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NEWS
Chapek spills beans at D23 Japan as parks chief reveals details on multiple park projects
POSTED 13 Feb 2018 . BY Tom Anstey
Chapek revealed details about a number of Disney projects at the D23 fan event in Tokyo, Japan Credit: Disney
Disney’s parks and resorts chair Bob Chapek has shared details about the company’s development pipeline, revealing new information about the Marvel, Star Wars and Pixar bands across its theme park portfolio.

Speaking at D23 Expo Japan 2018, Chapek’s first announcement concerned Disneyland Paris, with plans to reimagine the park’s Rock 'n' Roller Coaster as a Marvel attraction, turning the ride into a high-speed ride featuring the likes of Iron Man and the Avengers. In addition to the ride, Chapek offered a sneak peek at the park’s upcoming Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel, which is scheduled to open at Disneyland Paris in 2020.

Following the great success of the Iron Man Experience at Hong Kong Disneyland, Ant-Man is set to get his own adventure at the park, with Disney inviting guests to “fight an army of Hydra swarm bots in a thrilling new adventure”.

Possibly the biggest announcement on the Marvel front, as Disney chiefs look to refresh the offering at Epcot, the Florida attraction will get a shot in the arm with the addition of a Guardians of the Galaxy rollercoaster coming to the park. Touted as a one-of-a-kind family attraction, Chapek promised the ride would feature a brand-new, innovative ride system, and would be one of the longest enclosed roller coasters in the world.

On the Stars Wars front, as Disney builds towards its new Galaxy’s Edge attractions, coming to both its US parks in 2019, fans were given a glimpse at a fleet of life-size X-Wing fighters and the Millennium Falcon.

New details were also revealed about the planned Star Wars immersive hotel concept, which Chapek said would combine luxury resort with complete immersion, creating an authentic story with guests boarding a starship before “departing” on a multi-day Star Wars adventure.

For Pixar, the upcoming Pixar Pier was given its official opening date, with the attraction set to open at Disney California Adventure on 23 June. The reimagined Paradise Pier will be made up of four different themed neighbourhoods using Pixar’s most popular IPs, with the new land anchored by the new Incredibles-inspired 'Incredicoaster' – a transformation of the existing Ingenieur Büro Stengel GmbH-designed California Screamin’ ride.

Celebrating classic Disney, new information was revealed about Mickey Mouse’s first-ever ride through attraction, with Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway opening at Hollywood Studios in 2019. The ride will be one of Disney’s most visually advanced, using new technologies to transform the two-dimensional cartoon world of Mickey Mouse in a “multi-dimensional experience”.

Chapek finally unveiled to the Tokyo crowd new Disney experiences coming to Japan in 2019, as Tokyo Disney Resort undergoes its biggest expansion since the opening of Tokyo DisneySea in 2001.

As part of the Tokyo expansion, popular Disney property Big Hero 6 will get its first attraction, with guests getting to “ride around with Baymax”. The Fantasyland area of the park will gain a new area dedicated to Beauty and the Beast, while Fantasyland will also get the first full-scale, live entertainment theatre at Tokyo Disneyland. Finally, Tokyo DisneySea will take guests on a journey through Japan, with a new version of Soarin’ coming to the park.

"We are hard at work creating even more ways to experience Disney magic at our parks and resorts around the world," said Chapek. “With our incredible library of beloved stories and characters, we know exciting adventures and magical memories are in store for all our guests."
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News   Products   Magazine   Subscribe
NEWS
Chapek spills beans at D23 Japan as parks chief reveals details on multiple park projects
POSTED 13 Feb 2018 . BY Tom Anstey
Chapek revealed details about a number of Disney projects at the D23 fan event in Tokyo, Japan Credit: Disney
Disney’s parks and resorts chair Bob Chapek has shared details about the company’s development pipeline, revealing new information about the Marvel, Star Wars and Pixar bands across its theme park portfolio.

Speaking at D23 Expo Japan 2018, Chapek’s first announcement concerned Disneyland Paris, with plans to reimagine the park’s Rock 'n' Roller Coaster as a Marvel attraction, turning the ride into a high-speed ride featuring the likes of Iron Man and the Avengers. In addition to the ride, Chapek offered a sneak peek at the park’s upcoming Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel, which is scheduled to open at Disneyland Paris in 2020.

Following the great success of the Iron Man Experience at Hong Kong Disneyland, Ant-Man is set to get his own adventure at the park, with Disney inviting guests to “fight an army of Hydra swarm bots in a thrilling new adventure”.

Possibly the biggest announcement on the Marvel front, as Disney chiefs look to refresh the offering at Epcot, the Florida attraction will get a shot in the arm with the addition of a Guardians of the Galaxy rollercoaster coming to the park. Touted as a one-of-a-kind family attraction, Chapek promised the ride would feature a brand-new, innovative ride system, and would be one of the longest enclosed roller coasters in the world.

On the Stars Wars front, as Disney builds towards its new Galaxy’s Edge attractions, coming to both its US parks in 2019, fans were given a glimpse at a fleet of life-size X-Wing fighters and the Millennium Falcon.

New details were also revealed about the planned Star Wars immersive hotel concept, which Chapek said would combine luxury resort with complete immersion, creating an authentic story with guests boarding a starship before “departing” on a multi-day Star Wars adventure.

For Pixar, the upcoming Pixar Pier was given its official opening date, with the attraction set to open at Disney California Adventure on 23 June. The reimagined Paradise Pier will be made up of four different themed neighbourhoods using Pixar’s most popular IPs, with the new land anchored by the new Incredibles-inspired 'Incredicoaster' – a transformation of the existing Ingenieur Büro Stengel GmbH-designed California Screamin’ ride.

Celebrating classic Disney, new information was revealed about Mickey Mouse’s first-ever ride through attraction, with Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway opening at Hollywood Studios in 2019. The ride will be one of Disney’s most visually advanced, using new technologies to transform the two-dimensional cartoon world of Mickey Mouse in a “multi-dimensional experience”.

Chapek finally unveiled to the Tokyo crowd new Disney experiences coming to Japan in 2019, as Tokyo Disney Resort undergoes its biggest expansion since the opening of Tokyo DisneySea in 2001.

As part of the Tokyo expansion, popular Disney property Big Hero 6 will get its first attraction, with guests getting to “ride around with Baymax”. The Fantasyland area of the park will gain a new area dedicated to Beauty and the Beast, while Fantasyland will also get the first full-scale, live entertainment theatre at Tokyo Disneyland. Finally, Tokyo DisneySea will take guests on a journey through Japan, with a new version of Soarin’ coming to the park.

"We are hard at work creating even more ways to experience Disney magic at our parks and resorts around the world," said Chapek. “With our incredible library of beloved stories and characters, we know exciting adventures and magical memories are in store for all our guests."
RELATED STORIES
Iger credits Disney IPs as popular brands drive profits in Q1 earnings


Disney chair and CEO Bob Iger has credited the operator’s significant investments in acquired IPs as the reason for impressive results in its first quarter.
New lands will immerse visitors in Toy Story, says Iger


Bob Iger has revealed new details about Disney’s upcoming Toy Story lands, promising to “immerse visitors in a toy world”, when they open later this year in Shanghai and Orlando.
Michael Colglazier to head up Disney's Asian operation


Long-time Disney employee Michael Colglazier has been promoted to a new role overseeing Disney’s parks and resorts across Asia.
Potential Fox deal sees James Murdoch cast as contender to Disney throne


Fox boss James Murdoch has emerged as a contender to become the new CEO of Disney, following reports last week that Bob Chapek was the man to take the organisation forward.
MORE NEWS
Smaller wellness hotels recorded the strongest growth across top KPIs in 2025, finds RLA Global
Wellness hotels generating less than US$1 million (€932,700, £785,200) – or 10 per cent of total revenue from wellness and leisure – recorded the strongest RevPAR and TRevPAR growth in 2025 across categories when compared with 2024, according to the latest Wellness Real Estate Report by RLA Global, produced in partnership with P and L benchmarking firm HotStats.
Lefay Resorts introduces emotional dance classes to offer experiences that foster connection
Lefay Resorts, the portfolio of two luxury wellness properties in Italy, has added emotional dance classes and group cold plunge sessions in response to market demand for social connection.
Robert Thurman: a life dedicated to enlightenment
Robert Thurman, an expert on Tibetan Buddhism and the spiritual director of Menla Retreat and Dewa Spa in Woodstock, has died, aged 84.
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23-26 Aug 2026

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ASEAN Patio Pool Spa Expo 2026

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ADVERTISE . CONTACT US

Leisure Media
Tel: +44 (0)1462 431385

©Cybertrek 2026

ABOUT LEISURE MEDIA
LEISURE MEDIA MAGAZINES
LEISURE MEDIA HANDBOOKS
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LEISURE MEDIA PRODUCT SEARCH
PRINT SUBSCRIPTIONS
FREE DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTIONS