D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event is coming up THIS week, and that means we are ready to celebrate all things Disney with Disney and other Disney fans. This event is jam-packed with SO much to see and do, including a LOT of shopping, as well as a ton of booths, exhibits, celebrity appearances, and panels.
Cinderella Castle in Magic Kingdom
Now, one panel we’re REALLY excited about is the Horizons: Disney Experiences Showcase on Saturday night, which is where we’ll learn more about what’s coming to the theme parks and Disney Cruise Line. Speaking of theme parks, we think we’re going to hear a LOT more about everything happening in Disney World, so we’ve got some predictions about what big Disney World announcements we’ll get during this panel.
Disney Villains Land Rides
There are a LOT of questions remaining about the Villains Land coming to Magic Kingdom, and we’re really hoping to get some answers. One of the biggest questions has to do with what the rides in the land might be like. We’ve got the initial concept art, but there have been rumors that Disney has decided to go in a different, more family-friendly direction with rides. Since Disney has been pretty quiet about the area, we’ll be thrilled to know what they’re working on.
©Disney
We’re hoping to get some clarification on what rides in the Villains Land might be like. Plus, it would be really nice if Disney would give us the name for this new land!
Piston Peak opening timeline and more ride details
Construction on Piston Peak, aka the Cars expansion in Magic Kingdom’s Frontierland, is well underway, and we’ve been following its progress. We’d really like an idea of when the new expansion might open, so we think Disney might give us an opening timeline announcement.
©Disney
We’re also hoping that we get more ride details. We know there will be two rides in the expansion: a rally race ride and a slower-paced, family-friendly Cars-themed attraction. That’s not much to go on, though. So we could get some ride names and more details at the D23 panel.
Monstropolis opening timeline and attraction details
Construction for Monstropolis is also well underway in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, so we’re hoping that we’ll get an announcement about an opening timeline for the new land. However, we also still don’t have a ton of details about the ride’s roller coaster, which is based on the doors scene in the first Monsters, Inc. movie. The ride will be the first suspended roller coaster in Disney World, so we might learn more about that, too, and even get the ride’s name.
©Disney
Another detail we have next to NO details about is the show going into the Glob Theater, which we can see on concept art, so we’re expecting to learn more about that.
Puebla Esperanza opening timeline and ride details
Yep, a LOT is going on in Disney World right now. Dinoland, U.S.A. started closing in phases in early 2025 to make way for Puebla Esperanza construction, so it’s already been a while since Disney broke ground on the new land in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. If we get any opening timelines for new lands in Disney World, we bet this is the one we’ll get.
Overview of Pueblo Esperanza coming to Disney’s Animal Kingdom
We also think we’ll learn more about the land’s three new rides: a carousel, an Encanto-themed ride, and a new Indiana Jones ride.
More ride updates
Disney has been busy updating a lot of rides, including Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin. Carousel of Progress is getting a complete overhaul soon. We believe Disney might announce some more ride updates (and our wishful thinking has us begging for that big Spaceship Earth update we were once promised that never happened).
Spaceship Earth needs an update
So we’ll be looking out for some ride update announcements during the Experiences panel, too.
We’ll be covering EVERYTHING at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, so stay tuned to DFB for more.
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What do you think we’ll hear about during the Experiences panel? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
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I’d be shocked if Disney didn’t announce a major Spaceship Earth update considering the new Disney series coming based on the attraction. I think a new Journey Into Imagination will be announced, too. A new Wonders of Life reimagining may need to wait until 2028.