Jacob Krol

Disney's D23 Horizons keynote provided updates on a broad slate of Walt Disney World and Disneyland projects. Magic Kingdom will receive the Cars-themed Piston Peak and Villains Land, while Hollywood Studios' Monstropolis will begin opening in 2027 and Animal Kingdom's Tropical Americas will feature new Indiana Jones and Encanto attractions. EPCOT will reimagine Spaceship Earth and restore Figment and Dreamfinder. At Disneyland, Avengers Campus will double in size, with Avengers Infinity Defense and Stark Flight Lab scheduled for 2028, alongside a new Coco attraction and a major Tomorrowland transformation. The presentation also emphasized returning classic characters and experiences, including the Yeti in Expedition Everest.

Disney Store is selling limited-edition products revealed at D23 in Anaheim, including a $99.99 motion-activated Pixar Lamp that moves in response to sound and motion, though it does not illuminate, and a $249.99 José Animatronic Figure inspired by Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room. The collection also includes Disney apparel, Star Wars merchandise, and superhero collectibles, available while supplies last. A non-limited LEGO Pixar Lamp is offered as a less expensive alternative.

A screening of Spider-Man: Brand New Day at an AMC Dolby Cinema in New Jersey impressed Jacob Krol with its vibrant dual-4K laser projection, stadium seating, and highly immersive presentation. The standout feature was Dolby Atmos sound, whose powerful low end and precisely positioned effects enhanced the film’s action and a sequence depicting Peter Parker’s heightened senses. Although IMAX and ScreenX are noted as alternatives, the reviewer concludes that Dolby Cinema’s audio makes it the preferred format for a second viewing.

Disney will present Created in LA, a two-day creator summit and film festival conceived by Jon Youshaei, at the El Capitan Theatre and Walt Disney Studios lot on September 17–18. The event will premiere creator-made originals alongside discussions featuring figures such as Mindy Kaling, Zach King and Disney executive Asad Ayaz. Youshaei argues that accessible production technology and online distribution have allowed creators to achieve studio-quality work and operate like production companies, while traditional studios and creators are likely to coexist rather than merge completely. Disney’s event, alongside a separate TikTok partnership bringing selected vertical videos to Disney+, signals a broader effort to treat creators as storytellers rather than merely influencers. AI is described as a production aid, with human taste and authenticity remaining central.

Disney is partnering with TikTok to let selected creators use assets from franchises including Disney, Star Wars, Pixar, Marvel and FX, with some creator-made vertical videos expected to appear on Disney+ in the United States in the coming months. The arrangement emphasizes fan-made storytelling and represents a shift away from Disney's abandoned partnership with OpenAI involving AI-generated Sora videos. Disney is also expanding its creator strategy through the Created in LA event, which will showcase and support TikTok, YouTube and Instagram creators.

Disney Worldbuilders, a new Leslie Iwerks documentary, premieres exclusively on Disney+ on August 20, 2026. It explores how Disney Imagineering and creative leaders including Jon Favreau, Kevin Feige, Dave Filoni, Pete Docter, James Cameron, Josh D'Amaro, and Bob Iger transform screen-based worlds into physical park environments. The documentary is expected to cover lands such as Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, Pandora, Pixar Pier, Toy Story Land, and Zootopia, as well as the concept-art, construction, and evolution of these attractions. Its focus on technological innovation and Iwerks' previous work makes it a particularly appealing watch for Disney Parks and documentary fans.