Key Takeaways
- Disney announces six new themed lands and areas, including Villains Land and Monsters, Inc.
- Four new Disney Cruise Line ships to launch between 2027 and 2031, expanding global offerings.
- Groundbreaking collaboration with Epic Games brings Disney’s storytelling into the digital realm through Fortnite.
The Walt Disney Company has announced a wide-ranging slate of new projects for its theme parks, cruise ships, and digital platforms during the second night of D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event in Anaheim, California. The plans include new themed lands, attractions, and a groundbreaking collaboration with Epic Games.
Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro revealed the company’s vision for future growth and innovation across its various entertainment divisions. “Disney Experiences is embarking on an accelerated path of ambitious growth and innovation,” D’Amaro said. “We’re excited to bring an unprecedented number of new projects to life in the near future.”
Among the major announcements was the expansion of Disney Cruise Line. The company plans to add four new vessels to its fleet between 2027 and 2031, bringing the total number of ships to 13. This expansion aims to offer guests more ways to experience Disney’s entertainment and service in various parts of the world.
For theme park enthusiasts, Disney revealed plans for six new themed lands and areas across its global properties. These include:
- A Monsters, Inc. land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Florida, featuring the first suspended coaster in a Disney park.
- A Cars-themed area in a reimagined Frontierland at Magic Kingdom, with two new attractions.
- A Villains Land at Magic Kingdom, complete with two attractions, dining, and shopping.
- Tropical Americas at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, showcasing attractions based on Indiana Jones and Encanto.
- An Avatar experience at Disney California Adventure, including a new innovative attraction.
- A Lion King-themed area at Disney Adventure World in Disneyland Paris, featuring the first-ever ride-through attraction based on the film.
In total, Disney announced plans for 14 new attractions, five new shows, and nighttime spectaculars. One highlight is “Disney Starlight,” an all-new nighttime parade coming to Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort.
The company also unveiled plans for the first-ever Audio-Animatronics figure of Walt Disney, set to debut next year in a new show called “Walt Disney – A Magical Life” at Disneyland park’s Main Street Opera House.
Expanding its superhero presence, Disney announced new Avengers experiences for parks in California, Shanghai, and Hong Kong. These include the expansion of Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure, a Spider-Man-themed coaster at Shanghai Disney Resort, and a new attraction featuring Spider-Man at Hong Kong Disneyland.
In a move that bridges the physical and digital realms, Disney revealed a collaboration with Epic Games. This partnership aims to bring Disney’s storytelling into Fortnite, creating a connected universe where fans can engage with Disney characters and stories in new ways. The collaboration will introduce new characters and skins to Fortnite, including Disney Villains, The Incredibles, and The Mandalorian.
Throughout the showcase, D’Amaro was joined by various celebrities and Disney executives, including creative leads from Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar Animation Studios, Marvel Studios, and Lucasfilm. Musical performances by artists such as Meghan Trainor, Shaboozey, and Rita Ora added to the event’s entertainment value.
The ambitious plans outlined during D23 represent a significant investment in Disney’s future across multiple entertainment platforms. As work begins on these projects, fans can expect to see the first of these new experiences materializing in the near future, with some developments already underway.
