D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event brought lots of excitement and anticipation for all the major announcements regarding upcoming movies, shows, attractions, and theme park expansions. The epic event was hosted at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California from Friday, August 9 through August 11. At the beginning of D23 2024, Disney CEO Bob Iger stated, “The world needs to be entertained, maybe even more so now than ever before, and we take that responsibility seriously.”
And D23 came through with major promises of entertainment. These were no pie in the sky hopeful plans for unknown future dates. Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro assured audiences that every plan was already in the works. “Everything we share here tonight is in active development… We’re doing all of it,” he said.
D23 revealed some of the intriguing new plans in store for both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure theme parks in the next few years.
Upcoming Plans for Disneyland
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Tiana’s Bayou Adventure grand opening date
- Visitors can visit the new Princess and the Frog inspired attraction, which replaces Splash Mountain, on November 15th, 2024. The attraction will feature all new animatronics, like a new Princess Tiana audio-animatronic, as well as other beloved characters from the movie.
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A new show at Main Street Opera House
- A brand new show based on the life of Walt Disney will play at the Main Street Opera House. “Walt Disney – A Magical Life” will feature the first-ever audio-animatronic figure of Walt Disney. After the new show’s initial debut, it will play in rotation with the regularly featured short film, “Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln.”
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A new Mandalorian and Grogu story on Smuggler’s Run ride
- A new Mandalorian and Grogu story is being planned for the Millennium Falcon ride. It’s set to debut in 2026, just in time for the new film featuring the Mandalorian and Grogu.
Upcoming Plans for Disney California Adventure
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The first-ever Coco ride
- The very first Coco ride brings visitors on a trip through the Land of the Dead with Miguel. And it will feature the latest in audio-animatronic technology inspired by classic rides like the Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean. This new attraction is set to break ground in 2026.
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A new Avatar experience
- This brand-new Avatar experience will be inspired by the third movie in the Avatar franchise, the upcoming Avatar: Fire and Ash. It plans to take visitors to a whole new location on Pandora.
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Two new Avengers attractions
- The original Avengers Campus will double in size with the exciting new addition of two new Avengers themed attractions. Construction on The Avengers Infinity Defense and Stark Flight Lab is set to begin next year.
You can read more here about all the upcoming plans announced at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event.