D23 Announces Major Updates to Disneyland

D23 Showcase Event Announces Huge Updates for Disneyland and Disney California Adventure

D23 Disney Experiences Showcase hosted by Josh D’Amaro on Saturday night brought a slew of announcements. Many of those announcements are new events, experiences and attractions coming to Disneyland.

Let’s talk about it.

Following an intro by Josh D’Amaro, Disney Chairperson of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts and John Stamos, it was announced that 2025 will bring a massive celebration to Disneyland.

Coco is coming to Disneyland. The first Coco attraction will debut at the OG land. According to D23. Inspired by classic attractions like Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean, this new attraction will include the bright colors and characters of Coco and bring the beloved film to life.

This attraction will break ground in 2026.

According to D’Amaro the experience will be, “bringing our skeletal cast of characters to life in a big way through the latest Audio-Animatronic technology. These figures will appear in ways you'll have to see to believe.”

Avatar - is coming to Disneyland.

Disney has invited us to further explore the next generation of Avatar. This new land will incorporate both the “Way of Water” and “Fire and Ash.” It also left it open for “future Avatar films”.

We are so excited that this innovative land will not mirror Pandora World of Avatar in Walt Disney World but will build off the stories. A brand new attraction will bring action and excitement to life in a completely new and thrilling way.

Guests will explore dense forests and bioluminescent flora. While this world is, of course beautiful, it can also be dangerous and this new land will be ,”a dynamic intense and emotional experience on a grand scale.”

The Most exciting announcement (to me) was that after years of bandying about the idea of a Walt animatronic, it’s finally happening. Yes, I cried.

D’Amaro explained that of course, “the reason we are together tonight is because of one man’s dream. And now next year at DL we will experience that dream like never before. I am honored to announce they are creating a new show at the Main street opera house. And we are calling it Walt Disney a magical life.” This amazing new experience will feature an audio animatronic that will advance the technology created by Walt 60 years ago with Abe Lincoln. 

According to D’Amaro, “creating the first walt figure is something that has whispered through imagineering for years. We are finally ready. This is a huge responsibility and they are sharing it with walt’s great nephew who visited the campus and josh walked him through the experience.” Walt’s great nephew, Roy P. Disney was in the audience and he has visited the Imagineering offices to check ont he progress of this animatronic.

The theatre housing the experience will transform into his office and it will be like being with Walt as he imagined up his world that we escape to today.

We can’t wait to experience the 70th Anniversary of Disneyland and Walt Disney, A Magical Life.