D23 gave Disney Parks fans a LOT to process, but some of the most interesting details may have come after the announcements were over.
Following his first D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event as Chairman of Disney Experiences, Thomas Mazloum reflected on the massive slate of announcements Disney unveiled for its theme parks — including the return of Dreamfinder and Figment, plans to finally repair Expedition Everest’s legendary Yeti, and the enormous Villains Land coming to Magic Kingdom.
And if there was one message running through his comments, it was pretty clear: Disney wants its biggest fans to know it’s listening.
Two of the biggest crowd reactions during the Disney Experiences Showcase didn’t necessarily come from Disney’s enormous new lands. They came from Figment and the Yeti.
Mazloum acknowledged afterward that neither character may necessarily be a household name among every Disney guest, but both have become particularly important to Disney’s most dedicated theme park fans. He said he wants those fans to know Disney hears them.
And Disney certainly made that point during D23.
At Disney’s Animal Kingdom, the company announced that the enormous Yeti Audio-Animatronic inside Expedition Everest will finally be repaired and restored to movement.
Disney has since confirmed that the existing Yeti figure is being repaired rather than replaced, and it will remain in its current location within the attraction.
The D23 reveal even included a rather perfect send-off to the infamous “Disco Yeti” era: Gloria Gaynor performed “I Will Survive.” Then there was EPCOT.
Disney announced that Dreamfinder and Figment will reunite for a new journey into imagination, delivering another reveal clearly aimed at longtime EPCOT fans.
During the announcement, Mazloum told the audience Disney understands how important the characters are to them and said the project represents another way Disney is putting guests at the center of its decisions.
But Disney Is Still Going BIG
Listening to longtime fans doesn’t mean Disney is backing away from enormous new projects.
Quite the opposite.
D23 2026 included updates and announcements for Piston Peak National Park at Magic Kingdom, Monstropolis at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Tropical Americas at Animal Kingdom, Spaceship Earth at EPCOT, Tomorrowland at Disneyland, Avengers Campus, the upcoming Coco attraction, and more.
And then there’s Villains Land.
Mazloum described the upcoming Magic Kingdom expansion as “nightmarishly magical,” an especially appropriate description considering Disney is finally building an entire land dedicated to some of its most infamous characters.
The project will feature two major attractions, including a Maleficent-themed roller coaster and a dark ride centered around the Magic Mirror’s realm, alongside an entire environment inspired by Disney Villains.
It’s also part of a much larger transformation underway around Magic Kingdom as Disney continues investing heavily in new capacity and experiences.
Mazloum Says Disney Is Thinking Beyond Individual Attractions
Mazloum’s comments also point toward Disney thinking about these projects as pieces of a much larger guest experience rather than isolated rides.
That’s particularly notable considering just how much is currently happening across Disney Experiences.
Mazloum now oversees Disney’s global portfolio of 12 theme parks, 57 resort hotels, Disney Cruise Line, Disney Vacation Club, Adventures by Disney, National Geographic Expeditions, Aulani, Golden Oak, Storyliving by Disney, consumer products, and Walt Disney Imagineering.
And he took over the division at an especially important moment.
Disney has major expansions underway at Walt Disney World and Disneyland, new cruise ships coming, international park projects moving forward, and an enormous pipeline of attractions that will continue opening over the next several years.
And after the D23 showcase, his message to the thousands of fans in attendance summed it up pretty succinctly: “Remember, everything we do, it’s all for you!”
With Tropical Americas, Villains Land, Piston Peak, Monstropolis, a reimagined Tomorrowland, Figment and Dreamfinder, and plenty more on the horizon, we’re going to have quite a few opportunities to see how that philosophy translates from the D23 stage into the actual parks.
Keep checking back with Theme Park Scope for the latest Disney World construction updates, D23 announcements, Walt Disney Imagineering projects, and everything coming next to the Disney Parks.
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