Yesterday, at the 2017 D23 Expo, Disney announced numerous new additions coming to their parks and resorts across the world. Here’s a comprehensive list of everything announced at yesterday’s panel.
1. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge coming to Disneyland and Disney’s Hollywood Studios
We finally have a name for Disney’s Star Wars-themed land: Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. The identical lands will be opening sometime in 2019, with Disneyland’s opening slightly ahead of Walt Disney World’s. We also received some other minor details, such as the return of ex-Star Tours droid pilot, Rex, making an appearance as a DJ in the local cantina, and Chewbacca and the pirate Hando starring in the new Millennium Falcon attraction, which will allow guests to pilot the famed starship.
2. Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios
The additions to Hollywood Studios doesn’t stop with Star Wars, though. Replacing the Great Movie Ride will be an all new attraction starring Mickey and friends. It will feature a similar art style to the new Mickey cartoons on Disney Channel, and will use an original storyline and theme song. It will also utilize a new technology known as “2 and a half-D”, which will most likely be an interesting middle ground between 2D and 3D. The ride will also feature more “hidden mickeys” than any other attraction ever built.
3. Ratitoullie Attraction coming to Epcot
Epcot will be receiving a clone of the Ratitoullie attraction in Walt Disney Studios in Disneyland Paris, which utilizes a trackless dark ride system. It will be built in an all new area in the France Pavilion in World Showcase, and will not replace any current attractions or buildings.
4. New China Pavilion Film in Epcot
The China Pavilion will also be receiving some love as it gets a new, updated movie using up-to-date “seamless” cameras.
5. Guardians of the Galaxy Attraction coming to Epcot
As for Future World in Epcot, the Universe of Energy attraction will be replaced with an all new Guardians of the Galaxy attraction. Not much is known about what this attraction will offer, but an interesting detail was released stating that Peter Quill “visited Epcot when he was a kid”. Perhaps this will lead to some references to past attractions in Epcot, such as Horizons or Captain EO.
6. New Mission: Space Missions in Epcot
Starting this summer, guests will be able to experience two new missions on the Mission: Space attraction. The orange mission will just feature an updated film, but the green mission will have an all new mission focused more on a tour above Earth, rather than a thrilling ride to Mars.
7. Unnamed Space Restaurant by Mission: Space in Epcot
The Mission: Space pavilion will also be receiving an all new restaurant adjacent to the attraction. Guests will feel like they are dining on a space station, as the restaurant will be made to look as if it is in the middle of space.
8. Tron: Lightcycle Power Run coming to Magic Kingdom
The Magic Kingdom will be receiving a clone of Shanghai Disneyland’s popular Tron: Lightcycle Power Run attraction for its 50th anniversary. Contrary to the popular rumor of it replacing the Tomorrowland Speedway, Tron will actually be placed behind/next to Space Mountain in its own original area. A bridge will supposedly be built over the railroad tracks, but will not harm the attraction in any way.
9. Hotel New York: Art of Marvel at Disneyland Paris
Disneyland Paris’s Hotel New York will be receiving a retheme to include various Marvel superheroes. The rethemed hotel will be called Hotel New York: Art of Marvel.
10. Star Wars Hotel in Walt Disney World
Walt Disney World will be receiving a new hotel themed to Star Wars. It will be an immersive, “first of its kind” experience that will place guests in the galaxy of Star Wars from the moment they check in to the moment they leave. Guests will also apparently be given the option to “dress up” in order to even look the part in their experience.
11. Disney’s Riviera Resort in Walt Disney World
A new DVC resort will also be coming to Walt Disney World. It will be the 15th DVC resort on the property, and will supposedly be located near Disney’s Caribbean Beach resort.
12. Minnie Vans coming to Walt Disney World
The highly anticipated “Uber-like” service known as Minnie Vans will be debuting later this year. The vehicles used will be painted pink with white polka dots, in order to resemble the classic look of Minnie Mouse.
13. Disney Skyliner “Gondolas” coming to Walt Disney World
In addition to the Minnie Vans, Walt Disney World will also receive another all new transportation system in the form of Gondolas. The Disney Skyliner will connect Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Disney’s Caribbean Beach resort, Disney’s Art of Animation resort, and Disney’s Pop Century resort.
14. New Theatre on Main Street USA in the Magic Kingdom
The Magic Kingdom’s Main Street USA will be receiving a new theatre venue. It is inspired by the Willis Wood Theatre in Kansas City, which is where Walt lived after he moved away from Marceline. The theatre will feature all new entertainment for the park.
15. Disney Cruise Line Announcements
Various DCL announcements were made as well. The first was a new Beauty and the Beast stage show coming to the Disney Dream that will utilize puppetry. A 7th cruise ship was also announced that will debut in 2023.
16. Toy Story Land Sneak Peak from Walt Disney World and Disneyland Shanghai
We received a short video sneak peak of the construction taking place for the Toy Story Lands going to Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Shanghai Disneyland. Hollywood Studios’ will feature an all new original layout, while Shanghai’s will resemble a look similar to the lands in Hong Kong Disneyland and Disneyland Paris. The two lands will be opening in Summer of 2018.
17. Paint the Night Parade returns to Disneyland Resort at Disney’s California Adventure
The return of the fan-favorite parade Paint the Night will be returning to Disneyland resort (very exciting!), but this time it will be located in Disney’s California Adventure. It will also be featuring a brand new parade float. The theme is unknown at this time.
18. Paradise Pier Becomes Pixar Pier in Disney’s California Adventure
Cars Land will also be receiving a new Halloween event, where the entire land is transformed into a large Halloween extravaganza featuring popular characters from the Cars movies.
19. Marvel Superhero Universe coming to Disney’s California Adventure
The much anticipated Marvel-themed land coming to Disney’s California Adventure was officially announced at the panel. Although few details were revealed, it was confirmed that Spider-Man and the Avengers will be joining the area, which will be located around the new Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout attraction.
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