Disney gave us plenty to talk about at D23 this year. There are new lands coming, new attractions on the way and some big changes planned for Walt Disney World.

But what surprised us most was how many of the announcements connected back to Disney memories we’ve had for years.

For us, Disney has never just been about what’s new. Some attractions become part of your family’s story. You remember riding them with your parents, then taking your own kids on them years later.

And that’s why a few of this year’s announcements really stood out.

#1 — Figment & Dreamfinder: Our Biggest D23 Surprise

Of everything announced at D23, the return of Figment and Dreamfinder was easily our biggest surprise — and honestly, the announcement that made us the most excited.

For us, Figment isn’t just another Disney character or attraction. He’s tied to some really special family memories.

I remember riding the original Journey Into Imagination with my dad back when EPCOT was still brand new. Everything about it felt so different from anything else in the parks at the time.

Years later, I got to bring my son Erick on the attraction when he was just a toddler.

We still have a VHS tape from that trip that includes footage of the original attraction. Erick watched it so many times growing up that, in our family, it simply became known as “the Erick movie.”

That’s why this announcement hits differently. It’s not just nostalgia for an old attraction — it’s a character that has been part of our family’s Disney story across generations.

Seeing Disney bring Dreamfinder back and give Figment some real attention feels a little like getting a piece of that original EPCOT magic back.

We can’t wait to see what Disney does with it.

#2 — Carousel of Progress: A Favorite Since My First Visit

The Carousel of Progress announcement also really hit home for us.

This has been a favorite of mine since my very first visit to Magic Kingdom. I was only seven years old, but I still remember being completely amazed that the entire theater actually rotated around the stage.

At that age, it felt like pure Disney magic.

But it wasn’t just the rotating theater that stuck with me. Even then, there was something about the story that resonated — watching a family move through different eras and seeing how technology slowly changed everyday life.

As I got older and learned more about Disney history, I appreciated it even more. Walt Disney himself helped create Carousel of Progress for the 1964–65 New York World’s Fair before it eventually made its way to Walt Disney World.

That connection to Walt makes it feel like so much more than just another attraction.

So we’re really excited that Disney is investing in Carousel of Progress and introducing a new chapter to its story. At the same time, we hope they protect the heart, history and charm that have kept it special for so many years.

After all, there’s a great big beautiful tomorrow… but sometimes it’s worth remembering where yesterday started.

#3 — Expedition Everest: The Yeti Is Finally Coming Back!

This one has been a long time coming.

I remember riding Expedition Everest with Erick in the early days of the attraction and seeing that huge, menacing Yeti coming at us.

It was an incredible effect.

If you never experienced the Yeti when it was fully operational, it’s hard to explain just how impressive that moment was. The Yeti wasn’t just something you raced past — he felt like a real threat.

Unfortunately, the massive figure hasn’t moved like that for years.

Disney fans have been talking about the Yeti and whether Disney would ever fix it for so long that it almost became one of those things we never really expected to happen.

So hearing that Disney is finally addressing the Yeti was one of our favorite announcements of D23.

For those of us who remember that original encounter, we’re excited to see what Disney has planned — and hopefully a new generation of guests will get to experience just how menacing that Yeti can be.

And who knows?

If Disney can finally fix the Yeti, maybe there’s still hope they’ll get those cannons on Rise of the Resistance moving again someday!

Villains Land Is Starting to Feel Real

Of course, D23 wasn’t all about bringing back things from Disney’s past.

One of the biggest projects coming to Walt Disney World is Villains Land at Magic Kingdom, and we’re finally starting to get a better idea of what Disney has planned.

Disney revealed more about the land, including plans for major attractions and a coaster featuring Maleficent.

This could be a huge addition to Magic Kingdom.

Disney villains have always had an enormous following, and giving them an entire land opens up some pretty exciting possibilities. We’re especially interested to see how far Disney goes with the atmosphere. A Villains Land should feel completely different from the rest of Magic Kingdom.

There are still plenty of details we don’t know, but this is definitely one we’re watching.

Monstropolis Is Looking Better and Better

The more Disney reveals about Monstropolis at Hollywood Studios, the more excited we are about this project.

The Monsters, Inc. land is expected to open in 2027, with the long-awaited suspended door coaster as its centerpiece.

Disney also revealed more details about the restaurants, entertainment and overall land, which should make Monstropolis feel like much more than just a home for one new coaster.

Hollywood Studios could really use another immersive area with attractions, dining and places to explore, and this looks like it could be a lot of fun.

And let’s be honest — we’ve wanted to ride through that door vault ever since we first saw Monsters, Inc.

Indiana Jones and Tropical Americas

Animal Kingdom also has some major changes ahead with the new Tropical Americas area.

We’re especially interested in the new Indiana Jones attraction, Indiana Jones and the Myth of the Jade Serpent.

The attraction will take Indy into an ancient Maya temple on an entirely new adventure. We’re glad Disney isn’t simply bringing the Disneyland Indiana Jones story to Florida.

We’re also looking forward to seeing how the Encanto attraction and the rest of Tropical Americas come together.

Animal Kingdom has always been one of the most beautiful Disney parks, so our hope is that the new area maintains the lush landscaping, detail and sense of exploration that make the park so special.

A D23 That Looked Forward — And Back

There were plenty of exciting announcements at D23, but the ones that stuck with us most weren’t necessarily the biggest or newest.

Figment and Dreamfinder. Carousel of Progress. The Yeti.

Those announcements brought back memories.

One reminds me of riding with my dad and later taking Erick. Another takes me all the way back to being a seven-year-old kid amazed by a theater that somehow moved around the stage. And another reminds me of riding Everest with Erick and encountering a truly menacing Yeti.

That’s the thing about Walt Disney World.

The new attractions are exciting, and we can’t wait to experience Villains Land, Monstropolis and Tropical Americas. But sometimes the most exciting Disney news is hearing that something you’ve loved for decades is getting another chance to shine.

And after D23, there’s certainly a lot to look forward to.

What D23 announcement are you most excited about?

Are you ready to see Figment and Dreamfinder together again? Excited about Villains Land? Or are you like us and just happy that the Yeti may finally get another chance to scare the heck out of you?

Let us know in the comments — we’d love to hear which announcement you’re looking forward to most!

— Mike & Tara
The Many Adventures of Tara and Mike