Disney is announcing new rides and experiences coming to its parks over the next few years. Here’s a look at what’s coming to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida.
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
The beloved Splash Mountain will close for good and get a makeover. In its place will be the brand-new attraction, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. The ride is an extension of the movie The Princess and the Frog and will follow the main characters on their way to a Mardi Gras party. Many of the original actors will reprise their roles to offer voices for the ride. Disney executives teamed up with the city of New Orleans to capture the beauty and essence of the historic city.
“In many ways, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is a love letter to New Orleans,” explained Walt Disney Imagineering team member Charita Carter. “Like the musical city that inspired this attraction, Tiana’s second act is about a community working in harmony to achieve something extraordinary. She reminds us of an immutable truth we can all relate to: ‘If you do your best each and every day, good things are sure to come your way.’ And that’s a melody we can all sing along to!”
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will open sometime in 2024.
Epcot Enhancements
Epcot is currently undergoing a large renovation project spanning multiple years. A major portion of the upgrades, World Celebration Neighborhood, is expected to open by the end of 2023. It’s in the center of the park and will serve as a gathering spot for park goers who want a little down time. Festivals, parades, and musical events will also take place there. The focal point of the neighborhood is a new statue of Walt Disney named Walt the Dreamer created to inspire everyone to dream big.
In the World Nature neighborhood of Epcot, visitors can learn about and interact with water in the new Journey of Water experience. Based on Moana’s bond with the ocean, the new trail will take guests on an adventure to learn about water and how to preserve it. That experience is expected to open by late 2023.
TRON Lightcycle Run
Currently in its testing phase, TRON Lightcycle Run will light up Tomorrowland in the spring of 2023. You will board your own Lightcycle before racing and swerving through a dark computerized world. You will race against others to go through all eight Energy Gates to the finish line. The TRON Lightcycle run is based on the franchise of the same name and modeled after the same ride at the Disney Resort in Shanghai. The ride was first announced 5 years ago but ran into significant construction delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Character Appearances
A few new characters will greet guests in the coming months. The Hat Box Ghost will make its way from Disneyland in California to Disney World in 2023. You can find him at the Haunted Mansion. Additionally, Figment will be at Epcot. You can meet the lovable purple dragon starting sometime in 2023. Currently, teams are still working on bringing him to life.
Nighttime Shows
This popular nighttime show, Happily Ever After, will return to Magic Kingdom in 2023. The show illuminates the night sky with exciting lights and music. It last ran at Disney World’s 50th anniversary celebration in 2021. The newly updated show is expected to have more lights and surprises.
Blue Sky Projects
The Blue Sky Projects are plans and concepts for the park’s future that are in the beginning planning phases. Some of these plans may come to fruition in several years; others will not. This year, Disney executives say they want to brainstorm ideas to extend Disney World beyond Thunder Mountain, with tentative plans to create experiences based on the movies Coco and Encanto. Another Blue Sky Project includes reimagining DinoLand in Animal Kingdom to incorporate elements from Zootopia and Moana.
Before you head to Disney World to check out all these new attractions, first read our guides on how to pack for Disney and how to experience Disney on a budget. And don’t forget our ultimate guide to Disney for adults!
