Disney Parks Expansions Planned

D23, the annual convention of all things House of Mouse – or in more basic terms, the Comic-Con of Disney – made the big announcement this weekend about some massive theme expansions coming to Florida’s Disney World and California’s Disneyland.

A Star Wars themed land will be the largest themed expansion at over 14 acres, will be filled with aliens, droids and even a Millennium Falcon ride.

“These new lands at Disneyland and Walt Disney World will transport guests to a whole new Star Wars planet, including an epic Star Wars adventure that puts you in the middle of a climactic battle between the First Order and the Resistance,” Disney CEO Bob Iger told the audience on Saturday.

There are also promises of the Mos Eisley Cantina, special entertainment, themed food locations and, in early 2016 at Disneyland park during Season of the Force, Hyperspace Mountain – a reimagining of the classic Space Mountain attraction where guests will join an X-wing Starfighter battle.

Jedi Training Academy – a favorite of younger fans – will be reimagined with a new experience that includes new characters and a new villain to battle from the Disney XD series, “Star Wars Rebels.”

Plus, a new fireworks spectacular set to the Star Wars score on weekend nights.

As for where it’s going, rumours say that Star Wars Land will take up a most of what’s left of the backstage area, and parts of Big Thunder Ranch.

If Star Wars isn’t your thing, there will also be a Disney World 11 acre expansion for Toy Story Land that will make guests “think they’ve been shrunk to the size of Woody and Buzz as they are surrounded by oversized toys”.

It will have two major attractions. You can take a flying saucers ride with the little green men or enjoy a family-friendly roller coaster inside the back of Slinky Dog.

It was also revealed that the official name of the“Avatar”-themed land will be Pandora: The World of Avatar, set to open up in Florida’s Animal Kingdom park in early 2017.

The themed land will feature plenty of night time entertainment and a ride that “brings guests into one of the most thrilling scenes from the film, in which they will soar on a Banshee over a vast alien world.”

One of the attractions, “Rivers of Light,” will be something totally new to Disney Parks, combining live performers, floating lanterns, water screens and swirling animal imagery.