Another year has come and went and 2023 is here at Walt Disney World! While 2022 was an exciting one for Walt Disney World resort, we have a feeling this new year will be just as memorable for Disney fans of all ages. To get into the spirit of the new year, we’re sharing everything you can expect so far from Walt Disney World in 2023!

Tron Lightcycle Run
This much-anticipated coaster is set to open in Tomorrowland at Magic Kingdom in Spring 2023. While we’re still waiting for an official opening date, the excitement of watching the ride vehicles testing at Magic Kingdom gives us hope that we’ll receive an update soon. The new attraction comes to us directly from Shanghai Disneyland and will be located between the Tomorrowland Speedway and Space Mountain. So if you’re visiting Walt Disney World in the summer or beyond, you can expect to see Tron Lightcycle Run on the attraction list!

Walt Disney World Railroad
In preparation for Tron Lightcycle Run, we’ve been without the Walt Disney World Railroad since December 2018. With the Magic Kingdom Train Station as the first thing we see as we enter the park’s gates, it’s been a tough four years without the iconic Walt Disney World Railroad running! Finally, This holiday season the Walt Disney World Railroad has opened boasting a new voiceover, track updates, and more, but if you didn’t check it out the last weeks of the year; 2023 is the year of the return of the Walt Disney World Railroad!

Happily Ever After
At D23 Expo 2022 it was announced that we would see the return of Happily Ever After as the World’s Most Magical Celebration comes to an end in Spring 2023. We’re still waiting on an official return date for Happily Ever After, but we are promised it will happen in 2023! EPCOT will also be welcoming a new fireworks spectacular of its own to celebrate the Walt Disney Company’s 100th anniversary.

Figment Meet & Greet
Over in EPCOT, the park’s mascot will be returning as a meet and greet experience sometime in the new year. Since EPCOT is currently celebrating its 40th anniversary, it only seems fitting that its park icon, Figment, will be meeting guests! We don’t have many details yet, but Figment fans of all ages are over the moon for this new meet and greet to be.

Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana
Another long-anticipated EPCOT attraction has finally started to come alive in the World Nature neighborhood. Journey of Water, Inspire by Moana is a new exploration trail that will teach guests about the story of water on our planet while they interact with water throughout the attraction. Guests of EPCOT have recently noticed a 15-16 ft tall Te Fiti starting to peek over the construction walls! Hopefully that means we’ll get an updated opening period sometime soon. As of now, Late 2023 is the official timeline!

Walt the Dreamer
Ever since D23 Expo 2019, we’ve been patiently waiting for EPCOT’s new Walt Disney statue “Walt the Dreamer” to appear. In September 2022 at the D23 Expo, expo-goers got a closer look at the future statue and we were promised a 2023 date for its opening in the World Celebration neighborhood of EPCOT. Guests can also expect to see Communicore Hall and Communicore Plaza, the new home for festivals at EPCOT, opening by the end of 2023, too.

Roundup Rodeo BBQ
A new restaurant experience is coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Spring 2023. Roundup Rodeo BBQ is the world’s first Toy Story Table Service restaurant and guests can expect delicious barbecue and toy-sized fun! Located near the entrance of Toy Story Land, when you visit Roundup Rodeo BBQ you’ll be shrunk down to the size of a toy. We’re still waiting for menu details for Roundup Rodeo BBQ, but the idea of a NEW table service restaurant at Disney’s Hollywood Studios keeps our excitement up!

2023 has only just begun and there’s already so much to look forward to at the Most Magical Place on Earth. With EPCOT Festival Season about to begin, Disney’s Animal Kingdom’s 25th Anniversary in April, and Disney’s 100th Anniversary, we’ll be celebrating all year long at Walt Disney World! If you haven’t grabbed your tickets to Walt Disney World, now is the time.