Walt Disney announced several new attractions for its theme parks at the D23 fan event on Saturday, aiming to boost revenue from its lucrative parks and cruise ships division. The company plans to introduce an 'Avatar' experience at Disney California Adventure, inspired by the sequel “Avatar: The Way of Water.” Additionally, a show celebrating Walt Disney's life, featuring an audio-animatronic figure of the founder, will debut to mark Disneyland's 70th anniversary next year.
Disney also revealed plans for two new attractions at the Tropical Americas expansion in Disney's Animal Kingdom park in Orlando, Florida. One attraction will follow Indiana Jones exploring a Mayan temple, while the other is based on the Disney film “Encanto” and follows the character Antonio on the day he received his magical gift. Tropical Americas is scheduled to open in 2027.
Actor Billy Crystal announced a new area at Disney's Hollywood Studios dedicated to the Pixar film “Monsters, Inc,” featuring a suspended roller coaster that simulates racing through the Laugh Factory's door vault. Meanwhile, Pixar’s “Cars” franchise will expand into the Magic Kingdom's Frontierland with two new attractions, including an off-road adventure ride. Construction for these new attractions is set to begin early next year.
These announcements highlight Disney's planned $60 billion in capital investments over the next decade, nearly doubling its spending to enhance attractions at its 12 parks and expand cruise line capacity. Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D'Amaro emphasized that all announced projects are in active development.
Disney also plans to add four new cruise ships to its fleet, capitalizing on the rebounding cruise industry post-COVID-19. The company currently operates five cruise ships and has previously announced four more, including one based in Tokyo and another sailing from Singapore in 2025. These new vessels are scheduled to launch between 2027 and 2031.
D’Amaro discussed Disney’s collaboration with video-game maker Epic Games, in which Disney invested $1.5 billion earlier this year. New characters and stories from Disney, Pixar, and Star Wars franchises will be introduced in the online game.
Disney's parks have solidified their role as a profitable segment, offsetting declines in traditional television and losses in its video streaming business. The experiences unit, encompassing parks, cruise ships, and consumer products, contributed 60% of the company's operating profit in the latest quarter, up from 30% a decade ago. Disney CEO Bob Iger announced plans to invest $17 billion over the next decade at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando.
These investments will enhance recent attractions like Tiana's Bayou Adventure, the Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind roller coaster, and the Tron Lightcycle/Run. Disney faces increasing competition from Universal Studios, which plans to open Epic Universe next year, adding 750 acres featuring Harry Potter, dragons from “How to Train Your Dragon,” and other iconic characters.
