Disney's Fantasmic!, World of Color, and the Festival of Fantasy parade will return to Disney theme parks in the United States in 2022, and Epcot's Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and Paris' Avengers Campus will open next summer, Disney Parks Chairman Josh D'Amaro announced at the Destination D23 event this morning.
D'Amaro kicked off the event with an overview of upcoming projects and returning attractions at Disney theme parks around the world. He did not provide specific reopening dates, but closed the presentation by announcing that Fantasmic! will return to Disneyland and Disney's Hollywood Studios, World of Color will return to Disney California Adventure, and Festival of Fantasy will return to the Magic Kingdom next year.
As for new projects, D'Amaro revealed that Disney's second Avengers Campus will open in summer 2022 in the Walt Disney Studios Park at Disneyland Paris. That land will include a retheme of the former Rock 'n Roller Coaster with an Avengers theme.
For the Walt Disney World Resort, D'Amaro noted that work has resume on the delayed TRON Lightcycle Run coaster from Shanghai Disneyland that is coming to the Magic Kingdom, but D'Amaro said only that it will be "coming soon," without providing any other clue as to an opening date.
D'Amaro said that the Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind indoor coaster will open in summer 2022 at Epcot and revealed that Glenn Close will reprise her role as Nova Prime for the attraction.
D'Amaro also revealed two new looks at the "Wonders of Xandar" pavilion that will set up the attraction.
Also in Epcot, D'Amaro announced that the name for Electric Umbrella's replacement will be Connections Cafe.
For Disneyland, D'Amaro announced that Magic Bands will be coming to the west coast next year, in the form of the new Magic Band+. He noted that the functionality will vary from their use at the Walt Disney World Resort, but provided no other details today. The new Hey Disney digital assistant also will debut at Disneyland Resort hotels in 2022.
In addition, D'Amaro said that construction will begin in January 2022 on a new project to replace the old AMC Theaters building in Downtown Disney.
"Drawing inspiration from Southern California mid-century modern architecture, the area will be a beautiful blend of vibrant color palettes, multi-cultural design elements and patterns, an open lawn for relaxation and future events, and an even broader collection of dining and shopping," Disneyland announced in a press release. The project will mean the closure - for real this time - of Earl of Sandwich, Sugarboo & Co. and the west end Starbucks Coffee in January.
On the Disney Cruise Line's, the Disney Wish will debut two new shows when it launches this summer. Seas the Adventure will be the first show to feature Captain Minnie and will wrap the first day of each cruise. In addition, the Disney Wish will present a new live version of Disney's The Little Mermaid, with a reimagined script that provides "a modern and innovative take on a young woman learning the power of her voice," according to Disney.
Finally, D'Amaro announced that Disney will publish a new book series inspired by the Society of Explorers and Adventurers, starting with Julie Kagawa's "Shinji Takahashi and the Mark of the Coat" on April 5, 2022.
Otherwise, D'Amaro recapped previously announced projects from the Disney Parks, including Hong Kong Disneyland's Frozen land, Tokyo DisneySea's Fantasy Springs port, Shanghai Disneyland's Zootopia land, the Disneyland Hotel's proposed DVC tower, the Mickey's Toontown reimagining at Disneyland, and Epcot's Dreamers Point. He also hosted an on-stage presentation of the prototype "Project EXO" exoskeleton from Walt Disney Imagineering that will form the basis of a walk-around Hulk character (though everyone worked very hard not to say the word "Hulk," as Disney can't use that name at the Walt Disney World Resort).
D'Amaro also showed off on stage the "real" lightsaber from the upcoming Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser at Walt Disney World and showed a brief video of him touring the new facility.
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Everything in the Josh D’Amaro video looks like such a disappointment. They hyped this up so much and that light saber training pod looks like something Target could do. Honestly, I’m shocked that this is the best Disney can do here. With the exception of RotR,they are consistently over promising and under-delivering on Star Wars experiences.
I'm really glad Magic Bands are finally coming to Disneyland. They make the Disney theme park experience so much easier and more enjoyable.
Everything in the Josh D’Amaro video looks incredibly exciting. Great news for WDW. EPCOT continues to grow. DSTP is a huge destination attraction (and parking is STILL free). While we wait for UEU to open in 2025 or 2026 we can still enjoy multiple gate-crashers at WDW.
Outstanding news for Orlando!
I really was hoping for some form of TRON date. Maybe 2023? Or could they hustle and still get it in for late 2022?
TRON is dropping in 2023 as part of the company's 100th anniversary.
Do we think we’re ever going to get the quinjet Wakanda ride at Disneyland?
When DisneylandForward gets approved. So… late in the decade.
When are they going to approve DisneylandForward?
It’s a two-plus year process, so… a while.
Ik the bigger D23 event will be held next year in Anaheim but I gotta be honest, the event was kinda lackluster. My favorite part was D’Amaro bringing up Tron and everyone was expecting an official opening date but it was just “yeah we’re still working on Tron! Moving on now”
The only announcement that got me a little intrigued was the new DTD refurb/expansion. It’s great to see that area get some love.
Good Lord, people! Are we all ignorant to the Disney "open a gate-crasher during an anniversary" marketing model?! Seriously?! The 23 in D23 marks 1923 as the year the company was founded. 2023 is the 100th anniversary. Are we all really floating around in a haze wondering why the company might open TRON in 2023?
I would pose that same question on the TPI discussion page, but we can't do that anymore
On that, why are discussion pages gone? Did I miss a note on something?
@MlkeW-
Discussion posts changed into basically a "anyone can write a post that will come up on the front page" kind of discussion post. They're still here technically but you have the submit the post to Robert and he'll post it on the site if he deems it appropriate, then people can discuss it in the comments below.
Also to continue the conversation, it's funny how they did not say anything about Genie+ at DL... and Chapek "couldn't" attend.
People get excited about a park or resort anniversary, not a corporation's anniversary. The only reason they're holding back TRON is to have something new for each of the next two years. Both Guardians and TRON were supposed to open for the 50th anniversary, which is a two year event.
@Postcott: Ah, got it, thanks.
I will say that the Guardians announcement that the attraction will be open next summer has us investigating a potential trip to Central Florida in October 2022.
While I think fans get excited for a park anniversary, a company's anniversary is not nearly as anticipated. Disney can say Tron is the company's way of celebrating its 100th anniversary, fans couldn't care less, especially since we're in a stretch of years where Disney could say every year is the anniversary of SOMETHING.
Russell: "While I think fans get excited for a park anniversary, a company's anniversary is not nearly as anticipated."
Me: No surprise Russell has convinced himself he speaks for all themed entertainment fans. And building anticipation is the job of a marketing team.
Russell: "Disney can say Tron is the company's way of celebrating its 100th anniversary ...
Me: Or, they can tell folks they are celebrating 100 years by opening new attractions and entertainment in every park worldwide -- with TRON being the Magic Kingdom's feature.
Russell: "... fans couldn't care less, especially since we're in a stretch of years where Disney could say every year is the anniversary of SOMETHING."
Me: Again, Russell steps up and claims to speak for all "fans". That's quite a self-image he has, eh? Second, in my opinion, the fact that it has been 100 years since the Disney brothers opened shop is pretty impressive, and worthy of a worldwide celebration.
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I’m happy that side of Downtown Disney is getting a much needed overhaul but sad that Earl of Sandwich will be no more.