2017 Disney Parks & Announcements: A Year in Review with Jim Hill

January: Festival of the Arts & Hong Kong's Iron Man

• 🎨 The Festival of the Arts debuted at Epcot, focusing on Disney artists like Mary Blair and John Hench, and featuring performances by Disney Theatrical talent.
• 💡 An earlier concept for a Future World science event, including a 'battle bots' competition, was abandoned in favor of leveraging existing festival infrastructure.
• 💥 The Iron Man Experience opened at Hong Kong Disneyland, with plans for a Marvel-themed redo of California Adventure's Tower of Terror.

February: Rivers of Light & Resort Redos

• ✨ The long-delayed Rivers of Light nighttime show finally opened at Animal Kingdom, though significantly reduced from its original concept due to technical issues.
• 🏨 Plans were announced for major renovations at Caribbean Beach and Coronado Springs resorts, including the introduction of DVC concepts and enhanced transportation options.
• 🏨 The expansion at Coronado Springs was aimed at attracting conventions with new executive facilities, while Caribbean Beach's revamp focused on leveraging its proximity to Epcot.

March: Magic Kingdom Parking & Infrastructure

• 🚗 Construction began on bypass ramps and alternative paths in the Magic Kingdom parking lot, creating a north entrance and allowing Magic Kingdom resort guests to bypass toll booths.
• 🛣️ Significant infrastructure projects were underway, including expanding Bu Vista Drive and a flyover near ESPN Wide World of Sports to direct traffic to Hollywood Studios.
• 🚧 The I-4 construction project was significantly delayed, with the bulk of expansion work expected during Disney World's 50th anniversary.

April & May: Guardians of the Galaxy & Pandora's Arrival

• 🚀 In April, Disneyland frantically prepared for the opening of Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: Breakout!, a redo of the Tower of Terror attraction.
• 🌺 May saw the highly anticipated opening of Pandora – The World of Avatar at Animal Kingdom, featuring the Na'vi River Journey and the popular Flight of Passage attractions.
• 🎆 Also in May, Magic Kingdom replaced 'Wishes' with the new nighttime spectacular Happily Ever After, praised for its detailed projections and integration of fireworks and castle lighting.

June & July: Tron Coaster, D23 Expo & Skyliner

• 🎢 At D23, it was confirmed that a Tron Lightcycle Power Run coaster would be built at Magic Kingdom, located behind the speedway and to the left of Space Mountain.
• 🎭 A new Magic Kingdom Theater was also announced, intended to increase capacity for the upcoming 50th anniversary.
• 🏨 The Copper Creek Canyon DVC section opened at Wilderness Lodge in July.
• 🚡 The D23 Expo confirmed the Disney Skyliner gondola system, connecting Epcot's International Gateway and Hollywood Studios to select resorts, with construction beginning in August.

August & September: Closures & New Experiences

• 🦖 Ellen's Energy Adventure at Epcot closed in August, the same month the updated, more kid-friendly Mission: Space – Flight Over the Planet opened.
• 🍽️ A dining in space restaurant was announced for the Mission Space complex, with an expected 2019 opening.
• 🕹️ DisneyQuest closed in September after years of decline, to be replaced by the NBA Experience at Disney Springs.
• 🎭 The Cirque du Soleil show La Nouba announced its closure, to be replaced by a Disney animation-themed show.

October & November: Grand Avenue, Holiday Reworks & Jingle Cruise

• 🌟 Grand Avenue opened at Hollywood Studios, featuring the Baseline Tap House, designed to prepare guests for potential long waits for Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge.
• 🎃 Guardians of the Galaxy – Monsters After Dark overlay ran for a limited time at Disneyland, showcasing a quick changeover from the daytime attraction.
• 🎄 In November, Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party featured a new entrance routing and immediate guest gratification with treats upon arrival.
• 🚢 The Jingle Cruise overlay at the Magic Kingdom's Jungle Cruise was a popular event during a Disney Dish Live recording.

December: Disney Acquires Fox & Future Implications

• 🎬 The monumental acquisition of 21st Century Fox by Disney was announced, bringing significant film and TV properties under Disney's umbrella.
• 🏨 The Star Wars Hotel was confirmed, with a focus on immersive theming and storytelling, representing a departure from traditional hotel models.
• 🚗 The potential integration of Fox properties into parks and resorts was discussed, with a focus on leveraging new characters and franchises, while also noting concerns about a potential decrease in organically grown park characters.
• 📊 The success of billion-dollar earners like Star Wars and Marvel was highlighted as a driver for investment in similar franchises, impacting decisions on park attractions and theming.