Disney’s Big, Wise Investments in Theme Parks

 by Ray Keating

News/Analysis

DisneyBizJournal.com

September 19, 2023

 

Theme parks are cash cows for The Walt Disney Company. As stated by the company, “Disney’s Parks business is a key driver of value creation for the company…” 

 

Therefore, it’s not surprising that Disney announced today a vastly expanded investment commitment to double its projected capital expenditures in its Parks, Experiences and Products segment to $60 billion over the coming decade.

The commitment will cover “expanding and enhancing domestic and international parks and cruise line capacity.”

 

Given stepped up competition from Universal and others in the theme park and broader entertainment industries, critics might say that Disney was a bit late in stepping forward with this. 

 

In the Disney statement, it was noted: “Already, new Frozen-themed lands are coming to Hong Kong Disneyland, Walt Disney Studios Park in Paris and Tokyo Disney Resort, as well as a Zootopia-themed land at Shanghai Disney Resort. However, Disney will explore even more characters and franchises, including some that haven’t been leveraged extensively to date, as it embarks on a new period of significant growth domestically and internationally in its parks and resorts.”

 

As for potential scale, Disney pointed out that “there is significant room for further expansion on land and at sea. In fact, Disney Parks has over 1,000 acres of land for possible future development to expand theme park space across its existing sites – the equivalent of about seven new Disneyland Parks.”

 

And in terms of market size, the company noted: 

 

“Today, Disney has seven of the top ten most attended theme parks in the world, including Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom Park, which has been the #1 attended theme park on earth for decades. Disney Parks welcome approximately 100 million guests each year. Yet there is still enormous untapped potential for reaching more consumers. According to Disney’s internal research, there is an addressable market of more than 700 million people with high Disney affinity it has yet to reach with its Parks. In fact, for every one guest who visits a Disney Park, there are more than ten people with Disney affinity who do not visit the Parks.”

 

Disney is hosting an investor summit today at Walt Disney World, and more information will be forthcoming at the close of this meeting, according to the company.

 

Much of the future of Disney is about streaming and theme parks, along with cruise ships, movies and ESPN/sports, of course. And as always, Disney is about synergies among these endeavors, and so much of that synergy is evident in its parks and on its cruise ships. After some stagnation, the company seems ready to make investments to serve current fans (or guests, in Disney-speak) and future ones. This is much-needed, clarifying news from a company recently stuck in a fog. Naturally, though, the devil is in the details and the execution.

 

__________

 

Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com; and author of the Pastor Stephen Grant thrillers and mysteries, the Alliance of Saint Michael novels, and assorted nonfiction books. Have Ray Keating speak your group, business, school, church, or organization. Email him at raykeating@keatingreports.com.

 

The views expressed here are his own – after all, no one else should be held responsible for this stuff, right? (Keating is a Disney shareholder.)

 

Support Ray’s Kickstarter Campaign – “7 Exclusive Novels from Ray Keating – Limited-Release Thrillers, Mysteries, Historical Fiction and a Pinch of Science Fiction.” Get started on and/or don’t miss any Pastor Stephen Grant and Alliance of Saint Michael novels, and make sure you’re in on new series. Get all of the information for this Kickstarter at https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/raykeatingnovels/7-exclusive-novels-from-ray-keating.   

 

Consider books by Ray Keating, including…

 

• The Pastor Stephen Grant thrillers and mysteries. There are 18 books in the series now.

 

• Order The Weekly Economist II: 52 More Quick Reads to Help You Think Like an Economist. Kindle editions and paperbacks via Amazon here and signed books here. And don’t forget the first book in this growing series, i.e., The Weekly Economist: 52 Quick Reads to Help You Think Like an Economist at Amazon.com.

 

• Cathedral: An Alliance of Saint Michael Novel is at Amazon. 

 

• The Lutheran Planner: The TO DO List Solution combines a simple, powerful system for getting things done with encouragement, inspiration and consolation from the Christian faith.

 

• Signed editions of Ray’s books are at www.RayKeatingOnline.com.

 

Also, check out Ray’s podcasts – the Daily Dose of Disney, Free Enterprise in Three Minutes, and the PRESS CLUB C Podcast.

New Kickstarter Campaign - 7 Exclusive Novels from Disney Biz Journal’s Ray Keating

Limited-Release Thrillers, Mysteries, Historical Fiction and a Pinch of Science Fiction

Ray Keating has penned 19 exciting, thought-provoking and well-reviewed novels, and more are on the way. In addition, Keating is now launching a Kickstarter campaign to expand and jumpstart the writing and publishing of still more novels covering the thriller, mystery, historical fiction, and science-fiction genres.

 

The “7 Exclusive Novels from Ray Keating: Thrillers, Mysteries, Historical Fiction and a Pinch of Sci-Fi” can be accessed right here.

 

This Kickstarter will allow longtime readers of Keating’s works to continue reading books exclusive to this campaign’s backers; and new readers to jump in with these limited new releases, while also having the option to get all of Keating’s previous novels and short stories.

 

The seven new books will include two new thrillers/mysteries in the Pastor Stephen Grant series, two new works of historical fiction in the Alliance of Saint Michael series, and first books in three new series, that is, the first novel in the Quinn Porter series, the first installment in the Berger & Knight series, and the initial book in the Decker Files science-fiction series.

 

There are several rewards levels in this Kickstarter, including receiving all seven of these novels throughout 2024 and 2025 as ebooks or as signed paperbacks; and receiving the seven limited-release books along with all of Ray Keating’s previously published works of fiction.

 

Keating said, “Over the coming two years, Kickstarter supporters will be able to read seven limited-release books, while at least another four more books will be widely published. I truly am in the midst of a major step-up in my fiction writing, and hope readers will support and enjoy my efforts.”

 

Again, get all of the information for this Kickstarter at https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/raykeatingnovels/7-exclusive-novels-from-ray-keating.

 

Kirkus Reviews has called Ray Keating’s Pastor Stephen Grant “an engaging and multifaceted character” and “a consistently entertaining hero.” Lutheran Book Review calls Keating “the master of the theological thriller.”

 

The retired host of KFUO radio’s BookTalk declares, “Ray Keating is a great novelist.” David Keene of The Washington Times calls the Pastor Stephen Grant novels “great reads.”  And another reviewer observes, “How I'd love to see Pastor Grant on Netflix!” 

 

In an article titled “If James Bond Became a Pastor” covering Ray Keating’s Pastor Stephen Grant thrillers/mysteries series, author and columnist Gene Veith noted, “Mr. Keating knows how to tell an exciting story. And these books, like the James Bond novels, are ridiculously entertaining.”

 

Contact: Ray Keating

Kickstarter at https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/raykeatingnovels/7-exclusive-novels-from-ray-keating

E-mail: raykeating@keatingreports.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PastorStephenGrantNovels and https://www.facebook.com/AllianceofSaintMichael

Twitter: @KeatingNovels

www.RayKeatingOnline.com

 

Breaking News: Bear Spotted at Magic Kingdom, Closes Parts of Park

 by Beth Keating

News

DisneyBizJournal.com

September 18, 2023

 

Update: As of 1:00 PM, the bear reportedly had been apprehended, and most of the attractions have reopened.

When lunchtime rolls around at Disney, plenty of guests are hungry, perhaps as hungry as a bear … including, it appears, a real bear spotted in a tree in the back section of the park this morning.

 

As of lunchtime, Florida Fish and Wildlife had been called in to capture the furry guest, and attractions in Adventureland, Frontierland and Liberty Square were temporarily closed so the trappers could safely get the job done.

Incidentally, the Country Bear Jamboree was among the closed attractions.

We’ll update this post when the park fully reopens.

 

__________

 

Beth Keating is a theme parks, restaurant and entertainment reporter for DisneyBizJournal.

 

Stalking the Halloween Treats at Walt Disney World

 by Beth Keating

Review

DisneyBizJournal.com

September 14, 2023

 

Growing up in New York, it always seemed that the first day of school coincided with the first cool day of fall as well.  Not so here in Florida, where the kids go back when the calendar still says “summer,” and Disney starts putting up the pumpkins and hosting trick-or-treat trails in August.  For me, it’s a biological imperative not to begin drinking pumpkin-spiced anything while it is 900 degrees out.

Last week, though, we finally hit meteorological fall. And while the daytime temperatures in Orlando are still pushing the low-mid 90s, the humidity has eased off a bit, and it’s occasionally dipping to the upper 70s at night.  I could sort of justify looking at fall desserts.  Living in the hope that it might soon be cool enough to wear the spirit jerseys that Disney keeps hawking, we decided to go on a scavenger hunt for the best of the Halloween treats at Disney World.

To make our journey a bit more fun, we opted to board one of the free Sassagoula River Cruise boats to travel our way down the water to our first stop: Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter, where we popped in to Scat Cat’s Club Café for the “Ghoulish Delight Beignets.”  Ahhh, beignets!  Apparently, we’d elected to start our day with what we later decided was the best treat of the hunt.

  

For $7.49, you get three delicious Mickey-shaped beignets, dusted with cookies and cream powdered sugar and purple and white marshmallow crème drizzles.  These seasonal beignets are available through October 31. (Snacks are always more exciting when they make them Mickey shaped, am I right?)

These pillow-y sweets are made fresh to order, so you may have to wait a few minutes for your treat, but that will give you time to look around this tiny room, decorated with portraits of famous musicians; lots of instruments, albums and sheet music; and sketches of jazz club scenes.  Upbeat Dixieland music sets the tone in the background. If you feel so inclined, there’s also an oversized checkerboard on one of the tables if you want to challenge a friend.

  
When your beignets appear, they are warm and puffy, a bit messy from the powdered sugar, but oh-so-good.  We were very glad there were three because they were quickly gobbled up.  (And if these aren’t sweet enough for you – don’t know how that could be - there are containers of dipping sauces you can purchase for a small upcharge.) While the dough wasn’t as airy as some beignets we’ve had in the past, neither were they dense, but merely a perfect texture of yummy goodness.  The rest of the day had a lot to live up to.

 

While we were at French Quarter, we also stopped right next door to see what the Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory had in store, and we acquired their “Tombstone Sweet.”  It was indeed sweet, a rectangular triple-layer mix of chocolate cake, chocolate-coffee mousse, caramel-milk chocolate mousse, and chocolate ganache decorated to look like - yes, a tombstone (that’s going to be a recurring theme this season). Green frosting grass and a chocolate spider completed the look.  The Tombstone was tasty, but its refrigerator cold temperature made it feel more like a standard food court offering, and the coffee flavoring was lost among the other chocolates, with just the smallest hint of coffee in the background. Perhaps letting it warm up a bit would elevate the textures if you decide to grab this one for yourself.  The Tombstone Sweet is $5.99, and is available through October 31.

Back on board the boat, we headed to Disney Springs, with a short walk along the waterfront to Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa, where The Artist’s Palette was offering a “Mini Pumpkin.”  If you love pumpkin pie, this treat would be right up your alley.  One of our diners liked it, the other hated it.  A cute, very photogenic goodie, the shape of this pumpkin was reminiscent of an upside down Bundt cake, with a hard orange frosting shell that was a touch misleading.  You expected the taste of the coating to be orange, but in fact it had a decidedly fall, nutmeg/cinnamon flavor to the coating.  This treat was pumpkin flavored through and through!  The pumpkin mousse interior was soft and fluffy, very like a cold pumpkin pie filling, with a chewy chocolate décor stem.  You gotta love pumpkin for this treat – it’s very fall forward!  It’s $5.99, and available through November 30.

Next up we headed to Magic Kingdom, where it seemed the bulk of the Halloween treats could be found. Unfortunately for us, we ran into a bit of trouble there, because by the time we finished our boat rides, it was mid-afternoon, and many of the treats had sold out for the day.  We were hoping to test out the incredibly adorable “Oh, My Gourd Cupcake” ($6.29) at the Main Street Bakery’s Starbucks location, but they were sold out already, so we had to suffer through with just a cold brew instead.  (They do have a seasonal Mickey-shaped cinnamon roll with orange frosting and autumn sprinkles for $6.79 if you are looking for something character-centric for breakfast.)

Next up was Auntie Gravity’s Galactic Goodies, where we were hoping to indulge in the sweet corn cone for $5.49, a twist of vanilla soft serve with sweet corn flavored soft serve, topped with a decorative chocolate bow.  Alas, that was among the missing as well.  Too bad, because we were intrigued by trying corn flavored ice cream.

We were, however, able to find another tombstone-shaped goodie, this time at Golden Oak Outpost on the edge between Frontierland and Adventureland.  A bit like a homemade “Pop Tart,” the “Tombstone Tart” ($5.99) was rounded at the top like a grave stone, and filled with a thin, deceptive layer of strawberry-jalapeno jam. At first, the jam layer tasted like your normal strawberry jam, but a few seconds later, there was a delayed kick of the jalapeno on the back of your tongue.  It wasn’t overwhelming by any means, just a delightful little bonus that gave the pastry more depth of flavor.  It was decorated with a grey buttercream rectangle and sprinkles, with a few chocolate sugar spiders to add cuteness. The crimped edges of the pastry were a little crisp, but the rest of the dough was soft and chewy, and not at all crumbly like a pie crust.  All in all, a nice afternoon boost.

 

Courtesy of Disney Parks Blog

Our original plan was to end the day at Disney Springs to purchase some of Amorette’s Patisserie specialty desserts to take home for later. Unfortunately, we didn’t make it back to the Springs in time to gather up the last of the treats we’d been searching for on our sugar adventure. We’ll have to go back another day to complete this treat extravaganza.  Amorette’s is offering these creations through October 31, and among the ones we’re seeking is the Jack Skellington Éclair filled with pumpkin cream or the Sally Éclair with caramel-chocolate ($7.00 each); or the Oogie Boogie Cream Puff ($8.00) with cookies ‘n cream mousse. There’s also a Mummy Mickey Mouse Dome Cake that sounds delicious and is super charming, with peanut butter-milk chocolate mousse, caramel, peanut crunch, and dark chocolate glaçage. If we feel like splurging, we may bring home the $22.00 (!) Maleficent Petit Cake with vanilla chiffon, caramel, and milk chocolate mousse. At least the petit cake is big enough and rich enough to split with two or three other family members!

 

__________

 

Beth Keating is a theme parks, restaurant and entertainment reporter for DisneyBizJournal.

Embarking on a Pirate's Adventure in Magic Kingdom

 by Beth Keating

Park Life

DisneyBizJournal.com

September 13, 2023

 

I’m a Disney planner.  In the days before the My Disney Experience app (where all your plans are now electronically kept in one spot), I was the Disney mom with pages of spread sheets, color-coded, of course. Back in the days of Fastpass (remember those?), I had my three Fastpasses lined up months in advance, and they were carefully spaced apart from dining reservations. I had a schedule to keep!  Woe to the one who dared to put that schedule out of alignment.

Wilderness Explorers Handbook at Animal Kingdom

Then I had an elementary school child who wasn’t impressed with my carefully crafted plans.  He wasn’t even impressed with the rides. We got to the parks, and said child decided he wasn’t really interested in going on the rides. We did a lot of rider swaps on that trip.

Suddenly, something sparked an interest in the wee lad. He discovered that the “wilderness must be explored” with the Wilderness Explorers activities in Animal Kingdom.  And my meticulously planned trip went right out the window as we traded one of our park days for a second day in Animal Kingdom so he could complete all the activities in the Wilderness Explorers’ handbook and earn his explorer badges.

The next trip, we tackled the Pirate’s Adventure in the Magic Kingdom.  And he had just as much fun.  “A Pirate's Adventure ~ Treasures of the Seven Seas” is an interactive treasure hunt of sorts, and it is still offered at the Magic Kingdom today. (The Pokemon Go! folks among you will be familiar with the concept of electronically hunting and catching.)

Could this be one of the scenes hiding Captain Jack’s clues?

If you find yourself at Disney on a day when the wait times for the rides are super long, the Pirate Adventure may just fit the bill to keep your kids (or you!) engaged when you can’t face one more 60+ minute line for an attraction. It lets you slow down and enjoy the carefully Imagineered details for a while.  

 

The Pirate Adventure’s interactive hunt is good for all ages, though younger kids may need some help with the hidden clues that you will find while scavenging through the displays and tableaus set up throughout Adventureland. You’ve probably walked right by many of the set pieces scattered about near Pirates of the Caribbean without realizing that a number of clues and treasures were lurking therein.  You’ll follow your talisman, and when you find yourself in the correct spot, pirate voices will suddenly emanate from a treasure chest, or things will light up and make sounds to let you know you are on the right track.  (Remember the “Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom” card game? Think along those lines.)

Hmm, or maybe it’s this one?

Cast members are available at varying hours to sign you up and get you started, but most days the hunt is on from noon through dinner time. You can start an adventure up until 30 minutes before Adventureland closes, though, and even start and stop various adventures as needed, just in case a dining reservation pops up or you are due at a Lightning Lane.

 

The premise of the free adventure is this: Captain Jack needs your help!  You are searching for some hidden treasure, and you need a special talisman to help you find the clues.  You’ll start out at “The Crow’s Nest,” where helpful cast members will give you the talisman and a secret treasure map.

There are 5 “raids” to complete, all taking place in Adventureland, and you’ll link your MagicBand to the game so that you can come back later and complete the additional missions.  No need to finish them all in one afternoon as there is no time limit, though it is sort of addictive and each hunt takes a relatively short 15-20 minutes.  As you complete each adventure, you receive a treasure finder card, but the big payoff is that after you collect all 5, you’ll get a sixth celebratory card signed by Captain Jack Sparrow himself!

 

If you have a young swashbuckler in your family, or if you are just looking for something unique to do in the Magic Kingdom, this pirate quest may be the way to add some adventure to your day, Matey. Gather the little scallywags, and head to The Crow’s Nest to begin your journey.  

 

__________

 

Beth Keating is a theme parks, restaurant and entertainment reporter for DisneyBizJournal.

Disney and Charter vs. Cord Cutting?

 by Ray Keating

Analysis

DisneyBizJournal.com

September 12, 2023

 

The Walt Disney Company and Charter Communications came to an agreement on Monday (September 12) just in time for Jets fans with Spectrum cable to see their bad luck continue with a potentially season-ending injury for quarterback Aaron Rodgers during “Monday Night Football.”

But this wasn’t your typical last-minute deal regarding carriage fees cable companies pay for assorted channels. In a joint press release, Disney and Charter called this a “transformative” agreement – and that might not be your typical corporate PR hyperbole.

 

Disney had pulled its cable channels from Charter’s Spectrum cable on August 31. In the deal announced on Monday, the Disney offerings on Spectrum will be reduced from 27 channels to 19, according to the Associated Press. At the same time, Charter’s fees to Disney are “expected to increase, although financial terms were not released on Monday.”

 

But the truly big news in this announcement is about Disney’s streaming services. Here are the four key points from the release:

 

• “In the coming months, the Disney+ Basic ad-supported offering will be provided to customers who purchase the Spectrum TV Select package, as part of a wholesale arrangement.”

 

• “ESPN+ will be provided to Spectrum TV Select Plus subscribers.”

 

• “The ESPN flagship direct-to-consumer service will be made available to Spectrum TV Select subscribers when it launches.”

 

• “Charter will also use its significant distribution capabilities to offer Disney’s direct-to-consumer services to all its customers – in particular its large broadband-only customer base – for purchase at retail rates. These include Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+, as well as The Disney Bundle.”

 

So, Disney streaming services are going to be offered through Spectrum cable. This is a striking melding of linear and streaming. Could this Disney-Charter agreement be “transformative” in terms of its effects on cable and streaming? Maybe. 

 

It definitely warrants watching, and keeping an eye on how other streamers and cable companies react, including how Disney works with other cable companies. As AP noted: “While making a direct-to-consumer product available through a cable system may seem counterintuitive, the deal will help the soon-to-be launched ESPN service get established and have more access to advertisers, [ESPN President Jimmy] Pitaro said.”

 

In a joint statement, Disney CEO Bob Iger and Charter CEO Chris Winfrey said: “Our collective goal has always been to build an innovative model for the future. This deal recognizes both the continued value of linear television and the growing popularity of streaming services while addressing the evolving needs of our consumers.”

 

Immediate thoughts? Fascinating. Weird and challenging – given what we’ve heard and assumed about streaming killing cable and accelerating cord cutting. Maybe a game-changer – at least possibly for the near term.

 

__________

 

Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com; and author of the Pastor Stephen Grant thrillers and mysteries, the Alliance of Saint Michael novels, and assorted nonfiction books. Have Ray Keating speak your group, business, school, church, or organization. Email him at raykeating@keatingreports.com.

 

The views expressed here are his own – after all, no one else should be held responsible for this stuff, right? (Keating is a Disney shareholder.)

 

Consider books by Ray Keating, including…

 

• The Pastor Stephen Grant thrillers and mysteries. Here are 18 books in the series now with the latest being Under the Golden Dome: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel and For Better, For Worse: A Pastor Stephen Grant Short Story.

 

• Order The Weekly Economist II: 52 More Quick Reads to Help You Think Like an Economist. Kindle editions and paperbacks via Amazon here and signed books here. And don’t forget the first book in this growing series, i.e., The Weekly Economist: 52 Quick Reads to Help You Think Like an Economist. Signed paperbacks at RayKeatingOnline.com or paperbacks, hardcovers and Kindle editions at Amazon.com.

 

• Cathedral: An Alliance of Saint Michael Novel. Signed paperbacks and/or paperbacks, hardcovers and the Kindle edition at Amazon. 

 

• The Lutheran Planner: The TO DO List Solution combines a simple, powerful system for getting things done with encouragement, inspiration and consolation from the Christian faith.

 

Also, check out Ray’s podcasts – the Daily Dose of Disney, Free Enterprise in Three Minutes, and the PRESS CLUB C Podcast.

Breaking News from Destination D23 at Disney World

 by Beth Keating

News

DisneyBizJournal.com

September 9, 2023

 

Many of you were glued to your computers this morning watching the Destination D23 livestream from the Contemporary Resort at Disney World in Florida. D23 is the official Disney Fan Club.

This fan-gathering is always the home of breaking Disney Parks news, amidst the fun and interesting discussion panels, entertainment segments and, of course, merchandise shopping, and today didn’t disappoint. Here are some of the bulleted highlights of the Saturday event (September 9, 2023), many of them announced by Josh D’Amaro, Chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products himself.  If you haven’t been hovering over YouTube all day for the latest news, here are some of the scoops.

Courtesy of Disney Parks Blog

NEW AT EPCOT:

• “Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana” will be officially opening to the general public on October 16th. There will also be a Moana character meet-and-greet there. (DVC and Annual Passholder Previews will be underway shortly.)

 

• World Celebration will open in EPCOT in December.

Courtesy of Disney Parks Blog

• Figment fans, make your way to EPCOT this weekend – your favorite purple Figment will begin meeting and greeting in person, tomorrow (September 10, 2023) in the Imagination pavilion. Be warned – he is HUGE! The walk-around character was taller than most of the cast who joined him on stage for a rousing chorus of Figment’s “Imagination” theme song.

• In more EPCOT news, the new fireworks show now has a name and debut date:  “Luminous: The Symphony of Us” will arrive on December 5, 2023.

 

Courtesy of Disney Parks Blog

• The upcoming film Wish will introduce folks to Asha, and she will subsequently be appearing in EPCOT, Disneyland and Disneyland Paris.

• Guests who wax nostalgic about the old version of Test Track will be pleased to hear that Disney will be partnering with Chevrolet to reimagine Test Track and will take as its inspiration the original World of Motion.

Courtesy of Disney Parks Blog

• At this afternoon’s panel, “EPCOT: Always in a State of Becoming,” it was announced that for a limited time, guests at EPCOT will be able to experience the original cut of “Soarin’ Over California” as part of the Disney100 celebration, beginning September 22, 2023.

NEW AT HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS

• The “Star Tours” attraction will be adding “Ahsoka” to the lineup in the spring, including at Disney World, Disneyland and Disneyland Paris.

 
NEW AT MAGIC KINGDOM:

• The “Country Bear Jamboree” will be getting new songs for a new act, with the atmosphere being classic jamboree/Nashville-style in tone. Disney also revealed new artwork for the show, “Country Bear Musical Jamboree,” opening in 2024.

• Over in Adventureland, near Pirates of the Caribbean, there will be a new pirates’ themed tavern introduced, with the name and opening date of the restaurant/lounge to be shared later.

• Construction on his new home has already been underway, but at long last, the Hatbox Ghost will be arriving at Magic Kingdom in late November!

• Imagineer Bruce Vaughn joined D’Amaro and talked about the possibilities with the proposed expansion in the area “Beyond Big Thunder Mountain,” first broached in the Blue Sky projects at the last D23 gathering.  While the specific attractions and shows haven’t been named yet, Vaughn indicated that the scope of the project will be similar in scale to the Galaxy’s Edge and Pandora expansions – in other words, a very large addition to that end of the park!

NEW AT ANIMAL KINGDOM:

• The biggest news out of the Animal Kingdom is the long-anticipated revamp of DinoLand – to “the Tropical Americas.” According to Disney, they are “diving deep into their research” and “New experiences inspired by Encanto – the Academy Award winning Walt Disney Animation Studios film – and the fan-favorite adventurer Indiana Jones are being considered for the reimagined land at Disney’s Animal Kingdom in Walt Disney World Resort.” (Before you throw on your fedora and grab your bullwhip, note the wording “are being considered” in the language... though there were very broad hints about these IPs during the discussion of the land.)

Courtesy of Disney Parks Blog

• The Tree of Life will be getting a new show inspired by Zootopia, likely to be replacing “A Bug’s Life” inside the theatre in the base of the Tree of Life, though that wasn’t explicitly stated. Since the show will include animatronics, that indicates to us that it won’t just be an evening projections’ show on the outside of the Tree, but an overhaul of the show inside.

 

NEW AT DISNEY CRUISE LINE:

• Disney Cruise Line announced the name for the new, 7th ship in its fleet: the Disney Adventure.  This cruise, featuring Disney, Pixar, and Marvel stories on board, will be home ported in Singapore.

• In another Cruise Line announcement, the name of Disney’s newest private port will be “Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point” in the Bahamas. (The first cruise sailing there will be the Disney Magic, on June 16, 2024.)

 

NEW AT DISNEYLAND-CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE:

• Avengers Campus is getting a new attraction, where guests will be able to battle alongside the Avengers, and come face to face with big bad villain Thanos, complete with new ride vehicles in a hub for the multiverse! New Avengers “technology” will allow “recruits” to connect to the multiverse, and will transport participants on a multi-world mission. D23 guests got a peek at the ride vehicles.

 

NEW AT INTERNATIONAL PARKS:

• D23 fans also got a look at Hong Kong’s “World of Frozen,” opening November 30, 2023.

FUTURE FAN EVENT:

 

• Looking forward to the next big D23 event?  It was announced that next year’s event is being called “D23 The Ultimate Disney Fan Event,” and will take place from August 8th-11th in and around Anaheim, California. The D23 kickoff celebration will take place at Disneyland Resort on August 8th, 2024, with other panels and exhibits happening during the day on August 9th through 11th at the Anaheim Convention Center, providing more space for more guests. At night, participants will head to shows in the indoor NHL hockey arena at the Honda Center.

 

Tickets for these events aren’t on sale yet, but mark your calendars now, because when they do drop (sometime in spring 2024), they are certain to go really fast!  They typically sell out in a matter of hours.

 

CLOSING REMARKS:

Josh D’Amaro wrapped up “A Celebration of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow” by saying, “We are going to speed up; we are not going to slow down, and over the next decade, we are going to have more projects under way than at any point in our history – any point in our history.  We are planning to invest billions of dollars in our destinations around the world.” 

 

Disney fans will be looking forward to it.

 

__________

 

Beth Keating is a theme parks, restaurant and entertainment reporter for DisneyBizJournal.