What’s New for 2024?

A new mural reveals the opening season for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom Park in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The new attraction opens this summer and will take guests on a musical adventure inspired by the beloved story and characters from the fan-favorite film “The Princess and the Frog.” (Image Courtesy of Disney)

Updated on 3/13/24

As much as Disney fans bemoan change, can you honestly imagine a year without ANYTHING new? Theme parks aren’t monuments. New stuff is why we go back again and again, right?

While nothing in the Disneyverse is guaranteed, here is a list of what’s NEW, what’s been announced for 2024, and what Blue Sky Ideas are out there in the great big beyond.

ATTRACTIONS

New Star Tours Adventures (Hollywood Studios)

April 5, 2024

Star Tours, the first Star Wars attraction at Walt Disney World, has been a part of Hollywood Studios since 1989.

On April 5, a new destination and new characters are coming to Star Tours – the OG Star Wars attraction at Hollywood Studios. The new location that may pop up on your next journey is the planet of Peridea, featured on the Ahsoka series. New characters you may meet in flight include: Din Djarin and Grogu, Cassian Andor, and Ahsoka Tano. Remember, Star Tours mixes and matches its adventures, so you you’ll have to ride more than once to see all the new additions.

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure (Magic Kingdom)

Summer 2024

Walt Disney Imagineering shares a first look at the first-ever Princess Tiana Audio-Animatronics figure, which will debut this summer in Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom Park in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The new attraction will feature familiar faces from the Walt Disney Animation Studios film “The Princess and the Frog.” (Image Courtesy of Disney)

Take one of the most popular rides (Splash Mountain) and combine it with one of the hippest Princesses (Tiana) and what do you get? Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. The water ride itself — a log-flume with a giant drop — won’t change, but the decor and music will. This will be the biggest update to the attraction since it opened in Frontierland on July 17, 1992.

Country Bears Jamboree Update (Magic Kingdom)

Summer 2024

Grizzly Hall will close temporarily beginning Jan. 27 and will reopen later this summer. (Image Courtesy of Disney)

The Country Bear Musical Jamboree attraction in the Magic Kingdom’s Frontierland will debut a new show this summer. The act will pay homage to Nashville and will include Disney tunes sung in different country music genres and easter eggs in honor of the show’s more than 50-year history.

The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure (Hollywood Studios)

Fall 2024

Artist Concept of new design. (Image Courtesy of Disney)

Ariel and friends return to the Animation Courtyard theater in the fall of 2024. The Little Mermaid — A Musical Adventure will have new sets, effects and designs based on the animated film.

RESORTS

New Cabins (Fort Wilderness Resort)

July 1, 2024

Artist rendering of the new cabins. (Image Courtesy of Disney)

On July 1, Fort Wilderness Resort begins phase I of its opening of new luxury cabins! The modern structures will replace the old log buildings. While the cabins are Disney Vacation Club accommodations, the general public should be allowed to rent them like other DVC villas, when available. The cabins provide much more space and privacy than traditional hotel rooms. Not only can they sleep more guests (it’s expected they’ll allow at least 6 people), the cabins include a kitchen, living room, and an outdoor eating area with grill.

RESTAURANTS

Summer House on the Lake (Disney Springs)

Opened on December 14, 2023

This new restaurant in Disney Springs opened at the tail-end of last year, making it something new to most 2024 visitors. Summer House serves California-style cuisine using seasonal Florida ingredients. It also boasts in in-house bakery. Noteworthy menu items include the Signature Guacamole, Ahi Tuna and Watermelon Tostadas, pizza, and the Summer Comfort Entrees. Unique here is “The Cookie Bar”, which you can order from during your meal or stop in to the grab-and-go location.

The Cake Bake Shop Restaurant and The Cake Bake Shop Bakery (BoardWalk)

TBD

Fans have been waiting forever for this restaurant and bakery to open on Disney’s BoardWalk. The restaurant will serve American fare, Insta-worthy baked goods, and a tea service.

Blue Sky Ideas

These are Walt Disney World changes that the company has announced but has not released an opening date!

The Tropical Americas (Animal Kingdom)

Walt Disney Imagineering is planning to reimagine Dinoland U.S.A. at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park into a new land inspired by a region sometimes referred to as “tropical Americas.” As part of their research, Imagineers are looking at some of the most biodiverse areas on the planet in the regions just north and south of the equator in the Western Hemisphere – the northern part of South America, stretching up into Central America. New experiences inspired by “Encanto” – the Academy Award-winning Walt Disney Animation Studios film – and the fan-favorite adventurer Indiana Jones are being considered for the reimagined land at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. (Artist’s Rendering Courtesy of Disney)

Pirates of the Caribbean Tavern (Magic Kingdom)

A new Pirates of the Caribbean-themed lounge is coming to Adventureland at Magic Kingdom Park. This first-of-its-kind experience will extend the story of Pirates of the Caribbean. Imagineers are in the design process now and more details are coming in the future. (Artist’s Rendering Courtesy of Disney)

Test Track Update (EPCOT)

Test Track will be reimagined at EPCOT. Imagineers, along with teams from Chevrolet, are reaching back into history for inspiration from the original World of Motion and bringing that spirit of optimism to the next iteration of the Test Track attraction. More details to come in the future. (Artist’s Rendering Courtesy of Disney)

New Tree of Life Show (Animal Kingdom)

A new show based on “Zootopia” is being created for the Tree of Life theater at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park in Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The current concept for the new “Zootopia” experience has guests visiting the different biomes seen briefly in the film, traveling along with Judy Hopps, Nick Wilde, and other characters. Imagineers are currently finalizing the concept and more details will be coming in the future. (Image Courtesy of Disney)

2023 Openings!

If it’s been a minute since you’ve visited Disney, here’s a quick list of what new stuff opened last year.

Attractions

  • Journey of Water (EPCOT) – October 16, 2023
  • TRON Lightcycle/Run (Magic Kingdom) –April 4, 2023

Entertainment

  • Luminous: The Symphony of Us (EPCOT) –December 5, 2023

New Land

  • World Celebration (EPCOT) – Some Elements – December 5, 2023

Restaurants

  • SummerHouse on the Lake (Disney Springs) – December 14, 2023
  • EET by Maneet Chauhan (Disney Springs) – December 4, 2023
  • Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakaya (EPCOT) – August 15, 2023
  • Roundup Rodeo BBQ (Hollywood Studios) – March 23, 2023
  • Rosa Mexicano (BoardWalk) – March 19, 2023

Characters

  • The Hatbox Ghost (Magic Kingdom) – November 30, 2023
  • Asha (EPCOT) – November 1, 2023
  • Moana (EPCOT) – October 16, 2023 (Animal Kingdom) – April 22, 2023
  • Mirabel (Magic Kingdom) – September 15, 2023
  • Figment (EPCOT) – September 10, 2023

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