Disney Just Dropped Major Theme Park Announcements At Destination D23

Soarin’ Around the World is a super cool ride, where you feel like you're flying like a bird all over the globe. In a fun twist for the 100th anniversary celebration, Soarin’ Around California will return to EPCOT for a limited time, starting this month, with spectacular birds-eye views of the Golden Gate Bridge, Yosemite National Park, Malibu and more. Fans say this version is far superior to the global version.

Ahsoka Tano (played in the new “Ahsoka” series by Rosario Dawson) will join Star Tours, the "Star Wars"-themed motion ride, in a new adventure at Hollywood Studios and Disneyland next spring.

In EPCOT and Disneyland, Asha, the main character of the upcoming animated film “WISH,” will be available for meet and greets. It will probably coincide with the film’s premiere, which releases this November.

The villain of the new “Haunted Mansion” film and a legend among Disney enthusiasts, the Hatbox Ghost was a Haunted Mansion character who’s head would disappear from his body and reappear inside a hatbox. Because of technical limitations of the time, the animatronic was removed in 1969 shortly after the ride debuted because it didn’t work well. Now that the technology exists to properly execute the character, he arrived in the Disneyland ride in 2015 and will finally come to the Magic Kingdom in November. He will appear in the Endless Hallway scene.

In 2024, the beloved animatronic bear show will reopen with a new act, new songs and some much-needed “love” in Disney’s words.

Disney released concept art for a new attraction at Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure. It’s a time jumping vehicle described as having “elements of Tony Stark's time-suits with Xandarian jump points and Wakandan technology.” In the ride, the Avengers will team up across the multiverse to defeat King Thanos. There’s no official word yet on the ride’s name, what kind of ride it will be, or when it will debut.

A Pirates of the Caribbean-themed “watering hole “is coming to Adventureland in the Magic Kingdom. There are no details on the menu, but Disney said it will expand the story of the pirates. No opening date was announced, either.

As a centerpiece of the countries featured in EPCOT, Disney will unveil a World Celebration pavilion. Located towards the front of the park, it will also tie the World Discovery and World Nature neighborhoods together.

Finally, the much awaited Journey of Water opens in the World Nature section of EPCOT in October. Based on “Moana,” who will be nearby to greet guests, the walk-through attraction allows you to interact with water in a variety of whimsical ways.

A new fireworks show, that replaces the somewhat aesthetically controversial “Harmonius” begins in EPCOT in December. Luminous – The Symphony of Us will feature “fireworks, fountains, lasers, lighting effects and music.” Harmonius' barges, which many thought were unsightly, were removed from the World Showcase Lagoon earlier this year.

Disney imagineers are working with Chevrolet to reimagine Test Track for EPCOT. Their inspiration comes from the original World of Motion, which told the history of transportation. No date has been set for the ride’s relaunch.

What they’re calling “Beyond Big Thunder Mountain,” imagineers will break ground past the train-themed rollercoaster for the biggest Magic Kingdom expansion ever. What this means has not yet revealed, but it sounds exciting and on the same scale as previous theme park expansions like Galaxy’s Edge and Pandora.

One of the most hated attractions in Animal Kingdom is the “Bug’s Life”-themed "It's Tough To Be A Bug” film in the Tree of Life Theater (it’s scary for kids and generally creepy). Imagineers are exploring a “Zootopia” retheme for this very cool tree-shaped theater, but plans aren’t firm just yet.

DinoLand U.S.A. is about to be extinct. A tropical-themed South American land will inhabit this corner of Animal Kingdom, with possible "Encanto" and Indiana Jones theming. Dinosaur might become an Indiana Jones dark ride.

Fan-favorite Figment gets his own meet and greet at EPCOT starting now. Straight outta Journey Into Imagination, the lovable purple character is wearing his iconic yellow shirt and ready for a photo with you.