Though next year will see the end of the Walt Disney World 50th anniversary celebration, 2023 will be a time of new beginnings for the resort as well as for fans as they eagerly look forward to the much-anticipated openings of TRON: Lightcycle Run, Journey of Water Inspired by Moana, and Dreamer’s Point at EPCOT.
In addition, next year will officially mark the 100th year of the Walt Disney Animation studio, which will be celebrated in the theme parks as part of a special “100 Years of Wonder” event, which has been teased online, and will be fully announced in just a few weeks on January 1, 2023. This special event will bring limited-time offerings not just to Walt Disney World, but the Disneyland Resort as well.
However, beyond the new attractions and the Disney 100 celebration, we also know that next year will bring new nighttime spectaculars to Walt Disney World as both Harmonious at EPCOT and Disney Enchantment at the Magic Kingdom are set to be retired forever at the end of next March. And while Disney has yet to fully announce all of the details about these new nighttime spectaculars, we’ve got some pretty good information (and some speculation as well) regarding what fans can expect next year from these new nighttime shows.
1. Happily Ever After 2.0 is coming to the Magic Kingdom
Disney confirmed earlier this year that this April will see the return of the fan-favorite Happily Ever After nighttime show to the Magic Kingdom. However, this won’t be the exact same show that was last seen in 2021, and will instead be an “updated” version of the show, likely with new segments, and perhaps a remix of the iconic Happily Ever After theme song.
As for what new components of the show we could see, it seems likely that recent Disney films like Raya and the Last Dragon, Encanto, Turning Red, Lightyear and Strange World could make an appearance in this updated show. The show could also feature a special pre-show or stinger acknowledging the aforementioned 100 Years of Wonder celebration as well, which would add an exciting (and potentially limited-time) component to the upgraded version of this returning show.
The updated version of Happily Ever After is being readied right now and is expected to debut on April 1, 2023, one day after the Walt Disney World 50th anniversary celebration finally draws to a close and Disney Enchantment officially becomes history. As with any nighttime spectacular at the Magic Kingdom, this is sure to be a popular offering, and there will likely be themed dessert parties and packages for this show’s opening weeks that will sell out far in advance, so if you want to be among the first to check out this new version of Happily Ever After, it is worth giving these upcharge offerings serious consideration when they are made available.
Currently, there is no reserved space for Genie+ purchasers during Disney Enchantment, and we don’t expect that to change with Happily Ever After. Though FastPass+ guaranteed viewing areas were available for this show in years past, it seems unlikely that something comparable will be made available under the newer Genie+ system for Happily Ever After 2.0, which means that those who do not purchase upcharges with guaranteed viewing will want to stake out their viewing spot early to get a glimpse of the new version of this show that will debut in just a few short months.
2. A new EPCOT show is in development, but will not be ready for another year
Harmonious at EPCOT was certainly one of the most ambitious shows ever conceived at Walt Disney World, featuring impressive infrastructure that included massive screens on barges that orbited a massive six-story ring-like structure with 54-foot-long moving arms that sprayed water. The show’s hardware alone made it quite a sight to behold, but unfortunately, it has been confirmed after just a year of performances, Disney is officially calling it quits with Harmonious.
However, unlike at the Magic Kingdom, it looks like it will take some time to replace this show, with a new nighttime spectacular currently projected to debut late next year. It is currently unknown if this new show will use the Harmonious barges and equipment, or if Disney will be installing something completely new on the World Showcase lagoon for this upcoming show.
What we do know is that this nighttime spectacular will tie into the aforementioned 100th anniversary of Walt Disney animation, celebrating the studio’s film legacy. Disney also said that this new show would be “continuing the park’s legacy of inspiring nighttime entertainment on World Showcase Lagoon.”
Some have wondered if the interim EPCOT Forever nighttime spectacular, which was used in between IllumiNations and Harmonious as a temporary show could be deployed again between the end of Harmonious and the beginning of this new, upcoming show. While there’s no way to know for sure right now if this is the plan, if EPCOT Forever did return, it would likely be the version that doesn’t have the kite or jet-ski elements, as there would likely be construction work happening around the lagoon in preparation for the new, replacement show. This slimmed-down version of EPCOT Forever was last performed in 2021 when fireworks shows initially returned to Walt Disney World following reopening, but before Harmonious was ready to go.
While there are still a lot of questions about the new EPCOT show, we’re expecting an announcement of some kind on January 1, 2023 on the Disney 100 celebration page with more details about this show.
Though there are still plenty of ifs and buts about what to expect from the two new shows set to debut at Walt Disney World next year, one thing is for sure, the history of Disney Animation and the studio’s 100th-anniversary celebration will loom large over both these shows, and we expect a lot more information to be announced in just a few weeks, when Disney officially announces its plans for the upcoming “100 Years of Wonder” event.
