Destination D23 2025: All the Disney Parks News

It’s Destination D23 time! For 2025, the festivities have moved over to Coronado Springs at the Walt Disney World Resort for a weekend full of exciting news, announcements, and, of course, shopping! And don’t worry, you can’t be there in person, following along with the Disney Parks Blog is the next best thing ✨

Throughout the weekend, be sure to check in on the latest details coming from the fan-favorite event, because with a little pixie dust, you never know what might happen.

The next time you step into the digital frontier with TRON Lightcycle / Run, you’ll launch into a Tron: Ares version of the high-speed, adrenaline-pumping ride that bends reality into the video game world. Replacing the blue and orange hues of the ride, you’ll weave through twisting tunnels of vibrant red and orange light trails, feeling the rush of wind and the surge of acceleration as you compete in a dazzling Lightcycle race.

Oscar and Emmy nominated filmmaker (with deep Disney roots!) Leslie Iwerks announced on stage at the panel that her new documentary film Disneyland Handcrafted, is coming this winter to Disney+ and Disney YouTube. 

Walt Disney Imagineer Chris Beatty revealed that you will soon be able to see Walt Disney through the magic of Audio-Animatronics technology in “Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress” at Magic Kingdom.

When it reopens, the award-winning Napa Rose will offer an elevated dining experience, blending timeless Craftsman design with a fresh take on modern Californian sophistication and warmth, and immersing guests in a way only Disney can do.   

During your voyage, slip away to The Sanctum, Haunted Mansion Parlor, and Cask & Cannon, all themed spaces that are inspired by the larger-than-life personalities of epic Disney stories, brought to life through elevated interpretation and refined theming. 

Dive into a full menu of announcements, with one of the highlights being the reveal of eight (!!) new novelty items coming to select Disney Parks and Disney Cruise Line ships – including popcorn buckets, sippers, and mugs.

After Imagineers identified the similarities between magical, fluid, and organic appearance of both the animated villains and the Art Nouveau style of construction, the team behind coined the term “Conjured Architecture.” This refers to the blend of historical components and fantastical worlds that have merged to ultimately create something wicked that will be able to be experienced firsthand – a villain-inspired land.

Disney’s Ursula is the newest addition to the Darkness Descends Series, which began with Maleficent in 2023 and continued with Cruella de Vil in 2024. These dazzling divas are displayed in intricately designed boxes and made with premium materials – a true celebration of iconic Disney Villains in their most evil, high-fashion forms.

Featuring a mischievous musical medley provided by Disney Concert Group, along with stage and screen stars Michael James Scott and Jodi Benson, this presentation gave a sneak peek into some upcoming villains-focused projects and products – including the new villains-themed land at Walt Disney World, showing that these devilish divas never go out of style.

The updated paint will feature grays, creams, blues, and touches of gold, aiming to enhance the castle’s architecture. While the project team is still putting the finishing touches on the paint design process, WDI wanted to share the incredible amount of research and care that goes into this project.

Hosted by Michelle Khare, creator of “Challenge Accepted,” Imagineers Wyatt Winter, Jason Grandt, and Katie Gibbs were joined by Former Imagineering Creative Executive Tom Morris and James Silson, Show Director with Disney Live Entertainment, to share their most in-spire-ing moments in the history of building Disney Castles.