Disney just had their biennial D23 Expo from September 9th-11th, an event that lets fans of the company get a sneak peak into upcoming installments that they are either releasing or planning to release in the near future.

At the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California, dedicated fans of Disney were able to attend the event, as well as get to meet and hear from guest speakers who are involved in upcoming projects.

This year, fans of Disney were delighted with a plethora of new content, ranging from movies and TV shows to video games and much more. For starters, Disney revealed “blue-sky” concepts (visions of not fully yet confirmed ideas) for Disney World. There are hopes for new additions being added to the parks, including expansions to Frontierland, that would be Encanto and Coco themed. In Animal Kingdom, there is talk of Animal Kingdom’s Dinoland, USA being revived into something either Moana or Zootopia themed.

“All these attractions will take place [in a world set] after the movie, which is quite interesting to be able to experience what some of our favorite characters do after the movie is over,” Christopher Chu (11) said. “Hearing these possible plans gave me hope that Disney is still investing into their parks and they are still stretching the possibilities of storytelling in all their parks.”

Pixar was able to release some new information regarding their upcoming projects. The biggest news, however, coming from Pixar was that a new movie, Elemental, is their next project set to release on June 16, 2023. The movie will follow the unlikely friendship between an anthropomorphic flame and water drop.

Marvel and Star Wars were also able to spotlight and reveal some information about their upcoming projects. Notably, vital information about the Disney+ series Andor. Set before the original events of the film Rogue One (2016), Andor, released on September 21st, is about Cassian Andor, one of the protagonists of Rogue One. Cool-headed and pragmatic, Cassian was willing to sacrifice his life in order to secure the Galactic Empire’s Death Star plans. The show will tell the story of Cassian Andor’s formative years of the rebellion and his difficult missions for the cause. Watch a clip from Andor here.

Although Marvel released lots of information regarding the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), information about the highly anticipated Disney+ show Daredevil: Born Again. Charlie Cox will reprise his role of the titular character, and to the relief of many fans, he has assured that the new Disney+ show will be just as great as the beloved Netflix series. Although some fans are skeptical, many are still willing to give the new show a chance.

“Obviously, I don’t think that Daredevil: Born Again will hold even a match to the Netflix series,” said Raymond Obana (11). “I believe that this new Disney+ series will be good and the best MCU show, but the bar that Daredevil (Netflix) has set is extremely high.”

Besides Daredevil: Born Again, Marvel had also revealed some more information about other projects they have yet to release. Marvel was able to release a trailer for the upcoming Secret Invasion miniseries, which will finally answer questions that fans have had regarding Nick Fury’s “absence” from the Earth. Werewolf by Night, the MCU’s first TV special, also showcased a trailer at D23 and will be a bit darker but still a fun ride.

A highly anticipated movie, the live-action The Little Mermaid, showcased a trailer at D23. Halle Bailey plays Ariel, the main character of the beloved children’s movie, and the movie itself appears to be an exact retelling of its animated predecessor. Watch the trailer here.

As the trailer was leaked onto the internet, controversy arose, as many did not appreciate just how much Ariel’s appearance has changed in the new film.

“I think people are overreacting a bit because at the end of the day Ariel is a fictional character and her race doesn’t affect her story at all since it was never really mentioned to begin with,” said Natalie Adi (11). “It’s nice because there’s more representation for people of color.”

Controversies aside, D23 overall seems to be a success. New details about all things related to Disney were mentioned, and overall, Disney fans seem to be satisfied with the news that they were able to receive.