The past couple of years have been a whirlwind for Disney’s theme park division. It feels a bit like demolition has kicked in at nearly every corner of Walt Disney World Resort, with iconic attractions permanently shuttered to make way for exciting new rides and lands.
Magic Kingdom alone is in the midst of multiple transformations. Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island have been shuttered to prepare for a future Cars Land and a Disney Villains area. The park is also preparing a Pirates of the Caribbean bar and revamping Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin with handheld blasters (finally) and a new character, Buddy.
Over at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the likes of Muppet*Vision 3D and PizzeRizzo (RIP) have been retired to make way for a Monsters, Inc.-themed land, with several areas already demolished in the relatively short time since its closure.
Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster will also close in 2026 for a Muppets retheme, while Animation Courtyard and Disney Jr. Play and Dance! will be replaced by The Walt Disney Studios, complete with a new Sorcerer’s Hat.
Animal Kingdom, meanwhile, is dismantling DinoLand U.S.A. in favor of a Tropical Americas area and will soon debut Zootopia: Better Zoogether! inside the Tree of Life theater.
Over on the West Coast, Disney is also hard at work preparing to add an expansion to Avengers Campus featuring two new rides (with Robert Downey Jr. reprising the role of Tony Stark for the occasion), plus a new Avatar area and Coco ride to Disney California Adventure Park.
With so many projects in motion, anticipation for late-summer updates has been high—particularly around Destination D23: A Journey Around the Worlds of Disney, set for August 29–31 at Disney’s Coronado Springs. For some fans, it seemed like the perfect stage for the next round of park news.
A Break in Tradition at D23
That expectation took a hit when Disney released the official schedule for the event. Absent from the lineup: a dedicated parks panel.
NEW: Here’s a look at the full Destination D23 event/panels schedule. The event runs Aug. 29-31 at Walt Disney World Resort.
NEW: Here's a look at the full Destination D23 event/panels schedule. The event runs Aug. 29-31 at Walt Disney World Resort. pic.twitter.com/OBzMkCcAxA
— Scott Gustin (@ScottGustin) August 12, 2025
The omission struck a chord because Destination D23 2023 featured exactly that—a presentation packed with park news. It was there that Disney confirmed DinoLand U.S.A.’s closure and revealed plans to overhaul EPCOT’s Test Track.
This year’s program, by contrast, leans heavily toward retrospective and celebratory sessions.
“What a waste of a D23 event,” wrote one X user. “So glad I didn’t fork out that much money to attend. Shame on D23.” Another echoed the sentiment: “No parks panel at Destination D23 is lowkey crazy.”
Reading Between the Lines
Still, the absence of a parks-specific session doesn’t mean the weekend will be devoid of relevant updates. Certain presentations—most notably “Disney Villains: Icons of Evil”—could still slip in details about ongoing projects, such as the Villains land planned for Magic Kingdom. Recent guest surveys about favorite villains suggest Disney is refining its character lineup.
The “Walt Disney Studios Showcase” might also reveal crossovers between film and park projects, especially with titles like Zootopia 2 and the live-action remake of Moana on the horizon.
For now, though, attendees may have to adjust their expectations. The sweeping, multi-project reveals seen in past years might be replaced by smaller, more strategic drops of information—if they happen at all.
Are you attending Destination D23?
