This weekend D23 held their bi-annual Destination D23 event at the Walt Disney World resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. The event, which is held in the off years from the D23 Expo in Anaheim, California, focuses on a specific theme. This year was the 50th Anniversary of Walt Disney World.
Over the course of two days, Disney fans were treated to presentations from Disney Imagineers, executives, and talent. Although it is not to say that news was not made on both days over the weekend, but in terms of news, Saturday proved to be the bigger day than Sunday.
Fans were excited to hear than many of their favorite shows will be returning in the near future. When the parks slowly reopened due to the coronavirus pandemic, many fans were nervous some shows would not come back. In fact, some bloggers speculated – incorrectly – that many shows were not coming back.
At Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park, a reimagned “Finding Nemo: The Musical” is coming back next year. The new show, “Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond!” is set in the timeline of the movie “Finding Dory.” When guests take a seat in the theater, they will find themselves at the Marine Life Institute. According to Disney, “As the show begins, we catch up with the fish from Dr. P. Sherman’s office in “Finding Nemo,” who have made their way across the ocean to California. They tell the story of Nemo and how they all got there, incorporating many of the beloved songs and production numbers from the original show.”
Josh D’Amaro, Chairman, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, announced that “Fantasmic!” will be returning to Disney’s Hollywood Studios in 2022. Currently there is extensive work going on at the theater. When the show reopens next year, it will incorporate an all-new sequence featuring live performers, stunts, special effects. New sequences will feature “Moana,” “Frozen,” and “Aladdin.”
At Magic Kingdom Park, live entertainment is coming back, in early 2022, to the Cinderella Castle Forecourt Stage. “Mickey’s Magical Friendship Faire” will incorporate favorite scenes from the previous version of the show – with sequences inspired by “Frozen,” “Tangled,” and “The Princess and the Frog” – plus a new opening and a new finale – for the 50th Anniversary celebration, with Mickey Mouse and all his friends in their sparkling, EARidescent fashions. The show will also include an all-new, original song entitled “Where the Magic Feels Like Home.”
Bloggers also bemoaned the demise of the midday park parade. This was also another story that proved not to be true. Not only is an enahnaced character calvacade coming to the Magic Kingdom, but the “Festival of Fantasy” parade is also coming back.
Last year, when the parks were slowly reopening, Disney decided not to bring back any parades in order to prevent large groups of people from gathering in one place. Instead, they had character calvacades with characters spontanously moving through the parks randomally throughout the day. It appears that Disney has decided to keep these calvacades as part of their entertainment offerings. A new cavalcade, the Disney Adventure Friends Cavalcade, will return to the Magic Kingdom this winter. The Disney Adventure Friends Cavalcade will feature the most characters of any cavalcade to date, including Nick and Judy from “Zootopia,” Baloo and King Louie from “The Jungle Book,” José Carioca and Panchito from “The Three Caballeros,” Miguel from “Coco,” plus Merida, Moana, The Incredibles, and so many more.
And in early 2022, these cavalcades will be joined by the return of the Disney “Festival of Fantasy” Parade.
Disney has also stated that starting next month, the “Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular” will be returing to Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Fans were hoping there would be an announcement when EPCOT’s Guardian of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind would open. Although there was not an exact date, Disney said the unique rollercoaster would open sometime next summer. During the announcement, Disney also released some new concept art for the attraction. However, much to the disappointment of many, Disney has yet to announce an opening date for TRON attraction in Tomorrowland at the Magic Kingdom.
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind will feature Academy Award-nominated actress Glenn Close reprising her role as Nova Prime, the Xandarian leader and commander of the Nova Corps.
As EPCOT continues its transformation, a few areas have recently opened including Club Cool and Creations, a newly reimagined shop taking over from Mouse Gears. During the Saturday event, Josh D’Amaro, Disney Parks Chairman, announced they will be opening Connections Café and Eatery in the World Celebration neighborhood of EPCOT as part of the park’s ongoing transformation. They also gave an update on Dreamers Point, which will be located behind Spaceship Earth and will feature a new statue of Walt Disney.
Later in the day, during a presentation on music in the Disney theme parks, Imagineers Tom Fitzgerald and John Dennis said the reimaging of EPCOT will be completed in 2023. This would also coincide with the debut of Pinar Toprak’s new score for the theme park.
Over at Disneyland Paris, Disney said that Avengers Campus, which is currently under construction, will open next summer. Additionally, as part of the park’s 30th Anniversary celebration, a new, limited time show will debut at the Castle Hub, and Disneyland Paris is bringing back classic shows and parades, including “Disney Stars of Parade” and “Disney Illuminations” for the celebration.
There were some updates about happenings at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California. During his presentation, D’Amaro also showed some new concempt art for the Disneyland Hotel’s upcoming DVC property. He also showed what the new pool area is expected to look like.
“World of Color” and “Fantasmic!” are returning to the Disneyland Resort next year, along with the “Main Street Electrical Parade,” which will return in time to celebrate its 50th anniversary.
The next-generation MagicBand+ wearable technology and “Hey, Disney!” voice assistant, recently announced for Walt Disney World Resort, will be coming to Disneyland Resort in 2022.
This will mark the first time MagicBand+ will be available at Disneyland Resort to enhance the guest experience with hands-free convenience. Some of the features of MagicBand+ will vary between Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort. The “Hey, Disney!” voice assistant will work alongside Alexa on Amazon Echo devices and also will begin rolling out to guest rooms across the Hotels of the Disneyland Resort.
At Downtown Disney, D’Amaro said the AMC Theater will make way for new shopping, dining, and entertainment. Disney says the new area is the “next evolution of [the] Downtown Disney District. Work will begin in January 2022 with more details to follow.
At Mickey’s Toontown at Disneyland park, Imagineers are working to reimagine the land with some all-new experiences for families and young children that will feature new play experiences, as well as open, grassy spaces to enjoy in 2023.
The Disney Wish, which will begin sailing next year, will premiere two new stage shows in the Walt Disney Theatre, including “Disney The Little Mermaid,” an original Broadway-style reimagining of the Walt Disney Animation Studios classic with a modern and innovative take on a young woman learning the power of her voice. “Disney Seas the Adventure” will follow Goofy as he discovers his own inner captain with the help of Captain Minnie and an all-star cast of Disney and Pixar characters.
At Shanghai Disney Resort, which is celebrating their 5th anniversary – the “Year of Magical Surprises,” D’Amaro gave an update on the progress of the Zootopia-themed land and shared new footage of the new Audio-Animatronic figures, including Yax the yak.
A new, themed port called Fantasy Springs is coming to Tokyo DisneySea. It will be the park’s eighth and largest port when it opens about two years from now.
In Hong Kong, Disney Imagineers are busy bringing a new “Frozen”-themed area to life that includes two special thrill rides. D’Amaro shared an update on the new area.
