D23 dropped some major news at their 2024 expo this past August. Although there was a lot of different news from various places, we will focus on the in-park announcements in this article. Here is everything you need to know from the information Disney shared two months ago.

If you don’t know what D23 is, it is “the Ultimate Disney Fan Event presented by Visa is a one-of-a-kind, multi-day fan experience showcasing the very best in creative storytelling and innovation from across the worlds of Disney. D23 in 2024 has been reimagined to be more expansive and more immersive than ever before, with three packed days of showcases with stars and storytellers, sneak peeks and behind-the-scenes moments, thrilling performances, shopping, surprises, and more,” according to their website. This year’s D23 event occurred in Anaheim, California on Aug. 9,10 and 11.

Walt Disney World

1. A new nighttime parade named “Disney Starlight” is coming to Disney’s Magic Kingdom in the summer of 2025. According to an art concept, some characters in the parade will include “Encanto” characters, “Frozen” characters and “Peter Pan” characters.
2. Disney’s Animal Kingdom will be home to a new “Indiana Jones” attraction with construction starting in early 2025. Disney announced that “it will be different from any other Indiana Jones experience around the world.” According to an art concept, the attraction seems to be replacing the current DINOSAUR attraction. There is no set date for the opening of this attraction.
3. Sticking with Disney’s Animal Kingdom, “Encanto” will be receiving its first-ever ride attraction in the Disney parks. This attraction is where Dinoland U.S.A. currently stands. There is no set date for its opening.
4. The “Indiana Jones” attraction and the “Encanto” will feature a new Tropical Americas area of Disney’s Animal Kingdom called Pueblo Esperanza, which will replace DinoLand U.S.A. The conversion process will occur through 2027.
5. Another Disney’s Animal Kingdom announcement is the “Zootopia” show coming in the winter of 2025. “Zootopia: Better Zoogether” will replace the “It’s Tough to be a Bug” attraction. Due to the timeline given, we can expect “It’s Tough to be a Bug” to close in early 2025.
6. Two new lounges are coming to Walt Disney World. A new Spaceship Earth lounge in EPCOT and a new “Pirates of the Caribbean” lounge in Disney’s Magic Kingdom. There are no set dates for the openings of these lounges.
7. One of the biggest announcements was the unveiling of a “Monsters’ Inc.” land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Concept art depicts Disney’s first-ever suspended coaster, simulating the doors in the movie.
8. “Cars” is making its way to Frontierland in Disney’s Magic Kingdom with two new attractions. The announcement came after D23. These attractions will replace Tom Sawyer Island.
9. The popular duo of The Mandalorian and Grogu will make their appearance soon in a new scene in Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
10. Disney’s Magic Kingdom will be expanding with the addition of a new villain’s land. The land will include two new major attractions and dining options.
11. The reimagined Test Track in EPCOT will open sometime in 2025 with new scenes that drew inspiration from World of Motion, the opening-day EPCOT attraction it replaced.

Disneyland Park (CA) and Disney California Adventure

1. A version of Walt Disney World’s Pandora: The World of Avatar is making its way to Disney California Adventure. The land will draw inspiration from “Avatar: The Way of Water” and future “Avatar” films. Disney thought it was important to note that it would not be the same as Walt Disney World’s Pandora, but “bringing Pandora to life in a brand-new way.”
2. Disney California Adventure will be home to the first-ever “Coco” themed attraction. There is no further information on this announcement thus far.
3. Walt Disney himself is coming to life at Disneyland Park in Anaheim in 2025 with the creation of the first-ever audio-animatronic of himself. “Walt Disney — A Magical Life” will debut in 2025 inside the Main Street Opera House and will be in rotation with the current “Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln,” which is currently under refurbishment to prepare for the new show.
4. The opening date of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure for Disneyland Park in California was announced at D23 and guests will go down the bayou starting Nov. 15, 2024.
5. Avengers Campus will double in size with two new attractions coming in the future. These two attractions are named Avengers Infinity Defense and Stark Flight Lab. A concept video of these attractions is on the Disney Parks Instagram.
6. Also at Disneyland California, The Mandalorian and Grogu will make their appearance soon in a new scene in Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.

International Disney Parks

1. A new “The Lion King” attraction is coming to Disneyland Paris. According to an art concept, the ride is going to be a flume attraction, similar to that of the previous Splash Mountain and the current Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.
2. Also at Disneyland Paris, a new nighttime spectacular is making its way to the park. Concept art shows that it will include characters such as Stitch, Pinocchio, Bruno from “Encanto,” Rafiki from “The Lion King” and more.
3. A new Spider-Man coaster is coming to Shanghai Disneyland. No further information has been announced about this project.
4. An Avengers attraction is making its way to Hong Kong Disneyland starring characters such as Peter Parker and Tony Stark. Concept art depicts this as a free-fall type ride. This is all the information we have about this thus far.

Disney Cruise Line:

1. Four new cruise ships will be added to the Disney Cruise Line fleet between 2027 and 2031. This would bring the fleet total to 13 by the end of 2031.
2. Two new stage shows are coming to the Disney Treasure and the Disney Destiny. On the Disney Treasure, guests will be able to watch a new “Moana” stage show that will feature a 15-foot-tall Ta Ke puppet. On the Disney Destiny, a new “Hercules” stage show will be available for guests to enjoy.

This wraps up all the news surrounding in-park and Disney Cruise Line announcements from D23 in 2024. If you haven’t already, go read all of the movies, shows and musical announcements made at D23 in 2024 here.