D23: We Have a Few Questions
To cap off the end of D23, Josh D’Amaro hosted the Parks, Experiences, and Products panel. Of course, during the discussion, we heard plenty of news about Disneyland.
But what about WDW? There were some notable omissions. Let’s breakdown the announcements from D23.
Magic Kingdom
After only a year of Enchantment, ”Happily Ever After” is making a return. But will it be a new show, the old show, or just the song returning?
Disney Parks posted the “Happily Ever After” anthem will return with an “updated nighttime spectacular” in 2023.
What are the chances this song just shoehorned in the pre-existing Enchantment show for an “update?” Let’s hope Disney surprises us next year.
With all of the excitement surrounding the Walt Disney World Railroad and Tron testing, the opening date is near. Right? Well, think again! We have an opening “timeline” for Spring 2023.
By the time this attraction opens, it will hit a construction time frame of over 5 years! Yes, WDI had to deal with the pandemic, supply issues, etc., but this has become a never-ending project. I just want the train to return.
The Hatbox Ghost has been a popular feature at Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion. Finally, WDW will be able to enjoy this Imagineering feat. No timeline was announced. This addition was supposed to be ready for the 50th Celebration according to rumors .
We finally were able to see a visual model of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. Notably missing is Mama Odie’s tree at the top of the attraction. During the presentation, there was a promise to use “old Bayou magic” that looked a lot like lasers and fog. Why do I have a feeling most of the existing audio-animatronics will be replaced with screens, making it the cheapest overlay ever?
Blue Skying
In a bizarre ending to the Parks, Experiences, and Products panel, a “blue sky” segment left me thinking, “huh?”
For the Magic Kingdom, the Imagineers are looking at the area behind Big Thunder Railroad, creating a Coco/Encanto land with a space dedicated to Disney Villains. Yeah, I’m all for that, but…
Instead of an announcement, this felt like Disney is trying to workshop ideas with the audience. While I would love something with Encanto or Coco, Disney Imagineering seems to want to add IP to any space regardless of the theme. My brain is already having issues trying to justify the Bayou in Frontierland. How do you fit Mexico and Columbia in there?
Just armchair Imagineering here: Coco would probably be a better fit in Mexico at Epcot, and add Encanto to Animal Kingdom/DinoLand (think about all of the South American species we could see).
Animal Kingdom
In that same segment, we learned about initial plans for DinoLand USA – it’s going bye-bye…eventually. Like the Big Thunder section, there are no concrete plans. It ranges between adding Zootopia to Moana or combining the two. Ugh.
Yes, Dinoland is kinda a mess, but I love Dinosaur and will be sad to see it go. For years, we have heard about an Indiana Jones refresh, but once again, Disney is just insisting on shoving down new IP in any available space.
Was Moana really a smashing success? It seems like she’s getting a piece of the pie in every park. How much Moana do we need?
EPCOT
Well, if you don’t like Harmonious, there’s good news. The nighttime show will be replaced with 100 Years of Magic, which is bound to be more movie clips set to music and water features.
Too bad Disney wasn’t looking for a way to turn those obtrusive barges into actual fountains like we were promised. I’m a little shocked to hear Harmonious going away. After all of the money and promotion, it is gone after a year… that just seems really odd.
Figment makes a return as a meet n’ greet character. We wanted an Imagination update and got a walk-around character. It looks like another decade of the skunk smell and bratty Figment. You can expect to hug this little spark sometime in 2023.
Will there be an end to the Wall-Cot? It looks like Moana Journey of Water and CommuniCore Hall will open in late 2023.
With that we also got a few sneak peeks at some Epcot additions:
A 16-foot tall Te Fiti for Journey of Water
And Walt the Dreamer, which will sit behind Spaceship Earth. Personally, I love the thought of Walt looking over Epcot and can’t wait to see this statue in person.
What’s Missing from D23?
No plans were announced for Epcot’s 40th Anniversary, meaning just expect some merch, and that is it.
- What’s the status of the PLAY! Pavilion, Mary Poppins, and Spaceship Earth? The last thing I heard, they were “indefinitely delayed.” Does that mean permanently cancelled?
- Disneyland gets a Mandalorian and Grogu meet for Galaxy’s Edge, and Florida gets nothing. Kinda sad we never see any of the cool characters from the West Coast. Rumor is that since Florida has the StarCruiser, Galaxy’s Edge is locked into a certain timeframe, meaning no characters from Mando, Book of Boba Fett, or any other cool period in Star Wars.
- Will Magic Kingdom ever get a nighttime parade? It’s nice the Main Street Electrical merch made its way to our stores, but that’s it.
- Finally, we have heard zero about opening dates for Fantasmic. Plus, there are a ton of other attractions, Enchanted Tales with Belle, Voyage of the Little Mermaid, that are sitting barren. Will we ever get news that they will reopen, or are they considered permanently closed?
D23 Wrap-Up
After watching so many panels over the years, it’s not hard to be a little pessimistic. Over the past decade, Disney has been the master of overpromising and underdelivering. Maybe it is a good sign that Imagineering is thinking about potential updates and attractions, but the entire panel for WDW just seemed to fall flat.
Great update! Thanks!
I can tell by your tone in the article that we have similar feelings about the updates. I don’t know… I feel like this isn’t WDW’s best era. Will be SUPER sad to see Dinosaur go; still absolutely love that one…
If TRON ends up being all that, then I’ll forgive them, heh.