Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point is on the far southeast end of the island of Eleuthera, known for its pink sand beaches. Cruises to the destination will begin in June 2024.
Walt Disney World recently hosted the bi-annual Destination D23 fan convention at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, unveiling a plethora of new experiences and surprises at The Walt Disney Co.’s properties worldwide, including major updates for the Orlando resort.
Josh D’Amaro, chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products, took the stage with other Disney executives and Imagineers to unveil ambitious expansion plans, with, he says, “more projects underway than at any point in our history.”
Bruce Vaughn, Walt Disney Imagineering Chief Creative Officer, says expansion plans for Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom are the largest ever, with new attractions, restaurants, shows and other experiences.
Die-hard Disney fans who have seen it all a thousand times over have new reasons to visit the parks, beginning this month. Check out these goodies when planning your next visit:
EPCOT
Figment Meet & Greet
Figment, the iconic purple dragon, is now meeting guests inside the Imagination Pavilion. The sweet yet mischievous dragon has been helping imaginations soar since EPCOT opened in 1982.
Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana
EPCOT’s new walk-through experience is now open in World Nature, encouraging guests to “engage with water in magical ways.”
The serene exhibit’s goal is to teach guests about the cycle of this precious resource in an immersive way and features characters from the Disney Animation Studios film “Moana.” The attraction is a highlight of Walt Disney World’s reimagining of EPCOT to foster connections to nature and celebrate the world’s diverse cultures.
Moana herself will start meeting guests Oct. 16 near the attraction, a date that coincides with the 100th anniversary of Disney.
World Celebration Opens
Welcome to the World Celebration neighborhood. This freshly updated area will begin welcoming guests in December, tying together the other two neighborhoods at the front. The reimagining is part of a multi-year transformation of the theme park and this opening marks the completion of the park into identifiable destinations.
DID YOU KNOW? EPCOT is divided into four neighborhoods: Discovery, Celebration, Nature and Showcase. World Celebration is in the middle of the front entrance to EPCOT and features Spaceship Earth.
Luminous Symphony of Us
Starting Dec. 5, EPCOT will be home to a new nighttime spectacular, “Luminous Symphony of Us.” Jeff Vahle, president of Walt Disney World Resort, and D’Amaro did not reveal too much about the show but did say it will feature fireworks, fountains, music, lasers, lighting and more. We do like more.
Asha Meet & Greet
It’s time for a new Disney heroine! Asha is an optimistic 17-year-old living in a kingdom built on dreams and desires in “Wish,” premiering in theaters Nov. 22. The animated musical tells the story of the Wishing Star, seen so often in Disney’s movies.
Asha will be greeting guests at EPCOT in 2024 but the Disney team would not spill the beans on the details, such as where she will be appearing nor for how long.
A Reimagining of Test Track
Disney Imagineers and Chevrolet engineers are teaming up to reimagine Test Track in a way that encompasses the spirit of the original World of Motion. No timeline was announced along with the news but an intriguing illustration that accompanied the announcement shows a futuristic-looking vehicle gliding through the attraction.
Magic Kingdom
Pirates of the Caribbean—Themed Lounge
Fans of the “Pirates of the Caribbean” movie franchise can look forward to a new tavern coming to Adventureland. Disney is calling it a “first-of-its-kind” experience, so it might be more than a watering hole for thirsty pirates. Details are few but we do know that Peg-Leg Pete, the one-legged parrot that greeted guests at the entrance to the ride from 1973 to 2006, will be doing his best to entice customers to spend a few doubloons.
Country Bear Jamboree Update
Country Bear jamboree is getting an update but will keep all of its beloved characters.
D’Amaro and Disney Imagineer Chris Beatty announced that Frontierland’s Country Bear Jamboree attraction will be updated in 2024 to feature the bears singing Disney songs in various country music genres. The current cast of bears, including the lovable Trixie and soulful Big Al, will not be leaving and the show will keep its upbeat feel.
The Hatbox Ghost Addition to The Haunted Mansion
Hatbox Ghost will be appearing in the Endless Hallway in the Haunted Mansion.
Disney Imagineer Daniel Joseph and D’Amaro took the stage to tell fans that the Hatbox Ghost will be added to the Haunted Mansion attraction, beginning in late November. Although no specific date was announced, they did say that this character will appear near the attraction’s Endless Hallway.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom
‘Zootopia’-Inspired Show
The Tree of Life theater will be home to a 3-D show based on Disney’s 2016 animated film “Zootopia.” Although no timeline or definitive concept has been announced, Imagineers are said to be creating a show that has guests traveling with characters Nick Wilde and Judy Hopps through the film’s various biomes.
Alas, the beloved “It’s Tough to be a Bug” is getting swatted to make room for the new show. The film has been playing since opening day, April 22, 1998.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Star Tours Attraction Update
The Star Tours attraction will be updated to feature Ahsoka from the original series “Star Wars: Ahsoka” on Disney+. Disney execs are keeping her debut date under their hats for now, saying only that the addition will occur in spring.
Disney Cruise Line
Bahamas playground has a name
Disney cruisers finally know the name of the new Bahamas destination that has been on the drawing boards since 2019 and even better — can start booking trips to the tropical playground. Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point is on the far southeast end of the island of Eleuthera, known for its pink sand beaches.
Cruises are being booked starting in June on the Disney Magic out of Port Canaveral, a one-hour drive east of Orlando. If you have the money and the time, you can join the seven-day inaugural cruise June 8-15 starting at $6,511 for two.
Disney’s other Bahamian destination is its own private isle, Disney’s Castaway Cay, southeast of Freeport.
More information about these and other announcements from Walt Disney World theme parks and other Disney properties across the world may be found at disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/