The Most Shocking Disney News Bombs of 2022
It’s been a BIG year for the Walt Disney Company.
Cinderella Castle
Between the continued phased reopenings after the initial park closures, and new hotel, attraction, and dining announcements, 2022 has been FULL of news bombs. Now that 2023 is right around the corner, we’re taking a look at some of the biggest Disney news bombs of 2022!
Bob Iger’s Return as CEO
Bob Iger’s return as CEO of the Walt Disney Company was a HUGE shock to Disney fans, investors, and critics everywhere. After stepping down as CEO in 2020 and being succeeded by Bob Chapek, Disney announced that Iger would be back to help restructure/reorganize parts of the company and choose a new replacement for the role. The news followed the report of HUGE losses within Disney’s streaming service, Disney+, as well as other contentious situations during Chapek’s tenure, like the Florida legal battles and the debacle with Scarlett Johansson.
Bob Chapek and Bob Iger©CNBC
After Chapek’s departure, multiple other executives left, mainly executives that were closely tied to Chapek. Some reports ultimately revealed that Chief Financial Officer Christine McCarthy was a big part in making Chapek’s departure happen, as she reportedly threatened to leave the company if something wasn’t done about Chapek.
Christine McCarthy ©The Walt Disney Company
Though Iger’s return initially caused stock values to jump, we’ve since seen Disney stock prices fall. Iger already hosted an employee town hall meeting, commented on the Park Pass system, commented on gun violence, spoke about the future of the Company, and has been spotted in Disneyland. But he’s got some BIG problems to deal with over his next 2 years, including finding someone to replace him. What Iger’s exact plans are during remains to be seen, but experts have already predicted it might start with a big split from ESPN and ABC.
Bob Iger ©Bloomberg
Iger has announced he plans on restructuring parts of the Company to put more control in the hands of those in charge of creative direction, but other than that we’ll have to keep an eye on what his next move might be.
Click Here for Every Major Change Since Bob Iger Returned as CEO
Park-Specific 1-Day Ticket Pricing Introduced
Gone are the days when you paid one price for a Disney World ticket and got to choose which park you were going to. Disney World ticket prices have varied by date for a long time, and that’s still the case, but Disney introduced park-specific ticket pricing for 1-day, 1-park tickets in late 2022.
Instead of just purchasing a ticket that could be used at any of the 4 theme parks, you now have to buy a ticket for the specific park you want to visit, and the pricing is different for each park (aside from already being different depending on the date you visit).
Change is inevitable in Disney World
The price of a ticket will depend on the park you select. That means a ticket to Magic Kingdom may cost MORE than a ticket to Disney’s Animal Kingdom on the same day.
Just as before, these tickets are also subject to surge pricing that varies by the season. Depending on the time of year you visit, you might be paying more for the same ticket. The Disney World website shows standard theme park tickets begin at $109 per day. That is technically the same starting price as before, but the actual price you pay will depend on what theme park you choose.
Main Street, U.S.A.
Keep in mind, this change is for 1-day, 1-park tickets only. The big bonus? Because of this change, your 1-day, 1-park ticket will automatically come with a Park Pass reservation at the time of purchase. At least that’s one less thing to worry about.
Also, note that Park Hopper pricing has changed and the price for these now varies depending on the date you’ll be visiting the parks.
Read More About the NEW Disney World Ticket Price System Here
Disney Genie+ Surge Pricing Introduced (& Modifications, Too!)
In addition to Disney World park tickets getting an update, Disney Genie+ changed, too. The paid, FastPass+ replacement service was first introduced in 2021 and has gone through quite a few changes since then. When Genie+ first debuted, the service was priced at a standard $15 per ticket, per day. But this is no longer the case.
Lightning Lane signs
Now, Genie+ prices may still start at $15, but if the demand is high on a particular day that price goes up. The highest price we’ve seen since the change went into place has been $29 — first during the week of Thanksgiving and later during Christmas Week. But that price is subject to change and could increase in the future.
This change only applies to the standard Genie+ service, as the Individual Lightning Lanes have been subjected to surge pricing since they were introduced in 2021. It’s just another thing to budget when you’re planning your next trip! (Keep in mind that Genie+ selections can also now be MODIFIED, which is a big change that could make the entire system a lot easier to manage during your next trip!)
Everything You Need to Know About Disney Genie+
Magic Key Sales Resume…And Pause Again
In August of 2021, Disneyland introduced a new annual pass program called Magic Key. But not long after its introduction, some Magic Key passes began to sell out. In May of 2022 sales were paused for ALL Magic Key passes soon after a lawsuit was filed against Disney regarding Magic Key passes and the Park Pass system.
Many guests were then left wondering when sales might resume and existing passholders were left “anxiously awaiting word about their renewals.”
Magic Key Reusable Straw
And then, in the blink of an eye, Disneyland Magic Key Passes suddenly went on sale again (with a price increase of course)! Three of the ticket types — Inspire, Believe, and Imagine — were made available for sale, while the Enchant Key remained unavailable. But, things quickly changed AGAIN when the Magic Key passes started “selling out” or having their sales paused by Disney. Sales were reportedly paused due to high demand.
Magic Key Entrance
So while renewals remain available, new Magic Key passes are no longer for sale. But who knows what the future may hold, especially with a “new” CEO in place.
Read More About Disneyland’s Magic Key Program Here
A Coco Land, An Encanto Expansion, and MORE
Ever wished you could explore the world of Coco? Visit La Casa Madrigal from Encanto? Or maybe hang out with your favorite baddies in a villains-themed land? Well, all that and MORE just might be a reality in the future — keyword: MIGHT.
During the D23 Expo, Disney surprised fans by teasing some lands that are being developed as “Blue Sky” ideas for possible expansions in Magic Kingdom and a possible land retheme in Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
Possible Land Expansion in Magic Kingdom
Though Josh D’Amaro described these as things that are “very real” that they’re working on, Disney described them as “early concept explorations” and “potential expansion opportunities” — so take it all with a grain of salt! But it’s still interesting to get a glimpse behind the curtain and look at what ideas Disney is playing around with.
For Magic Kingdom, Disney has teased that an expansion could be built beyond Big Thunder Mountain Railroad which could bring lands themed to Coco, Encanto, and the Disney Villains.
A Villains-themed land?!
In Animal Kingdom, Disney has teased that Dinoland U.S.A. could potentially be rethemed to feature spaces inspired by Moana and Zootopia!
Concept Art
Again, these are not confirmed projects. They’re only “Blue Sky” ideas that are in development, so we’ll have to wait and see if anything becomes of them. But one can hope, right?
Click here to see what’s HIDING in the teased expansion/re-themed lands!
Disney 100 Years of Wonder Announcements
2023 is a BIG year for Disney as it marks the 100th Anniversary of the Walt Disney Company as a whole, and that means…it’s time for a celebration! During the D23 Expo (and since that point), Disney revealed that the 100th Anniversary will kick off in Disneyland on January 27th, 2023! Sleeping Beauty Castle will get a new look for the anniversary, Mickey & Minnie will have unique costumes, and there will be special snacks!
Disney 100 Logo At D23 Expo
We also got a peek at the 100 Years of Wonder design for Disney animated films, details about 2 NEW 100th Anniversary nighttime shows coming to Disneyland Resort, an announcement that a new nighttime show will come to EPCOT as part of the anniversary, and the release of a WHOLE BUNCH of new 100th Anniversary merchandise.
Disney platinum ears
The 100th Anniversary will officially kick off during Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest, so be sure to tune into that and watch for updates from us here at DFB. This next year is sure to be full of even MORE big 100th Anniversary news.
Click here for our FULL PAGE on the 100th Anniversary
TRON Lightcycle Run Opening Timeline (& Behind-the-Scenes Footage)
The TRON Lightcycle Run ride has been under construction in Magic Kingdom for a while now but it’s nearing completion! The ride was set to open in time for the 50th Anniversary celebration, but timelines kept getting pushed back due to COVID-19 delays and more. But in 2022 we got a big update — an opening timeline!
©Good Morning America
TRON Lightcycle Run is now set to open in the spring of 2023! An exact opening date has not yet been shared, but 2022 has brought us other updates about this ride including a behind-the-scenes look at what it’ll be like to ride it, a preview of the ride, and a look at the ride from the reopened Walt Disney World Railroad.
©ABC
We are keeping a close eye out for updates on this ride and an official opening date, so stay tuned!
Click here to see our full page all about the TRON ride!
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Opening Timeline (& Splash Mountain Closing Date)
Splash Mountain’s days are NUMBERED. The ride is set to be transformed into a Princess and the Frog-themed attraction called Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at both Magic Kingdom and Disneyland. Throughout 2022, we got all kinds of pieces of information about this transformation, but, perhaps most importantly, in 2022 we learned just WHEN the rethemed ride will open.
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure ©Disney
The re-themed attraction will reopen as Tiana’s Bayou Adventure in both Disneyland and Magic Kingdom in late 2024! In the ride, we’ll see Tiana in an updated outfit with a unique hairstyle. The ride takes place after the movie, at a time when Tiana has already opened a successful restaurant. She’s throwing a Mardi Gras party for the town and needs your help to get a special ingredient!
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure model
You’ll meet new characters along the way, hear characters’ voices being performed by members of the original movie cast, and much more. We got the chance to see a full model for the ride — which we analyzed here. And we’ve shared even more details about the ride here.
But wait…there’s more! In addition to the opening date, we learned when Splash Mountain will CLOSE in Magic Kingdom specifically for this transformation. January 22nd, 2023 will be your LAST DAY to ride Splash Mountain before it closes on the 23rd — so get those Park Pass reservations soon.
Click here to see our full page with details about the transformation
Journey of Water Opening Timeline and a GIANT Te Fiti
There are even MORE changes coming to Disney World — this time over at EPCOT. Next year, World Nature will become the home of Journey of Water — Inspired by Moana, a walk-through attraction experience. The experience is meant to allow guests to play with “magical, living water.”
©Disney
This is another experience we’ve been watching construction for closely, but 2022 brought a big update in terms of the attraction’s opening timeline. Journey of Water will open in EPCOT in late 2023!
And while the “lush exploration trail” will likely have lots for fans to see, we have a feeling that getting a photo with 1 structure in particular will become a must-do. At the D23 Expo, we got the chance to see a STUNNING model of the GIANT Te Fiti structure that will be in the trail.
Te Fiti Model that will be part of Journey of Water
And before too long, we saw Te Fiti get installed within the space. She’ll stand at around 15 feet tall and is made of over 3,000 pieces of foliage — talk about a LOT of leaves!
Te Fiti Sculpture in Journey of Water
This is another experience that doesn’t have an exact opening date yet, but we’re on the lookout for more details. To see a full breakdown of the hidden details in this experience and what it could include, click here.
Click here for our full page about this attraction!
Festival of Fantasy Returns, Fantasmic! Comes Back With CHANGES, and Happily Ever After Is Returning
The Festival of Fantasy parade is BACK in Magic Kingdom! After months of just experiencing cavalcades and limited parades in the parks, the Festival of Fantasy parade returned to Disney World in March of 2022.
Over the next few months, more pieces of the parade returned to “normal.”
The Festival of Fantasy Parade
Fantasmic! FINALLY returned to Disney’s Hollywood Studios in November of 2022 after a long closure. With the show’s reopening, we finally got a look at the changes that were put in place. Though we initially learned a bit about the changes back in 2021, we got full details once we saw it all in person. The show now has a NEW segment that replaced the Pocahontas scene and it has characters from Tarzan, Mulan, Encanto, Frozen, and more.
Fantasmic! scene
And the entertainment news just keeps going! In 2022, we also learned that Happily Ever After is coming back in a way to Magic Kingdom! Thus far, Disney has only announced that the theme song from Happily Ever After will be coming back as part of an updated nighttime spectacular in Magic Kingdom. Fans will get to see this in 2023, so get ready!
Happily Ever After in 2021
What entertainment changes will be in store for 2023? Only time will tell!
Walt Disney World Railroad Reopens
The Walt Disney World Railroad had been closed for YEARS due to the ongoing construction with the TRON ride in Magic Kingdom but 2022 changed things in a big way. We had seen it testing, which was a good sign for a future reopening. And then suddenly, in December of 2022, the Walt Disney World Railroad REOPENED with a refurbished train engine, some slight adjustments on the track, and even a new tunnel!
It’s BACK!
For the first time in four years, we were able to hop on a train and take a circle tour around Magic Kingdom, get a glimpse of Splash and Thunder Mountain, and much, much more.
The Train!
AND the train has a new narrator — a conductor of sorts who has “grown up” on Main Street, U.S.A. and serves as your updated guide!
Click here to read all about the CHANGES that have been made to the train.
Disney World Resort Hotel Changes
And finally we wrap up this list with a whole bunch of HUGE hotel changes that were revealed this year. Over at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, some NEW Disney Vacation Club rooms and refreshed villas opened in the summer. But work at this hotel continues on other buildings, and Narcoossee’s (which is currently closed for refurbishment). AND the LOBBY at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort is going to be refurbished as well! It’ll keep the classic theming but have “fresh new enhancements!”
Disney’s Grand Floridian lobby
HUGE changes have come or are coming soon to Disney’s BoardWalk as well. So far, a new coffee shop has already opened and BoardWalk Deli replaced BoardWalk Bakery. The ESPN Club has closed and The Cake Bake Shop will take its place when it opens in 2023, some updates have been made to the Belle Vue Lounge, and the BoardWalk Inn’s lobby and guest rooms are getting an update too — they’ll have “light and airy touches” that will “carry the seaside breeze right inside.”
Vintage Mickey Sugar Cookie
At Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, the Spirit of Aloha show has permanently closed and been DEMOLISHED as the hotel prepares for an expansion that’ll bring new Disney Vacation Club villas to the resort! The villas are inspired by early concepts for the hotel and are set to open in late 2024.
©Disney | Polynesian Village Resort concept art
Hotel changes are also coming to Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort! The Pirate-themed rooms are set to close and will be unavailable in 2023 — and now we have an idea of what is happening there. The rooms in the Trinidad area of the hotel are being refurbished and getting Little Mermaid-themed updates! These updated rooms will have new artwork, brighter decor, and a 5th sleeper bed. They’re expected to be available in 2023.
©Disney
But wait, there’s more! Check out these other honorable mentions for some of the biggest news bombs of 2022:
- Disney made the strange decision to buy a GIANT cruise ship
- The Dining Plan is STILL NOT BACK
- The opening date for Roundup Rodeo BBQ has been DELAYED in Disney’s Hollywood Studios!
2022 was a BIG year for Disney — what will 2023 bring? We’ll have to wait and see, but you can be sure we’ll be keeping you updated with all the latest news and announcements, so stay tuned to DFB for more!
The BIG Changes Coming to Disney World in 2023
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