Big changes are coming to Walt Disney World

Mid-July brought news to Disney fans everywhere as the biennial D23 expo took place in Anaheim, California.

July 14-16th of this year brought Disney’s biennial D23 expo and, with it, many announcements. The D23 is the official Disney Fan Club that was founded in 2009 for fans to get a little extra magic when they can’t be in the parks. Membership to D23 comes in tiers, each with certain privileges and content, including a complimentary membership, D23 Gold, and D23 Gold Family. Each comes with entry to certain D23 Member events and access to special merchandise, a subscription to the D23 FanFare newsletter, and special promotions throughout the year. Memberships aside, the D23 expo is the most notable attribute to this society of fans. This year’s expo brought the news of many changes to Disney parks all over the world, but for now, the focus will be Florida. Here are the 3 most notable changes coming to Walt Disney World in the next 5 or so years:

1. The Great Movie Ride is gone forever

The ride, which opened in 1989, takes riders through 12 classic motion pictures with live actors as guides. The ride is contained inside a stunning replica of the famous Chinese Theatre located in Hollywood, California. A new ride will be made in its place to center, for the first time, around Mickey and Minnie Mouse, and will be called “Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway Ride.” Mickey will finally have his own themed ride that will put you right into a Mickey and Minnie short story. While the new ride is sure to be loved by many, sadness ensued after the announcement that Disney’s Hollywood Studios would be losing one of the longest standing original Walt Disney World rides. While the new ride is sure to be a success, it will take time to let go of this original, well-loved ride.

2. WDW takes an idea from Shanghai Disneyland

The TRON ride at Shanghai Disneyland is perhaps one of it’s most popular rides. Stealing from the success of their Shanghai park, a strikingly similar ride will be made in Walt Disney World in a new area located next to Space Mountain. It will be a coaster style ride that will take riders through the video game just like in the movie. With stunning lights, sounds, and a thrilling storyline, it will feel just as if you’re in the movie with all the beloved characters. Creators of the ride have plans to have the ride finished in time for Walt Disney World’s 50th Anniversary in 2021.

3. A new mode of transportation comes to town

The D23 expo this year also introduced the Minnie Vans and the Disney Skyliner, two new modes of transportation that will be coming to Walt Disney World in the coming years. The Disney Skyliner will provide guests with a bird’s eye view of all of Walt Disney World Resort. The gondolas will be themed to different characters and will connect Disney’s Art of Animation, Pop Century, and Caribbean Beach Resorts with Hollywood Studios and Epcot. They’ve also developed something called “Minnie Vans” which will be an Uber-like service to anywhere in Walt Disney World. Minnie Vans will be available to call upon to take guests from resort to park throughout the day.

While there are countless other revelations brought to us by the D23 expo, these were the three that shocked Disney lovers the most. Any change to Walt Disney World brings speculation and opinion, so it makes total sense that these were the changes that were the most talked about. Check out footage from the expo online to see what changes are coming to other Disney parks!