D23 Expo 2023 was home to some big announcements for Disney's theme parks and cruise line, including a new Multiverse ride at Disney California Adventure that will see the Avengers facing off against King Thanos.
King Thanos' arrival at Avengers Campus was only one of the many big reveals at the D23 panel, and we're here to break down what Disney fans around the world have to look forward to in 2022 and beyond.
King Thanos is a brand-new Multiversal threat that was designed exclusively for Avengers Campus at Disneyland and he will be the main threat in a new "never-before-seen third attraction with a brand-new story" at Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure park.
While we didn't learn much more about the ride, we were given a glorious image featuring our first look at King Thanos and some of the heroes that must band together to take him down.
We don't yet know when this new Marvel ride will be ready, but Marvel fans will get a chance to meet the Incredible Hulk in his Quantum Suit beginning next week for a limited time.
For those in love with that galaxy far, far away, Disney has confirmed that the Mandalorian (Din Djarin) and Grogu will soon be walking around Disneyland's Galaxy's Edge. This legendary pair will start greeting guests in mid-November and will surely be a highlight.
Elsewhere in Disneyland news, Pacific Wharf will be "reimagined" as Big Hero 6's Pacific Wharf and will let guests meet Baymax and have fun in themed shops and restaurants.
Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway opened at Disney World's Hollywood Studios in 2020, and it is planned to join Disneyland in 2023 inside Mickey's Toontown.
Lastly, Tiana's Bayou Adventure will open in Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World in late 2024, and D23 shared some more info on the new ride that will replace Splash Mountain. Alongside giving a first look at how the ride will look, it was confirmed that many of the original cast members of the film will return to lend their voices to the ride, including Anika Noni Rose as Tiana, Bruno Campos as Naveen, Michael-Leon Wooley as Louis, and Jenifer Lewis as Mama Odie.
Epcot was a big focus of this D23 panel, and it's because it is currently undergoing a multi-year transformation that will see the completion of the World Celebration neighborhood in 2023. Next year will also see Journey of Water open to the public. This new experience will invite guests to "follow the story of water on the planet, inspired by Moana's connection to the ocean." Figment the purple dragon is also set to appear in the park by the end of 2023.
As for Magic Kingdom, we got a quick look at Tron / Lightcycle Run, which will open in spring 2023, and it was confirmed that Happily Ever After will once again play during the updated nighttime spectacular in 2023 and that Hatbox Ghost will show up at Haunted Mansion as well.
While nothing was confirmed, Imagineering Portfolio Creative Executive Chris Beatty and Walt Disney Animation Studios Chief Creative Officer Jennifer Lee stopped by the panel to share a few "what if" ideas as to what could one day replace Dinoland U.S.A. or other areas around the park. Some of these ideas include lands themed after Coco, Encanto, and Zootopia. The possibilities, as they say, are endless.
Disney also has big plans for its other parks and cruise line, and one of the big reveals in these categories was the reveal of its upcoming ship, the Disney Treasure. This cruise ship will set sail in 2024 and is inspired by "the theme of adventure, celebrating Walt Disney's lifelong love of exploration.
It is also taking inspiration from real-world influences from Asia and Africa and the "far-off land of Agrabah." Among other ways, this will take shape in the ship's Grand Hall, which will be a three-deck-tall atrium that features statues of Aladdin, Jasmine, and their Magic Carpet.
Disney Cruise Line is also planning on starting limited-time cruises in Australia and New Zealand in late October 2023 and it is hard at work on a new exclusive island destination at Lighthouse Point in the Bahamas for its guests.
Hong Kong Disneyland, Disneyland Paris, and Tokyo Disney Resort will soon be home to Frozen-themed lands. Hong Kong's Frozen area will open in the second half of 2023, and the others will follow.
Shanghai Disney Resort will soon be the first Disney resort to have a Zootopia-themed area, and it will let guests visit Zootopia Central Station and even meet an Audio-Animatronics figure of Officer Clawhauser at the Zootopia Police Department.
Disney fans in Asia have known of Mickey's favorite teddy bear, Duffy, for some time, and next year Duffy & Friends will be a new six-episode, stop-motion animated series for Disney+ to introduce them to others around the world.
Lastly, Disney revealed early details on Disney 100 Years of Wonder (Disney100), which will become the "biggest celebration in the history of the company." This means "new décor, specialty food and beverages, character experiences and more will come to parks around the world, with the heart of the celebration rooted at Disneyland Resort."
For everything else D23, check out our roundup of the Disney and Pixar Studio Showcase, the Marvel, Star Wars, and 20th Century Studio Showcase, and the Disney and Marvel Games Showcase.
Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.
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King Thanos' arrival at Avengers Campus was only one of the many big reveals at the D23 panel, and we're here to break down what Disney fans around the world have to look forward to in 2022 and beyond.
Disneyland Resort: King Thanos at Avengers Campus, The Mandalorian and Grogu at Galaxy's Edge, and More
King Thanos is a brand-new Multiversal threat that was designed exclusively for Avengers Campus at Disneyland and he will be the main threat in a new "never-before-seen third attraction with a brand-new story" at Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure park.
While we didn't learn much more about the ride, we were given a glorious image featuring our first look at King Thanos and some of the heroes that must band together to take him down.
We don't yet know when this new Marvel ride will be ready, but Marvel fans will get a chance to meet the Incredible Hulk in his Quantum Suit beginning next week for a limited time.
For those in love with that galaxy far, far away, Disney has confirmed that the Mandalorian (Din Djarin) and Grogu will soon be walking around Disneyland's Galaxy's Edge. This legendary pair will start greeting guests in mid-November and will surely be a highlight.
Elsewhere in Disneyland news, Pacific Wharf will be "reimagined" as Big Hero 6's Pacific Wharf and will let guests meet Baymax and have fun in themed shops and restaurants.
Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway opened at Disney World's Hollywood Studios in 2020, and it is planned to join Disneyland in 2023 inside Mickey's Toontown.
Lastly, Tiana's Bayou Adventure will open in Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World in late 2024, and D23 shared some more info on the new ride that will replace Splash Mountain. Alongside giving a first look at how the ride will look, it was confirmed that many of the original cast members of the film will return to lend their voices to the ride, including Anika Noni Rose as Tiana, Bruno Campos as Naveen, Michael-Leon Wooley as Louis, and Jenifer Lewis as Mama Odie.
Walt Disney World Resort: Epcot's Big Transformation, Moana's Journey of Water, and More
Epcot was a big focus of this D23 panel, and it's because it is currently undergoing a multi-year transformation that will see the completion of the World Celebration neighborhood in 2023. Next year will also see Journey of Water open to the public. This new experience will invite guests to "follow the story of water on the planet, inspired by Moana's connection to the ocean." Figment the purple dragon is also set to appear in the park by the end of 2023.
As for Magic Kingdom, we got a quick look at Tron / Lightcycle Run, which will open in spring 2023, and it was confirmed that Happily Ever After will once again play during the updated nighttime spectacular in 2023 and that Hatbox Ghost will show up at Haunted Mansion as well.
While nothing was confirmed, Imagineering Portfolio Creative Executive Chris Beatty and Walt Disney Animation Studios Chief Creative Officer Jennifer Lee stopped by the panel to share a few "what if" ideas as to what could one day replace Dinoland U.S.A. or other areas around the park. Some of these ideas include lands themed after Coco, Encanto, and Zootopia. The possibilities, as they say, are endless.
Disney Around the World: The Disney Treasure Cruise Ship, Three Frozen-Themed Lands, and More
Disney also has big plans for its other parks and cruise line, and one of the big reveals in these categories was the reveal of its upcoming ship, the Disney Treasure. This cruise ship will set sail in 2024 and is inspired by "the theme of adventure, celebrating Walt Disney's lifelong love of exploration.
It is also taking inspiration from real-world influences from Asia and Africa and the "far-off land of Agrabah." Among other ways, this will take shape in the ship's Grand Hall, which will be a three-deck-tall atrium that features statues of Aladdin, Jasmine, and their Magic Carpet.
Disney Cruise Line is also planning on starting limited-time cruises in Australia and New Zealand in late October 2023 and it is hard at work on a new exclusive island destination at Lighthouse Point in the Bahamas for its guests.
Hong Kong Disneyland, Disneyland Paris, and Tokyo Disney Resort will soon be home to Frozen-themed lands. Hong Kong's Frozen area will open in the second half of 2023, and the others will follow.
Shanghai Disney Resort will soon be the first Disney resort to have a Zootopia-themed area, and it will let guests visit Zootopia Central Station and even meet an Audio-Animatronics figure of Officer Clawhauser at the Zootopia Police Department.
Disney fans in Asia have known of Mickey's favorite teddy bear, Duffy, for some time, and next year Duffy & Friends will be a new six-episode, stop-motion animated series for Disney+ to introduce them to others around the world.
Lastly, Disney revealed early details on Disney 100 Years of Wonder (Disney100), which will become the "biggest celebration in the history of the company." This means "new décor, specialty food and beverages, character experiences and more will come to parks around the world, with the heart of the celebration rooted at Disneyland Resort."
For everything else D23, check out our roundup of the Disney and Pixar Studio Showcase, the Marvel, Star Wars, and 20th Century Studio Showcase, and the Disney and Marvel Games Showcase.
Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.
Continue reading...