Rating Disney's Parks Presentation at the 2022 D23 Expo

Well, the mystery is over. Disney Parks, Experiences and Products Chairman Josh D’Amaro took the stage on Sunday at the D23 Expo for the highly anticipated presentation. With the title of “A Boundless Future”, the event included both surprises and disappointments for Disneyland and Walt Disney World.

There were fewer strange diversions this year, and D’Amaro moved through news at a quick pace. Some rumors were accurate, while others didn’t end up happening. Few expected a lengthy “Blue Sky” segment to close the presentation or possible ideas for a major expansion at The Magic Kingdom.

Last week, I wrote an article describing my hopes and dreams for this presentation and Disney’s announcements. I tried to stay realistic but couldn’t help to anticipate a few cool surprises. With Epic Universe set to open in less than three years, Disney needed to make a big splash.

For each category below, I’ve included my original hope for the presentation and then provided a grade for how Disney fared. They performed great in some categories, while others were less certain. Let’s take a look at how D’Amaro and the announcements did compared to my expectations!

Josh D'Amaro presents at the Destination D23 event in late 2021.

When Will These Attractions Open?

On a similar note, I hope to learn specific opening dates of attractions like the TRON Lightcycle Run at The Magic Kingdom. These details help with booking future trips and generating excitement for the parks. A vague phrase like “early 2023” just creates speculation that isn’t needed for such a cool headliner. I’m not expecting Disney to give exact dates for years down the road, but it’s good for the near future.

Beyond TRON, I’d love dates for Moana: Jour n ey of Water plus the returns of Fantasmic! and the Walt Disney World Railroad. It’s good PR to excite fans to visit the parks, and knowing what will be open is a good selling point. Rough estimates of plans like the Splash Mountain replacement also would be great. This would give everyone time for one last visit before the exciting Princess and the Frog updates.

Grade: C

I was probably too optimistic with this hope based on recent trends. The Fantasmic! omission surprised me because of the commercial teasing it on the Disney Parks channel a few weeks ago. This seemed like the perfect place to announce the opening date. The timeline shown at the end included Fantasmic!’s return in 2022, so why not at least mention the month?

On a positive note, we have more clarity about TRON and Journey of Water. Both will open in spring and late 2023, respectively, which surprised me. It’s cool to have some info, but it’s still pretty vague. We also heard nothing about the return of the Railroad to Walt Disney World, which was disappointing.

The status of the Play Pavilion currently remains a mystery going into the D23 Expo.

End the Mystery on Past D23 Expo Announcements

When Disney announced their upcoming plans for the parks in 2019, they had no idea what was in store for the world. The pandemic definitely played a role in scrapping or at least delaying most projects. However, it’s time for clarity on attractions with uncertain futures. In particular, the Play! Pavilion seems alive but hasn’t made progress. If that World Discovery space is still alive in EPCOT, I’d like to hear more details. If not, what are Disney’s new plans for that pavilion?

Another question mark is the Avengers Quinjet headliner at Avengers Campus in Disney California Adventure. Back in March at a shareholder meeting, Chapek announced it was on hold but hopefully will come back “once the company’s post-pandemic cash-flow situation improves“. That land needs a second attraction, and this type of E-ticket attraction would draw big crowds. It’s the type of splash Disney needs given the excitement about Marvel. The fun mix of characters have been great at Avengers Campus, but it needs a true flagship attraction.

Grade: C+

I appreciated the clarity on changes to the Avengers E-ticket attraction at Disney California Adventure. The Multiverse setting and King Thanos look incredible, though details are still scarce. I hope we’ll learn more about this attraction, particularly the timing, in the near future. The Quinjet version appears dead, but it’s okay because the replacement sounds great.

I’m less optimistic for everything omitted from EPCOT, including the Play! Pavilion, Spaceship Earth update, Wondrous China, and Mary Poppins expansion. We technically don’t know the projects are dead, and I didn’t expect D’Amaro to confirm any cancellations. However, it was still surprising to have so much left unsaid.

The Matterhorn, the Skyway, and more at Disneyland in 1968.

Bring the World on the Move to Disneyland!

Disneyland packs so much into a fairly small park, especially compared to The Magic Kingdom. There are few dead spaces. The exception is Tomorrowland, which was once known as the “world on the move” during its heyday in the late ’60s and early ’70s. The Monorail and submarines are still there, but we’ve lost so much from that space. If Disney wants to make a big splash in California, the obvious choice is Tomorrowland. They don’t need to add an expansion on par with Galaxy’s Edge either. A series of smaller moves could make a huge difference and revitalize that space.

The best move is bringing back the PeopleMover, or at least a modern variation on that ride system. We’ve heard that the track isn’t usable, so this may require an entirely new build. Even so, the expense and time would be worth it to energize Tomorrowland. This type of attraction spotlights everything else in Tomorrowland and makes guests want to hang out in that area (especially at night). Disney should also either move the Astro Orbiter back up high or just remove it. Finally, the Star Wars Launch Bay could use a retheme or at least a major refresh. I’m open to a different approach from Disney and just hope they announce some plans for Tomorrowland at the D23 Expo.

Grade: Incomplete

Well…we heard nothing about any Tomorrowland updates at Disneyland. When D’Amaro said we’d go back to Disneyland, I suspected they were saving this announcement for the big finale. To be fair, Disneyland received a lot of attention during this presentation. The last reveal was the Disney100 event and the new nighttime shows at both California parks.

I feel a little foolish for believing that we might actually learn about the PeopleMover’s return. It could still happen in the future, but it will probably be a long time based on the lack of news at this event.

Chester and Hester's Dinorama should get a replacement announced at the D23 Expo.

Say Goodbye to Chester and Hester

Disney’s Animal Kingdom is a beautiful park with so many cool places to explore. The exception is Chester and Hester’s Dino-Rama in the DinoLand, U.S.A. area. I understand what Disney was going for with the purposefully cheap look to the space. Even so, it feels out of place within the rest of the park. Primeval Whirl also was removed, so a large portion sits unused now. This feels like the perfect time for Disney to replace the entire area with a land that matches the rest of the park.

I’m not locked into one idea for this area; you could keep the dinosaur theme and lean into the Dino Institute idea. Disney could also shift gears and focus on a region like South America or Australia. If they want to use IP, there’s always Indiana Jones with the fifth movie on the way. I’m not excited about a Zootopia expansion, which also wouldn’t fit well in this park. The most important thing is that Disney presents a plan that feels right for the park and improves over Dino-Rama. I hope they recognize the opportunity to offer guests more to do at the Animal Kingdom.

Grade: B-

It’s hard to rate this category because we don’t really know what’s happening. DinoLand, U.S.A. will get replaced at some point, but what Disney chooses is still up in the air. I appreciate that D’Amaro recognized that the area needs help. It’s rare to hear even that level of honesty about the parks. The challenge is not understanding which parts of the “Blue Sky” segment will come to fruition.

I’m not excited about Zootopia at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and elaborated on why in my recent podcast. However, it would definitely be an improvement over the current Dino-Rama. Jennifer Lee and Chris Beatty also mentioned that Moana could replace DinoLand, and that works better for me. The concept art included a log flume and spinner themed to that film, and I’d enjoy visiting that new land.

I hope to learn more about the Wondrous China film at the D23 Expo.

Place the Final Pieces for EPCOT’s Transformation

Disney has opened two headliners, the Connections Cafe restaurant, and the Creations Shop in the past year at EPCOT. Disney is getting closer to completing the parks’ transformation, but a few pieces remain. I mentioned Journey of Water and the Play Pavilion earlier, but there’s more to cover. I hope to learn more about the Wondrous China and its seamless 360-degree technology. Disney announced that film at the 2019 D23 Expo, but we’ve heard little since that point.

I’d also like to see Disney make a few tweaks in World Showcase to improve that experience. Impressions de France deserves to play full-time, and smaller attractions at other pavilions would spread out guest demand. Disney could resurrect the Mary Poppins idea or take a new approach in another area. I’d like to learn more about the CommuniCore Plaza and CommuniCore Hall news from earlier this year. I like the area of making the World Celebration area match its name with a vibrant setting. Finally, Spaceship Earth still needs an update, though part of me has concerns of what that might be given recent trends.

Grade: B-

D’Amaro didn’t spend much time on EPCOT, which wasn’t a big surprise. I suspect the lack of much information confirms that big updates are winding down. Journey of Water opens late next year, the Dreamer’s Point statue will arrive, and the construction walls will finally leave World Celebration. I’m excited to have this area finished, and a Figment meet-and-greet should be fun.

The reason for the middling grade is the sense that the project remains unfinished. We didn’t hear about an update to Journey Into Imagination with Figment. I was shocked to learn that Harmonius is leaving, so that could be great news depending on what replaces it. Like I mentioned earlier, some mystery remains.

A Storm Trooper watches over guests at Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge at Disney's Hollywood Studios.

Rebuild the Guest Experience (No More Excuses!)

Disney made a lot of cutbacks to entertainment and guest benefits during the height of the pandemic, and I understand why that was necessary. However, they can no longer make excuses given the return of crowds and profits this year. This D23 Expo presentation gives Disney a chance to remind us why we love the parks. I’m not looking for a strange finale on par with the Destination D23 event. Even so, D’Amaro can reiterate Disney’s focus on guest satisfaction through a series of small changes. Parking trams at every park is just the baseline, but it’s a starting point. The transportation system needs to work better overall.

Disney still provides great entertainment, and I know it costs a lot to operate the parks. A nighttime parade at The Magic Kingdom would help, but I’m also looking for a series of smaller moves. Galaxy’s Edge should have a lot more walkaround characters, including ones from popular Disney Plus series, at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World. The parks should feel alive with entertainment happening everywhere; just adding more times for popular shows would be great. Disney charges a premium for their parks, and I hope for decisions that recognize why guests have supported the parks for so long.

Grade: B+

Disney announced fewer big changes than many expected, but we did learn about smaller changes that are important for the parks. Characters are a crucial part of the formula, and having the Mandalorian and Grogu in Disneyland will be amazing. The Hulk looked strange on stage, but it’s still awesome to have him arriving at Avengers Campus so soon. Figment is also a cool addition to EPCOT.

Inside an attraction, I’m good with the Hatbox Ghost being a part of Walt Disney World’s Haunted Mansion. Disney also continues to invest in the nighttime entertainment on both coasts. It wasn’t a complete home run, but all these updates will provide a better experience for guests and more things to do.

The Imagination pavilion could use an ambitious overhaul from Disney.

Stretch Goals for the Parks

I’d love to see a few shocks from Disney that go beyond what I expect. Using a business term, I’d call these aspirational ideas stretch goals for the D23 Expo. I don’t anticipate a new World Showcase pavilion will happen, but it would transform EPCOT in the best way. Imagination also needs a major update, and I could see Disney announcing vague plans but nothing too concrete. Galaxy’s Edge and Pandora: The World of Avatar both need a third attraction to handle the high demand.

Venturing even further into the world of fantasy, there’s enough demand for Disney to add a fifth gate to Walt Disney World or a third gate to Disneyland. That move would be the strongest response to Universal opening Epic Universe. Honestly, I’d rather see Disney focus on upgrading their current parks and adding capacity. A Marvel expansion at Disney’s Hollywood Studios (with characters they can use contractually) with draw massive attention and lessen crowds at the park’s other headliners.

Regardless of what they announce, I hope that Disney gets ambitious and seizes the moment at the D23 Expo. Fans want to get excited about the parks and their future! We’d much rather dream about cool new attractions than worry about the lack of growth. This presentation will set the stage for the next five years of Disney’s theme parks. I hope they meet the moment and shine this weekend.

Grade: Uncertain

I could easily write an entire blog about the weirdness of the “Blue Sky” segment. Chris Beatty and Jennifer Lee did their best, and the possibilities for DinoLand and the area beyond Big Thunder Mountain Railroad are intriguing. It’s still unclear if these ideas will ever happen, especially the expansion in The Magic Kingdom. Was Disney trying to gauge fan reaction about these properties?

I do wish they’d get more ambitious than just choosing brands, but that approach does reflect the modern theme park landscape. I’d enjoy visiting lands based on Coco, Encanto, and the Disney villains. I just wish that we knew more about timelines and the chance these lands will become reality.

Happily Ever After is returning to Walt Disney World.

A Boundless Future?

The title “A Boundless Future” implies there are no constraints on what Disney can do at the parks. There were plenty of ambitious plans covered during this presentation, especially in the final segments. Even so, I could feel hesitation from Disney about the future of their resorts. D’Amaro led the event well, and the fast pace allowed for many announcements. Even so, the updates for the next few years seemed modest.

It’s cool to have the chance to meet the Mandalorian, Grogu, Figment, and the weird Hulk! The build-up for those reveals felt like it promised something larger, however. I’m fascinated by what Disney didn’t say during the D23 Expo. Do they plan to update Tomorrowland at Disneyland but weren’t ready to announce it? Could we still see a major revamp of the Imagination pavilion? These questions and a lot more remain after this weekend’s excitement. I can’t wait to learn more.

Rating Disney’s Parks Presentation at the 2022 D23 Expo

More Content, Fewer Diversions

Grade: B+