We are just mere days away from the 2022 D23 Expo, an event where the Disney Parks usually announce exciting new projects, provide details on those we are highly anticipating, and perhaps even give us the dates at which we might first experience them. So, what will be announced in 2022? There seems to be some strong rumors for Disneyland Resort in Anaheim and even Disneyland Paris, while Walt Disney World may be slowing down its expansion of the last few years following the pandemic. Then again, maybe we are in for some big surprises…

Here’s every speculated announcement that might be made at the D23 Expo 2022 for Disney Parks worldwide:

Walt Disney World Resort

• Return of Happily Ever After Fireworks in 2023
  • If Disney wants to please the crowd at the Anaheim Convention Center, this would do it. However, the fact that they just invested more money into Disney Enchantment despite the fact that the 50th celebration ends in March does cast some doubt on the return of the beloved fireworks show.
• Long-Awaited Update to Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress
  • As originally reported, an update to Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress was scheduled for 2023. It is possible this is still happening and will be announced.
• Wreck-It Ralph/Replacement for Stitch’s Great Escape
  • While the Wreck-It Ralph attraction was set to be constructed starting in March 2020, the pandemic halted work just as construction walls were about to go up. The question is, is the project still going to happen or will something else be developed for the empty space?
• Opening Date/Timeframe for TRON Lightcycle Run
  • Disney would certainly like to end the jokes about how long it has taken them to build this ride, as guests are no longer buying the COVID excuses at this point. It is all but certain that at least an opening season, if not an opening date for the long-delayed ride will be announced. The expected announcement is for somewhere between November 2022 and March 2023.
• Reopening Date/Timeframe for Walt Disney World Railroad
  • Closed to accommodate the work on TRON, the reopening of The Walt Disney World Railroad is imminent.
• “Lightyear” Update for Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
  • Given the commercial letdown of the “Lightyear” film, it is unlikely this project will move forward, but not impossible.
• New Details for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
  • A foregone conclusion as Disney has already stated that the Parks and Resorts Pavilion will preview this new attraction.
• Closing Date/Timeframe for Splash Mountain at the Magic Kingdom
  • A closing date for the classic Splash Mountain is expected to be announced, likely in very early 2023.
• Details on New Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort Disney Vacation Club Addition
  • New details on the controversial new Disney Vacation Club wing at the Polynesian are expected to be announced.
• Restart/Replacement of Reflections: A Disney Lakeside Lodge Resort
  • With an unseemly dirt plot and construction fencing ruining the serenity of Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort, one would hope something will be done with the land for the hotel that was cancelled due to the pandemic.
• Details on Further Changes to Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort (Lobby, 1900 Park Fare, Grand Floridian Cafe, ETC.)
  • Changes will be continuing at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, with remodeling projects expected for the lobby, 1900 Park Fare, Grand Floridian Cafe, and more.
• Spaceship Earth Refurbishment
  • Delayed and undoubtedly heavily altered due to the pandemic, the Spaceship Earth refurbishment and reimagining still needs to happen as the attraction is in terrible shape. Will they finally reignite the project at D23?
• Is the Mary Poppins Attraction Even Happening?
  • A project placed “on hold” due to the pandemic, it is not likely to be restarted, but it could be.
• Details on DuckTales World Showcase Adventure
  • Despite not having been mentioned in quite some time, this experience is still expected to see the light of day and may be mentioned at the event.
• Details on CommuniCore Hall, Journey of Water inspired by Moana, and Other Ongoing EPCOT World Celebration Projects
  • We suspect we will receive more details on the final phase of the ongoing EPCOT overhaul project, regarding the central spine of the park.
• Something, Anything for Journey Into Imagination
  • We have heard nothing regarding this project and there were originally no plans to touch the attraction until later this decade, roughly 2025. With many EPCOT projects already shelved, it is perhaps unlikely that this is where money would be focused at the park.
• Opening Date and/or New Details for Roundup Rodeo BBQ
  • While Disney announced the restaurant would open this year, no visible progress has been made on the exterior. It is likely the venue may be delayed, or perhaps we will get a very-late 2022 opening date at the Expo.
• Expansion of Woody’s Lunchbox, Other Toy Story Land Fixes
  • Disney has continued to fix the issues of the land, we suspect thy mention some of these at the event.
• Opening Date for Fantasmic!/Details on New Scenes
  • It is all but confirmed at this point that we will get the long anticipated reopening date for Fantasmic at Disney’s Hollywood Studios this weekend. We also suspect we will et a first look at the new scene replacing Pocahontas.
• Zootopia at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
  • While unlikely to be announced so soon given it isn’t even open in Shanghai yet, a Zootopia land continues to be rumored for Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
• Expansion/Changes in Pandora: The World of Avatar for New Films
  • With several new films on the way, updates, or even an expansion could come to Pandora at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
• Something, Anything for Dinoland U.S.A.
  • The plot of the former Primeval Whirl attraction remains empty in Dino-Rama.
• Encanto Attraction for Walt Disney World
  • While all we have to go on are some interviews, Disney’s inclusivity efforts could see some haphazard Encanto attraction announced for Walt Disney World sooner rather than later.
• 100 Years of Wonder
  • It is suspected that Walt Disney World will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the company in 2023, it is unknown in what way.

Disneyland Resort

• “Wondrous” Fireworks Spectacular
  • A brand new fireworks show for Disneyland is expected to be announced as part of the Disney 100 Years of Wonder celebration.
• Return of the PeopleMover
  • It is expected that the PeopleMover will finally return to Disneyland as part of an overhaul of Tomorrowland. The new version will reportedly be a modified “powered roller coaster system” with a shorter track.
• “Encanto” Treehouse to Replace Tarzan’s Treehouse
  • Tarzan’s Treehouse closed rather unceremoniously over a year ago, and it’s generally assumed an “Encanto”-themed replacement is on the way to Adventureland.
• Seating Area Replacing Star Wars Launch Bay
  • While it appears the Carousel Theater is now safe thanks to a Disney Vacation Club lounge, an announcement is still expected of some sort of overhaul of the bottom floor, home to the Star Wars Launch Bay experience.
• Lightyear Mountain Replacing Space Mountain
  • While the commercial failure of the film casts doubt on the project, it was expected that a new version of Space Mountain themed to the “Lightyear” film would be announced.
• New Details for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
  • A foregone conclusion as Disney has already stated that the Parks and Resorts Pavilion will preview this new attraction.
• Closing Date/Timeframe for Splash Mountain at Disneyland
  • A closing date for the classic Splash Mountain is expected to be announced, likely in very early 2023.
• New Details on Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
  • With the opening just months away, we expect new details on the second version of Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, one that is now confirmed to be different from its Florida counterpart.
• New Details on Reimagined Mickey’s Toontown
  • More details are expected for the remainder of the Toontown overhaul project.
• Is There Ever Going to be an Avengers E-Ticket?
  • An Avengers E-Ticket was announced many years ago for Hong Kong Disneyland, but then was shelved. It was shelved again after initially being planned for Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure, only to be announced on stage at D23 Expo 2019. Then the pandemic happened, Disney stopped mentioning the project, and even ripped concept art for it off the walls of a hotel at Disneyland Paris. It is unclear if the project is completely dead, if some new concept will take its place, or Disney will simply scrap all ideas for the plot in favor of a Black Panther “Wakanda” themed land in a different location.
• NEW “World of Color” Nighttime Spectacular
  • An entirely new World of Color show is expected to be announced as part of the Disney 100 Years of Wonder celebration.
• New Details/Name of Disney Vacation Club Tower at Disneyland Hotel
  • With the opening (and likely sale date) not far away, we expect to get an official name and additional details on the new Disney Vacation Club tower at the Disneyland Hotel.
• New Details/Name of Pixar Hotel Replacing Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel
  • After nixing a solely Toy Story theme, it was announced that Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel will be converted into a Pixar art hotel. We suspect new details and maybe even a name for the hotel will be announced.
• New Details on Reimagining of Downtown Disney District
  • We anticipate new details on the ongoing reimagining of the Downtown Disney District in Anaheim.
• MagicBand+ Launch Date
  • Disneyland Resort has remained quiet on when MagicBand+ will launch in Anaheim, but we should find out this weekend.

Disneyland Paris

• New Details on “Frozen” Themed Land
  • More details are expected on the land currently under construction at Walt Disney Studios Paris.
• Replacement Land for Cancelled “Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge”
  • While it may be too early to hear anything about it, it is expected that either a “The Lion King” or “Avatar” themed land will be added to expansion plans at Walt Disney Studios Paris.
• New Details on Lake Nighttime Entertainment
  • A new nighttime show using barges from the now-defunct “Fantasmic!” at Tokyo DisneySea is expected to be announced at some point.
• Tangled Round Ride
  • With permits for the ride already filed, it seems a foregone conclusion that this Tangled flat ride will be announced at the D23 Expo 2022.
• Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
  • At one point, Disney was keen on the idea of adding this ride to every Disney property on Earth. It remains to be seen if plans to add the ride to Disneyland Paris will come to fruition.
• Phantom Manor Holiday
  • While maybe not a proper time to announce such a project, it is still suspected that Jack Skellington and others from “The Nightmare Before Christmas” will eventually invade the Frontierland attraction.
• New Details on the Reimagining of the Disneyland Hotel
  • New details on the project currently underway are expected.

Hong Kong Disneyland

• New Details on “Frozen” Themed Land

Shanghai Disney Resort

• New Details on “Zootopia” Themed Land

Tokyo Disney Resort

• New Details on Fantasy Springs Expansion of Tokyo DisneySea
  • With Disney not owning the Japanese parks, its isn’t expected that we will see much, but these projects should at least be mentioned. Disney may also not be keen to show off new rides that outshine their latest offerings to their most-devoted fans in the United States. Additionally, the Oriental Land Company holds first right of refusal to share new details on projects in Tokyo, and nothing new has come from them in months. Still, there’s time.
• New Details on Reimagined Space Mountain
  • See “Fantasy Springs” above.

Disney Cruise Line

• Name/Timeline for Next Triton Class Ship
  • We anticipate an updated timeline of when we can expect the next ship in the fleet to arrive following the Disney Wish. We may also get the name and/or theme of the vessel, as all three of the new ships are expected to be thematically different with similar layouts.
• Update on Lighthouse Point
  • We expect new details on the development of the proposed new Disney Cruise Line destination at Lighthouse Point in The Bahamas.

Storyliving by Disney

• Update on the development of Cotino, the first Storyliving community by Disney.

Did we miss anything? What do you think will be announced at D23 Expo 2022 that isn’t listed above? Let us know in the comments.

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Tom Corless