



It’s almost time for the return of D23 to Anaheim. For Disney fans, that should mean a long-awaited list of announcements about new attractions coming to Disneyland and other Disney theme parks around the world.
To prepare for Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro’s Aug. 10 show at the Honda Center, here is my completely unauthorized and totally made up odds on what he might announce. Remember, all that’s at stake here is imaginary internet points, so place your pretend wagers accordingly.
“Avatar” (off the board) >> Disney already has announced that it will bring an “Avatar”-themed attraction to Disneyland, so this is not a fair bet. But with the recent approval of the DisneylandForward proposal, fans are hoping to hear more details about the ride and its setting.
World of Frozen (-800) >> Next to “Avatar,” a new installation of the World of Frozen land in the DisneylandForward expansion is the closest thing to a sure bet we have here. The big question is whether Disneyland will get the Wandering Oaken kiddie coaster in addition to the Frozen Ever After boat ride.
“Encanto” musical at the Hyperion Theater (-200) >> Disney has posted a casting notice for a live-action “Encanto” show, so expect this one sooner rather than later. But will this be a Broadway-style production in the Hyperion or something smaller on another stage in the park? The bet here is the big house.
Casa Madrigal dark ride (+200) >> At the Destination D23 event in Orlando, Florida, last fall, D’Amaro teased an “Encanto”-themed attraction for a Tropical Americas revamp of Dinoland USA in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The concept art showed what looked like a Casa Madrigal façade for what could be a new dark ride experience. A duplicate of that could be a good bet for inclusion in the DisneylandForward expansion.
A big Maleficent dragon returns to “Fantasmic!” (+100) >> Here’s an even-money bet — that Disneyland will find some way to return a plus-size Maleficent dragon to “Fantasmic!” for the park’s 70th anniversary next summer.
The return of “Paint the Night” (+400) >> Maybe this is just wishful thinking, but I know that the return of the “Paint the Night” parade for the 70th anniversary celebration would make countless Disneyland fans very happy.
“Zootopia” (+900) >> Along with World of Frozen, this was the other new land that Disney opened in its Asian parks last year. But its main attraction shares much of its ride design with Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway. Disneyland does not need a dupe of that, so I would be surprised to see a copy of “Zootopia” here.
Retheming “Disney Genie” to “Disney Anxiety” (minus infinity) >> It’ll never happen, but with Disney dropping the Genie+ brand in favor of “Lightning Lane Multi Pass,” why not change the name of the free Disney Genie automated day-planning feature to promote the breakout star of “Inside Out 2,” which is now Disney’s biggest animated hit? “Disney Anxiety” is what that feature is supposed to address, anyway, so why not be clear about it?
Robert Niles covers the themed entertainment industry as the editor of ThemeParkInsider.com.


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