Walt Disney Parks and Resorts showcased amazing plans for future lands, attractions and adventures at the first D23 Expo in Anaheim, California. The biggest announcements at the convention was the confirmation of an all-new Star Tours attraction and the largest expansion in the history of the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World.
The D23 last Expo was held in Anaheim, California September 10-13. Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Chairman Jay Rasulo announced that a new 3-D version of the "Star Tours" attraction will debut at the Disneyland Resort and Disney's Hollywood Studios in 2011. Star Tours is based on the Lucasfilm "Star Wars" films. The attraction will include brand new elements that will take guests to many familiar places in the Star Wars galaxy.
The announcement of the massive expansion of Walt Disney World in Florida was exciting news at the D23 Expo. It is the largest expansion in the history of the Magic Kingdom, greatly increasing the size of Fantasyland by the year 2013. New features for guests include:
*Visit their favorite Disney Princess in her castle, cottage, or chateau to share a dance with Cinderella; celebrate Sleeping Beauty's birthday with the Good Fairies; or join Belle in an enchanting story performance in the Beast's castle library.
*Be Our Guest and dine in one of three enchanted rooms inside the Beast's castle.
*Fly with Dumbo high above brand new circus grounds, twice the size of the existing attraction with a new interactive, three-ring circus tent.
*Meet Tinker Bell and her friends in the magical world of Pixie Hollow.
"Storytelling is the DNA of Disney dreams and we're always exploring new ways to tell new stories in new places," Rasulo told a crowd at the Anaheim Convention Center in California before taking them on a "behind-the-magic" tour of their favorite Disney destinations.
The D23 Expo featured so many new changes for all of the Disney Theme Parks that guests will soon be seeing great changes to an already magical land at whichever park they choose to visit. Highlights include:
*The multi-year expansion of Disney's California Adventure including the new "World of Color" attraction slated to open in the spring of 2010
*The addition of the 12-acre Cars Land scheduled to open in 2012 where guests will literally step into the town of Radiator Springs and its six acres of hand-carved rocks.
*Three new lands coming to Hong Kong Disneyland by 2014
*A new cruise ship, the Disney Dream, being built by Disney Cruise Line
*Disney's first family destination resort on the island of Oahu in Hawaii.
Look for great changes at the already amazing Walt Disney theme parks coming over the next few years. For more on what's new at Disney and more information on what transpired at the D23 Expo, check out the Disney23 website.
Written by Cheryl Phillips
Providence, RI
Exclusive to HULIQ.com
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