Destination D23: No 'parks panel' for 2025 convention

There will be no “parks panel” during the Destination D23 convention, happening at Walt Disney World in August 2025. However, there is a Disney Villains presentation, which could include news about an upcoming expansion.

Josh D'Amaro, Mickey Mouse, D23 Expo 2022 — *Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro with Mickey Mouse at D23 Expo 2022.*
_{Images courtesy of Disney}

Breaking from tradition, 2025’s Destination D23 convention will not have a “parks panel,” the informal name for an annual showcase of breaking-news announcements for the future of Disney theme parks hosted by Josh D’Amaro, chairman of Disney Experiences.

Destination D23 takes place Aug. 29-31 at Walt Disney World near Orlando, Fla.

However, there will be a presentation titled “Disney Villains: Icons of Evil” on Sunday, Aug. 31, at 9:05 a.m., the description of which reads:

Join Disney Experiences (and some of your favorite troublemakers) for a panel discussion on how Disney Villains experiences come to life around the world. Hear directly from the creative minds behind new projects and attractions, plus enjoy a special Villains-themed medley to kick off Destination D23 day 2.
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This description seems to tee up news about the upcoming Villains Land opening at Magic Kingdom, but time will tell.

Destination D23 is sold out. Disney announced select panels will be livestreamed.

Destination D23 is held every two years in Orlando, opposite the much bigger convention in Anaheim, Calif., which is known as D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event (formerly D23 Expo) and where the “parks panel” is also a staple of the weekend. Both events are hosted by D23, the official Disney fan club. Whereas the Anaheim event spans an entire convention center and an arena, Orlando’s is mostly contained to a Disney resort hotel. This year, there’s an after-hours party at Typhoon Lagoon, too.

While most of Orlando’s Destination D23 typically focuses on history-based behind-the-scenes panels, the past few iterations of the weekend have still included a look at what’s to come for the parks with D’Amaro, or with former chairman Bob Chapek before him. (For example, at Destination D23 2023, D’Amaro announced the reimagining of Test Track at Epcot, which just opened last month. The supersized Anaheim version of the parks panel usually reveals major announcements of huge projects, as it did last year.)

There is no equivalent presentation listed in the 2025 itinerary; the closest is a showcase from Walt Disney Studios, the film division of The Walt Disney Company.

The theme of Destination D23 2025 is “A Journal Around the Worlds of Disney.” Among the presentations are special tributes to the 25th anniversary of “The Emperor’s New Groove,” the 30th anniversary of “A Goofy Movie,” and the 85th anniversary of “The Three Caballeros.”