Disney Travel Year in Review: A Look Back at the Biggest News From 2022

2022 was another big year for Disney's theme parks, resorts, and Disney Cruise Line. We saw the opening of an epic new ride-Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at EPCOT, the debut of the most ambitious, immersive experience Disney has ever created in Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser, and the maiden voyage of Disney's newest cruise ship, the Disney Wish. But, nearly three years after the pandemic-induced closure of Disney's theme parks, "reopen" and "return" still continued to be the buzz words most often attached to Disney news in 2022. From the reopening of many of Disney World's top restaurants to the return of hugs, beloved nighttime spectaculars, and even the Walt Disney Company's leader, Bob Iger, here's a travel-focused look at Disney's 2022 year in review.

The"The Most Magical Celebration on Earth," Walt Disney World's 50th anniversary celebration, kicked off more than a year ago on October 1, 2021, and it's still going. The 18-month celebration, which pays tribute to Disney World's 50-year history and has introduced limited time decor, character costumes, and nighttime spectaculars, officially ends March 31, 2023.

In a surprise statement on November 20, 2022, Disney announced Bob Iger's return as CEO for two more years, effective immediately. In a holiday message emailed to D23 members, Iger said, "I can honestly say there has never been a better time to be a Disney fan. It is an extraordinary privilege to lead this remarkable company again, and I am so grateful for your continued passion for Disney."

Easily Disney's most ambitious and innovative project yet, Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser debuted at Walt Disney World on March 1, 2022. Far more than a hotel, the immersive two-night "voyage" simulates a luxury space cruise across the galaxy (without ever leaving Florida). A bucket-list experience for Star Wars fans, guests become players in their own Star Wars adventure as they interact with characters, eat out-of-this-world cuisine, learn to wield a lightsaber, and more. After 10 months of voyages, reviews have been overwhelmingly positive. My husband, two children and I all agree that our voyage aboard Galactic Starcruiser was the best, most memorable travel experience of our lives.

Walt Disney World and Disneyland introduced MagicBand+, the next generation of MagicBand wearable technology. At Walt Disney World, the bands offer all the same functionality of a standard MagicBand, plus additional features like color-changing lights, haptic vibrations and gesture recognition, giving guests new ways to experience offerings within the theme parks, including 50th anniversary statues and nighttime spectaculars.

MagicBand+ has also introduced a new immersive experience within Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland. Using a MagicBand+ and the Play Disney Parks mobile app, guests can join the Batuu Bounty Hunters Guild and hunt for 20 different virtual bounties. After scanning in at the job board, MagicBand+ lights up red or green and vibrates-like a classic hot/cold game-guiding bounty hunters to target doors concealing virtual bounties. Once guests locate the bounties, they can return to the Guildmaster, Raga Bua, to collect their credits (aka points).

Walt Disney World ended its Disney's Magical Express airport transportation on January 1, 2022, but did bring back another popular form of transportation over the summer. On June 29, Minnie Van, the Disney-owned and operated personal ride service powered via the Lyft app, resumed service to and from select locations within Walt Disney World Resort. Though more expensive than a standard Lyft, Minnie Vans offer a number of enhanced features, including two child safety seats, accessible vehicles accommodating up to two wheelchairs, and the ability to access certain dropoff points not available to standard rideshare services, including Pioneer Hall at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campgrounds and Magic Kingdom Park (standard rideshares must drop Magic Kingdom guests at the Transportation and Ticket Center).

Disney's new voice assistant, "Hey Disney!" has begun a limited rollout in select guest rooms at Disney's Polynesian Village Resort. The interactive smart speaker and display, run on the Alexa platform, is an optional perk for guests offering features like an alarm wakeup with a message from Mickey and pals; jokes, stories and trivia; theme park and resort information; weather forecast; and the ability to reach guests relations with requests like ordering more towels.

Fantasmic! made its long-awaited return to Disney's Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World on Nov. 3, 2022 after returning to Disneyland May 28, 2022. At Walt Disney World, the revamped show introduced a new "heroes sequence" featuring Aladdin, Elsa, Pocahontas, Moana and Mulan.

"We know this show means so much to people, and we've kept that in mind every step of this journey." Disney Live Entertainment Producer Laurice Marier said in a Disney Parks Blog post. "Even beyond the new scene, we've taken this time to upgrade the lasers, the lighting, the sound, all to bring this show back even more beautiful than it's ever been."

Walt Disney World's newest ride, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, officially opened at EPCOT on May 27, 2022. The park's first coaster, Cosmic Rewind is also Disney World's first Marvel-themed attraction. Housed in the Wonders of Xandar pavilion, Epcot's first "other-world" showcase pavilion, previously known at the Universe of Energy, the indoor coaster's 360-degree rotating ride vehicles turn to direct attention at the attraction's combination of screens and physical sets. With a soundtrack that surprises riders with one of six different '70s and '80s pop classics, the ride feels like one big intergalactic dance party.

A sprawling new quick-service restaurant and Starbucks location opened in EPCOT's World Celebration in April, giving guests a convenient new dining option in the former Future World half of the park. Connections Eatery serves crowd-pleasing dishes like pizza, burgers, salads, and the uber-popular Liege Waffle for dessert. Adjacent to the Connections Café is a bright and spacious Starbucks.

Disney fans from across the globe came together in Anaheim September 9-11, 2022 for D23 Expo, "The Ultimate Disney Fan Event." The weekend included appearances by countless celebrities, sneak peeks at upcoming films and streaming series, and announcements about the return of fan-favorite entertainment to Disneyland and Walt Disney World, details and opening seasons for new attractions, plans for Disney's 100th anniversary, big reveals about Disney Cruise Line's growing fleet and more. Read our recap of all the biggest news to come out of D23 Expo.

After two years of pandemic-induced distancing between guests and characters, traditional character interactions were finally reintroduced at Walt Disney World and Disneyland on April 18, 2022, leaving guests to tearfully proclaim "Hugs are back." Guests can again hug, high five, and get autographs from their favorite Disney characters. Character meet-and-greets have continued to return to the theme parks this year as well, including favorites like Winnie the Pooh and Friends and Magic Kingdom, Woody, Jessie and Buzz Lightyear in Toy Story Land, and Mickey and Minnie at Adventurers Outpost at Disney's Animal Kingdom.

Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser has taken Star Wars character interactions to the next level, but more traditional Star Wars meet-and-greets also returned this year with the reopening of Star Wars: Launch Bay, where guests can meet Darth Vader, Chewbacca and BB-8.

runDisney continues its annual tradition of four Walt Disney World race weekends a season, and announced a new race weekend theme for the season's fourth weekend, "Springtime surprise," which includes a 5K, 10K, and 10-mile race. The 2022 runDisney Springtime Surprise weekend was an homage to past runDisney races, bringing back new versions of three old favorites, the Expedition Everest 5K, Race for the Taste, and the Tower of Terror 10-Miler.

Other notable 2022 runDisney updates included the debut of a Virtual Queue for the runDisney Merchandise Shop on the first day of the runDisney Health & Fitness Expo and the return of characters to the Expo and pre- and post-race staging areas. And perhaps the biggest runDisney news in 2022 is a look ahead-it was announced at D23 Expo that runDisney races will be returning to the Disneyland Resort in 2024.

The last Walt Disney World park to reopen, Disney's Typhoon Lagoon Water Park finally began welcoming guests back on January 2, 2022, after a nearly two-year closure. The park restarted its surf program and introduced new 50th anniversary food and beverage offerings. The water park closed again for an annual seasonal refurbishment on November 13, 2022, with a refurbished Blizzard Beach reopening to continue to provide a water park option to Disney World guests.

Disney's Blizzard Beach Water Park reopened November 13 after a seasonal refurbishment and debuted new Frozen-themed enhancements to the park's Tike's Peak. Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, Sven, Olaf and snowgies figures have been added to the kids' splash area.

Along with the return of traditional character interactions, character dining has continue to reopen and return to its pre-pandemic state, with character dining reintroduced at popular restaurants including Crystal Palace at Magic Kingdom, 'Ohana at Disney's Polynesian Village Resort, and Cape May Cafe at Disney's Beach Club Resort.

The doors of Pioneer Hall at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground reopened June 23, 2022, bringing the beloved Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue dinner show and family-style feast back after its pandemic-era closure. The iconic show, which has remained largely unchanged since its debut in 1974, is a nostalgic slice of Americana starring the Pioneer Hall Players. A fan-favorite menu of unlimited fried chicken, ribs, comfort food sides and strawberry shortcake, plus unlimited beer, wine and sangria and two hours of interactive entertainment deliver impressively good value.

Fine dining is back in a big way at Walt Disney World with the reopening of many of the resort's most elegant and revered signature restaurants, including Flying Fish at Disney's BoardWalk, Jiko at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge, Takumi-Tei and Monsieur Paul at EPCOT, and the crown jewel-award-winning Victoria & Albert's at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.

In March, Disney announced plans to develop new Disney Vacation Club villas at Disney's Polynesian Villas Resort. The proposed tower, projected to open in late 2024, will be situated along the Seven Seas Lagoon and will "complement the existing resort and evoke the spirit of the Pacific Islands." The expansion will also offer new recreation and dining options. To make way for the new tower, Disney permanently closed "The Spirit of Aloha" dinner show at the resort.

Disney Vacation Club, Disney's more flexible take on the traditional timeshare, opened 200 additional DVC villas at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa at Walt Disney World on June 23. The expansion introduces a new DVC room category-the Resort Studio, and debuted a stunning Mary Poppins-inspired room design, which is gradually being extended to Grand Floridian's regular guest rooms as well. DVC has also refreshed the resort's existing studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom villas.

On July 11, Top of the World Lounge at Bay Lake Tower at Disney's Contemporary Resort reopened as "Villains Lair." Open to eligible Disney Vacation Club members, the lounge serves Disney Villains-inspired small plates and cocktails and offers rooftop views of "Disney Enchantment" at Magic Kingdom Park. The space also offers a variety of upcharge experiences-Wicked Wind Down, Enchantment at the Top dessert party, and Bound to Be Bad, that include food, drinks and guaranteed fireworks viewing.

The fire-breathing Maleficent dragon once again makes its way through Magic Kingdom now that the park has welcomed back its daytime parade, Disney Festival of Fantasy. Mickey's Magical Friendship Faire stage show also returned, with a new opening and finale, and a new Disney Adventure Friends Cavalcade debuted as well.

Numerous after-hours events were back at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland this year. Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party both returned-and sold out-every night they were offered. Disney Vacation Club Moonlight Magic after-hours events were held at EPCOT, Disney's Hollywood Studios, Disney's Animal Kingdom and Disney's Typhoon Lagoon in 2022, and DVC has announced the first 2023 Moonlight Magic evening, headed to Disney California Adventure park at Disneyland. Disneyland After Dark events-Star Wars Nite, Villains Nite, Sweethearts Nite and Grad Nite-all returned to Disneyland in 2022, with Sweethearts Nite dates and an all-new Princesses Nite announced for 2023.

A reimagined "Finding Nemo" musical debuted on June 13, 2022 in the Theater in the Wild at Disney's Animal Kingdom. "This show incorporates many of the songs from the original musical, as well as amazing puppetry and live performers that fill the stage," said show director James Silson, Disney Live Entertainment. The shortened, 25-minute show features a new script, new set pieces and a custom LED video wall that extends the physical sets.

Everyone loves EPCOT's festival scavenger hunts, but now there's a new high-tech adventure that takes you around World Showcase for some interactive fun. Disney's DuckTales World Showcase Adventure debuted in December at EPCOT and uses the Play Disney Parks app to guide guests on a quest alongside Huey, Dewey, Louie and Webby to find the Seven Lost Magic Treasures hidden in seven of the World Showcase country pavilions.

While the theme for 2022 has certainly been more about openings and reopenings than closures, we said goodbye to one fan-favorite show less than a year after it launched. Disney KiteTails, an exuberant musical display of majestic kites soaring over the Discovery River, said a permanent goodbye in September.

After more than four years of closure, a refurbished Walt Disney World Railroad is once again carrying guests around the Magic Kingdom. A 1971 opening-day attraction, the railroad reopened December 23, 2022, with a refreshed track and all-new narration.

Disney Cruise Line's fifth ship set sail on its maiden voyage from Port Canaveral on July 14, 2022. The Wish introduces a number of firsts to DCL's fleet, including the first-ever Disney attraction at sea, a 760-foot aqua coaster, Marvel- and Frozen-themed dining experiences, new live entertainment, an app-based interactive onboard experience, and more.

At Disney's D23 Expo in September, Disney revealed the name and a first look at the fleet's forthcoming sixth ship, the Disney Treasure, which is scheduled to be delivered in 2024. A seventh ship was also planned for 2025, but a surprise announcement on November 16 adds an additional ship to the company's plans. Disney Cruise Line announced the acquisition of a ship previously known as the Global Dream, already under construction in Wismar, Germany. The new ship will be renamed and certain features will be reimagined by Walt Disney Imagineers and the ship will be based "outside the United States."

Walt Disney Imagineers first shared the big news at Star Wars Celebration 2022 in Anaheim in May that new characters would be headed to Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge at Disneyland. Boba Fett, Fennec Shand, Din Djarin (The Mandalorian) and Grogu have all begun appearing and interacting with guests, marking the first appearance in Galaxy's Edge by characters outside the land's core timeline.

Walt Disney Imagineering Creative Portfolio Executive Scott Trowbridge explains though that the land's timeline does remain intact, with these new character interactions taking place outside that timeline. "While we as visitors may be able to experience different stories throughout Star Wars history, the characters on Batuu can not," Trowbridge said in aDisney Parks Blog post. "They will remain in their specific story and timeline and won't intersect with other characters or stories that would not be appropriate for them."

Nights at the Disneyland Resort got a lot brighter this summer with the return of four nighttime spectaculars-the Main Street Electrical Parade, Disneyland Forever and Fantasmic! at Disneyland park, and World of Color at Disney California Adventure park. The Main Street Electrical Parade and Disneyland Forever both ended their limited-time runs on September 1, 2022. Looking ahead, two new nighttime spectaculars are headed to Disneyland Resort in January to help kick off The Walt Disney Company's 100-year celebration, Disney 100 Years of Wonder-"Wondrous Journeys" at Disneyland park and "World of Color-One" at Disney California Adventure park.

Eudora's Chic Boutique Featuring Tiana's Gourmet Secrets opened in Disneyland park's New Orleans Square on September 20, 2022. So the backstory goes, the store was developed in response to the success of Tiana's Palace restaurant, and sells accessories, kitchen items, spices and more. The shop notably marks further integration of Tiana and "Princess and the Frog" storytelling into Disneyland park, which will become home to Tiana's Bayou Adventure, the reimagining of Splash Mountain coming to both Disneyland and Walt Disney World in 2024.