WDW Deep Dive: Upcoming News Predictions and Recapping Recent Announcements
- Bobby Spina
- Aug 23
- 22 min read
Alright alright alright....
Destination D23 is next weekend. For those that don't know, Destination D23 is basically just a mini-version of the much larger D23 Expo that takes place once every other year in California, usually filled to the brim with exciting announcements about the future of all areas of the Walt Disney Company, with an emphasis on two areas in particular: The films and the theme parks.
As indicated by the title, this article will be delving into the parks-side of news as we take a deep dive look into every single project currently underway at the Walt Disney World Resort, and what news we could expect to hear at the upcoming mini-expo. After all, Destination D23 is taking place at the Coronado Springs Convention Center right here at Walt Disney World, so we're bound to hear something, right?
Well, one would think. Spoiler alert: Disney has decided to omit a dedicated parks-panel from Destination D23 this year, which I honestly think is a huge missed opportunity. Now to be fair, this event has never brought with it anything I'd consider to be "major" announcements. In years past, the parks panel at Destination D23 has always covered bigger updates for already existing projects, with some smaller surprises sprinkled throughout. But this year, we're not getting any of that.
There is one exception though. Just a few days ago on Thursday, August 21st, Disney hosted an invite-only media event at EPCOT's World Showplace flex space called "Play 'n' Preview." Think of it as a small, 30-minute parks panel strictly covering Walt Disney World (in fact, that's exactly what it was lol). The brief panel brought some notable updates with it for future projects spanning the remainder of 2025 and all of 2026, which I'll be breaking down shortly.
So what's the point of this article? Simply put, I wanted to write something. I was never planning on publishing a "Destination D23 Prediction" video on YouTube like how everyone else has done, as I think it's better suited for an article such as this. With that being said, this article will be going park-by-park and project-by-project to cover some new news that was recently announced, as well as predict what could still have the possibility of being announced at the upcoming Destination D23 event, despite there being no dedicated parks panel. After all, one can dream, right?
WDW Park-by-Park News Updates
Like I said, we'll be going through each of the four Walt Disney World theme parks discussing just about everything on the horizon at the most magical place on Earth. Some updates will be short and sweet, and others not so much.
Are you ready? I know I sure am... let's get started!
Magic Kingdom
We'll begin with the Magic Kingdom, the park that arguably has the most going for it right now and into the future. We'll go chronologically through each upcoming project, starting with two that will debut sometime next year in 2026...
Updates Coming to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
and Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin
Beginning today's lengthy news article are some updates regarding two classic Magic Kingdom attractions that are both currently closed and undergoing some major refurbishments. This includes Big Thunder Mountain Railroad in Frontierland as well as Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin in Tomorrowland.
We'll start with Big Thunder, which arguably is the more news-worthy attraction of the two. We've finally received some brand new details about some of the "new magic" that will be present once the attraction reopens next year, including some brand new conceptual art that showcases the very beginning of the attraction. Take a look!
To give you some context about what's happening in this updated first scene of the attraction, here's some new details by Disney:
"In addition to the action and adventure we all know and love, Big Thunder Mountain will reopen next year with new magic for fans to discover. One such moment comes when the trains rattle their way underground to spectacular natural caverns full of phosphorescent pools, shimmering and illuminating iridescent stalagmites (the ones on the floor), and stalactites (the ones on the ceiling).
The Rainbow Caverns certainly are beautiful… but they ain’t as friendly as they first appear. In fact, that menacing rumble from deep within the mountain may be a sign that we ain’t welcome. With a large crack of thunder, these seemingly beautiful caverns will suddenly transform with an eerie, red glow where hundreds of bats can be seen from all over. That's our cue to leave the cavern on our runaway mine cart and abide by the powerful forces of nature that call the mountain home."
Considering these new details by Disney, I think I can say with confidence that this update to Big Thunder looks spectacular. Seriously. And this is only covering the first scene of the ride... imagine what else Disney might have up their sleeves for the remainder of it!
I especially love that Disney is playing more into the original backstory and lore of Big Thunder Mountain, while also paying homage to the Rainbow Caverns - an attraction that used to be located at Disneyland in a space that Big Thunder Mountain now currently occupies. And considering just this update alone, Walt Disney World's version of Big Thunder may even have the potential of surpassing Disneyland's.... guess we'll just have to wait and see!
Moving over to Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin, and the news is far less heavy. As a friendly reminder, Disney is currently working on adding some brand new quality-of-life updates to this fan-favorite interactive attraction, including adding a brand new scene at the beginning of the attraction, complete with a new original character! Here's a look at the concept art previously released:
The only thing really news-worthy that was revealed about this update was a first-look at the reimagined ride vehicles. They now don a green, purple, silver, and black color scheme that is reminiscent of Star Command, and they look great! In fact, they're almost identical to the concept art from above that was released back in March.
Both attractions still have yet to receive an exact reopening timeframe beyond simply "2026." However, it is rumored that both these attractions will reopen sometime in the Spring. Stay tuned as we await to hear new information soon.
Piston Peak National Park in Frontierland
Next up, we have this project.
I'll just cut right to the chase here. We're not going to hear anything new about the Cars expansion coming to Frontierland. Disney is still in the process of fully draining the Rivers of America before proper demolition can occur, followed by years of construction work. And considering how far away this project remains from completion, we already know a good deal about it in my opinion.
To jog your memory, the last we heard any official news from Disney regarding the Piston Peak National Park project was back in early June, about a month before the Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island permanently closed forever. It was at this time when we received a "fun map" as well new details regarding the backstory of the area.
On the slim chance we could hear anything about this project, I think there are only a few plausible options. The first one (and most obvious one) being an opening timeframe for this expansion. And by opening timeframe, I mean an opening year.
If I had to venture a guess, I think Disney is quietly aiming to have the Piston Peak project complete by either 2028 or 2029. Either year is a very real possibility. But until we hear official confirmation from Disney, that still remains up in the air.
The other detail I wouldn't mind eventually hearing are the names of the two attractions that will comprise this expansion, with that being the thrilling E-Ticket and the smaller, family-friendly C-Ticket. But if we're being realistic, I don't think we'll hear either of these new details until next year's D23 Expo in 2026.
If you'd like to experience the historic final day of the Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island with me, be sure to check out my vlog by clicking here!
Disney Villains Land
And now, to the elephant in the room.
It's no secret that Disney has been pretty quiet regarding the Villains Land project that was announced for the Magic Kingdom at last year's D23 Expo. Having only received one piece of concept art and a general description of what the land will entail, fans are itching to hear more (or anything more for that matter) about arguably Disney's most highly-anticipated upcoming project.
So that begs the question... will we hear anything new about Villains Land? Well, I have some good news. Yes!
Despite Disney omitting their usual parks presentation panel at Destination D23 this year, there is one panel in particular that has Disney Parks fans very intrigued.
On Sunday, August 31st, Disney will be presenting the first panel of the day, titled Disney Villains: Icons of Evil. According to Disney, the 45-minute panel will invite guests to "join Disney Experiences (and some of your favorite troublemakers) for a panel discussion on how Disney Villains experiences come to life around the world. Hear directly from the creative minds behind new projects and attractions, plus enjoy a special Villains-themed medley to kick off Destination D23 day 2."
I'm not saying we're guaranteed to hear a lot of new details about the land, but we're obviously bound to hear something. And something could be literally anything. New concept art, attraction details, story details, the land's official name, and/or maybe even an opening year (most likely 2029 or 2030). It's exciting for sure, and hearing anything regarding this project is already a win for parks fans alike from across the globe. I suspect there's even the possibility of us hearing more behind-the-scenes details about the creation of Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After at Disney's Hollywood Studios, and maybe even new announcements about even more Disney Villains experiences coming to more parks internationally. Who knows.
This is the main news from Destination D23 that we'll be keeping our eyes and ears peeled for, so stay tuned!
Disney's Lakeshore Lodge
Finally, before moving over to our next park, I want to address another fairly large project currently under construction just outside the Magic Kingdom, with that being Disney's brand new deluxe resort: Lakeshore Lodge.
While I was originally hopeful we'd hear some sort of update regarding this project, I've come to accept the fact that I don't think we will. Although honestly, this isn't really a big loss. We know the name of the hotel, and we know it's opening in the Spring of 2027. Considering the current state of the project, I'm pretty content with the information we have... for now.
Really the only thing I'd like to receive further clarification on is the overarching theme of the resort. As of right now, it's assumed that Lakeshore Lodge will match the same aesthetic that's conveyed in previous concept art... from 2018.
Yeah, the concept art you're seeing up above is from 7 years ago. This resort was originally supposed to be completed by 2022, but suffered numerous delays and even a brief mid-project abandonment, with nature having reclaimed majority of the site for a couple of years. It was only less than a year ago that work on the project had since resumed, and construction has been moving at an unprecedented rate.
Again, it's assumed (and very likely) that Lakeshore Lodge will retain the same modern aesthetic that was originally planned, but many fans (myself included) would love to see some new up-to-date renderings for this hotel. Additionally, the theme for the hotel has been receiving an increasing amount of backlash from folks within the Disney community, claiming it's too modern considering its massive size and close proximity to the neighboring Fort Wilderness, which takes on a much more rustic theme.
I'll be the first to say that the criticism is 100% valid. As I've covered in some of my previous construction updates, the footprint of the resort is humungous, almost completely dwarfing the nearby Pioneer Hall and Clementine Beach. I'm not completely against this project, but I'm not completely for it either.
Either way, I still think it'll be some time before we hear any more details about this project. I don't think we'll have to wait until next year's D23 Expo in 2026, but I don't think we're hearing anything next weekend. Only time will tell.
EPCOT
Next we have EPCOT, a park that I am unapologetically passionate about more so than all the rest. With that being said, I'm going to go on a mini-rant here. Aware nobody asked!
Now that Test Track 3.0. has debuted, many people are wondering, "what's next for EPCOT?" Well, according to Disney... nothing.
At the time of writing this article, EPCOT is the only park at Walt Disney World that has no new projects planned for it anytime soon, and that saddens me.
And yes, to be fair, EPCOT has consistently gotten two or more new additions for the past 4 years straight, dating all the way back to 2021 with the opening of Remy's Ratatouille Adventure. Following that opening for Walt Disney World's 50th Anniversary Celebration, other new additions included Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Journey of Water: Inspired by Moana, Luminous: The Symphony of US, CommuniCore Hall and Plaza, and lots more. All of these projects combined represented the historic multi-year transformation and investment that EPCOT received dating all the way back to the Fall of 2019. And despite numerous budget cuts, I'd be lying if I denied the fact that EPCOT has gotten a lot of love over the past few years, no matter how long construction took.
But I still think I speak on behalf of the entire EPCOT fan-base that the EPCOT overhaul was far from perfect. Yes, we gained a lot of new things, but we also lost quite a few things along the way as well. And those many losses still remain as questionable decisions.
I could still think of plenty of other "problems" at EPCOT that still need to be addressed. The main thing that comes to mind (and consistently has for many years at this point) is Journey Into Imagination with Figment. It still absolutely baffles me that as much of a cult-following Figment has and how much of a money-maker he is, Disney has still neglected to do anything with his attraction. The purple and orange dragon is literally the mascot of EPCOT, and deserves so much better. A popcorn bucket that debuted over three years ago and a character meet and greet that began two years ago isn't enough anymore. And an attraction that's almost 25 years old certainly isn't making the cut anymore either.
Besides Figment, there are two other things I would love to see eventually come to fruition. (1) I'd love to see Spaceship Earth get some TLC. The current version of the attraction will turn 2 decades old in 2027, and while not nearly as pressing of an issue as Journey Into Imagination, it's still something that needs to happen soon. If Disney can work the same magic they used to reimagine Test Track 3.0, than a future update to Spaceship Earth could be something really exciting. Disney had no problem opening an adults-exclusive bar and lounge right behind the attraction that nobody asked for, so how about doing something that people are asking for? Just a thought.
And (2), I would be thrilled if Disney could please do something with the former Wonders of Life Pavilion in World Discovery. Literally anything. The building is just sitting there in the corner of the park, noticeably abandoned. It's prime real-estate to put something in there and an easy way to actually expand capacity at EPCOT rather than just updating already existing attractions. Heck, I'm not even entirely sure what Disney could do with the space, but they could certainly do something. I was never to keen on the idea for the Play Pavilion slated for the original EPCOT overhaul (before being budget cut), but I'd much rather have that than nothing at all. Put an IP or two in there, I don't care. The former Wonders of Life Pavilion was able to house two attractions and a show, and the footprint and layout of that building hasn't changed a bit since opening in 1989.
Did I also mention that there are literally Imagineering offices housed almost right behind the Wonders of Life Pavilion? Maybe the executives have forgotten about it, but I know the Imagineers certainly haven't.
Anyways, that's my EPCOT rant. I love this park, and I just think it deserves the absolute best. Let me know what you'd love to see come to EPCOT next in the comments below.
Disney's Hollywood Studios
Third on our list brings us to Disney's Hollywood Studios. And looking into 2026, this park is slated to steal the spotlight at Walt Disney World when it comes to new additions. (Basically the complete opposite of EPCOT right now.) Regardless, the future of this park is an exciting one, so let's take a look at all of its upcoming projects!
New Missions Coming to Millennium Falcon: Smuggler's Run
The first new thing debuting at the park are new interactive missions on Millennium Falcon: Smuggler's Run in Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge. More specifically, the new missions will feature the popular characters of the Mandalorian and Grogu from the Disney+ series.
As if the IP synergy wasn't enough, the new missions will also feature destinations that coincide with the storyline of the upcoming film, fittingly titled The Mandalorian and Grogu. The film is scheduled to premier in theaters on May 22nd, 2026, which is also when these new missions are planned to debut as well!
And yes, Disney is adding missions (plural). For the first time ever, the crew will able to decide where they want to go as they fly in the fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy!
Considering the amount of concept art and story details we have for this update, as well an official calendar date, I think it's pretty safe to say that we won't be hearing anything else regarding this at Destination D23, simply because we don't need to. It's still unclear if Smuggler's Run will need to close temporarily in 2026 to receive the update, but even if it does, I don't foresee it lasting very long.
As it currently stands, the debut date for these new missions is actually the only guaranteed opening date we have set in stone for 2026. But that doesn't mean there aren't more scheduled openings at the park next year...
The Walt Disney Studios and the Magic of Disney Animation
Arguably the biggest change happening at Disney's Hollywood Studios next year is the transformation of Animation Courtyard into the Walt Disney Studios! The reimagining of the area will begin on September 25th of this year and be completed sometime in 2026 (my guess is probably sometime in the Summer).
On this date, the long-overstayed Star Wars Launch Bay and Disney Junior Dance Party will permanently close to begin work. More specifically, Disney will be taking inspiration from the park's past and revert the Star Wars Launch Bay into an entirely new space called The Magic of Disney Animation. Additionally, a new Disney Junior stage show will also premier in the adjacent soundstage. Take a look at some of the concept art below, alongside a description about the project from Disney.
"In 2026, the current home of the Star Wars Launch Bay will transform into a place where kids and kids at heart can laugh, draw, dream, and explore animated new experiences. Topping the building will be Mickey’s iconic Sorcerer Hat (just like the real building in California!), which will cast a spell with pixie dust.
Our story in this newly reimagined space begins as the animators have temporarily stepped away… but the building is still buzzing with activity as the characters have come to life and they’re ready to play!
Playful and interactive moments will be around every corner. You’ll see portraits come to life before your eyes, find inspiration by watching a short film (with a twist, of course), and you’ll even pencil in some time to learn how to draw your very own character sketch.
Our youngest animators-to-be can explore the “Drawn to Wonderland” playground filled with an oversized flower garden with musical instruments, a Mad Tea Party playset and a Tulgey Wood exploration area, all inspired by the original “Alice in Wonderland” concept art from Disney Legend Mary Blair.
The pixie dusting from the Sorcerer’s Hat will extend far beyond the walls of “The Magic of Disney Animation” as the entire courtyard is reimagined into “The Walt Disney Studios,” taking inspiration from several buildings found in Burbank. This special nod to the legendary Walt Disney Studios Lot includes our version of the Studio Theater, which will continue to house “The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure,” and over at the soundstage, you’ll find a fresh Disney Jr. show.
While exploring the studio grounds and courtyard area, families can take a break to play, relax, or snack on tasty treats under lush trees. We can't wait for you to experience this fantastical place in 2026."
Disney just made this announcement a little over a month ago, so I don't think there's much else we'll be hearing regarding this project. With that being said, this is one of those "surprise" projects that I absolutely cannot wait for. Animation Courtyard has been neglected for quite some time now, as besides the updated Little Mermaid show, there's virtually nothing to do in this corner of the park. Now, some fresh and nostalgic new magic is about to be added back in, and I am super excited!
Rock 'n' Rollercoaster: Starring The Muppets
There's one other thing coming to Disney's Hollywood Studios next year as well. (I told you it was a lot!)
Over in the back corner of Sunset Boulevard, Rock 'n' Rollercoaster: Starring Aerosmith will be getting rethemed, and starring some new stars... the Muppets!
More specifically, Rock 'n' Rollercoaster: Starring The Muppets will feature Doctor Teeth and his band, Electric Mayhem. This retheme of the attraction was announced back in November of 2024, and since then, we really haven't heard much about it. That all changes with the following concept art and details released by Disney:
"The Electric Mayhem are headlining their biggest Hollywood concert ever! Everyone in attendance is ready to witness Animal, Dr. Teeth, and the rest of this groove-tastic group rock the house down. There’s just one little problem: the band is nowhere to be found!
Across town at G-Force Records, we’re treated to a VIP tour of the legendary rock and roll recording studio. Things might look a little different around this Hollywood institution, as the label has recently come under new management – The Muppets! We’re happy to say that our colorful crew has landed some new digs… with just a little help from Scooter’s uncle, real estate tycoon and owner of the Muppet Theatre, J.P. Grosse (he really puts the G in G-Force). Just wait until you see how they’ve made these hallowed halls their own, creating the perfect place to make sweet, sweet Muppet music together!
With your VIP passes, you’ll be welcomed inside the recording studio, where you’ll find the Electric Mayhem cranking out some seriously rocking tunes. Along with the finest audio engineers (all penguins, of course) we’ll see Scooter doing his best to convince Electric Mayhem to stop jamming and get to their increasingly restless fans. But will it be enough to get the band across town and onstage in time?
With the help from our friends at Muppet Labs and a very fast limousine, we’ll take a twisting, turning, and screamingly fun road trip across Hollywood to reach the concert in time."
This is a lot of new information to work off of. In short, I actually like what I'm hearing and seeing. Dare I say this retheme looks... good?
The reimagining of the attraction still doesn't fix the fact that Muppet Vision 3D is gone, but it's certainly something. I've been very skeptical about this retheme ever since it was announced, but this brings my hopes up. It looks like the Imagineers are trying to remain as faithful as possible to not only the Muppets themselves, but also to the original Rock 'n' Rollercoaster. I love how we're still incorporating the G-Force Records label in the attraction's backstory. It's a good sign.
And besides, Rock 'n' Rollercoaster has been rumored to loose its Aerosmith branding for years at this point, and the Muppets themselves have also been a longstanding potential IP candidate for the retheme. I think the time has come, and I'm cautiously optimistic about it.
We're still awaiting a current closing date for Rock 'n' Rollercoaster: Starring Aerosmith, but Disney has confirmed the attraction will both close and reopen next year in 2026. That's a pretty ambitious timeframe for Disney, but I'm betting on a potential January or February closure of the attraction, with the reimagined version debuting sometime next Fall. I suspect we'll be hearing more before the end of the year.
Monstropolis Replacing Grand Avenue
For the final and biggest project currently underway at Disney's Hollywood Studios, we have the transformation of the former Grand Avenue (aka Muppets Courtyard) into Monstropolis from the Disney and Pixar movie Monsters Inc.
This is a big one. In fact, the project is so big that it's the only thing happening at the park that will not be opening next year (and rightfully so). In fact, we don't have any opening year for this new land. So that begs the question, when will we find out?
Sadly, I don't think we will anytime soon. Realistically, I don't think we'll be hearing much, let alone anything, about this new land at Destination D23, which is a shame. Yes, we know a good amount about the land, but there's also still a good amount that we don't know yet.
One primary question that still has yet to be answered is "what is replacing Muppet Vision 3D?" All we know is that some sort of new show will be presented in the theater, but that's it. We have no storyline, no concept art, nothing.
Considering this was the primary loss of closing down Grand Avenue, we need to hear something soon. Unfortunately, I think it'll be quite some time until we do.
The other burning question relates to the opening timeframe of this new land. Except unlike the new theater show replacing Muppet Vision, we can at least make some educated guesses about this.
My prediction is 2028. The reasoning? Pretty straightforward. We know that Disney likes to spread out their openings, especially when it relates to big projects like this one. We also know that another big project at Walt Disney World is confirmed to open the previous year in 2027, with that being the Tropical Americas at Disney's Animal Kingdom (more on that later). The other two "big" projects are both at Magic Kingdom, including Piston Peak National Park in Frontierland as well as Villains Land, which are far more time-consuming and construction heavy. As I mentioned before, these projects probably won't be done until around 2029 or 2030.
Keeping all this in mind, a 2028 opening for Monsters Inc. seems very plausible. The only thing that Disney has to freshly build is the Door Factory suspended rollercoaster anchoring the back of the land. Meanwhile, everything else is just a simple retheme.
Stay tuned as we (hopefully) hear more about this project soon!
Disney's Animal Kingdom
And finally, we come to the fourth and final Walt Disney World theme park, with that being Disney's Animal Kingdom. There are two projects in particular we're going to focus on happening at this park - one small-scale addition and one much more large-scale.
Zootopia: Better Zoogether! Opening Date
First up, we have the only thing left scheduled to debut at Walt Disney World for the remainder of the year! Over at the Tree of Life Theater, a new show is getting ready to open soon, called Zootopia: Better Zoogether!
The show is replacing the former It's Tough To Be A Bug, which was an original Animal Kingdom attraction. The show closed back in March of this year, and work has been underway ever since to reimagine the space and create a brand new show. Now, thanks to Disney, we have even more story details as well as an official opening date!
"It’s time to clap your paws and click your claws because the new 4D show Zootopia: Better Zoogether! opens on November 7th at Disney’s Animal Kingdom!
When you migrate over to the Tree of Life Theater, you’ll find you've arrived just in time to the main stage for the Zoogether Day festivities with familiar furry faces and new friends, like Heidi Howler – a slick-talking wolf who hosts the Zoogether Day LIVE! broadcast with excitement, energy, and quite a bit of howling.
Zoogether Day, a celebration of unity amongst the diverse biomes across the city, will be recognized with special performances such as ice-skating spectaculars from the heart of Tundratown, synchronized swimming direct from Marsh Market, tiny mouse drone shows soaring over Little Rodentia, and of course, a musical finale by superstar Gazelle – all of which we’ll see from the livestream watch party.
This new 4D show at the heart of the Tree of Life is the perfect addition to a wild day at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Zootopia: Better Zoogether! is a reminder that the natural world is profoundly interconnected, and we are no exception. We are called to take actions and make choices that benefit our worlds – from Sahara Square and Tundratown to the far-flung corners of our beautiful planet."
I'm glad we finally have an opening date for this new show, but I'm still not really sure how I feel about it. Granted, It's Tough To Be A Bug was seriously outdated and was never really my favorite show to begin with, but it fit the surrounding environment of the Tree of Life Theater beautifully. But Zootopia just... doesn't.
Regardless, it's been a long time since we've gotten anything remotely new at Disney's Animal Kingdom, so it's certainly something to look forward to. I have relatively low expectations, but maybe the show will surprise me. Who knows.
Either way, be sure to catch a showing of Zootopia: Better Zoogether! once it officially debuts at Disney's Animal Kingdom this November!
The Tropical Americas Replacing Dinoland U.S.A.
We've reached the final project on our list, and we're ending with a big one! Currently, Dinoland U.S.A is being completely transformed into a brand new land dubbed as the Tropical Americas, taking inspiration from both the South and Central American regions. These are home to some of the most biodiverse ecosystems on the planet.
I won't go into too much detail about the project, but it's the biggest project underway at Walt Disney World that we currently know the most about. Make sense, considering it's scheduled to open sometime in 2027!
Regardless, there's still a few more details I wouldn't mind hearing about soon...
(1) is that I'd love to hear the official names for the three attractions that will comprise the land. Specifically, I'm referring to the Disney IP carousel that's taking over The Boneyard, the Encanto attraction, and the Indiana Jones retheming of DINOSAUR. Heck, an official name for the large Hacienda quick-service restaurant wouldn't be bad either.
Secondly, (2) we're apparently getting some sort of new playground in this new land. While not currently representative in official concept art, Disney has confirmed that even though The Boneyard is closing, a new outdoor play space will be part of the new land. The question remains of both where and what. Where is it going, and what will it be themed too?
The leading rumors indicate the new playground will be situated just to the left of the Indiana Jones attraction replacing DINOSAUR, and be themed to the story of the neighboring attraction. I'd love to eventually see some official concept art confirming this.
And (3), I'd like to hear of an updated opening timeframe beyond just simply "2027." I think the project is at a good enough spot now where Disney could elaborate a bit by giving us an opening season (which is most likely the Summer). I'd like this confirmed though, as speculation can only get me so far.
However, to the disappointment of many, I'm not 100% confident that we'll be hearing anything about the Tropical Americas project at Destination D23. I think at the earliest, we'll hear something later this year once Disney drops an official closing date for DINOSAUR, which is scheduled to close early next year in 2026. The closure of that attraction will signal the final phase of closures in Dinoland U.S.A, marking a significant milestone in the project's construction progress.
But that sums up EVERYTHING currently happening at the Walt Disney World Resort, including news, rumors, construction, and lots more. Be sure to check back on this article following next weekend's Destination D23 event to briefly recap anything news-worthy you may have missed (looking at you, Villains Land).
I know this article was a pretty long one, so if you've made it this far, thank you. I sincerely hope you enjoyed it, and feel free to let me know in the comments below which announcements you think will be made at Destination D23. But until then, I'll see you all next time. Thanks for reading everyone!