Leading up to Walt Disney World’s 50th anniversary, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Chairman Bob Chapek revealed new details about what’s ahead for guests during D23 Expo Japan 2018.
Opening this summer at Hollywood Studios, guests will be transported to Andy’s backyard in the new 11-acre Toy Story Land. Surrounded by oversized toys, guests will feel as though you’ve been shrunk to the size of Woody and Buzz. This toy box world will include two major new attractions: the family-friendly coaster as well as the Alien Swirling Saucers. Quick refreshments will also be available at Woody’s Lunch Box.
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is set to open at Hollywood Studios in 2019. This highly-anticipated land will feature a full-sized fleet of X-wing star fighters along with a life-size Millennium Falcon starship. This area will include two immersive attractions that allow guests to join a battle between the First Order and the Resistance inside a Star Destroyer, as well as fly the Millennium Falcon. Along with the new attractions, guests can interact with with Chewie, BB-8 and members of the First Order, or visit the toy shop run by a Toydarian, one of the creatures from Star Wars: The Phantom Menace.
Outside of the park, guests can also live out their Star Wars adventures in a new luxury resort designed to completely immerse guests in an authentic Star Wars story. From the moment guests arrive, everyone departs together for a multi-day Star Wars adventure. An opening date for the new hotel has not been announced.
Also opening in Hollywood Studios in 2019, is the first ever ride-through attraction themed to Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse called Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway. Meanwhile, a new family-friendly show featuring Russell and Dug from Disney-Pixar’s Up will debut at Animal Kingdom on April 22, 2018.
Chapek also shared that the Marvel Super Hero universe will come to Disneyland Paris’ Walt Disney Studios Park, where the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster will be reimagined into a high-speed adventure with Iron Man and the Avengers. This June 2018, Captain America, Spider-Man, Black Widow, and Star-Lord can be found wandering through Disneyland Paris.
Hong Kong Disneyland recently launched their new ride, the Iron Man Experience, and has since announced plans for an entire Marvel-themed area. Chapek shared details about a new Marvel ride joining this area, where guests will be invited to team up with Ant-Man and The Wasp to fight Arnim Zola and his army of Hydra swarm bots.
Disneyland Hong Kong and Paris aren’t the only ones gaining new Marvel attractions. Opening at Walt Disney World’s Epcot in 2021 is a new, innovative ride staring the Guardians of the Galaxy. This ride will be one of the longest enclosed roller coasters in the world.
