Magic Incoming: Newly Announced Changes to Walt Disney World

The Most Magical Place on Earth is going to be getting some major expansions in the coming years. Newly announced updates to the parks and openings of projects underway bring a bit of that magic missing from Disney World lately. Walt Disney World Resorts’ four major theme parks are getting some major updates, new lands, updated rides, and new character meet and greets. Josh D’Amaro, the Chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products, details what to look forward to in Disney Parks worldwide during the company’s annual D23 event which took place Sep. 8 through 10. 

Starting with some of the smaller updates, Magic Kingdom is getting some exciting new features. D’Amaro shares plans for a Pirates of the Caribbean-themed lounge in the park, further expanding the story we’ve grown to love over the years. Not only are we getting a new lounge, but Country Bear Jamboree, a musical attraction, is going to be reimagining Disney’s favorite songs into different country genres. Imagineers are looking to Nashville to get that authentic country sound with these new versions of Disney classics.  

The Hatbox Ghost, one of the many ghosts in the Haunted Mansion, is coming to the park where guests will be able to meet him. It is revealed that the Hatbox Ghost will materialize in late November in the Endless Hallway of the attraction. This is going to be a character meeting so good that it’s haunting. 

The biggest change coming to Magic Kingdom, however, is an expansion to Big Thunder Mountain, one of the park’s thrill rides situated in Frontierland. Imagineers look to tell the stories of Big Thunder Mountain and expand on the lore behind it, similar to the likes of Pandora – The World of Avatar in Animal Kingdom and Galaxy’s Edge in Hollywood Studios. The Big Thunder expansion is said to be the largest expansion that the park has ever seen, and while details are few, we can expect new attractions, entertainment, and restaurants in this newly expanded area. 

While Hollywood Studios is getting the smallest update out of the parks, it is one that fans of Star Wars can be excited about. With the release of Star Wars: Ahsoka, Imagineers are adding the titular character from their latest Star Wars show to the Star Tours attraction, located just outside of Galaxy’s Edge. The attraction features different characters and different scenarios on the ride, meaning it is unlikely you will ever get the same ride experience twice. With the inclusion of Ahsoka, that means the chances of you getting the same experience multiple times will further decrease. Star Tours is featured in Hollywood Studios, Disneyland, and Disneyland Paris. Each location will be getting the same update beginning in Spring 2024. 

Animal Kingdom is getting a huge redesign in what is currently Dinoland U.S.A. It is going to be reimagined as a part of South America and reaching up into Central America. This new land is going to have lots of inspiration from the hit Disney movie Encanto, a story set in the mountains of Colombia. While there isn’t much information at the moment, concept art does show the inclusion of the Madrigal family home in Encanto, and the current DINOSAUR ride will be rethemed to Indiana Jones. Similar to how Disney is replacing what once was Splash Mountain with Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, the same ride track will be used for Indiana Jones to be more akin to its Disneyland counterpart. 

The only other update coming for Disney’s Animal Kingdom currently announced is the addition of a Zootopia-themed show in the Tree of Life Theater. Not much has been announced for the show as of yet, but fans can expect to see characters such as Judy Hopps, Nick Wilde, and others from the 2016 film featuring Shakira as the pop star Gazelle. 

The park with the most exciting news, however, is EPCOT. EPCOT has recently been putting out a lot of new things to look forward to. In the past few years, they have added a Ratatouille ride, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, and a new restaurant. There is plenty more to look forward to soon. The newest attraction in the park is set to open on Oct. 16. Journey of Water will be a walk-through attraction in World Nature where guests learn about nature, its beauty, and how to preserve it. With lots to explore in the new area, guests will be sure to love this new addition. The last attraction update will be coming in the form of Test Track getting a new design, looking back at the original World of Motion ride for inspiration. 

A new nighttime show is coming to EPCOT this year in the form of Luminous: The Symphony of Us, set to debut on Dec. 5 including lasers, fountains, lighting effects, music, and most importantly, fireworks. The current nighttime show, EPCOT Forever, premiered in Oct. 2019 and resumed on April 3 after Disney World’s 50-year anniversary celebration ended. 

Three new character interactions will be available to guests in EPCOT. Now open is the chance to meet Figment in the Imagination Pavilion, where guests can interact with the fun-loving purple dinosaur, play with sounds, and have the space to explore their senses. Within Journey of Water, guests will be able to meet Moana in her own designated space for guests to talk to the Island Girl surrounded by water and nature. The last character interaction that will be introduced to the parks is Asha from the film Wish. The film, featuring Ariana DeBose and Chris Pine, is part of Walt Disney Animation Studios and will be released on Nov. 22. 

While there are lots of new additions to the parks and improvements to already existing areas, one thing is for sure— Disney is nowhere near done creating magic for its guests and will continue to have guests wanting more. 

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