New theater coming to The Magic Kingdom, show yet to be announced

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Disney announced at the D23 Expo 2017 that a new venue for world-class entertainment is coming to Main Street, U.S.A. at Magic Kingdom.

According to the Disney Parks Blog, the new entertainment venue will be based on the iconic Willis Wood theater in 1920s Kansas City, where Walt lived after he left Marceline.  As the blog states, "it’ll fit well right off Main Street, U.S.A."

“Across Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, we’ve been upping the game in Entertainment with shows like Frozen Live at the Hyperion,” Bob Chapek, Chairman of Walt Disney Parks & Resorts said. “It’s been a huge hit at the Disneyland Resort, and I’m sure many of you have seen it. This new theater at Walt Disney World continues that streak by bringing a new venue for world-class entertainment to the world’s biggest park.”

So far, there have been no announcements about what this new theater will be used for.  Based on the size depicted in this concept art - it will be huge, so there will be a lot of room for a major production.  It also appears that this will go in Town Square, which means the probable end of Tony's Town Square restaurant and yet another move for the Mickey Mouse meet and greet (unless it is incorporated into this new plan).

What do you think may be coming to this space? 

New space restaurant coming adjacent to Mission: SPACE at Epot

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At the D23 Expo, Disney announced that a new space-themed restaurant will be coming near Mission: SPACE at Epcot.  According to the Disney Parks Blog, the restaurant will invite guests to travel into space for amazing dining experiences in the stars.

“We know our guests love dining at Epcot – and the restaurants really are out of this world,” said Walt Disney Imagineer Tom Fitzgerald, who shared a first look at the restaurant during the Walt Disney World Parks and Resorts presentation at D23 Expo 2017.  “Now we’re about to create one that takes that literally,” he added.

The new space restaurant will be operated by the Patina Restaurant Group. Patina Restaurant Group operates several other restaurants at Walt Disney World including Tutto Italia and Via Napoli at Epcot and Morimoto Asia at Disney Springs.

No word yet on a possible opening date.

Paradise Pier at California Adventure to be rethemed to Pixar Pier

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At the D23 Expo 2017, Disney Parks and Resorts Chairman Bob Chapek was joined by Chief Creative Officer of Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios John Lasseter to unveil plans for Pixar Pier at Disney California Adventure, where the pier will take on a brand new look as more favorite Pixar characters and stories come to life, from The Incredibles, to Inside Out to even more Toy Story. Chapek also announced there is more Pixar in store during Pixar Fest at Disneyland Resort. Starting in 2018, this limited-time offering will include a new fireworks spectacular as well as special characters and entertainment moments.

Extraordinary Line-up of Experiences Coming to Disney Parks around the Globe
As part of the celebration, the Pixar Play Parade will return to Disneyland Resort – this time at
Disneyland Park – and the fan favorite Paint the Night Parade will move to Disney California Adventure, one of Disney’s longest parade routes.

Toy Story Land at Hollywood Studios to open summer 2018

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At the D23 Expo 2017, Disney announced the new Toy Story Land, currently under construction at Disney Hollywood Studios, will open in summer 2018.  This new land replaces the area that was the Backlot Tour and Lights, Motors, Action! Stunt Spectacular.

Disney conforms new goldola network coming to area south of Epcot

At the D23 Expo 2017, Disney announced a whole new transportation system called Disney Skyliner will give guests a birds-eye view of Walt Disney World Resort. This brand new system will connect Disney’s Art of Animation, Pop Century and Caribbean Beach resorts, as well as the proposed new Disney Riviera Resort, with Disney’s Hollywood Studios and the International Gateway at Epcot.

Construction already is underway on this project.

See this previous blog post for more about this ongoing project.

Tron rollercoaster attraction coming to Tomorrowland at Walt Disney World in a new space

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At the 2017 D23 Expo, Disney announced that the most popular attraction at Shanghai Disneyland is coming to Walt Disney World Resort. A thrilling, Tron-themed attraction will be added in a new area near Space Mountain at Magic Kingdom.  Interestingly, as you can see from the design concept above, this new attraction will not replace the Tomorrowland Speedway, as initial rumors suggested.  Instead, this attraction will be placed beyond the Speedway, where the current walkway between Tomorrowland and The Fantasyland Circus is.  One interesting question remains - how will this impact the WDW Railroad? 

New Mickey, Minnie attraction coming to Hollywood Studios, likely to replace Great Movie Ride

Disney remains at the cutting edge of deeply immersive, creative storytelling that draws guests into new worlds, and it is a legacy that lives on in every new Disney Parks experience.  At the D23 Expo, Disney announced the first-ever Mickey-themed ride-through attraction, Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, will come to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. With a new original story and lovable attraction theme song, this new state-of-the-art ride-through attraction will take guests on a journey inside the wacky and unpredictable world of Disney Channel's Emmy Award-winning “Mickey Mouse” cartoon shorts using new technologies that transform the flat cartoon world into an incredible dimensional experience.

As rumored, this attraction will replace the Great Movie Ride.  It's unclear if the iconic Chinese Theater facade will remain.  The Great Movie Ride will close in August.

Ratatouille, Guardians of the Galaxy attractions coming to Epcot; changes coming to Mission Space

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Looking ahead to the 50th Anniversary of Walt Disney World, there are grand plans to complete the transformation that started with the debut of New Fantasyland in 2014. Disney Parks and Resorts Chairman, Bob Chapek, announced exciting plans across Epcot to realize the original vision of the park while making it more timeless and relevant than ever before. Patterned after the number one family attraction at Disneyland Paris, Ratatouille will be added in an all-new space in the France pavilion at World Showcase.

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Epcot will also see the addition of a brand new E-ticket attraction based on the rockin’ and action-packed world of Guardians of the Galaxy, the next step in how guests can encounter these characters at Walt Disney World Resort.

In Future World, a new Green Mission at Mission: SPACE will take guests on a stunning tour around the Earth, and an updated Orange Mission will make the trip to Mars even more spectacular. Adjacent to Mission: Space will be a new restaurant that will invite guests to travel high above the earth for an unforgettable dining experience.

D23 news: Star Wars lands at Disneyland and Walt Disney World to be called, "Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge" new Star Wars-themed hotel announced

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Fans at the D23 Expo were elated to hear their Star Wars stories will come to life in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, the newly announced name for the Star Wars-themed lands. Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Chairman, Bob Chapek, shared exciting new details and a glimpse inside the two anchor attractions, including one that puts guests right in the middle of a battle between the First Order and the Resistance where guests will feel like they are inside a hangar bay on a Star Destroyer. Guests will also have the chance to fly the Millennium Falcon, where each guest is critical to the mission’s success. Chapek also revealed many characters that guests will meet, including BB-8, Chewbacca, Rex and Kylo Ren. Representing the largest single-themed land expansion at 14 acres each, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge will open in 2019, with the first land debuting at Disneyland Park in Anaheim, then at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Orlando.

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Among the announcements were projects that infuse even more exciting experiences for resort hotel guests in ways that are only possible at Disney. To the delight of fans, Chapek confirmed ambitious plans to create the most experiential concept ever in an immersive Star Wars-themed hotel at Walt Disney World Resort. Dedicated entirely to the galaxy of Star Wars, it will be a one-of-a-kind experience where a luxury resort meets a multi-day adventure in a galaxy far, far away.  Details have yet to be announced about the specific location of this resort.