Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Cory Woodroof

10 exciting updates about Disney parks from Destination D23, including a major addition to Animal Kingdom

Fans of Disney parks got some major updates for some various experiences coming to their destination of choice on Saturday morning.

The Disney parks panel at Destination D23 gave some exciting news blasts for folks who enjoy experiencing the theme parks, including the long-awaited update on what Disney is doing with the retheming of Animal Kingdom’s Dinoland U.S.A.

Updates for the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disneyland’s Avengers Campus, Star Tours and Tokyo DisneySea also came through for fans wondering what the future will hold for those various parks.

If you’re a fan of Encanto, Indiana Jones, Zootopia or the Country Bear Jamboree, you’re going to want to check this out.

Encanto, Indiana Jones attractions being considered for Animal Kingdom land

The biggest news out of Destination D23’s parks announcements came with news about the retheming of Animal Kingdom’s Dinoland U.S.A. area.

The area will be inspired by the “tropical Americas” and is being rendered with attractions inspired by the film Encanto and the Indiana Jones series.

If you look at the artwork rendering, you can see Casa Madrigal from Encanto and what looks to be an ancient temple where an Indiana Jones attraction could take place.

No timeline has been set for opening, but more will likely be revealed at next year’s D23 Expo in Anaheim.

Animal Kingdom's Tree of Life will get new Zootopia experience

The Animal Kingdom will also retheme its central Tree of Life attraction to a Zootopia-themed experience.

The park’s giant tree has long been home to the Bug’s Life 3D show It’s Tough to Be a Bug!, but it will now feature visits to “the different biomes in the film, traveling along with Judy Hopps, Nick Wilde and other characters,” per Disney.

No timeline has been revealed yet for this retheming, either.

Test Track will get another revamp

Test Track, Epcot’s long-standing thrill ride, will be getting its second major revamp since the attraction’s opening.

Imagineers along with teams from [Chevrolet] are looking back to the original World of Motion for inspiration and bringing that spirit of optimism to the next iteration of the attraction,” Disney shared during the presentation. 

More information on the new Test Track experience will come down the road, per Disney.

The Country Bear Jamboree is getting an update

The iconic Country Bear Jamboree at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom will reportedly be getting new songs and a new act that incorporates Disney songs with a country twist.

The attraction has been open in Orlando since 1971, making this a pretty major update for one of the park’s more beloved shows.

The ride vehicle for Disneyland's new Avengers Campus attraction was revealed

After Disney announced a new Avengers attraction for Disneyland last year that will reportedly feature Thanos and the Multiverse, fans got a first glimpse at the ride vehicle that the new experience will utilize.

Star Tours will feature Ahsoka next year

Fans of the new Star Wars show Ahsoka will get a chance to go on an adventure with the Jedi on Star Tours, with an Ahsoka-themed ride show coming to all versions of Star Tours next spring.

World Celebration neighborhood, character experiences, new show coming to Epcot

How about more Epcot updates?

For Disney fans who want to snap a pic with their favorite characters, Moana and Ahsa from the upcoming film Wish will be making their way to Epcot.

The new World Celebration neighborhood at the park’s center will also be opening in December, and a new nighttime show will begin that month as well called Luminous The Symphony of Us.

Hatbox Ghost coming to Haunted Mansion

Haunted Mansion fans will get a new spook as the Hatbox Ghost is coming to the Disney World attraction at the Magic Kingdom in November.

New Pirates-themed lounge coming to Magic Kingdom

A new themed lounge area is also coming to Disney World’s Pirates of the Caribbean area at Magic Kingdom.

Tokyo DisneySea's new themed port gets fresh look

Park fans got a fresh look at the new themed port at Tokyo DisneySea opening in 2024.

“The eighth themed port of Tokyo DisneySea will feature Rapunzel’s Forest, Peter Pan’s Never Land & Frozen Kingdom,” Disney shared.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.