Disney fans from around the world gathered for D23: The Ultimate Fan Event from August 9 – 11, 2024, to celebrate all things Disney and discover what we can look forward to in the coming years from The Walt Disney Company and its affiliates.
The most anticipated events are the announcements from Disney Entertainment about upcoming live-action and animated films and from Disney Experiences covering theme parks, Disney Cruise Line, and Disney on Broadway. Announcements this year were full of excitement, surprises, and a bit of controversy.
On Connecting with Walt, Tom and I, along with our panelists Louella and Patty, talk about the Showcase of Disney Entertainment and Disney Experience Showcase presentations held at the Honda Center.
The Showcase of Disney Entertainment opened with Disney CEO Bob Iger who was lavish with his praise of Disney fans and how our passion motivates everyone at the company to fill our hearts with joy and wonder.
A few of the more significant highlights included:
- Auli’i Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson sharing the details about Moana 2. Moana is now a big sister searching beyond the reef in the belief there is more out there for her people. The villain this time is the storm of all storms.
- Dwayne Johnson’s next big live-action film is Disney Monster Jam telling the story of monster trucks and their “crazy drivers.”
- James Cameron, Zoe Saldana, and Sam Worthington appeared to share the title of the next Avatar film, Avatar: Fire & Ash. James Cameron declared that the film will be a feast for the eyes, have high emotional stakes, new characters, new creatures, and new biomes.
- Pete Docter, Chief Creative Officer of Pixar Studios, was delighted to share that his projects were on time and within budget. They include two new series for Disney+. Dream Production occurs between Inside Out 1 and 2 and tells the story of where Riley’s dreams are created. Win or Lose will tell the story of a youth softball team from the perspective of each player as they approach their championship game.
- Pixar films announced were Toy Story 5, Hoppers, Elio, Zootopia 2, Frozen 3.
Fans of musicals will be happy about the plans from Disney on Broadway to broadcast Frozen the musical on Disney+ in 2025, and two new musicals – Hercules coming to London’s West End and The Greatest Showman – The New Musical currently in development for the Pantages.
Now let’s go to a galaxy far, far away …. Jude Law announced a new Star Wars series for Disney+, Skeleton Crew, a coming of age story about young explorers trying to find their way home. Think Goonies in Space. Diego Luna then came on stage to talk about the second season of Andor. The first season covered one year in the life of Cassian Andor. The second season will cover four years of his life as he becomes the rebel leader we see in Rogue One. Now you’re probably asking, “What about Baby Yoda?” Well, John Favreau and Dave Filoni answered that question with the announcement that the all-new adventures of The Mandalorian and Grogu will come to theatres in May 2026.
Ryan Reynolds appeared on screen to thank everyone for watching Deadpool and Wolverine and thanked Marvel for letting him make some little jokes and saving the studio. He then introduced “Marvel Jesus” Kevin Feige, who brought out Anthony Mackie to talk about Captain America – Brave New World. Feige also announced The Fantastic 4 – First Steps, which will have a retro-futuristic vibe of the 1960s.
Ryan Coogler shared that he is filming a series for Disney+ titled Ironheart based on the character from Wakanda Forever because there is much more to her story. The second season of Daredevil: Born Again will also be coming to Disney+.
Casts for a few other Disney+ series were brought out to announce their productions, including Agatha All-Along in time for the Halloween season, the second season of Percy Jackson & the Olympians, Disney Descendants: The Rise of Red.
For National Geographic, Magician David Blaine performed an amazing card trick with the audience that we talk about on Connecting with Walt. This was for his new show, Do Not Attempt.
Finally, several major stars were brought out to announce their new films, such as Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan for Freaker Friday, Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot for Snow White, Jeff Bridges for Tron Ares, and the cast of Mufasa for the prequel to The Lion King.
So, there is a lot coming out of the various studios in the next couple of years. What films are you planning to see in their opening week?
The Disney Experience Showcase presentation was a bit different from past presentations in that it was a musical show production accompanied by announcements. Josh D’Amaro, Chairman Disney Experiences, welcomed us as our host by saying our greatest joy is entertaining all of you. He went on to thank the 180,000 Disney cast members around the world before stating the theme of the evening that we will see past the horizon to the boundless future. Some took this as a hint that Epcot’s Horizons Pavilion would be making a comeback but, alas, that was not to be.
On Connecting with Walt, we describe all the performers and performances that entertained us throughout the evening. I just want to highlight a few of the announcements.
Disneyland’s 70th Anniversary was revealed leaving us with the hope there will be future announcements about special events to commemorate the date. Other Disneyland and Disney California Adventure (DCA) future plans include:
- Pandora area in DCA inspired by the second and third films and future films in the franchise.
- Coco boat ride also coming to DCA will take us on a journey with Miguel to the Land of the Dead.
- Avenger’s Campus at DCA will see the addition of two new attractions: Avengers Infinity Defense will transport guests into the multi-verse to battle King Thanos. Stark Flight Lab will invite guests to test equipment invented by Tony Stark. Disneyland officials quietly announced two weeks after the D23 Expo that this expansion of Avenger’s Campus will result in the retirement of the Red Car Trolley in 2025.
- Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will open at Disneyland on November 15, 2024.
- What may be the most controversial addition to Disneyland will be the performance of an Audio-Animatronic Walt Disney in rotation with Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln in the Main Street Opera House. Diane Disney-Miller was approached about this idea many years ago and stated that her father would not want this done and neither did his family. So, the Walt Disney Company waited nine years after her passing and approached Roy Disney’s grandson for approval. Since then, Walt’s grand-daughter Johanna Disney-Miller has publicly opposed this project. Will this be a loving tribute to the genius behind an entertainment empire or an abomination? You will have to be the judge.
D23 fans were especially happy with the plans for Walt Disney World!
The Magic Kingdom had its share of blockbuster and controversial announcements including:
- Disney Starlight a new nighttime parade using the latest technology characters from films like Peter Pan, Encanto, Frozen, and more led by the Blue Fairy will light up the night in the Summer of 2025.
- Cars is coming to Frontierland in a new themed area that will include a rally race attraction and a second attraction for younger guests. After the Expo ended, it was announced this Pixar area would replace Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island. Some feel this was underhanded on Disney’s part whilst others believe the Expo is for announcing what is new rather than what is being taken away. Where do you stand on this? Personally, I can’t imagine no longer having the view of the Haunted Mansion standing on the shore of the Rivers of America. Water adds beauty, coolness, and a sense of relaxation to an area. Will a new version of Carsland be able to do the same?
- Happily Ever After will be a distant dream in the new Disney Villians Land to be built beyond Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. This will be the largest expansion of the Magic Kingdom and will include two attractions, dining, shopping, and a new version of what a Disney experience can be. For years, Disney fans have been asking for a fifth gate themed to Disney Villians. Will they find ghoulish delight with this new land?
Several of the blue-sky ideas floated at the last D23 Expo for Animal Kingdom were officially announced for the DinoLand area as it’s transformed into the Tropical Americas.
- Indiana Jones takes over Dinosaur with a completely new story as we join our hero in exploring a Mayan Temple to investigate ancient creatures.
- Pueblo Esperanza will be a lush rainforest with a large carousel of carved animals from Disney films. On the other side of this area will be a familiar casita from Encanto. Upon entering, we learn we have arrived on the day Antonio receives his magical gift.
- The bugs are moving out of the Tree of Life on Discovery Island and the critters from Zootopia are moving in with a new show.
Humans will finally be able to visit Monstropolis at Disney Hollywood Studios in the first land based on Monsters, Inc. Guests will be able to tour the Laugh Factory and zoom through the door vault on the first suspended coaster in a Disney park. The concept art has led to much speculation and worry that this could replace Muppet*Vision 3D.
From land to sea, Disney Cruise Line announced they will be expanding their fleet to 13 ships by 2031! Don’t worry about 13 being unlucky; it was Walt’s favorite number. That’s why Disneyland’s address is 1313 Disneyland Drive!
On Connecting with Walt, our panel goes into more detail about these announcements, the international park announcements, the pageantry, and our thoughts about it all.
Which announcements are you most excited about?
Michael Bowling is the Disney Historian for The DIS Unlimited and host of the Connecting with Walt Podcast. He lives in Northern California. With his late wife Carol he has two adult children and one granddaughter who shares her grandfather's love of all things Disney. Michael's passion for Disney began during his first visit to Disneyland as a one-year old when some Pixie Dust got into his bloodstream during Tinker Bell's flight over Sleeping Beauty Castle. Since then he has learned all he could about the Disney magic and shares it freely with his students, family, neighbors, co-workers and pretty much anyone who will listen. Michael is a Disneyland and Walt Disney World annual passholder, D23 Gold Charter Member, DVC owner and The Walt Disney Family Museum Charter Member. With his family he has spent time at Disneyland and Walt Disney World, has traveled with Adventures by Disney and Disney Cruise Line, and relaxed at Aulani. Michael has been been able to visit all the Disney Parks with friends he has met through The DIS Unlimited. When Michael is not at the parks or spending time with his family or in his garden, which is filled with Disney topiaries and statues, you can find him at The Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco or at the Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary where he is a docent. Michael enjoys reading about Disney history and learning all he can about Walt Disney and those who make the magic happen for all of us.
