Last week at the D23 convention, Disney announced the MANY new additions to the parks and cruise line. I have NEVER seen so much announced at one time. I am super excited for all these additions and CANNOT wait to see it all unfold. 2021 is when the bulk of these announcements will come to life. Looks like we will be celebrating a lot more than the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World® Resort in that magical year! Huge props to our The Mouse Experts agent, Dawn Rodriguez for putting this summary together for us.
Magic Kingdom News
A new theater will be coming to Main Street U.S.A., in the Magic Kingdom. The Town Square Theater will be based on the Willis Wood Theater of 1920’s Kansas City and will be the home of a new live show, yet to be announced.
It had been rumored that TRON Lightcycle Power Run Rollercoaster was going to be coming to a Disney park in the United States. This attraction is hugely popular at Shanghai Disneyland Park. Well, rumor no more. The rollercoaster will be added to Tomorrowland adjacent to Space Mountain. Expected completion for the Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary in 2021.
EPCOT News
- Mission: SPACE will be getting a new “green” mission. Not much information was provided, but all indications are that guests will be able to experience a trip around our fabulous planet. This mission is also rumored to be more-friendly for the younger adventurer. Additionally, the “orange” Mars mission will be updated and is rumored to be even more spectacular.
- Going along with the theme of SPACE, Disney announced the addition of a new restaurant in Future World. The restaurant will be located next to the reimagined Mission: SPACE attraction and will include views high above Earth—from space.
- China will be updated with an all-new Circle Vision Film. This is the technology that brought us Soarin’ Around the World and will be the first seamless circle-vision show.
- Guardians of the Galaxy is coming to EPCOT Future World along with the re-imagineering of the front of EPCOT. The new Guardians of the Galaxy E-ticket attraction will be based on the rockin’ and action-packed world of the Guardians. This attraction will replace Universe of Energy, which will close August 13th, 2017. It is expected to be completed by the Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary in 2021.
- France will add a Disney*Pixar-inspired attraction expanding the size of the French pavilion. This attraction is fashioned after Ratatouille: The Adventure at Disney Studios Park in Paris, this attraction will “shrink” guests to Remy-size and enter the chase across the kitchen, complete with all the sights, sounds and smells of the Parisian restaurant. It is expected to be completed by the Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary in 2021.
Hollywood Studios
- Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge will be the name of the Star Wars land opening at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland. Scheduled to open in 2019. The lands will allow guests to visit a remote trading post on the edge of space. Two major attractions have been announced as well. One attraction will make guests feel like they’re on a Star Destroyer inside a hangar bay. It’s an attraction built on a scale we’ve never done before. The second attraction will allow guests to fly the Millennium Falcon, as they complete a critical mission. According to DisneyLists.com Disneyland will open first with Disney World Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opening later that year.
“It all was started by a Mouse” -Walt Disney
- And…. with that said, the FIRST EVER ride-through attraction built entirely around Mickey Mouse will be making its debut in Hollywood Studios! It will be called Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway. Guests will be transported into the world of cartoons when they step into the world of an animated short featuring other cartoon character favorites. According to DisneyLists.com, August 13th, 2017 will be the final day of operation for The Great Movie Ride and this new attraction will take it’s place. This is expected to be opened in late Summer 2018, coinciding with the opening of Toy Story Land.
Resort News
- Perhaps the most exciting news for the Star Wars fan is the announcement of the Star Wars themed hotel coming to Walt Disney World. This resort is intended to be fully immersive as you become part of the Star Wars story. Guests can even dress as a citizen of the galaxy. No information was provided as to when the galactic slumber chambers will be completed.
- “Minnie” Transportation will be making its way to Walt Disney World. This new transportation system will be much like what Uber offers with the ability to whisk guests to any Walt Disney World location.
- The new gondola system has been named. It was officially announced that the new system will be named Disney Skyliner. The system will transport guests with a bird’s eye view and will have stations at EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, Caribbean Beach Resort, Art of Animation (Pop Century) and the newly announced Disney Vacation Club Resort, Disney’s Riviera Resort.
- Speaking of Disney’s Riviera Resort…This will be the 15th Vacation Club resort for Disney. This resort will feature a rooftop restaurant that will have “unbelievable views of the nighttime spectaculars at both EPCOT and Hollywood Studios” according to the Chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, Bob Chapek. No dates have been announced for the beginning or end of construction.
Disney Cruise Line
- Disney Cruise Line was not left out of the many announcements made during the D23 gathering. Disney already has two new ships being added to the fleet in 2021 and 2022. But wait, there is one more. The expected completion date is 2022. Citing “two additional ships would not be enough to hold all the new experiences we have been dreaming up” . Chapek continued to say that there will be a “whole new level of immersive Disney storytelling, world-class family entertainment, and imaginative innovations that are fantastically fun and uniquely Disney”.
Disneyland® Resort News
- Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge will be the name of the Star Wars land opening at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland. Scheduled to open in 2019. The lands will allow guests to visit a remote trading post on the edge of space. Two major attractions have been announced as well. One attraction will make guests feel like they’re on a Star Destroyer inside a hangar bay. It’s an attraction built on a scale we’ve never done before. The second attraction will allow guests to fly the Millennium Falcon, as they complete a critical mission. According to DisneyLists.com Disneyland will open first with Disney World Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opening later that year.
- Cars Land will celebrate Haul-Oween this coming year. Special Halloween overlays were announced for the California Adventure park. Not only will the park be decorated for the holiday, but the residents of Radiator Springs will be in costume too.
- Pixar fun is coming to Disneyland Resort in 2018. Disney California Adventure’s Paradise Pier will become Pixar Pier. This reimagined space will feature neighborhoods themed to The Incredibles and Inside Out, plus sprinkle in some Toy Story.
- Paint the Night will return, finding a new home at California Adventure.
- The Pixar Play Parade will move to Disneyland Park along with a new Pixar-themed firework show as part of the celebration.
Disney Movie News
- Star Wars: The Last Jedi is scheduled to be released December 15th, 2017. We are all eagerly awaiting this newest installment of the Star Wars Saga.
- Will Smith will play the Genie in the new, live-action film, Aladdin. The movie’s name-sake will be played by Mena Massoud, and Princess Jasmine will be played by Naomi Scott. Not sure what the release date is for this film
- Mulan is on the November 2018 fast track for release.
- Lion King will also be in the hopper for a remake in live-action form. James Earl Jones will play the role of Musafa, as he did in the original movie. Billy Eichner and Seth Rogen will play the roles of the meerkat and warthog duo Timon and Pumbaa. John Oliver will be cast in the role of Zazu. It is unclear who will be playing the role of Nala and Scar.
- A Wrinkle in Time adaptation was also unveiled during the D23 Expo in Anaheim. There is a long list of stars in this film. Headlining the stars are Oprah Winfrey and Reese Witherspoon. The epic adventure takes audiences across dimensions of time and space, examining the nature of darkness versus light and ultimately, the triumph of love. Scheduled release date is March 9th, 2018.
- Mary Poppins will be coming back to the big screen in a sequel movie named Mary Poppins Returns. Emily Blunt has been cast as Mary. It is said to be a brand new original film musical from top to bottom. Colin Firth has been cast as Mr. Wilkins, the heartless bank manager. Scheduled release date is December 25th, 2018.
- Other movies announced during the D23 Expo are an untitled Avengers film, Captain Marvel, Dumbo, The Lion King, The Nutcracker, Frozen 2, Toy Story 4, and Star Wars: Episode IX.
- In 2018, the slate of films includes: Avengers: Infinity War, Black Panther, Ant-Man and the Wasp, and the standalone Hans Solo Star Wars film.
- Lastly, the 2017 schedule will finish off with Coco and Thor: Ragnarok.
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