All The Disney Park Announcements From D23 Expo Japan

While definitely not as big as last year's D23 Expo, this year in Japan we got some more on last year's developments, as well as some pretty significant new developments. Of course there's also plenty of concept art to go with. First of all, we now have a date for the opening of Pixar Pier. June 23, 2018 is the official date to visit the four new neighborhoods representing Pixar stories with newly themed attractions, food, merchandise, & the rebranding of the Incredicoaster. I wish I could make it over there for this. It sounds pretty amazing.

Speaking of Pixar Pier, there was also this awesome concept art for the new float to be joining the Paint the Night parade. It will feature characters from The Incredibles, showcasing their powers with high-tech, pop-art effects. I'm not one to get excited for a float but this one looks, well, incredible.

After that attention switched over to Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge. They revisited the Star Wars themed hotel that will join the land. Now we learned the hotel will be a luxury hotel that will not only feature a fully immersive adventure, but it will be seamlessly connected to Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge letting the full immersion continue into the park. Speaking if the park they released some things to expect. The lands will feature a life size Millennium Falcon, as well as a full size fleet of X-Wings. Them there's the two attractions to be featured mentioned again. With the chance to fly the Falcon, & the ability to stand on a Star Destroyer in the middle of a First Order/Resistance battle.

After Star Wars, the attention was shifted to Marvel where we found out the new Guardians of the Galaxy  themed  coaster coming to Epcot will be one of the longest enclosed roller coasters in the world. Following that awesome revelation, Disneyland Paris was informed their Rock n Roller Coaster, a personal favorite of mine, will be getting a total reimagining where you'll now team up with Iron-Man & The Avengers. This is really cool, but if they follow suit in Hollywood Studios, I'll really miss the music of Aerosmith throughout the coaster.

Hong Kong will get in on the Marvel action as well. They already have the Iron-Man Experience, & now you will be able to team up with Ant-Man & The Wasp to fight Arnim Zola & a army of Hydra Swarm bots. That's all the details but this attraction got most of the cool concept art.

Last but definitely not least we get some concept art for one I'm really looking forward to.  The first ever Mickey Mouse themed ride through attraction, Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway. Opening in Hollywood Studios in 2019 this will take place of one of my all-time favorites, The Great Movie Ride. This ride will zap us right in the middle of an original story, Mickey Mouse cartoon short.

Like I said, all in all not as amazing as last year's big reveals, but some awesome follow ups & concept art though. What do y'all think of these developments? Looks like 2019 is going to be a huge year. Put it in the comments, like, & share.

Celebrate Scallywags With "A Pirates Life For Me: Disney's Rascals, Scoundrels, Really Bad Eggs" Exibit At D23

This was really cool. It's some of the action from the D23 exhibit, A Pirates Life For Me: Disney's Rascals, Scoundrels, Really Bad Eggs. I love me some pirates, & not only do you get to see some behind the scenes, rarely shown stuff, you also get a look at the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction located in Shanghai Disneyland. Which if you haven't seen is a real treat. It might be one of the most amazing rides I've ever witnessed, & I've only seen it in video form. I can't wait to actually ride it one day. Any fans of Pirates of the Caribbean should check this video out though, it's a neat little trip through Disney's Caribbean. Anyone been to Shanghai Disneyland & experienced this? Is it everything it looks? Let us know in the comments, like, & share.

Analyzing The New Future World In Epcot Along With Annoucements By Disney Parks & Resort At D23 Expo 2017

Disney Parks put up this video of all the announcements from last weekends D23 Expo. We talked about most all of these here, but Chip & Co. along with Inside the Magic really went in on this "Blue Sky" concept photo of EPCOT's Future World & broke it down. We know EPCOT is going to go through some major changes. The ball that is Spaceship Earth is going nowhere, but the Innoventions &  Character Meet & Greet buildings are gone. This is no big surprise if you've seen the current state of the formally amazing Innovention buildings. Once a showcase for the future, I remember watching them empty out little by little over the years. It looks like EPCOT will be getting much greener with those buildings being replaced by vegetation. If you look in the corner over the announcers heads, there looks to be a hedge maze. Those are always fun, I'm sure Disney has a way to set theirs apart from your average hedge maze. Club Cool & Mouse Gear look like they're getting heavily updated or removed. Speculation points to a new shop & dining area, but we'll have to see. The biggest change is the extra paths to the World Showcase & a giant new water feature. Now even they go on from this point to mention how careful Disney was. With this being an initial vision & anything can happen between this & the final product. It looks a lot more alive than it did, I'll definitely give it that. I think it's funny, no one seems to be mentioning what looks like a small monorail track going around the whole thing though. That's got me a little more than curious. I hope they keep the futuristic theming & tone of the place. In this picture, I will say, it looks like they are. That's always been the intrigue of EPCOT for me though. It seems like one of the last places that paints out a positive future we're heading towards. We like to focus on the "doom & gloom" future now, & I like to have a little more hope than that. All in all, it pains me to see classics leaving. At the same time though, this is Future World. It has to change, if it is to live up to it's name. So, while I welcome the changes only time will tell what my thoughts will be when this is all said & done. Any thoughts on the changes? Anything you see that was missed? Let us know in the comments, like , & share.

Disney Parks & Resorts Sounds Like It Was The Real Highlight Of The D23 Expo

Walt Disney Parks & Resorts took the stage at Hall D23 with chairman Bob Chapek as host, & it blew everyone away. With news & rumor confirmations abound from everything from the Star Wars lands to the 50th Anniversary of the Walt Disney World Resort in 2021 there's a lot about to be going on in the lands of mouse & they have concept art to prove it. That being said let's go over what we go coming:

Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railroad: This one's fun. In an experience the Imagineers are calling 2 & 1/2 D (No Glasses), Walt's own Mickey Mouse will be getting his first attraction at Disney's Hollywood Studios. Replacing The Great Movie Ride in the Chinese Theater, the most surprising thing about this announcement is this hasn't happened yet. This all started with this mouse, & as much as I'll miss The Movie Ride (a favorite of mine), it's about time. I hope this transition doesn't take too long. 

Galaxy's Edge:  What's this you ask? Well that just so happens to be the official name of the new Star Wars inspired lands. We also found out that they will set in a remote trading port on the edge of wild space. Chapek mentioned the scale of the attraction being unlike anything they've ever done, & judging from that model, I'd have to agree. Described as a living place where you might receive some "galactic credits", find yourself on a bounty hunter's list, pilot the Millenium Falcon, or find yourself inside the hangar bay of a Star Destroyer. Afterwards, you can hit up a cantina for some blue milk & some tunes from ex-Star Tours pilot droid Rex. This thing had me at Galaxy's Edge. I'm already in line for this one, I don't know if I can wait til 2019.

Star Wars Themed Resort: We talked about this awhile back & now it's going to become a reality. Upon arrival you will be thrust into the Star Wars galaxy in an immersive story all the way down to the clothes you wear. They say the story will touch every minute of the day, & end in a unique journey for everyone. Man, this thing sound pricey, but at the same time, sounds like it's worth every penny. This is the closest thing to Total Recall we're ever going to see. 

Mission: SPACE: This EPCOT ride will not only be adding a new Green Mission that allows you to soar over Earth, but you will also be able to dine at a new restaurant adjacent to the attraction that also takes place outside the atmosphere. I expect the food to be truly out of this world. See what I did there? It's a space theme? Out of this world? Yeah? Really though, this sounds beyond cool. I'm usually not a sit-down restaurant kinda person at the Parks, but this might an experience worth checking out.  

Ratatouille: Disney confirmed this rumor announcing the France Pavillion of EPCOT will be receiving this attraction. While being very similar to the ride at Disneyland Paris, I think this will be a welcome addition to the rideless side of the World Showcase. It'll give my kids something to look forward to as we traverse the world. 

Guardians Of The Galaxy: Don't worry they're not taking away another Tower of Terror. This will seem to take the place of Ellen's Energy Adventure unfortunately though. This thing sounds friggin awesome. I like what they're doing though. Apparently, it was revealed that Peter Quill (Star-Lord) actually paid a visit to EPCOT as a young boy. This information will play a part in the adventure with roots in an EPCOT story. Using the park as part of the story is an epic decision that will just make the whole ordeal more immersive.

TRON Lightcycle Power Run: Magic Kingdom won't get left out of the 50th celebration either. The highest rated attraction of Shanghai Disneyland will be coming to an area near Space Mountain in Tomorrowland. So not only will the lightcyle rollercoster be coming, it sounds like the Tomorrowland Speedway might even be safe. This news is great, Tomorrowland needs something new.to keep it in the land of tomorrow.

Toy Story Land, Pixar Pier, & Haul-o-ween At Cars Land: Toy Story Land got an opening time next summer for Disney's Hollywood Studios, along with a really neat piece of concept art for the Slinky Dog Coaster. Meanwhile over on the other coast at Disney's California Adventure's pier becomes Pixar Pier. New name, new look. Starting next year, Pixar Fest will have a new fireworks show, special characters, & entertainment. At the same time, Pixar Play Parade will move to Disneyland, while Paint the Night will be moved to California Adventure with a new float. In addition to all this news this fall will feature a Halloween celebration in Cars Land. This stuff sounds so cool. I've never made it to the California Parks, but this is making an eventual trip a necessity. 

Transportation: A couple of new ways to get around Disneyworld Resort were unveiled. One in the form of Minnie Vans. Minnie themed vehicles that will work very similar to Uber. The other a little more exciting in the form of the Disney Skyliner. A gondola system connecting Disney's Art of Animation, Pop Century, & Caribbean resorts, & other locations with Hollywood Studios & EPCOT. I have a feeling I will be riding these without reason when they go up. I love gondolas for some reason. Two new cruise ships were also announced, bringing Disney Cruise Line's fleet up to seven ships. If I had to guest this will mean bigger windows for Star Wars & Marvel Super Hero themed cruises. They might finally get me in the middle of the water after all.

Other Announcements: Also worth mentioning is an entertainment theater coming to Magic Kingdom based on the Willis Theater in 1920 Kansas City & Disney's Hotel New York, The Art of Marvel for Disneyland Paris, a reimagination of Disney's Hotel New York that will transport guests into the world of superheroes with art, costumes, & more. Speaking of Marvel Baby Groot came by to announce, "I am Groot." Meaning Spider-Man & the Avengers would be joining California Adventure for a new immersive super hero universe at the park.