As the 50th-anniversary celebrations at Walt Disney World conclude at the end of March, the resort is already looking ahead to the rest of the year and has announced several new experiences for 2023.
Guests will be able to enjoy TRON Lightcycle / Run from April 4, and can also experience a new restaurant and the continued transformation of EPCOT, alongside returning nighttime spectaculars.
50 years of Walt Disney World
A year of special celebrations for the resort’s 50th anniversary comes to a close on 31 March, meaning that guests have a few weeks left to enjoy a range of unique sights, tastes and merchandise created to mark the milestone.
Fans can meet their favourite characters in Walt Disney World’s parks throughout the year, with some new faces making an appearance for the first time. From 22 April, Moana will greet guests on Discovery Island at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, coinciding with the park’s 25th anniversary.
Meanwhile, fans can meet EPCOT icon Figment at the Imagination! pavilion from late summer and Mickey Mouse and friends have a new home at Communicore Hall opening later this.
Starting this fall at Magic Kingdom Park this fall, Encanto’s Mirabel will be on hand to greet visitors in the Fairytale Garden. Elsewhere in Magic Kingdom, guests can also enjoy longtime favourite character experiences like Pete’s Silly Sideshow, Enchanted Tales with Belle, Ariel in her underwater grotto and character dining at Cinderella’s Royal Table.
New food, shows & rides
At Disney’s Hollywood Studio, the Roundup Rodeo BBQ will open on 23 March in Toy Story Land. This is the world’s first Toy Story table-service restaurant and will feature barbecue-inspired comfort foods. It is a collaboration between Walt Disney Imagineering, Disney Pixar Animation Studios and Walt Disney World Food & Beverage.
From 3 April, Magic Kingdom’s much-loved nighttime spectacular, Happily Ever After, presented by Pandora Jewelry returns. The nightly fireworks show will include brand-new projections that extend down Main Street U.S.A. Also on 3 April, EPCOT Forever will return to World Showcase Lagoon.
On 4 April, the eagerly awaited TRON Lightcycle / Run Presented by Enterprise opens. This new ride, as well as its sister ride at Shanghai Disneyland, is the fastest coaster attraction in a Disney theme park. It is a thrilling coaster that brings together visual effects, music and a one-of-a-kind ride system.
Next month, Narcoossee’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa will debut a new dining experience, with a new interior along and a refreshed menu. House favourites like lobster bisque will return, alongside new dishes like Blackened Redfish and new plant-based options.
Later this year, more new dining options will open, including Summer House on the Lake at Disney Springs and The Cake Bake Shop at Disney’s BoardWalk.
Celebrating Disney & transforming EPCOT
This year, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park celebrates its 25th anniversary. Here, guests can enjoy entertainment like Festival of the Lion King and Finding Nemo: The Big Blue…and Beyond!, They can also encounter wild animals and pay a visit to Pandora – The World of Avatar.
Later in 2023, Walt Disney World Resort will join the global celebration of The Walt Disney Company’s 100th anniversary.
The transformation of EPCOT is also ongoing. Later this year, Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana, an interactive outdoor trail, opens to guests. This allows visitors to learn more about the importance of water as they play and interact with the watery trail.
The new World Celebration neighbourhood is also set to complete in the fall and will act as EPCOT’s hub. Here, guests can discover the new Communicore Plaza as well as the new Communicore Hall, where they can meet Mickey and Minnie. World Celebration will anchor the park’s festivals. Dreamers Point, home to a statue of Walt Disney called “Walt the Dreamer”, will also be a part of the World Celebration area.
EPCOT will introduce an all-new nighttime spectacular, with an original composition combined with selections from the Disney songbook, later this year. The show will also feature pyrotechnics, lasers and lighting. Epcot’s first-ever roller coaster, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, opened earlier this year as part of the ongoing transformation of the park.
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, a new attraction based on The Princess and the Frog, is also opening in late 2024 at Florida’s Magic Kingdom and Disneyland in California, with a tiara-topped water tower.
Images: Disney
