ANAHEIM, Calif. — On the last day of D23 Expo, Disney’s big fan convention, Disney Parks chairman Josh D’Amaro revealed a number of projects for Disney theme parks around the world during the presentation as well as ideas that are in the early stages of development.


What You Need To Know

  • Disney executives shared blue-sky concepts for Disney World at D23 Expo

  • The ideas were discussed during the parks panel on Sunday

  • Ideas thrown around included "Zootopia" and "Moana"-themed lands for Dinoland USA

  • Concepts were also shared for Magic Kingdom, including potential lands themed to "Coco" and "Encanto"

For Disney World, the announcements included an opening timeline for Magic Kingdom’s TRON coaster and Epcot’s Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana, a new nighttime spectacular for EPCOT to celebrate the company’s 100th anniversary, and a Figment character meet-and-greet.

But near the end of the presentation, D’Amaro shared some “blue sky” ideas or concepts that creatives within the company are exploring for different areas of Disney World.

He was joined on stage by Walt Disney Imagineering’s Chris Beatty and Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Jennifer Lee to talk about a plan in the works to retheme Dinoland U.S.A at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. They used language such as “what if” and “potential” when discussing the following ideas.

“We see tremendous opportunity here, a chance to tell new stories that fit right in with what Animal Kingdom is all about,” D’Amaro said.

Some of the concepts that are being thrown around for that area of the park include a “Zootopia”-themed land and a land themed to “Moana.” For the Zootopia concept, the plan could be similar to the upcoming “Zootopia” land at Shanghai Disneyland.

They also shared concepts being explored for a land “beyond Big Thunder Mountain” at Magic Kingdom. The ideas include “Coco” and Santa Cecilia’s Dia de Los Muertos celebration as well as “Encanto” and the Madrigal’s Casita. They also teased a concept for a villains-themed area.

“I know this one is not planned anytime soon,” D’Amaro said. “But it’s something that we know all of you talk about, and it’s a fun idea that’s always in the back of our minds—an area overrun by villains.”

Since the ideas presented in that portion of the panel are only, for right now, being explored, no timeframe or any other concrete details were shared.

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