D23: The Ultimate Fan Event in California has come to an end, and we received some announcements and updates for current and future Walt Disney World projects! Let’s overview what was announced and I will give you some of my thoughts on each!
Carousel of Progress Voices and Opening Timeline
The expo itself was themed to Carousel of Progress, so it very much makes sense that we got some major updates about this beloved attraction.
Neil Patrick Harris announced who the beloved John and Sarah will be voiced by in the new version of the ride. Bryan Cranston will be the voice of John and Jamie Lee Curtis will voice Sarah! Not only did we find out the voices, but we were also told that the ride will reopen in Spring of 2027. Much faster than a lot of us initially thought.
Attendees of the expo also got a lot of first looks at costumes, set designs, and concept art for the new show.
My Thoughts On This Announcement
I am a die hard carousel of progress fan so I was absolutely gutted when they announced they were retheming the entire ride. While I will always mourn the original, I think Bryan Cranston and Jamie Lee Curtis were FANTASTIC choices and I’m happy to know the theater will reopen soon!
Spaceship Earth Retheme
This is an announcement that I think has been a long time coming from the Imagineers. The anchor of Epcot, Spaceship Earth is getting a retheme. The ride currently focuses on the progression through time and the evolution of communication. Imagineers explained that the ride will now feature a focus on human connection, but will still be uniquely Epcot.
We did not receive any further information or concept art, just the vision for where the ride will be going. There was also no closing date for the current iteration or when we can expect to experience the new version.
My Thoughts On This Announcement
I’m very much holding on to the promise that this will still be uniquely Epcot when it’s all done. I am cautiously optimistic. Epcot is my absolute favorite park and I think that it has sort of lost its plot a little over the years. Spaceship Earth is an absolute favorite of mine, and while I am sad to see it go, I’m looking forward to what the Imagineers have planned.
Expedition Everest Yeti Animatronic Will Be Fixed
No more Disco Yeti! Animal Kingdom has plans in the works to restore the original yeti animatronic that has been out of commission for years. There were no timelines or details on when we can expect to see the yeti back.
My Thoughts On This Announcement
I am not a thrill ride person, so this announcement I am sort of indifferent to. I am interested to see if this will require them to shut down Everest for an extended period of time. With so much of Animal Kingdom being under construction, and very few rides to choose from already, it would be interesting to see if they wait until Tropical Americas opens to do the maintenance.
Tropical Americas – Indiana Jones
Imagineers gave us more information on the Indiana Jones ride coming to Animal Kingdom including the name of the ride and the general plot. The ride will be called Indiana Jones and the Myth of the Jade Serpent. We’ll be following Indiana Jones (an actual Harrison Ford animatronic!) through a Mayan Temple where we will encounter all kinds of challenges, dangers, and of course, snakes!
Like many of the other announcements, we got some details but still do not have an opening date or timeline.
My Thoughts On This Announcement
Honestly, I am so excited for this whole land, and now I’m even more excited for this ride. The biggest thing I appreciate is that we aren’t getting an exact copy of the Indiana Jones ride in Disneyland. This ride feels unique and perfectly suited to the theme of the land.
Tropical Americas – Encanto
Just like with Indiana Jones, we got some more information about the Encanto ride to include the name and general plot. The ride will be called Antonio’s Fiesta De Encanto. You will get to actually ride through the Casita in a special ride vehicle that will interact with the ride itself. You will be exploring the house and Antonio’s bedroom on the day he receives his gift.
At the expo, attendees were able to see first looks at some of the animatronic animals that will be featured in Antonio’s room. Imagineers also discussed how they worked with animal specialists to make sure that the animals they included were accurate to what you would find in Colombia.
This ride will also have NO height requirement so it can be enjoyed by everyone in the family!
My Thoughts On This Announcement
Of all the new things coming to Walt Disney World, this is the ride I am the most excited about. There has been a lot of doubt about Tropical Americas, but I think this land is going to fit perfectly in Animal Kingdom. The focus on Antonio is perfect and I will be first in line when it opens.
Cars Land Rides and Theme Details
We got so much information about the much anticipated Cars Land at Magic Kingdom! Piston Peak will consist of 2 unique rides: Miss Fritter’s Daredevil Spin-Along and Cars Ridge Run Rally. Miss Fritter’s will be pulled from Cars 3 where Miss Fritter, a large school bus (who will have their own animatronic) runs her own demolition derby. My assumption is the ride vehicle/type will be similar to Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree in Disney’s California Adventure or Alien Swirling Saucers in Hollywood Studios.
The second ride is the big one that everyone is most excited for – Cars Ridge Run Rally. The tag line mentions being the “fastest car in the ‘wheel’-derness” – a tie in to its neighboring attraction Big Thunder Mountain. This ride seems like it will be a mix of Radiator Springs Racers also from Disney’s California Adventure, Test Track in Epcot, and even a little bit from Big Thunder Mountain. The Imagineers took us through the entire sequence of this ride and it sounds like a blast.
At the expo, attendees got to look at a scale diorama of the land, and hear the Imagineers talk about their process for theming this land to fit in Magic Kingdom.
Like many others, we did not receive details on when this land will open. However, we can see the construction progress in Magic Kingdom and the dirt is moving! Hopefully by 2028 this land will see its first guests!
My Thoughts On This Announcement
While the Encanto ride is my most anticipated ride, I actually think Piston Peak is moving to the top of my most anticipated land overall. Again, a lot of doubts and skepticism about it fitting in Magic Kingdom, but personally I think it will be perfect for this area.
Monstropolis Details and Opening Timeline
While we already knew about the HIGHLY anticipated door coaster coming to Hollywood Studios, we received more details about what is coming to the land, confirmation of something we all suspected, and an opening timeline!
Imagineers detailed what we can expect in the land when it opens! Along with the door coaster, we will be receiving a Monster’s Inc stage show, a quick service pizza restaurant (RIP PizzeRizzo), and of course, a store! We also received confirmation that there will be a sushi restaurant called Harry Hausen’s!! It will be themed just like the movie and even feature an animatronic, sushi-making, octopus!
The biggest news about this land was that, with the exception of the door coaster, Monstropolis will be opening in Hollywood Studios NEXT YEAR!
This will be the first of all of the new lands expected to open its doors and the Disney fans could not be more excited. Walt Disney World has so many new things planned and they all feel so far away. Knowing in the next year we can expect to get access to this land makes the waiting a little less hard!
We don’t have a specific date, but based on a social media post from Disney Parks several months ago, my prediction will be August 2027!
My Thoughts On This Announcement
I am SO excited that they told us this land will be opening next year. Even though the door coaster won’t be done yet, it is still really exciting to know the end is in sight for the construction walls at Hollywood Studios!
I think this could also signal the end of Monster’s Inc Laugh Floor over in Magic Kingdom if they are putting a stage show in Monstropolis.
Villains Land Details
The long awaited and anticipated Villains Land coming to Magic Kingdom got some major announcements as far as the vision for the land AND the rides that we can expect!
First, a Maleficent themed coaster that, according to the Imagineers, is unlike anything they’ve done before. Along with the coaster, there will be a boat ride hosted by the Magic Mirror! There was also a special guest appearance by Glenn Close at the end that hinted at a possible Cruella De Vil themed ride, but there was no official confirmation.
We did not get an opening timeline or any updates on the construction, but what we were told is that this will be one of the biggest expansions to date. The size of Villains Land will rival Galaxy’s Edge in Hollywood Studios!!
My Thoughts On This Announcement
I actually cannot wait for Villains Land, but as it is very likely the furthest out from opening, I’m trying to not get too excited yet. I am excited to see what else will be in Villains Land as far as shows, dining, and other entertainment! The fact that it’s going to be as big as Galaxy’s Edge is a major selling point for me!
I have always hoped they would move the Villains Unfairly Ever After show from Hollywood Studios to Villains Land when it opens – so we will see what the future holds!
The Return of Dreamfinder
At the very end of the panel, Neil Patrick Harris helped to announce that Journey Into Imagination With Figment will see the return of Dreamfinder! Figment fans have been wanting this for so long so I know that fandom is ecstatic right now.
There will still be a lot of speculation as to what this looks like as we did not receive any further details. Will there be a full retheme of the ride back to the original 80s version or is Dreamfinder joining the current iteration? We will soon find out!
My Thoughts On This Announcement
My most controversial Disney opinion is and always has been that I cannot stand Figment or his ride. So, this one for me, again I am indifferent towards. Personally, I’m hoping that means I’ll finally get to ride Frozen without waiting 90 minutes.
There were so many other fun announcements for the International Parks, as well as Disneyland and Disney Cruise Line! It should be a very exciting few years for Disney fans and Disney Park goers!
I want to hear your thoughts! Drop your thoughts in the comments or message me on my social media pages!
Adventures by Morgan 
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