New Night Show, Hatbox Ghost, Reimagined Test Track And More Coming To Walt Disney World

Today, Disney has shared some exciting updates and announcements about their most highly anticipated projects within Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products during Destination D23 — the grandest Disney fan event of the year!

Disney Parks, Experiences and Products Chairman Josh D’Amaro took the stage at D23 in Anaheim revealing the following about Walt Disney World:

Test Track is getting reimagined! Imagineers along with teams from Chevrolet are reaching back into history for inspiration – from the original World of Motion – and bringing that spirit of optimism to the next iteration of the Test Track attraction! More to come in the future.

A new Nighttime Spectacular at EPCOT called “Luminous The Symphony of Us” will debut on Dec. 5, 2023 at Walt Disney World featuring fireworks, fountains, lasers, lighting effects and music.

A new Pirates of the Caribbean themed lounge is coming to Adventureland at Magic Kingdom Park, Walt Disney World. This will be a first-of-its-kind experience extending the story of Pirates of the Caribbean. Imagineers are still in the design process now and more details are coming in the future.

Disney’s famed Hatbox Ghost is coming to the Haunted Mansion at Walt Disney World in late November! Hatbox Ghost will be materializing in the Haunted Mansion as you pass the attraction’s Endless Hallway.

DINOLAND U.S.A. at Disney’s Animal Kingdom will be reimagined into a new land – inspired by a region sometimes referred to as “tropical Americas.”

The World Celebration Neighborhood at EPCOT will begin welcoming guests this December!

World Celebration will unite the front of the park, tying together the other two new EPCOT neighborhoods, World Discovery and World Nature. The completion of the last of the park’s three neighborhoods will be the latest major milestone multi-year transformation of EPCOT.

Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana will open on Oct. 16, 2023! The new walk-through experience will be located within World Nature – the EPCOT neighborhood dedicated to understanding and preserving the beauty and balance of the natural world.

Also, on Oct. 16 – Moana will arrive in World Nature and make her first appearance in her own dedicated space near Journey of Water.

AHSOKA will become part of our popular STAR TOURS attraction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Florida, Disneyland Park in California and Disneyland Paris – beginning next spring.

FIGMENT will begin meeting guests inside the Imagination Pavilion at EPCOT beginning tomorrow – Sept. 10!

New experiences inspired by “ENCANTO” – the Academy Award winning Walt Disney Animation Studios film – and the fan-favorite adventurer Indiana Jones are being considered for the reimagined land at Disney’s Animal Kingdom! Disney says there’s a long way to go and a lot more to discover but Imagineering teams in Florida are up for the challenge.

A new show based on “Zootopia” is being created for the Tree of Life theater at Disney’s Animal Kingdom! The current concept for the new “Zootopia” experience has guests visiting the different biomes you only glimpse in the film, traveling along with Judy Hopps, Nick Wilde and other characters. Imagineers are currently finalizing the concept and more details will be coming in the future.

Country Bear Jamboree at Walt Disney World is getting new songs and the bears will be performing a new act in 2024! When the show debuts, the bears will be reinterpreting favorite Disney songs in different genres of country music. Imagineers are envisioning the new experience as a homage to the classic musical revues in Nashville and they’re working with Nashville musicians to get the authentic country sound.

It’s worth noting that the Country Bear Jamboree will still have the fun and friendly tone fans enjoy with the same famous characters like the loveable Trixie, Big Al and others.

Bruce Vaughn, Chief Creative Officer at Walt Disney Imagineering, took the stage and stated that the “future expansion plans for Magic Kingdom in Florida are the largest ever for the park”. Imagineers are looking to tell stories “Beyond Big Thunder Mountain” similar in scale to things like Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and Pandora – The World of Avatar – adding new attractions, restaurants, shows and more!

Disney Parks, Experiences and Products Chairman Josh D’Amaro wrapped up the presentation saying:

“over the next decade, we’re going to have more projects underway than at any point in our history. Our sole purpose is to give you more and more of what you love about a Disney experience. And then surprise and delight you with things you never dreamed possible.”

For more information, visit the official Walt Disney World website by clicking here.

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