Ahead of Saturday night’s D23 Disney Experience Showcase – where Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro will give updates on new and highly anticipated projects across Disney Experiences, we asked our INTERCOT Insider Podcast staff to make predictions on what will be revealed.

In true Podcast style, some of the answers are serious, some are biting comedy, and some are wishful thinking.

The shared sentiment across the board was hopefully less BLUE SKY thinking and more real timelines announced.  Reality is, we’ll probably see a mixture of both.  In one surprising turn of events, the showcase will NOT be live streamed anywhere this year.  So, we – like most of you – we will be keeping an eye on social media for announcements.  It’s also our hope that Disney will email us some Official Releases as they have done in the past.

So, without further ado, here’s what the staff is thinking as we get out our murky Crystal Ball…

Carolyn:

“Honestly, I can’t even fathom a guess. But if I had to make something up, I would say…”

• Pecos Bill becomes a Tiana-based New Orleans style restaurant
• Spaceship Earth refurb will finally happen (Jenn and I saw some weird stuff in the rise up the first hill in the ride the other day)
• Oh, and Disneyland gets their PeopleMover back

Ian:

Ian grouched… “I predict that only 3% of their announcements will ever see the light of day.”  He also predicted a big, large empty building, a restaurant that serves overpriced food and more.  Then he got slightly serious…

• Beyond Big Thunder Mountain project at the Magic Kingdom gets announced but without specific details
• Animal Kingdom Dinoland refurb gets officially confirmed with specifics and timing
• Restart of the Spaceship Earth refurb

Gary:

Gary came back to shed light on his predictions – which actually were pretty interesting…  “Something that milks Hugh Jackman’s popularity as Wolverine that ties into something themed around the TVA from Loki and Deadpool. Something underwhelming around Star Wars. Star Wars fans are easy money. Even if they hate it, they’ll consume it. We always do.”

Then he went into full on Marvel Nerd mode:

“I’ve actually worked this whole thing out. The TVA ride would essentially be Star Tours. But, to avoid the whole superhero thing, it features Rob Delany’s character Peter from Deadpool. He’s not a superhero he’s just a sincere guy with a mustache and khaki pants who just wants to belong. He gets us into all sorts of shenanigans traveling through alternate realities, that totally aren’t Marvel, because he doesn’t know how to work the machine. At some point he’s upside down, hilariously pressed against the windshield while Owen Wilson yells at him. Some nerd from the TVA eventually intervenes and gets us back to our own reality. We exit through a gift shop that sells themed blue button downs, khaki pants and of course fake glorious mustaches.”

Cindy:

Cindy has been engulphed in her kids’ graduations and volleyball and said, “I’ve been bad on keeping up with things and nothing is jumping out.”

• Maybe some type of Moana event to go with the new movie?

John:

While thinking things over, John combined some long shots and stuff that appears to be sure things.  Though he wondered if calling the event Horizons would garner any specific love for the long lost, greatest attraction ever created.

• Cars is probably a safe bet as part of the Magic Kingdom expansion which will likely be announced for WDW.
• I think the Fort Wilderness hotel – the Reflections thing makes a comeback with announcement and possible opening date.
• Maybe Harrison Ford comes out to announce Indy Ride (replacing Dinosaur) at Animal Kingdom
• Longshots – something announced for Star Wars Hotel or Imagination redo.
• Super Longshot – Tower of Terror Restaurant or Bar announced

Will any of this actually happen? We’ll find out soon and then look to do an actual Podcast Live recap where we discuss what lies ahead for the future of Walt Disney World and the Disney Company as a whole.