Disney D23 2024 Reaction – Disney Parks News and Announcements

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In case you missed it, Disney just had their big D23 event. It’s like Apple’s iPhone launch event but for Disney fans—full of announcements about new movies, TV shows, theme park updates, and even cruise line news. If you couldn’t catch all the updates from D23 2024, don’t worry. I’ll recap the highlights from the Disney parks and experiences, share my thoughts, and we can chat about it in the comments!

Avatar Land at Disney California Adventure

First up from D23 2024, Disney announced that an Avatar-themed land is coming to Disney California Adventure. I have to admit, I wasn’t the biggest fan of the first Avatar movie, but the second one won me over a bit. This new land is based on the second movie, so I’m cautiously excited.

If it’s anything like the Pandora: World of Avatar at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, it’s going to be stunning. They mentioned a boat ride, which sounds cool, but I’m hoping it offers more than the Na’vi River Journey at Animal Kingdom, which was a bit underwhelming for the long wait times.

A Coco Ride? Yes, Please!

Now, this one has me super excited—D23 2024 revealed that Disney California Adventure is getting a Coco ride! I absolutely loved the movie, and I’m thrilled it’s getting the attention it deserves.

During the D23 2024 presentation, they revealed it’s going to be a boat ride, featuring characters from the movie, and I just know it’s going to be magical. Honestly, I wouldn’t mind if Coco got its own land. This ride alone is enough to make me want to book a trip back to Disney California Adventure, my second favorite Disney theme park.

New Nighttime Parade at Magic Kingdom

Magic Kingdom is getting a new nighttime parade, and I’m intrigued! I’ve never seen any of the previous nighttime parades inside the park, so this will be a first for me. I know a lot of Disney fans have been clamoring for the return of these parades to Walt Disney World, so it’s exciting to see something new coming.

While nighttime parades and fireworks aren’t my main reason for visiting Disney, they do add a special touch to the evening, and I’m looking forward to checking it out.

Disneyland Paris and Disney Adventure World Updates

Speaking of nighttime, D23 2024 brought news that Disneyland Paris and Disney Adventure World are also getting new nighttime events. The one at Adventure World looks particularly cool, with a 360-degree view around their new lake. I guess this means I’ll need to plan a trip to Paris soon!

On top of that, Disney Adventure World is getting a Lion King-themed attraction and land. The main ride sounds like a Splash Mountain-style adventure, but with Pride Rock as the centerpiece. It’s about time they gave The Lion King some serious love in the parks.

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Walt Disney Animatronic

One of the most unique announcements from D23 2024, Disneyland is also introducing the first-ever Walt Disney animatronic. I think it’s going to be really neat to see Walt himself “talking” to guests. I’m curious to see what the show will be like, and knowing Disney’s history with animatronics, it’s bound to be impressive. It might even be a bit emotional seeing the man who started it all come to life in this way.

Mixed Feelings on Animal Kingdom Updates

Okay, this is where things might get a little controversial. Disney’s Animal Kingdom is my favorite Disney park, so I have mixed feelings about the changes coming to DinoLand that were announced at D23 2024. They’re re-theming the area to the Tropical Americas or Central America, which I think could be great since DinoLand was in need of an update. They’re adding a carousel with animals from Disney films, which I think is a fantastic way to blend Disney IP with the park’s focus on animals.

Indiana Jones Replacing Dinosaur

But here’s where it gets tricky. As talked about at D23 2024, they’re replacing the Dinosaur ride with an Indiana Jones attraction. While I agree Dinosaur has seen better days, I’m not sure Indiana Jones is the best fit. The last movie didn’t exactly set the world on fire, and I’m concerned about how well the theme will mesh with Animal Kingdom’s vibe. That said, if they bring the same level of quality as the Indiana Jones ride at Disneyland, it could turn out to be something special.

Encanto Ride at Animal Kingdom

Now, about Encanto coming to Animal Kingdom… I’m not thrilled. Even though D23 2024 highlighted this as a big update, I didn’t love the movie, and I’m not sure how it fits into the park’s theme. Sure, there’s a character who talks to animals, but is that enough to justify an entire ride? It feels out of place to me. I’d much rather see something like Emperor’s New Groove get some love, especially in a park centered around animals and their worlds.

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure and New Lounges

In other news from D23 2024, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at Disneyland is set to open in November. I haven’t had a chance to experience it at Walt Disney World yet, but I’m excited for everyone at Disneyland to check it out.

They’re also adding two new lounges next year—a Pirates-themed lounge at Magic Kingdom and a Spaceship Earth-themed lounge at Epcot. D23 2024 really focused on nostalgia, and I love that they’re drawing from classic Disney attractions for these lounges instead of just going with movie IPs. Can you imagine a lounge themed to Expedition Everest at Animal Kingdom? That would be incredible.

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A New Look for Test Track

Test Track is getting a revamp, set to open in 2025. While I’m curious to see the changes, I don’t think the ride necessarily needed an overhaul. Epcot could use a few more rides to spread out the crowds, so I wish they were adding something new instead of just re-theming. And please, Disney, if you’re going to fix up another ride, can we finally get some love for Figment? We didn’t hear about that update at D23 2024, but hopefully soon?

Cars Land at Magic Kingdom

In a standout reveal from D23 2024, this next announcement was a bit surprising—Magic Kingdom is getting a Cars Land! I’d heard rumors, but I wasn’t expecting it to take over Tom Sawyer Island and Rivers of America. It’s going to be strange not seeing the water and boats there anymore, but I’m excited to see how they transform the area. I think it’s great that they’re willing to update Frontierland instead of keeping it the same for the sake of tradition. A new Cars Land could really help with crowd control, too.

Disney Cruise Line Expands

Disney Cruise Line is adding four new ships! I’m excited to see what new destinations and experiences these ships will offer. One of the new ships will feature a Hercules musical, which I am beyond thrilled about. Justice for Hercules, right? As a travel agent, I’m always eager to help families plan their Disney trips, and more cruise options mean more opportunities for everyone. The announcement of an explaining Disney Cruise Line fleet was a pretty big deal at D23 2024.

Smugglers Run Gets a Mandalorian Makeover

Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run is getting a new storyline featuring The Mandalorian and Grogu (aka Baby Yoda). Personally, Smugglers Run isn’t my top ride at Disney’s Hollywood Studios—I think the queue is more exciting than the ride itself. But hey, a new storyline? Sure, why not! It’s great that they’re updating it, even if it wasn’t really necessary. I’m sure it’ll add a fresh twist.

Monsters Inc. Land at Hollywood Studios

Now, this is huge—Disney’s Hollywood Studios is getting a Monsters Inc.-themed land! They’re finally adding a family-friendly roller coaster themed around the iconic door chase scene where they’re trying to find Boo’s door. I’ve wanted this ride since the movie came out in 2001, so I’m beyond excited to hear this announced at D23 2024!

That said, Hollywood Studios could really use more filler attractions. Right now, it’s mostly big rides with long lines, and they could benefit from adding some smaller attractions to balance things out. But hey, this new Monsters Inc. land is definitely going to be a big draw, and it might help spread out the crowds a bit.

Avengers Campus Expansion at Disney California Adventure

They’re doubling the size of Avengers Campus in Disney California Adventure, adding two new rides that they discussed a bit more at D23 2024. One of them sounds like it’ll be similar to the Spider-Man ride at Universal (which everyone’s been saying). The other one looks like it’ll involve some kind of cool robotic arm that might even flip you upside down—so that could be pretty thrilling!

Spider-Man Roller Coaster Comes to Shanghai Disneyland

Shanghai Disneyland is also getting a Spider-Man-themed roller coaster. It’s probably not going to be as intense as Tron or Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, but it’ll likely be more thrilling than Slinky Dog Dash. A Spider-Man roller coaster sounds super cool, though, and I’m excited to see what they come up with.

Villains Land at Magic Kingdom

Now, this is my favorite announcement from D23 2024: Magic Kingdom is getting a Villains-themed land! Finally, they’re breaking away from the usual happy-go-lucky vibe and diving into something darker. It’s going to have Maleficent’s castle, and it looks like there’ll be a roller coaster, too. I’m hoping it’s a high-thrill ride with inversions—something really scary, not just another Seven Dwarfs Mine Train or Slinky Dog Dash.

This land is going to be perfect for Halloween, especially since Magic Kingdom already hosts the Halloween event. I can’t wait to see all the iconic villains, with possibilities like Ursula, Jafar, and Captain Hook in action. There are so many possibilities for this land, and I’m really excited to see what they do with it.

Final Thoughts on Disney’s Big Announcements at D23 2024

So, what do you all think of these announcements from D23 2024? With Universal Orlando Resort building Epic Universe, a new theme park down the road, it feels like Disney is stepping up their game. A lot of these attractions won’t be ready until 2027 or later, but it’s exciting to see Disney investing in the parks and experiences.

I went into D23 2024 a bit nervous, but I’m leaving really excited about what’s to come. What about you? Let me know your thoughts in the comments or on social media—I’d love to hear what you think!

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