What’s Coming to the Disney Parks in 2023?
What do the Disney Parks have in store for fans in 2023?
The Disney Parks in 2023 will be a year of change. Disney will usher in Disney 100 with special experiences for its parks. The year will also mark the return of the fan-favorite nighttime spectacular Happily Ever After. This year also has long-awaited attraction openings like TRON: Lightcycle/Run, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, Journey of Water, inspired by Moana, and more.
2023 also could end up being a bounce-back year. Disney could end up announcing new projects for its parks after having limited announcements from 2020 to 2022.
Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway (January 27)
Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway arrives at Mickey’s Toontown in Disneyland. The cloned attraction looks much better in Toontown than it does at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Walt Disney Imagineering clearly nailed the El Capitoon concept, and it makes me jealous that this version of Runaway Railway wasn’t built in Animation Courtyard at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Wondrous Journey (January 27)
A new nighttime spectacular from Disneyland that includes Baymax and Treasure Planet. Yes, that is a real sentence in the year 2023. Wondrous Journey will feature nods to all Walt Disney Animation Studios films to celebrate Disney 100.
World of Color — One (January 27)
The updated version of World of Color will feature Marvel, Encanto, Star Wars, and more. The story behind World of Color — One is how a single action, like a drop of water, creates a ripple that can grow into a wave of change. The show will also represent how one man — Walt Disney — started the wave that has continued to grow and inspire people around the globe for 100 years.
Avengers: Power the Night
Avengers: Power the Night will debut at Walt Disney Studios Park out in Paris on January 28. The nighttime spectacular dedicated to Marvel heroes will feature projections, music, lights, and over 500 drones.
Happily Ever After (April 3)
Ready to begin…
A fan-favorite returns on April 3.
Tears will be shed in the Magic Kingdom as Jordan Fisher & Angie Keilhauer's “Happily Ever After” blares in the park as fireworks light up the sky. The fans asked for this show to come back, and Disney listened. Although Happily Ever After may have a few updates so it will be fascinating to see if they mess with the show too much.
EPCOT Forever (April 3)
EPCOT Forever returns as the bridge show between Harmonious and the new nighttime spectacular coming later this year. EPCOT Forever is a safe choice and it plays a lot of the EPCOT hits. I wouldn’t be shocked if there are slight tweaks and alterations made to the show.
EPCOT New Nighttime Spectacular
The new EPCOT nighttime spectacular allegedly will feature drones. This would mark a Walt Disney World first for a daily nighttime spectacular. Drones and fireworks lighting up the skies over the World Showcase lagoon will be a welcomed change instead of big barges.
CommuniCore Hall & Plaza
EPCOT’s CommuniCore Hall & Plaza will serve as a multi-functional space that will be used during the EPCOT’s various festivals and be home to a Mickey & Friends meet and greet, a demo kitchen, a mixology bar, a gallery space, and much more. EPCOT’s former “Future World” has had construction walls for so long that it will be nice to have more space on that side of the park, even if the addition is clearly festival-focused.
TRON Lightcycle/Run (April 4)
It has taken forever but TRON: Lightcyle/Run is finally opening on April 4. The attraction will add another rollercoaster to the Magic Kingdom and should provide something new for guests, as a majority of Walt Disney World visitors haven’t gone on the TRON Lightcycle Power Run at Shanghai Disneyland.
Figment Meet and Greet
Disney hasn’t announced any plans to update Journey into Imagination but they sure love using Figment. The purple dragon will have his own meet and greet later in 2023. Yet, most Figment fans are probably waiting for Destination D23 in September at Walt Disney World with the hopes that Disney Parks Chairman Josh D’Amaro finally announces plans to update Journey into Imagination.
Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana
Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana will be a walking path attraction that will also teach guests the importance of the water cycle. The attraction is slated for late 2023 at EPCOT. Once the attraction opens I expect EPCOT to be even more walkable.
Hatbox Ghost
Hatbox Ghost flew under the radar at D23 Expo but the fan-favorite character is coming to Walt Disney World’s Haunted Mansion in late 2023. If I was to bet I would expect the Hatbox Ghost audio-animatronic inside Walt Disney World’s Haunted Mansion in time for Haunted Mansion’s film release in August 2023.
Roundup Rodeo BBQ
Toy Story Land is getting its long-awaited indoor restaurant. Roundup Rodeo BBQ was originally supposed to open in 2022. The theme of the restaurant is that Andy is having a rodeo with all of his toys, and that you’re an honorary toy. The menu hasn’t been revealed yet but will have the usual BBQ fare.
The Cake Bake Shop
ESPN Club, a mainstay restaurant at Disney’s BoardWalk Resort, closed to make way for The Cake Bake Shop. The new restaurant & bakery will debut in 2023. The Cake Bake Shop will definitely change the vibes of that side of the BoardWalk.
Adventureland Treehouse
Adventureland Treehouse will open in 2023 replacing Tarzan’s Treehouse. Many were assuming that Tarzan’s Treehouse was going to be replaced by an Encanto treehouse concept, and that didn’t end up being the case. Adventureland Treehouse is inspired by the Swiss Family Robinson stories and will also have a few nods to S.E.A. (Society of Explorers and Adventurers).
Zootopia Land?
Could Zootopia Land open at Shanghai Disneyland in 2023? It is possible that it can happen. There hasn’t been an update as of late but one has to assume we will be hearing about this project soon. The land will feature at least one Zootopia attraction. We are still waiting to get more details on the overall scope of what will make up Zootopia Land.
Arendelle: World of Frozen at Hong Kong Disneyland
The first-ever Frozen-themed land will debut at Hong Kong Disneyland in 2023. Arendelle: World of Frozen will feature Frozen Ever After and Wandering Oaken’s Sliding Sleighs coaster.
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Zach Perilstein is the Editor-in-Chief of the Boardwalk Times
