Saturday's Destination D23 reveal from Disney Parks Chairman Josh D'Amaro did not deliver much fresh detail about new attractions coming to the Disney Parks. We got opening seasons for a couple of attractions, a name for an Epcot quick service restaurant, and confirmation that Disney will bring a version of its Magic Bands to the Disneyland Resort.
Otherwise, the presentation omitted the news that the latest changes to Downtown Disney in Anaheim will result in the closure of the popular Earl of Sandwich restaurant as well as a Starbucks location. That information came buried in Disneyland's post-presentation press release. Even bigger news came later in another press release, this time from the Walt Disney World Resort.
Disney previously had announced that a new version of the Finding Nemo musical world be coming to Disney's Animal Kingdom. Today, Disney revealed that the new show will be called "Finding Nemo: The Big Blue... and Beyond!" and will be set during the timeline of the Finding Dory sequel to the original Finding Nemo film.
The show will be set in the Marine Life Institute and will open with the rest of the Tank Gang from Dr. Sherman's office, who we had discovered in the post-credits scene of Finding Dory had made their way to California. More details about "Finding Nemo: The Big Blue... and Beyond!" will be coming as we approach its opening, sometime in 2022.
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They’re all going to be welcomed projects, but almost all of them have been announced before. That’s what I meant about the lack of fresh announcements.
Sad that Earl of Sandwich will close at Downtown Disney (though I've only had their food in Disney Springs, but was excited about replicating/comparing the experience at Downtown Disney as they have great food), and cautiously optimistic about the new version of the show at Animal Kingdom, because if Disney is "plussing" the show, I'm interested about the show that is to come.
Has it been confirmed yet that EU would open in 5 years? That seems like an awfully long time...
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Every announcement from Dub-D 23 has been exceptional. Thanks to the WDW/WDI/DVC efforts, along with whatever Sea World and UO offer, Orlando will remain among the planet's top vacation destinations between now and when UEU opens in five years or so.