It’s almost time for the return of D23 to Anaheim. For Disney fans, that should mean a long-awaited list of announcements about new attractions coming to Disneyland and other Disney theme parks around the world.
To prepare for Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro’s Aug. 10 show at the Honda Center, here is my completely unauthorized and totally made up odds on what he might announce. Remember, all that is at stake here are imaginary internet points, so place your pretend wagers accordingly.
Concept art of the Avatar themed land proposed for the Disneyland resort. (Courtesy of Disney)
Avatar (Off the board): Disney already has announced that it will bring an Avatar-themed attraction to Disneyland, so this is not a fair bet. But with the approval of the DisneylandForward proposal, fans are hoping to hear more details about the ride and its setting.
Visitors ride the Wandering Oaken’s Sliding Sleighs roller coaster ride after opening ceremony of the World of Frozen themed area at Disneyland Resort in Hong Kong, Monday, Nov. 20, 2023. (Photo by Louise Delmotte, The Associated Press)
World of Frozen (-800): Next to Avatar, a new installation of Disney’s World of Frozen land in the DisneylandForward expansion is the closest thing to a sure bet we have here. The big question is whether Disneyland will get the Wandering Oaken kiddie coaster in addition to the Frozen Ever After boat ride.
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Encanto musical at the Hyperion Theater (-200): Disney has posted a casting notice for a live-action Encanto show, so expect this one sooner rather than later. But will this be a Broadway-style production in the Hyperion or something smaller on another stage in the park? The bet here is the big house.
Casa Madrigal dark ride (+200): At the Destination D23 event in Orlando last fall, D’Amaro teased an Encanto-themed attraction for a Tropical Americas revamp of Dinoland USA in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The concept art showed what looked like a Casa Madrigal façade for what could be a new dark ride experience. A duplicate of that could be a good bet for inclusion in the DisneylandForward expansion.
A Maleficent costume and Maleficent dragon head from Fantasmic in 1992 are displayed at the D23 Expo at the Anaheim Convention Center in 2015. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A big Maleficent dragon returns to Fantasmic! (+100): Here’s an even-money bet — that Disneyland will find some way to return a plus-sized Maleficent dragon to Fantasmic! for the park’s 70th anniversary next summer.
The Paint the Night parade rolls down Main Street as part of Disneyland’s 60th anniversary celebration in 2015. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The return of Paint the Night (+400): Maybe this is just wishful thinking, but I know that the return of the Paint the Night parade for the 70th anniversary celebration would make countless Disneyland fans very happy.
A new Zootopia themed land opened recently at Shanghai Disneyland. (Courtesy of Disney)
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Zootopia (+900): Along with World of Frozen, this was the other new land that Disney opened in its Asia parks last year. But its main attraction shares much of its ride design with Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway. Disneyland does not need a dupe of that, so I would be surprised to see a copy of Zootopia here.
Retheming “Disney Genie” to “Disney Anxiety” (minus infinity): It’ll never happen, but with Disney dropping the Genie+ brand in favor of “Lightning Lane Multi Pass,” why not change the name of the free Disney Genie automated day-planning feature to promote the breakout star of “Inside Out 2,” which is now Disney’s biggest animated hit? “Disney Anxiety” is what that feature is supposed to address, anyway, so why not be clear about it?