Don’t Miss This Walt Disney World D23 Expo Wrap-Up

So much information can out from the D23 Expo.  With so much being announced, and some not being announced, it can be hard to keep up with all of the information.  We are here to help you with a quick Walt Disney World D23 Expo wrap-up.

Take a look at some of the big announcements that are going to Walt Disney World in the coming years as well as some that we are hoping won’t just be a blue sky idea.

Happily Ever After Returns

Disney Enchantment is the current nighttime show at Magic Kingdom.  This evening show is a part of the 50th-anniversary celebration.  Even though it just recently received an update adding both Walt and Roy Disney, it seems like it won’t be around forever.

Following an amazing live performance from the talent Jordan Fisher, it was announced that Happily Ever After will be returning to Magic Kingdom in 2023.  We weren’t given a specific date, but we would assume after the 50th-anniversary celebration wraps up.  This is scheduled for around March 2023.

Happily Ever After is a spectacular 18-minute show that lights up the night sky over Magic Kingdom.  With amazing music and projections for beloved Disney and Pixar films, this is a fan favorite.

We can’t wait until this magical show returns once again to Magic Kingdom.  Our tissues will be ready as we know those tears will be coming.

New Show Coming to EPCOT

Where Magic Kingdom is having a fan favorite return to the evening magic, it was announced at D23 Expo the EPCOT will be receiving a brand-new nighttime show.

This October 2022 will be EPCOT’s 40th-anniversary celebration.  This new show will celebrate not only EPCOT’s 40th anniversary but also the 100th anniversary of Walt Disney.

This new show is promised to be “Disney’s best nighttime show yet” and we can’t wait to see what this could mean for EPCOT.  What songs, projections, and films will be included in this nighttime spectacular that will fill the World Showcase Lagoon?

Harmonious, the current evening show at EPCOT, has only been around since last September.  We weren’t told whether Harmonious would return after EPCOT’s 40th-anniversary celebration.

Figment Is Back

Get ready Figment fans!  The loveable, adorable purple dragon from the ride that features his name: Journey Into Imagination With Figment will be available for meet and greets.

If you are a long-time Disney fan, you might remember the Figment and the Dreamfinder used to meet Guests in EPCOT.  He hasn’t been seen out in the Parks for a while, and we are thrilled to have him back.

Based on the popularity of all things Figment such as the popcorn bucket, we predict that this meet and greet will see extremely long lines.  Be ready to wait in order to visit Figment when he returns to EPCOT.

We can’t wait to see this adorable purple dragon in all his magic again in EPCOT. What a fantastic way to add some fun to EPCOT’s 40th-anniversary celebration.

More EPCOT News

Even though we have already heard some of these updates, Disney shared about EPCOT’s transformation once again at the D23 Expo.

Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana continues to back progress.  This interactive attraction will feature a 16-foot Te Feti.  Although we don’t know much about what this attraction will include when it comes to the interactive water features, we are thrilled to have something Moana-themed in the Parks.

This new attraction should be opened around late 2023.

Another feature that will be coming to EPCOT in 2023 will be a new statue featuring Walt Disney himself.  The new statue is called “Walt the Dream”.  It features Walt looking out over EPCOT as he takes in the amazing progress this Disney Park has made over time.

This statue will be a part of the World Celebration neighborhood.

We are loving the transformation that is happening at EPCOT, and we look forward to more transformation in the coming year.

Hatbox Ghost Is Coming

A very special someone will be heading to the Haunted Mansion in Magic Kingdom very soon.  If you are a fan of this ride, then you might already know who this beloved character is.

The beloved Hatbox Ghost is coming back to Magic Kingdom and the Haunted Mansion.  It is strange how popular this ghost is and he will even be part of the upcoming newest live-action remake The Haunted Mansion.

Jared Leto will be playing The Hatbox Ghost in the new film, but until then, we can look for him to be haunting Magic Kingdom.

More Magic Coming to Magic Kingdom?

During the Expo, a few big teases came.  It was presented as a what is beyond Big Thunder Mountain?  Then Josh D’Amaro along with Disney’s Chris Beatty and Disney Animation’s Jennifer Lee, discussed what could come to this land beyond Big Thunder Mountain at Magic Kingdom.

There were three big ideas tossed out quickly during the Expo.  The three big ideas were focused on the villains, Coco, and Encanto.  We have no ideas about this area and Disney reminded us that it is all “blue sky” ideas.  This means that they are at the very beginning of planning.

We are hopeful that we get to see this Magic Kingdom expansion begin soon.  It would be wonderful to see these newer beloved movies in the Parks and we have always wanted to see the villains in the Parks as well.

We will have to wait to see what will actually come out of these teases.

DinoLand Gets Updated

Most Walt Disney World fans will agree that DinoLand in Disney’s Animal Kingdom was lacking.  Even though the story behind this land is genuinely part of Disney’s storytelling, it is probably time for some upgrades.

Nothing concrete was announced from Disney, but during the D23 Parks and Experience panel, information was released that some basic plans have been discussed for this land. In these initial plans, it seems that both Moana and Zootopia could be seen in the replacement.

Nothing more was announced, leaving us to think about all the unique ways this could happen in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Will Dinosaur stay and be rethemed?   Will we be able to ride on Moana’s boat with her?

We know the Disney Imagineers will transform this land into something truly spectacular.

These are the big announcements that were made at the D23 Expo over the weekend.  We hope that you feel caught up and are just as excited as we are about the updates to Walt Disney World.