More exciting theme park news from Destination D23
This morning, during his presentation for Destination D23 in Orlando, Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products Chairman Josh D’Amaro and Walt Disney Imagineers shared news about some of the new characters and experiences coming to Disney Parks, including a meet and greet with a certain purple dragon.
In March, we learned that everyone’s favorite purple dragon, Figment, would be on hand to greet his fans in Epcot in late summer 2023, but with summer on its way out, it was starting to look like this Disney promise might not be kept – until today.
During his presentation, Josh announced that the new Figment walk-around character will debut tomorrow, Sept. 10, 2023, inside the Imagination Pavilion at Epcot.
But Wait. There’s more!
Also announced during Josh’s Destination D23 presentation is that Ahsoka from “The Mandalorian” and “Ahsoka” series on Disney Plus will soon be part of the Star Tours attractions at Disneyland, Walt Disney World, and Disneyland Paris next spring.
Plus, Asha from the upcoming Disney animated movie “Wish” will be coming to Epcot, Disneyland, and Disneyland Paris; the Hatbox Ghost will make his highly-anticipated appearance inside the Haunted Mansion at Walt Disney World in late November; and on Oct. 16, 2023, Moana will meet guests in a new dedicated space near the new Journey of Water walk-through attraction (which will also officially open on Oct. 16, 2023).
We also got a few new details from Imagineer Executive Director Brent Strong about Avengers Campus in Disney California Adventure Park. Last year at D23 Expo, we learned about a new attraction to assemble superheroes from across the multiverse to battle King Thanos.
In the “sneak peek” from Walt Disney Imagineering, Brent said the ride will feature “a new multi-world mission spanning the universe” that employs a vehicle combining elements of Tony Stark’s time suits with Zandarian jump points and Wakandan technology. Imagineering also revealed on Instagram that the attraction will include “large-scale built environments and immersive media.”
According to Brent, the new vehicle “combines portal technology and flight capabilities to maneuver through the skies, meaning heroes can deploy anywhere they’re needed – and with new recruits like us to aid these superheroes, the multiverse will be safer than ever before.”
Last but certainly not least, Walt Disney Imagineering Chief Creative Officer Bruce Vaughn also hinted at a “Big big” expansion in development “beyond Big Thunder Mountain” in Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort. Sadly, Bruce didn’t give us any hints about what’s in store, but he did say plans are “about to go into overdrive,” so we can expect more news about the project soon.
We also learned:
- Soarin’ Over California will return to Epcot for a limited time starting Sept. 22, 2023
- Epcot’s new nighttime spectacular called “Luminous: The Symphony of Us” will debut Dec. 5, 2023
- The World Celebration neighborhood in Epcot will start welcoming guests in December 2023
- A new Pirates of the Caribbean-themed lounge is coming to Adventureland at Magic Kingdom
- Imagineers and Chevrolet will reimagine Test Track at Epcot
