The Walt Disney Company announced a massive slate of new projects at its Destination D23 event. The news spans the parks, animation studios, and major franchises like Marvel and Star Wars. Attendees saw exclusive looks at new attractions, sequels to beloved films, and groundbreaking changes that will shape the company’s future for years.
Disney Parks and Experiences
Destination D23’s presentations provided a clear look at how Disney’s theme parks are expanding. The company invests heavily in new lands and attractions. It also re-imagines classics. Disney wants to create new ways for guests to connect with beloved stories and characters around the world.
Walt Disney World Resort
Magic Kingdom
- The Villains-Themed Land: New details emerged on the highly anticipated villains land. Imagineers have coined the term Conjured Architecture to describe the land’s unique style. This blends historical European Art Nouveau and Modernisme. Disney Legend and animator Andreas Deja, who animated iconic Disney Villains like Gaston and Jafar, consults on the project.
- TRON: Ares Overlay: The TRON Lightcycle / Run attraction will get a limited-time overlay on September 15. The ride’s classic blue and orange hues will become the fiery red and orange of the new TRON: Ares film. It features a Nine Inch Nails soundtrack.
- Carousel of Progress: The attraction will get a new opening scene for the first time in over three decades. Imagineers will add a new Walt Disney Audio-Animatronics figure. Guests can hear directly from the man who inspired the show.
- Cinderella Castle: Imagineers will give the castle a fresh coat of paint. It returns to a classic color palette of grays, creams, blues, and gold accents. This change enhances the castle’s original architecture.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
- Monsters, Inc. Land: A new land based on the world of Monsters, Inc. is coming to the park. It includes a new suspended coaster that takes guests through the famous door vault.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom
- New Show: Disney’s Animal Kingdom will debut a new show, Zootopia: Better Zoogether! on November 7 at the Tree of Life Theater. It features an adventure with Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde. They will travel to different biomes from the film.
Disney Cruise Line
- Themed Lounges on the Disney Destiny: The new Disney Destiny ship will feature three unique lounges. They take inspiration from popular Disney stories:
- The Sanctum, a lounge inspired by Marvel’s Doctor Strange.
- Haunted Mansion Parlor, a new lounge inspired by the attraction.
- Cask & Cannon, a new venue inspired by the Pirates of the Caribbean films.
International Parks and Other Updates
- Disneyland Paris: The new Disney Adventure World Park will open a World of Frozen in spring 2026. The park will also add a new Pride Lands area inspired by The Lion King. It will include a brand-new log flume ride.
- Hong Kong Disneyland: The park will introduce a new Halloween offering. The park calls it Uninvited! A Villains Takeover Party. The show features a cavalcade, street show, and musical spectacle. It will star Maleficent and other villains.
- Disneyland: Disneyland will reopen the award-winning Napa Rose restaurant with an updated patio and a new menu. Disney+ and Disney YouTube will release a new documentary, Disneyland Handcrafted. It offers a behind-the-scenes look at the park’s construction.
Walt Disney Studios
The Studios Showcase provided a look into the future of Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars. It made a series of exciting film and show announcements.
Walt Disney Animation Studios
- Hexed: The studio officially announced its next original animated feature film. Hexed is about a teenage oddball who discovers his “weirdness” is actually hidden magic. The film is slated for a November 2026 release. Josie Trinidad and Jason Hand direct it.
- Zootopia 2: The studio shared new details about the upcoming sequel. Two new characters will be voiced by Yvette Nicole Brown and Patrick Warburton. The studio also screened an exclusive clip for attendees.
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw: The next installment in the animated film series will debut on Disney+ on December 5.
Pixar
- Toy Story 5: The film’s plot will focus on a “toys vs. tech” theme. Woody and Buzz will face off against an army of malfunctioning, high-tech Buzz Lightyear toys and a new villain named Lily Pad. The film will introduce a new character, Smarty Pants, a potty training toy voiced by Conan O’Brien. It is set for release in June 2026.
- Incredibles 3 and Coco 2: Both sequels were officially confirmed. They have a release timeline of “2028 and beyond.”
- Hoppers: This new original comedy will be released in theaters on March 6, 2026.
- Gatto: Director Enrico Casarosa announced a new original film. It focuses on a black cat in Venice. It is scheduled for a June 2027 release.
Star Wars
- The Mandalorian and Grogu: The studio showed exclusive footage from the upcoming film. It features an action-packed scene where Din Djarin takes on an entire squad of Stormtroopers. The film is set for a May 2026 release. It will also feature new cast members, including Jeremy Allen White.
- Smugglers Run Mission: A new mission for the attraction will debut in the parks. It will feature Mando and Grogu in conjunction with the film’s release.
Marvel
- Avengers: Doomsday: Directors Joe and Anthony Russo, along with actor Paul Rudd, appeared in a video message from the set in London. They showed exclusive footage from the upcoming film. They called it the “biggest movie they’ve ever made.”
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