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Destination D23: New EPCOT Pavilion, More Figment, a Nighttime Parade (and Other Things We’re Hoping For)

Destination D23 is coming and fans are already speculating about what the event has in store. The event takes place next weekend (September 8-10) at Disney’s Contemporary Resort.  Josh D’Amaro and Bob Iger will be there and Many fans have a laundry list of updates and future attraction announcements that they hope will be announced (this author included).

The Destination D23 fan event is similar to the biannual D23 Expo but on a smaller scale. That doesn’t mean there isn’t often big news announced. On the contrary, some of Disney’s most ambitious projects have been announced at Destination D23. Let’s not forget, EPCOT’s massive transformation, Avengers Campus, Journey of Water, the now defunct Galactic Starcruiser and Wakanda Forever were all announced at 2019’s Destination D23.

After a lackluster D23 Expo fans are more hopeful than ever that this fan event will bring exciting news! The D23 Expo is usually a big deal. Think of it as the Comic Con for Disney fans. The 2022 D23 Expo, though, left fans wanting…more. Anything actually. There was a whole lot of “what if” and “maybe we might do this.” Fans are hoping, a year later, that Destination D23 will bring more clarity to these teases.

Villain Land

Maleficent Villain destination D23
Credit: Disney

Disney Parks, Experiences and Products Chairman, Josh D’Amaro teased the possibility of a land devoted to Disney Villains. He mentioned it alongside other new land ideas that have been considered for the area behind Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at Magic Kingdom. But fans want more than hearing that it’s an idea that’s been tossed around. They want a definitive plan. We hope Destination D23 will bring news of the “Beyond Big Thunder” expansion plan.

New EPCOT Pavilion

italy pavilion world showcase epcot adults only walt disney world
Credit: Disney

This is starting to feel like a pipe dream. Every year fans predict a new Pavilion and every year they’re left disappointed. Still, we can’t help but wonder if maybe, just maybe this year is the year. There hasn’t been a new Pavilion at the World Showcase since Norway was built in 1988. It’s time. The fan-favorite option is Brazil, though Egypt has gained traction in recent years. We’d love to see either one come to life!

Figment Overhaul 

journey into imagination with figment
Credit: Jill Bivins

Figment has gotten a lot of love recently from Disney. From the brand new meet-and-greet to a movie in the works, Figment is more popular than ever! Is it time to reimagine Journey Into Imagination? We think so. The ride is in its 3rd iteration and the current version is only slightly better than the universally hated 2nd. Fans loved the original. It’s time to bring it back, or at least rework the ride into something similar to the original.

Nighttime Parade 

Main Street Electrical parade Disneyland
Credit: Disney

It’s been 7 years since Magic Kingdom had a nighttime parade. We think it’s high time they got one. Meanwhile, Disneyland keeps ending and restarting the Main Street Electrical Parade. Whether Disneyland sends Main Street Electrical Parade back to Walt Disney World and gets a new Parade of its own or whether Magic Kingdom brings back Spectromagic (or something new entirely), we just want to see a Parade light up the night on Main Street again on the East Coast.

Avatar at Disneyland

Pandora - The World of Avatar
Credit: Disney

Earlier this year, Disney CEO Bob Iger excitedly told us Avatar would be getting a presence at Disneyland. He, however, left out a lot of important details. Ok, he left out all of them. No one has any idea if the Avatar presence will be an exact clone of Disney World’s Avatar: The World of Pandora land or if it will be something different. We hope Destination D23 will bring more details.

Recommitment to Revitalization 

mickey mouse saying "please," epcot
Credit: Disney, Canva

Announced in 2019, EPCOT’s overhaul turned out to be…disappointing. In addition to other silly acronyms for EPCOT, which actually stands for Experimental Prototype Community Of Tomorrow, the failed revitalization earned it the moniker “Expansion Projects Canceled Or Trimmed.” We hope Disney will announce that some of the projects killed by the pandemic and economic downturn will resume. Specifically, the Spaceship Earth overhaul.

Stay tuned to Disney Dining, and be sure to follow our Facebook page because we will bring you up to the minute coverage on the event as it happens. Will any of our predictions come true? Only time will tell. They may be pie in the sky wishes but if Disney has taught us anything, it’s that wishes can come true.

 

 

Jill Bivins

Jill Bivins has been visiting Disney Parks since she was 2 years old and loves sharing her Disney adventures with the world. She likes to say Disney is in her blood and writing is in her bones — so any time she has the opportunity to combine these loves she is one happy camper! She has a deep abiding love for Epcot and as a die hard Star Wars fan has a serious love for Hollywood Studios as well. When she isn't exploring or writing about Disney Parks, Jill is homeschooling her 8 year old son, playing with her brand… More »

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