Destination D23 was held at Walt Disney World over the weekend, and although there was no blockbuster news, there were several ‘singles & doubles’ announcements. This report card ranks all of the announcements for the Disney Parks from worst to first, and shares our thoughts on the event as a whole.
From a theme parks perspective, the most noteworthy news ahead of this year’s Destination D23 was that there would be no Disney Parks Panel hosted by chairman Josh D’Amaro. In its place was the “Walt Disney Studios Showcase” marquee presentation on Saturday morning, during which host Yvette Nicole Brown was joined by creatives behind several upcoming films to share announcements and new trailers with fans.
Although it’s a bit beyond our area of emphasis, this showcase can be summed up in one word: refreshing. I’ve attended several of these at previous D23 Expos, and they had gotten progressively worse up until last year. The volume of live action remake and direct to Disney+ slop was out of control, with movies that were obviously bad just based on their trailers. This was a return to form for the studios, with a great mix of original films (I’m 100% sold on Hoppers, a movie I previously thought was about grasshoppers) and sequels to fan-favorites. The creative output of the studios impacts the parks, so this isn’t just nice to see–it’s important, maybe even essential.
To quickly recap before we get going, our 2025 Destination D23 Announcement Predictions for Walt Disney World were the following:
- Walt Disney Studios Lot and Magic of Disney Animation Reveal
- Stitch’s Great Escape 2.0 Announcement
- Grand Floridian Bird Cage Bar Menu & Opening Date
- Villains Land Official Name (4-16 words long with 2-7 punctuation marks)
- Repainting Cinderella Castle to Classic Colors or Dream Lights Returning for Christmas
- Bluey Coming to DHS Details
- Spaceship Earth Reimagining
- New Concept Art for Current Projects
That’s it for Walt Disney World. Spoiler alert: I did not exactly have a strong performance with those picks. In fairness, I did make several predictions about things that would not happen, such as imploring fans to lower their expectations about any potential Villains Land news. I’d also like to think that the Cinderella Castle classic makeover was a good deep cut call. Still, pretty far from my best outing with that slate!
Our prior Destination D23 Wish List contained a lot more (including a reimagining of Journey Into Imagination for like the 9th consecutive D23 event), but it also noted that we weren’t expecting the vast majority of that to occur. It was idle daydreaming, with our perspective being that Disney had “shot its shot” with the last D23 Expo, so this wouldn’t have nearly as many announcements as the 2023 Destination D23. And it definitely didn’t.
Against that backdrop, let’s rank all of the Walt Disney World news, followed by a grade for the event as a whole…
15. New Novelty Items Coming to Disney Parks
One of the “highlights” of the Disney Eats panel was the reveal of eight new novelty items coming to the Disney Parks and Disney Cruise Line ships, including popcorn buckets, sippers, and mugs.
I’ve shared my perspective on popcorn buckets and sippers before, and against my better judgment, I’ll reiterate here: I absolutely do not get the appeal. They serve minimal practical purpose, and are usually cheaply constructed as compared to other products. If you want a plastic toy…why not just buy a plastic toy? (Tiki mugs are a totally different story; super cool, yet also impractical and even pricier.)
I’m very aware that this is an unpopular opinion, and few things reinforced that as much as the D23 crowd going absolutely wild for each novelty reveal. I’ve had some Principal Skinner “am I out of touch?” moments in recent years as part of the fandom, and this was just the latest. With all of that said, I’m also a big believer in letting people enjoy what they want to enjoy. If you love popcorn buckets, more power to you. I have plenty of interests that you’d probably think are silly.
14. New Drinks Coming to Disney Destiny
During your voyage aboard the Disney Destiny, slip away to The Sanctum, Haunted Mansion Parlor, and Cask & Cannon, all themed spaces that are inspired by the larger-than-life personalities of epic Disney stories, brought to life through elevated interpretation and refined theming. Each of these will also feature unique beverages.
No real opinion on this one. We don’t really imbibe anymore, and view (another unpopular opinion incoming) zero-proof cocktails as a racket, so we seldom buy those. These drinks certainly look cool, and I appreciate ambitious themed food & beverage programs. Great for those who will enjoy them!
13. New Concept Art for Napa Rose at Disneyland
When it reopens, the award-winning Napa Rose will offer an elevated dining experience, blending timeless Craftsman design with a fresh take on modern Californian sophistication and warmth in the overhauled main dining room.
The new concept art shows the outdoor patio that’s being enhanced to welcome more guests for al fresco dining. Two new fireplaces will cast a warm glow across the patio, adding a cozy and inviting touch to the atmosphere. As the sun sets, you can gather around the fire, reflecting on your Disney day and enjoying the ambiance.
I’m looking forward to the return of Napa Rose, which was one of our favorite restaurants in Southern California through 2019. (It wasn’t the same post-reopening.) The refreshed outdoor space doesn’t look all that different to me, but I’m nevertheless cautiously optimistic–mostly about a menu refresh, if I’m being honest. The interior design could go either way, and will come down to execution.
12. D23 Expo Returns in 2026
It’s not a huge surprise that the D23 Expo is returning to California next year, but it was nevertheless nice to hear confirmation and a reveal of dates. We can’t wait to attend, as it’s one of our favorite events of the entire year.
Although D23 Expo definitely isn’t for everyone (and that’s fine–don’t be swayed by FOMO if it feels like it’s not your scene), we love it. If it is for you, we’d highly recommend attending. It feels like only a matter of time before D23 Expo goes the way of other conventions like this. Frankly, I’m surprised it’s lasted this long.
11. “Uninvited! A Villains Takeover Party” Coming to Hong Kong Disneyland
Disney announced a new Halloween Time event at Hong Kong Disneyland for the 20th Anniversary called “Uninvited! A Villains Takeover Party.” The entertainment offering features the villains taking over Main Street, U.S.A. from September 19 through November 2, 2025.
“Uninvited! A Villains Takeover Party” is a mash-up of a cavalcade, street party, and musical number. The premise is that Maleficent was accidentally left off the invitation list (hence the name), so she leads a hostile takeover of Main Street. Maleficent then recruits guests to “call forth her uninvited counterparts.” Sounds a bit like Hocus Pocus Villains Spelltacular at Magic Kingdom, but not a stage show.
On the one hand, I’m never going to knock more entertainment. On the other hand, we first did Halloween at HKDL over a decade ago, and it was a totally different experience back in the day. Basically, it was Halloween Horror Nights: Disney Edition. I’m not surprised that they’ve made the event more family-friendly and on-brand (to the contrary, I’m surprised what they did before ever got corporate approval), I just miss the “good ole days” a bit.
10. Moana Restaurant Coming to HKDL
Disney revealed a first-look at the “new” Wayfinders’ Table Moana-themed restaurant, which will officially open on September 12, 2025 and is located near the Moana: A Homecoming Celebration stage show in Adventureland. Concept art shows a vibrant setting inspired by the popular franchise, along with signage and familiar characters in the seating area.
For those who are unfamiliar with HKDL, the new Moana-themed restaurant replaces Tahitian Terrace, which looks pretty much the same as this. The differences are the signage and characters. Tahitian Terrace has/had one of the best menus in the entire park; hopefully this retains or enhances that. Regardless, seeing HKDL get some love–even if that means more IP injections–is a win.
9. Unlucky Nugget Saloon Coming to Disneyland Paris
It is rumoured that a grand reception was to be held there in honour of the neighbouring Ravenswoods, to celebrate the upcoming nuptials of their daughter, Melanie. But the restaurant has inexplicably fallen into disrepair, prompting locals to rename it ‘The Unlucky Nugget’.
The restaurant remains open to curious visitors but warns that they should expect their visit to be somewhat… spirited! The Unlucky Nugget Saloon is a time-limited experience including ghostly decoration and savoury eerie Halloween menus that will be available only during Disney Halloween Festival, from October 1st to November 2nd at Disneyland Paris.
I’m a big fan of the Lucky Nugget, Thunder Mesa backstory, and Halloween at Disneyland Paris. I also think that the current menu is already a bit, ahem, unlucky, so trying something fresh in this space sounds like a win to me. Certainly beats a Toy Story puppet show!
8. Disneyland Handcrafted Documentary Coming Soon
Oscar and Emmy nominated filmmaker (with deep Disney roots!) Leslie Iwerks announced on stage at the panel that her new documentary film Disneyland Handcrafted, is coming this winter to Disney+ and Disney YouTube.
Disneyland Handcrafted ranks relatively highly for me thanks to “The Imagineering Story,” which is by the same documentarian. The first trailer also looks fantastic, and it’s great to see fresh footage of something that’s been covered pretty exhaustively. “Disneyland Handcrafted” might not be the best name, as we’ve already had several readers comment that they thought it was a merchandise thing.
7. Hidden Details & Lore About Disney Castles
Imagineers Wyatt Winter, Jason Grandt, and Katie Gibbs were joined by former Imagineering Creative Executive Tom Morris and James Silson, Show Director with Disney Live Entertainment, to share their favorite moments in the history of building Disney Castles.
This was a panel, not a specific piece of news, but it warrants inclusion here because it was arguably the highlight of Destination D23, and harkens back to the history-oriented event Destination D used to be. It was a bit zany (Stitch appeared, shooting toilet paper all over the stage), while also being educational and offering deep cuts and little-known info.
So I just wanted to stop and share my appreciation for this, as well as the Three Caballeros and Down the Rabbit Hole with the Disney Archives presentations. More of this, please. (Although I would’ve preferred Steven Vagnini or Becky Cline moderate, as opposed to some YouTuber.)
Imagineers closed out the panel announcing the next episode of “We Call It Imagineering: Building Castles” will debut on the Walt Disney Imagineering YouTube channel on September 8, 2025.
6. Dr. Facilier’s “Parlor Tricks” Coming to Disney Destiny
Dr. Facilier from The Princess and the Frog will be one of the featured villains making “meet and play” appearances aboard the Disney Destiny when it sets sail later this year. The idea is that, instead of a traditional meet & greet, Dr. Facilier will be part of chance encounters that offer opportunities for interaction and entertainment. He’s going to have a parlor in an undisclosed location that guests might stumble upon, luring guests in for a card trick or sleight of hand.
This sounds fantastic. Now that we have a young daughter, we definitely appreciate dedicated meet & greets more (predictable and consistent), but we also love the little unplanned moments (truly magical). Love to see Disney leaning more into the latter, and making these interactive opportunities more ambitious. Here’s hoping that this also serves as a playtest of sorts for Villains Land at Magic Kingdom.
5. New Tron: Ares Ride Overlay for TRON Lightcycle Run
The next time you step into the digital frontier with TRON Lightcycle Run, you’ll launch into a Tron: Ares version of the high-speed, adrenaline-pumping ride that bends reality into the video game world.
Replacing the blue and orange hues of the ride, you’ll weave through twisting tunnels of vibrant red and orange light trails. Adding to the immersive visuals, the pulsating industrial sounds of Nine Inch Nails will drive the ride’s energy, pushing your experience between the Grid and reality into a fully immersive, futuristic symphony of light, speed, and sound.
This is seemingly such a little thing, but it’s precisely what repeat visitors to Walt Disney World, of which there are many, crave. This will have no negative impact on first timers, while adding re-rideability for regulars. It’s win-win. It’s also nice to see Walt Disney World not decline a studio marketing budget for once! Here’s hoping we get more of this in the future; locals, APs and DVC Members should matter more to WDW, as they’re growing demographics.
4. Conjured Architecture for Villains Land at Magic Kingdom
Imagineers on the Villains Land project team took a research trip to Europe to investigate architecture, namely the Art Nouveau style. After seeing similarities with the magical, fluid, and organic appearance of both the animated villains and the architecture, the team behind coined the term “Conjured Architecture.”
While our commentary about this so-called “Conjured Architecture” focused mostly on other potential architectural inspirations beyond Art Nouveau (don’t get me wrong–it’s a style I like), I’m just pleased to see Imagineering doing research trips for Villains Land and drawing inspiration from an ambitious style. No matter what the end result, I view this as positive news.
Some fans disagree, questioning the necessity of research trips and suggesting they’re a waste of money. First, this is a drop of water in the ocean of the Villains Land budget. Second, the open-ended land is likely to have parallels to Avengers Campus, and I would humbly suggest that project would have benefited tremendously from a research trip somewhere other than an office park in La Cañada.
3. World of Frozen Opening Season
Via video from France, Michel Den Dulk, Vice President and Portfolio Executive Creative Director at Walt Disney Imagineering Paris, revealed that World of Frozen will finally open its gates in Spring 2026.
By extension, this also means that the overhaul of the Walt Disney Studios Park into Disney Adventure World will also wrap in Spring 2026. The former can’t really happen without the latter (although I’m guessing the Up ride won’t be ready), and Disney already tied the bigger-picture park reimagining to the World of Frozen.
It’s been a long road, but the second gate is almost there. We’re really excited to experience this park anew–words I never thought I’d type after our first visit, after which we argued that the Walt Disney Studios Park was not actually a “Disney” theme park. This transformation should finally put that to rest (if it hasn’t been already in the intervening years) once and for good.
2. Classic Cinderella Castle Makeover
The updated paint will feature grays, creams, blues, and touches of gold, aiming to enhance the castle’s architecture. While the project team is still putting the finishing touches on the paint design process, WDI started to share the incredible amount of research and care that goes into this project.
We’re really looking forward to a return of the classic Cinderella Castle color scheme after 5+ years of the makeover for Walt Disney World’s 50th Anniversary. In our view, the pink castle was a miss; it felt like Disney was trying too hard, chasing color trends, aiming to appeal to influencers with something more “princessy,” or maybe more like the whimsy of Disneyland Paris.
The look just didn’t work for the more regal Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom, which benefits from a cooler and subtler style. I’d go as far as to call this “nature is healing” news, and cannot wait to see Cinderella Castle restored to its classic color scheme. It’s been a long time since we’ve seen this–not just ~5 years, since Cinderella Castle was badly faded by the time the last repainting rolled around. The lighter look should really pop under the blue skies and puffy clouds of Central Florida!
1. Walt Disney Audio-Animatronics Coming to Carousel of Progress
Walt Disney Imagineer Chris Beatty revealed that you will soon be able to see Walt Disney through the magic of Audio-Animatronics technology in Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress at Magic Kingdom.
Before you follow an American family (and Rover!) over four generations of progress as technology transforms their lives and paves the way for once-unimaginable innovations, you’ll be able to catch a brand-new introductory scene and hear from the legendary man who never stood in the way of progress — Walt Disney.
This new Walt Disney introductory scene is presumably replacing what’s currently a curtain, logo, and voiceover. That scene is only a couple minutes long, which is consistent with the Audio Animatronics portion of “Walt Disney – A Magical Life” at Disneyland. Although this intro will be dramatically different, using that as a blueprint for the mannerisms and motion does make sense.
We’ve already covered the reasons why the new Carousel of Progress enhancements are hugely positive news with zero catch, from paying tribute to Walt Disney to giving Carousel of Progress a new multi-decade lease on life. That’s clearly the consensus, which is nice to see. To the extent there’s skepticism, it’s mostly about the likeness of the current Walt Disney AA, which is fair.
My only response is that I’d expect to see iterative improvements there from Imagineering. Look no further than Hall of Presidents for this, where Imagineering has now created three Trump AAs, the first of which had a melted face (for lack of better term) that was way worse than the Walt AA.
The second was more on-model (but less advanced since the Biden AA was center-stage), and now the third is arguably the most accurate human Audio Animatronics ever made. If Imagineering has managed to refine that facial mold to such a degree, it stands to reason that they’ll do the same for their company’s founder.
Ultimately, this was not a big year for news at Destination D23. Certainly nothing like 2023, but the obvious difference is that the previous year’s D23 Expo was pretty much a blue sky dreaming session. By contrast, the 2024 D23 Expo was jam-packed with actual announcements that are now actively under construction and will be for the next 3-4 years.
I nevertheless left Destination D23 with a renewed sense of optimism about the future of Walt Disney World. It’s been an up and down couple of years, especially after the post-Expo rug-pulls regarding the Rivers of America and MuppetVision. Those were gut-punches that at least partially undercut the initial excitement. There’s really nothing from Destination D23 that can be undercut, unless Disney announces tomorrow that they’re paving over the Seven Seas Lagoon “by popular demand” to add more popcorn stands. No matter how much you might love popcorn buckets, hopefully you’ll agree that that would be a bad thing.
Even though it was a smaller slate of announcements, Destination D23 continues to vindicate the viewpoint that Imagineering is back on track, understands the assignment, and is full of fellow fans who want to do right by Walt Disney World and the company’s founder. That the Rivers of America and MuppetVision 3D were the outliers, forced on them from above; that their hands were tied on the decisions, so the best they can do is make lemonade out of lemons. This Destination D23 news is 100% positive, even if not emphatically so, suggesting that maybe there really is a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow for Walt Disney World!
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YOUR THOUGHTS
What are your reactions to the various announcements for the Disney Parks at the 2025 Destination D23? What has you most and least excited? Were any of these announcements downright bad or negative news, in your view? Anything you’re hoping does not end up coming to fruition? Do you agree or disagree with our assessments? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!