This past weekend, thousands of Disney fans gathered at the newly expanded Destination D23 at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort. This multi-day celebration was packed with exclusive reveals, panels, and unforgettable moments. Presented by Lug®, the event delivered everything! From big-screen sneak peeks and park updates to nostalgic deep dives and future-focused innovations, here are the highlights.
Ice Age Returns, Toy Story Expands, and TRON Goes Red
The weekend kicked off with the Walt Disney Studios Showcase, where Yvette Nicole Brown hosted talent and creatives from upcoming films. Highlights included the announcement of Ice Age: Boiling Point, hitting theaters February 5, 2027. The adventure promises lava, dinosaurs, and a return to the chaotic charm of the Lost World.
Pixar delivered a trifecta of Toy Story news: the 1995 original will return to theaters on September 12, 2025; Buzz Lightyear will fly again in this year’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade; and fans got a sneak peek at Toy Story 5, which introduces Conan O’Brien as new character Smarty Pants and opens June 19, 2026.
Pixar also previewed Hoppers, a March 2026 release starring Piper Curda and Bobby Moynihan. Audience laughter filled the room as three clips from the comedic family film were revealed.
TRON fans weren’t left out: TRON: Ares debuts in theaters October 10, 2025, and its Nine Inch Nails–infused soundtrack will temporarily overlay TRON attractions at Walt Disney World and Shanghai Disney starting mid-September. Both TRON (1982) and TRON: Legacy (2010) will also be available in 4K Ultra HD for the first time beginning September 16.
Animation Magic at Destination D23
Walt Disney Animation Studios chief creative officer Jared Bush unveiled Disney’s Hexed, a new original film about a teenager with secret powers, arriving in theaters November 2026. He also introduced new characters for Zootopia 2, including Patrick Warburton’s Mayor Winddancer and Yvette Nicole Brown’s Bearoness. Multiple clips had fans buzzing with excitement ahead of the film’s release on November 26, 2025.
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Jeff Kinney, creator of Diary of a Wimpy Kid, shared a first look at The Last Straw, coming to Disney+ on December 5. The film adaptation of the third book explores Greg Heffley’s misadventures with his dad’s expectations and ultimatums.
D23 Is Growing
Michael Vargo, head of D23, announced that D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event returns to Anaheim August 14–16, 2026. The expanded experience will include marquee presentations, fan meet-ups, exclusive shopping, and special days at Disneyland and Angel Stadium. Disney Legend Jodi Benson was named the first-ever official D23 FAN-bassador.
Theme Parks and Imagineering Surprises at Destination D23
Imagineer Chris Beatty dropped major news during a sneak peek of Disneyland Handcrafted, a new documentary from Leslie Iwerks debuting this winter. He also revealed a new Audio-Animatronics figure of Walt Disney will be added to Carousel of Progress at Magic Kingdom.
A new villains-themed land is in the works at Magic Kingdom, with Disney Legend Andreas Deja consulting. Inspired by Art Nouveau, the style is dubbed “Conjured Architecture.”
Disney also teased themed lounges aboard the Disney Destiny cruise ship, including drinks like the Mirror Dimension (Doctor Strange), My Way (Haunted Mansion), and Dead Man’s Chest (Pirates of the Caribbean). Plus, collectible popcorn buckets and new novelty items are heading to parks and cruise lines.
Fans got a first look at World of Frozen, opening at Disneyland Paris in Spring 2026, and at the updated Cinderella Castle color palette, which pays tribute to its classic look with grays, blues, creams, and gold accents.
Destination 23 Nostalgia and Celebration
Panels spanned every corner of the Disney universe. From The Emperor’s New Groove 25th anniversary and a Goofy Movie 30-year retrospective to Stay Tuned: You’re Watching Disney Channel featuring stars from Lizzie McGuire, Good Luck Charlie, Wizards Beyond Waverly Place, and more — fans were treated to endless throwbacks.
The event ended on a high note with the Disney ’80s–’90s Celebration in Concert Presented by Disney+, featuring Broadway stars performing music from Disney’s most iconic decades.
Call to action: What reveal surprised you the most? Which upcoming film or experience are you counting down the days for? Let us know your thoughts in the comments or @us with your Destination D23 favorite moments.
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