead. Along the way, they’ll encounter familiar characters and music from the smash hit. Located in Disney California Adventure Park, work on the attraction is expected to begin in 2026.

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure

Following the opening of the east coast version, Disneyland Park will be goin’ down the bayou come Nov.15,, 2024 when Tiana’s Bayou Adventure officially opens. The highly anticipated attraction, inspired by Walt Disney Animation Studios’ film The Princess and the Frog, will be located in Bayou Country, a rebranding of the existing Critter Country.

New Walt Disney Attraction

Disneyland Park will debut a brand-new show at the Main Street Opera House based on the life of Walt Disney. “Walt Disney – A Magical Life” will feature the first ever Audio-Animatronic figure of Walt Disney, created by Walt Disney Imagineering. Debuting in 2025, it will serve as “a fitting acknowledgement of Walt’s significant advances with Audio-Animatronics about 60 years ago when he first introduced the groundbreaking technology.” After its debut run, it will play the theater in rotation with “Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln.”

In 2025, Disneyland Resort will also kick off its 70th anniversary celebration.

Disneyland Paris

The announcements were not limited to the domestic parks but spanned Disney parks globally. The first-ever ride through attraction themed to The Lion King will make its roaring debut in a new Lion King-themed area in Disney Adventure World at Disneyland Paris. A Spider-Man-themed, high-energy thrill coaster is expected at the Shanghai Disney Resort and a major new Spider-Man attraction will join the existing Avengers presence at Hong Kong Disneyland.