When you’re planning trips, or thinking about it, it’s always helpful to discover what’s coming to Disney World in the future. Should you visit Disney World in 2024 or 2025? The debut of a new attraction or experience can help you make that decision. This is the first time in a long time that Disney hasn’t had a massive new project under construction. In the last few decades, New Fantasyland, Pandora – The World of Avatar and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge all debuted, changing the footprints of and expanding capacity in their respective parks. So what’s coming to Disney World in 2024?
The Disney 100 celebration will have passed in 2024 and there are no park wide, anniversary celebrations or overlays planned. No matter what year you choose to visit, you can always expect seasonally inspired offerings and decor celebrating fall and the holidays. There is not a current, defined new land or major attraction being built at this time. Disney is continuing to “blue sky” (imagine without bounds) potential projects that were teased beginning in 2022. Things have changed quite a bit since the initial thoughts, attractions and lands were shared.
“Innovation is finally catching up with our imagination.”
– Josh D’Amaro Chairman, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products
What’s Coming to Disney World in the Future
At the 2023 Destination D23 event at Walt Disney World Resort, Josh D’Amaro, Chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, spoke about what’s coming to Disney World in the future. This event hasn’t always been a place for announcements. Formerly known as just Destination D, it typically focused on Disney history. D’Amaro mentioned Disney has refreshed over 7,000 rooms across the Disney hotels and speaks of momentum at Disney Parks around the world. We did get some opening dates for some of the final things at Epcot and some new information as shared below.
It’s been announced that the 2024 D23 Expo is Friday, August 9th through Sunday, August 11th in Anaheim, California next to Disneyland Resort. This is the event where big announcements are usually made for Disney additions, refurbishments, expansions and surprises. We could absolutely find out more about what’s coming to Disney World in the future before then and we’ll keep you posted here.
New Rides at Disney World in 2024 and Beyond, New Characters and Updated Attractions
All Day Parking Hopping is Back at Disney World January 2024
As of January 9th, 2024, all day park hopping is back at the theme parks. Those with date based tickets do not need a park reservation and can park hop any time. Annual passholders and those with tickets that are not connected to a date still need to make a park reservation and enter that park in order to park hop.
Disney Dining Plan Returns to Disney World January 2024
The Disney Dining Plan has also returned for arrivals on or after January 9th, 2024.
New Star Tours April 2024
Ahsoka, The Mandalorian and Grogu, Andor and more are now part of flights at Star Tours: The Adventures Continue. This attraction was majorly updated in 2011 and is equipped to offer new show scenes as needed. Each ride shows a different combination of the many destinations and transmissions you are able to get.
Disney Springs Drone Show “Disney Dreams That Soar”
This summer Disney stories will fill the sky at Disney Springs with the help of drones. Music and movie quotes will accompany this nightly drone show. Disney Dreams That Soar runs May 24th through September 2nd on the West Side of Disney Springs.
CommuniCore Hall at Epcot Opens June 10
At Epcot, CommuniCore Hall and CommuniCore Plaza will be the final spaces to open in the park’s multi-year transformation. The new Mickey and friends meet and greet will be in this building along with other entertainment. CommuniCore Hall will also be the new Epcot festival center.
Encanto Show at Epcot Starting June 10
There will be more Encanto at Disney World this summer. ¡Celebración Encanto! is a new sing-along style show at Epcot on the new CommuniCore Plaza stage. This show features Mirabel and Bruno and runs from June 10th to September 6th.
Little Mermaid Show Hollywood Studios Fall 2024 Reimagining
There are quite a few things that still haven’t reopened since the March 2020 closure at Walt Disney World, Voyage of the Little Mermaid being one of them. This stage show with puppetry was a long time staple at the park since it opened in 1992. Much of the Animation Courtyard has remained closed as there were two shops attached to and near this show.
Disney announced at the end of 2023 that Voyage of the Little Mermaid would be replaced with The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure. At the time construction was said to be well underway, preparing for a fall 2024 opening. Songs “Part of Your World” and “Poor Unfortunate Souls” will still be part of the show as well as the addition of “Kiss the Girl.” The Disney Parks Blog says The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure will have “stunning new set pieces, cutting-edge effects, and a bold new design.”
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Opens Summer 2024
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure picks up where the movie left off. This new attraction takes over the place of Splash Mountain at Magic Kingdom. Disney has shared video content highlighting the incredible animatronics that will be on this ride. The exterior of the attraction is really shaping up with its new greenery.
New Country Bear Jamboree Show 2024
Imagineer Chris Beatty announced the Country Bear Jamboree will feature a new take on the classic jamboree in 2024. The news was revealed with a classic variety show style poster. Disney is working with authentic Nashville artists to refine the sound of the music. You can expect some Disney tunes in this updated version of the show like The Bare Necessities from The Jungle Book.
Pirates of the Caribbean Lounge Timeline Unknown
It looks like the Tortuga Tavern in Adventureland will receive a makeover. Chris Beatty shared a Pirates of the Caribbean themed lounge is coming to Adventureland at Magic Kingdom. It will extend the story of the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction across the way. The Barker Bird, the green parrot from outside the attraction, has taken residence in this new location.
Zootopia Show at Animal Kingdom Timeline Unknown
A new Zootopia show for the Tree of Life theater at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park has been announced. This replaces It’s Tough to Be a Bug. Judy Hopps, Nick Wilde and others from the film will introduce guests to more of Zootopia in the initial concept.
Encanto House and Indiana Jones Replacing Dinoland Timeline Unknown
The future of Dinoland has been changed again. Now it seems the land will go along with the regional theming of the rest of the park and become the tropical Americas. Disney says these are biodiverse places people travel for adventure. It’s said to be a land filled with authentic experiences from this part of the world. A rendering showed the area featuring the house from Encanto. Indiana Jones music played during the announcement and it looks like an Indy attraction will takeover Dinosaur. In Disneyland, the Indiana Jones attraction has the same track, vehicles and layout as Dinosaur.
Reimagining of Test Track with Chevrolet Timeline Unknown
Imagineers are also working with Chevrolet to reimagine Test Track again. The attraction closes June 17th, 2024 for refurbishment.
What’s Coming to Disney Vacation Club Resorts
The year 2024 will also bring many more Disney Vacation Club rooms to Walt Disney World resort. The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort will replace the existing cabins at this historical resort when they open July 1st, 2024. The property is slated to receive enhancements along with the DVC additions.
The Polynesian DVC tower is also under construction, expanding the resort by hundreds of rooms that will open in late 2024. This building is confirmed to be part of the existing DVC property at the resort and not a new, separate home resort.
Over at Disney’s BoardWalk Villas, a new restaurant will open in 2024. Cake Bake Shop has been under construction for quite some time and is replacing the former ESPN restaurant.
What’s New at Disney in 2023
If it’s been a while since you’ve been to Disney, or if you’ve never been, you’ll want to know about what’s new at Disney World as of the last few years.
Epcot Construction Ending December 2023
The last three new neighborhoods in Epcot opened in December of 2023. Epcot has been through quite a bit recently. A massive refurbishment with several additions was planned for the park. The pandemic changed and cancelled a few things, like the Mary Poppins attractions slated for the U.K. pavilion. However, the rest of what was announced and built is done and open.
Unless you visited in December, there’s a lot of new space to explore in the front of Epcot. The construction walls are finally down behind Spaceship Earth. You may remember the Fountain of Nations that once stood in the area. A total renovation has taken place, changing the space quite a bit. This area mostly serves as a pathway to get guests forward to World Showcase or left or right to their first order of fun.
Each night, the area lights up with fun colors, complimenting the light show on the giant geodesic sphere. There’s also a new Walt Disney statue in a space appropriately called Dreamer’s Point. You can sit next to this bronze style vision of the man who started it all. This space in World Celebration also brings a lot of seating to the front of the park. In true Disney fashion, there are also outlets creating charging stations.
Luminous The Symphony of Us December 5th 2023
Epcot has a new nighttime show as of December of 2023. Luminous The Symphony of Us lights up the sky with fireworks every night. Plan your visit with our guide to where to watch fireworks at Epcot.
Asha from the Animated Film Wish Meets at Epcot
Asha from Disney’s animated feature film Wish is one of the newest characters at Epcot. The movie Wish debuted in theaters in November of 2023.
Figment Meet and Greet at Epcot September 10th 2023
A Figment meet and greet is now at Epcot as of September 10th, 2023. He’s not the little guy with Dream Finder but a large mascot type Figment.
Journey of Water Inspired by Moana October 16th 2023
This walk through exhibit opened October 16th, 2023. Guests can explore, play with and be inspired by water like Moana.
Moana Meet and Greet at Epcot
Moana has a dedicated meeting space next to the walkthrough exhibit. In terms of streaming, Moana is one of the most popular films of the last few years.
TRON Lightcycle / Run Now Open
TRON: Lightcycle / Run soars through Tomorrowland at Magic Kingdom Park as of early 2023.
Hatbox Ghost Added in Late 2023
Haunted Mansion at Magic Kingdom now has its own Hatbox Ghost character as of late 2023. This character has been present in the Disneyland version for years and has finally made his way to Liberty Square.
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