Disney Cruise Line: 

A brand new ship was announced

Disney are expanding their fleet with their newest addition, the Disney Treasure which will set sail in 2024. The cruise will be themed around adventure and its beautiful concept art teased the ship’s detailed atrium. With the Wish having only recently been inaugurated we weren’t necessarily expecting a new ship announcement just yet, so this was a delightful surprise for those who enjoy spending time on the high seas! 

Plus, new routes! 

Beginning 2023, the Disney Wonder is officially heading to Australia and New Zealand! These south pacific voyages will include stops in Fiji and Samoa! 

Shanghai Disneyland

New details were revealed about Shanghai's Zootopia Expansion

Shanghai’s much anticipated Zootopia expansion had a real shining moment at D23 Expo this year, only amping up the excitement for its opening. The official ride vehicle for the area’s attraction was revealed, as well as a highly impressive animatronic that will be a part of the Zootopia themed ride. Puppets were on display that showcased just how the citizens of Zootopia will be brought to life, while further concept art was also shared - we were truly treated when it came to updates on this innovative and exciting new land! We are constantly blown away by the new levels of immersive entertainment that seem to be the priority in this new land! 

Hong Kong Disneyland:

Hong Kong Disneyland will also receive a new Walt statue!

Just as EPCOT will receive a new statue, Hong Kong Disneyland will also receive a stunning new addition that will be installed near Cinderella Carousel. The statue will feature both Walt and Mickey and is inspired by the very moment that Walt first dreamed of Disneyland. The statue is expected to arrive some time next year and is likely to be a big hit among guests, we’re hoping to see images of the statue soon once the stunning concept is officially brought to life. 

Arendelle World of Frozen's opening date was confirmed

Both concept art and ride vehicle models for this new land were on display at D23 expo, with the upcoming area confirmed to feature two brand new attractions themed to Frozen and its fan-favorite story. The two new attractions will also be accompanied by the park’s own version of the Frozen Ever After attraction from WDW’s EPCOT. An official release window of late 2023 was confirmed and its fair to say we’re expecting big things from this exciting new land. 

Disneyland Paris:

A new Tangled ride is coming to Disneyland Paris

Paris also got confirmation of an upcoming family-friendly Tangled attraction which will come as part of the park’s expansion into their Frozen-themed land. Few details were confirmed, but concept art for the new promenade appeared to feature a brief glimpse at this new attraction. We certainly like the sound of turning the story of Tangled into a ride, and Paris seems like the perfect place for this to debut! 

And the 30th Anniversary's official end date was confirmed - but a new show is on the way! 

Those hoping to celebrate Disneyland Paris’ 30th anniversary still have plenty of time to enjoy the park’s festivities as it was confirmed that celebrations will officially come to an end on September 30, 2023. To close out this special anniversary, Disneyland Paris will receive a brand new show called Pixar We Belong Together, with concept art for this new show teasing a beautiful looking Monsters Inc segment. The 30th anniversary has been a huge hit with parks fans, but all good things must come to an end - we’re already looking forward to seeing what Paris have in store for their next big anniversary! 
 

So what didn’t we get? 

An official date for Fantasmic's re-opening

After Disney recently took to social media to confirm that Fantasmic rehearsals had finally begun, many parks fans were almost certain this weekend would bring confirmation of the show’s expected return date, but unfortunately, this wasn’t the case. During the panel, a timeline was displayed that featured Fantasmic within the 2022 section, which wasn’t necessarily surprising given that it's currently in its rehearsal stages, however, no further date was confirmed so, for now, Fantasmic’s reopening will remain a mystery until we receive further news. 

Any news on the Walt Disney Railroad's re-opening

The Walt Disney World Railroad feels as though it's been closed for an age, therefore, we are not alone in missing this much-loved attraction. Having been temporarily closed in 2018 to help make way for TRON Lightcycle / Run, news that TRON is nearing its completion led many to believe that an update on the railroad’s status would also be shared, however, once again, this was not the case. We are anticipating the railroad hopefully opening in spring 2023, though until anything is officially confirmed by Disney, we will just have to wait and see. 

Confirmation on the fate of PLAY! Pavilion At EPCOT 

Having heard a rumor last week that the PLAY! Pavilion at EPCOT has now been cancelled, many fans were expecting an announcement from Disney on Sunday but this did not happen. The PLAY! Pavilion was not mentioned at all when discussing plans for the future which definitely leads us to believe that this project is now gone for good!

When this project was first announced, creative portfolio executive for Walt Disney Imagineering, Zach Riddley, had this to say about the new "Play" pavilion:
“This innovative, new pavilion is beyond anything we’ve ever created and is completely unique to Epcot. Built on the power of play, it introduces an immersive and interactive ‘city’ where you can explore, create, and interact with some of your favorite Disney characters. This is an experience worthy of our bold vision for Epcot – and another signature element of our transformation.” 

So, what was your favourite announcement from this year? Which announcement came as the biggest surprise for you?