D23 Expo to offer first tease of new Star Wars, Avatar attractions for Disney Parks, plus Captain America, virtual rides

in Disney, Entertainment, Theme Parks

Star Wars, Avatar, and Marvel are among the big names that will be included in the Walt Disney Imagineering pavilion at the 2013 D23 Expo. Revealed in a new Disney Insider article are details of what attendees can expect to see when exploring the elaborate area of the show floor.

In the article, Dave Fisher, show producer of the Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Pavilion, notes, “People always want to come to Imagineering, and we constantly get requests for tours. So we thought instead of bringing everybody to our campus in Glendale, what if we bring Imagineering to people so they can visit it?”

As such, fans will step through a facade replica of Walt Disney Imagineering to be immersed in the world of WDI, with an opportunity to preview upcoming big name projects and speak with the creative minds behind them.

Star Wars, Avatar, and Marvel

Among the biggest projects to be included will be “teasers for new attractions based on Avatar and Star Wars” that are currently in development. The fact that Disney has admitted working on new Star Wars-based attractions is news unto itself. The D23 Expo will also feature an exhibit and presentation based on Star Wars.


Update – /Film spoke with Imagineering who made it very clear that they will not be announcing any new Star Wars attractions at the D23 Expo and any “clues” or “teases” they are hinting will merely be the fact that they are indeed working on something, leaving it at that.


In addition, Captain America will be meeting and greeting with guests in the Imagineering pavilion as a preview of Marvel’s Avengers Academy, debuting on the reimagined Disney Magic in October as Disney’s first permanent Marvel-based attraction. (It was previously revealed Spider-Man and Iron Man will also be meeting guests at the D23 Expo this year.)

Disney Springs

Disney will also offer a sneak peek of the ongoing Disney Springs transformation of Downtown Disney at Walt Disney World.

Interactivity and More

Guests visiting the pavilion will be able to interact with some exhibits, including the famed DISH (Digital Immersive Showroom) that will enable them to virtually ride two attractions. An experience called the Adventure Trading Company will also be available for play testing.

Pieces of Disney history showcased in the pavilion will include works from the Imagineering art library such as old models like some from the never-built Western River Expedition attraction and space pavilion at Epcot.

And, of course, the Imagineering store Mickey’s of Glendale will offer plenty of exclusive merchandise. Imagineering will also host a series of panel discussions at the D23 Expo.

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