D23 Rumors Confirmed: Walt Disney Parks & Resorts Panel Updates

Photo Credit: Walt Disney Co.

Well friends, after waiting with baited breath, the Walt Disney Parks & Resorts panel cleared up the rumors we’ve been experiencing for months now! Here’s what we’ve learned: 

Walt Disney World Resort

-While the writing has been on the wall for a while, it looks like Ellen’s Energy Adventure will be updated to a Guardians of the Galaxy attraction in Epcot’s Future World. (RIP. I am so sad because I love EEA, but understand its expiration date has arrived.)

-Another bit of sad news is the end of The Great Movie Ride. It will be replaced by “Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Train” attraction. I have high hopes but am sad to not have one last chance to ride GMR – that’s a wrap August 13.

-Star Wars Land at Hollywood Studios will be called “Star Wars : Galaxy’s Edge” opening first in Disneyland in 2019, followed by Walt Disney World. Cool!

Toy Story Land to open Summer 2018. I can’t wait to experience the Slinky roller coaster!

-Star Wars Hotel: CONFIRMED for Walt Disney World, location on property TBD.

Tron attraction from Shanghai Disneyland will be added to an untapped area of Tomorrowland (yes, it looks like the Tomorrowland Indy Speedway makes the cut!)

-A gondola transportation system called The Skyliner will service Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disney’s Art of Animation, Disney’s Pop Century Resort and Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort. Construction has begun in the old tram area of the International Gateway entrance to Epcot.

-The Ratatouille attraction, popular in Disneyland Paris, has been CONFIRMED for the France Pavillion in World Showcase. It will be a separate area from Impressions de France (spared for now!)

Mission: Space will be getting new overlay storylines and it appears the Green and Orange levels (green: low intensity; orange: high intensity) will have completely different stories!

-Right next to Mission: Space will be a brand new space-themed table restaurant!

Minnie vans will take the place of generic ride share companies to keep Disney happy and everything on property. They are definitely cute!

A new DVC hotel (exclusively DVC? groan), called the Disney Riviera hotel will open Fall 2019.

-There will be a new Main Street stage/theater area for live shows, with theming based on an old-timey turn-of-the-century theater. Can’t wait!

Disneyland
– Marvel Land: CONFIRMED for Disneyland’s California Adventure
-Paradise pier will now be themed as Pixar Pier

Disneyland Paris
-Marvel Hotel: CONFIRMED for Disneyland Paris, and will be refreshing the current New York-themed resort

Other
– A new line of Disney Cruise ships will be added to the fleet through 2023. Names TBD.
-A new Beauty and the Beast stage show will be introduced on the Disney Cruise Lines.

Unconfirmed:
-Will Disney’s Hollywood Studios change its name?
-No news of a new pavilion in Epcot’s World Showcase.

That’s a lot of news for one session! Disney is definitely investing a lot of resources into its parks, particularly to Walt Disney World Resort, and I cannot wait to experience as much of it as possible!

Until next time, #willrunfordisney

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