The D23 Expo was recently held in California. During the event there were multiple WOW announcements made that will have mixed reactions from the fans of Walt Disney World. There are major changes coming to Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, and Hollywood Studios.
Anyone can just walk into Disney Hollywood Studios and realize "change is a coming" and the expo shed some more light on the changes. The much anticipated Star Wars land will be named Star Wars Galaxy's Edge at DHS. There was a scaled model of the land at D23 and a tentative date was given for the opening. Disneyland's version of the Star Wars area will be opening sometime in 2019 before WDW's (how much before is not known). Another change coming to DHS will be the closing of the Great Movie Ride and the opening of an immersive Mickey and Minnie attraction. The attraction will be a train ride into a Mickey Mouse cartoon. For those of you Great Movie Ride fans (myself included) the attraction will close for good on August 13, 2017 in order to begin work on the Mickey Minnie's Runaway Railway. This will leave DHS pretty bare for the time being BUT, Toy Story Land is scheduled to open in the summer of 2018.
As we leave DHS we head to EPCOT where the Guardians of the Galaxy will take up shop where Ellen's Energy Adventure was/is housed. There will also be a new Ratatouille ride (like the one in Disneyland Paris) coming in the area between the French and Morocco pavilions. Opening soon will be a milder level of the Mission Space attraction. There will also be some cosmetic changes coming to the entrance area of EPCOT. It is anticipated that the changes to EPCOT will be complete by 2021 in time for the 50th anniversary. Two rumored announcement that didn't come to fruition were changes to the Imagination with Figment attraction as well as the expected addition to at least one more World Showcase pavilion (Brazil...).
Two big changes will be coming to the Magic Kingdom. There will be a live entertainment theatre modeled after the historic Willis Theatre in Kansas City, Missouri. Another thrill ride will be making its way to MK as TRON Light Cycles will squeeze into the park apparently in Tomorrowland.
Along with these changes in the parks there will be two new resorts built (one being an interactive Star Wars themed and the other a new Disney Vacation Club) plus a new restaurant in EPCOT that will be space themed. On the transportation side of things two big announcements were made one being a Sky-Line connecting EPCOT, DHS, Caribbean Beach Resort, Art of Animation and the two new resorts. The other is a UBER like service for WDW which will utilize a "Minnie" Van (a van with Minnie Mouse polka dots and a bow).
With the announcements made at the D23 Expo it only intensifies my desire to return to WDW. Here is hoping you a Magical Day today and everyday...
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