D23 Disney Announcements 2024: Disney World, Cruise Line & More

A graphic where Mickey Mouse conducts a symphony of castles and cruise ships representing Disney Destinations.

Let’s make some magic! The D23 Disney fan event takes place at the Anaheim Convention Center on August 9th, 10th, and 11th in 2024. The Walt Disney Company often has exciting D23 announcements including what’s coming to Disney Parks in the future. These are typically shared in events like the Disney Experiences Showcase presentation lead by Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro. This presentation includes news and updates about projects in development around the world too. In anticipation of the event, Disney released the above graphic where Mickey Mouse conducts a symphony of castles and cruise ships representing Disney Destinations. These are the D23 announcements 2024 brings!

Not as much is available to watch via livestream this year but Disney is quick to share big news online simultaneously. However, you can watch the Disney Legends Award Ceremony on Disney+ starting on Monday August 12th.

Sorcerer Mickey outside of the Anaheim Convention Center next to a large Sorcerer Mickey hat. This is where D23 Disney announcements are made.
Photo: Disney | The D23 Disney fan event takes place at the Anaheim Convention Center next to Disneyland Resort on August 9th, 10th, and 11th in 2024. We can expect D23 announcements during the Disney Experiences Showcase presentation on August 10th.

D23 Announcements 2024: What’s Next for Disney Parks

We have a few different topics and ideas that Disney has shared in the past that we expect to hear more about.

It’s a regular thing for this D23 event to have some models or concepts concealed at first. When the Disney Parks news is shared during the big presentation, they are revealed for attendees to see. This is happening at the 2024 event as well with two different hidden exhibits debuting in the Imagineering: Behind the Dreams pavilion on Sunday.

Disney World D23 Announcements 2024

Josh D’Amaro says everything shared is in “active development.” Plans are drawn and dirt is moving!

Magic Kingdom New Nighttime Parade Disney Starlight Debuts Summer 2025

  • In the summer of 2025, a new nighttime parade is coming to Magic Kingdom! Disney Starlight is brought to life by the magic of the Blue Fairy from Pinocchio. Expect Peter Pan, Encanto, Frozen and more!

Disney Tropical Americas Expansion at Animal Kingdom Opens 2027

The tropical Americas expansion is something Disney talked about last year. This is a reimagining of the Dinoland area at Animal Kingdom. The last version of this land we heard about included Encanto and Indiana Jones.

  • In the D23 announcements 2024, we learned the Indiana Jones attraction has an all new story. Indy goes in an ancient Mayan temple taking us on a journey to find a creature he’s heard legend of.
  • An Encanto ride is coming to Animal Kingdom! Antonio receives his gift and the casita has brought furniture to life to take us around house and into his rainforest bedroom.

Pirates Lounge Opening Next Year

The Pirates of the Caribbean Lounge is confirmed to open in 2025.

A Spaceship Earth Lounge is Opening at Epcot

A Spaceship Earth lounge opens in 2025.

Monsters Inc. Land Coming to Walt Disney World

A Monsters Inc. land is being built at Disney’s Hollywood Studios! Humans are invited to Monstropolis! This ride will be the first suspended coaster in a Disney Park. A doors coaster!

Beyond Big Thunder at Magic Kingdom

What’s beyond Big Thunder Mountain at Magic Kingdom? Disney has been talking about expanding back there for years..

Villains Land Confirmed for Magic Kingdom

The previously announced Villains land addition at Magic Kingdom is happening! It has two major new attractions, dining and shopping.

Cars Rides Coming to Magic Kingdom

Two new Cars attractions are coming to a section of Frontierland. Construction begins early next year.

Disney Cruise Line 2024 Announcements

Get caught up with the latest: The Disney Cruise Line fleet is expanding and there’s a new ship debuting later this year. The Wish was the first in this class to set sail in 2022. In December of 2024, the adventure themed Disney Treasure debuts with Caribbean cruise itineraries. The heroes and villains themed Disney Destiny is the third ship in this class and starts sailing in 2025.

  • We now know the Disney Destiny has a Hercules stage show.
  • Disney Cruise Line is also adding FOUR new cruise ships to the fleet! These will be delivered 2027 to 2031. That will bring the fleet to 13 ships.

Disneyland Announcements 2024

We’ve heard Bob Iger mention a Pandora offering is coming to Disneyland and we’ve known about a new Marvel attraction featuring Thanos. Disneyland has also been in further development talks with the local government for years.

  • The year 2025 marks the 70th anniversary of Disneyland! The California parks celebrate big with special overlays. More information will be shared in the coming months.
  • Disney California Adventure is getting a new Avatar experience. Join a boat ride excursion and visit destinations inspired by the second, third (and beyond!) films.
  • The first Coco ride ever is coming to Disney California Adventure. Imagine Miguel’s journey to the land of the dead with the latest audio animatronics. Breaking ground in 2026.
  • Walt Disney: A Magical Life is a new show coming to the theater on Main Street. There will be a Walt Disney animatronic! On Good Morning America, a host shared that Bob Iger said we could expect an announcement about the latest robotics technology being used for a character in the parks. Seems like this is it!
  • Avenger’s Infinity Defense is a new attraction coming to Disney California Adventure. Stark technology allows you to travel from world to world. Thanos is the villain. Settings include Asgard, Wakanda and New York City.
  • A surprise fourth attraction is being added to Avengers Campus. Test Tony’s new equipment in Stark Flight Lab. You may get see a different hero each time you ride. Robert Downey Jr. will be reprising his Tony Stark role for these attractions.

D23 Announcement FAQs

There are a few things Disney fans always ask about. Let’s see if the D23 announcements will clear anything up this time.

Is Disney building a fifth park in Orlando?

The topic of a fifth gate at Walt Disney World Resort has never been talked about more. This is based on the timing of when the other parks were built and the fact that Universal is adding Epic Universe down the highway.

Will the D23 announcements really happen? Will all of this really be built at Disney?

A note about these D23 announcements before you get too excited: In the past we’ve seen big things announced at D23 events. Not all of them actually end up happening. It’s much more likely that some version of what is announced is built but the final product usually differs from the concept. Some examples of this include Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. What was shared early on had lots of droids, creatures and seemingly live entertainment in the land. While there is some entertainment here and there in the land, it’s nothing like what was originally promised. Some announcements are watered down like this when they debut.

Other plans change completely. New Fantasyland looks very different now from the original concept.

With the current D23 announcements, we’re on our second and third version of some of these ideas and concepts. It’s very likely that we’ve finally settled on what’s really happening now.

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Disney Blogger Nicole and Disney CEO Bob Iger

Sparkly Nicole

Nicole is a native Floridian who attended the University of Central Florida and decided to call the land of theme parks home. She’s been sharing magical tips, tricks and Orlando travel and tourism favorites online for over a decade.

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