ORLANDO — The big news coming out of Disney’s D23 Destination D mega conference included the names and the first-ever look inside the two signature attractions set for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge when it opens at Disneyland Resort next summer and at Walt Disney World Resort in fall 2019.

The D23 Expo and its counterpart, D23 Destination D – the ‘23’ is for 1923, the year Walt Disney founded his iconic company – are major events on the calendar for all Disney fans. That includes anyone who sells Disney, especially for travel, as there are always plenty of updates coming out of the event.

Taking place this past weekend, the 2018 D23’s Destination D: Celebrating Mickey Mouse featured park updates from Disney Parks, Experiences and Consumer Products Chairman Bob Chapek.

“We are currently in the midst of one of the most extraordinary periods of expansion in our history,” says Chapek. “We are always pushing the boundaries of what’s possible as we deliver world-class experiences and attractions, new hotels and entertainment, itineraries and destinations for our guests.”

Here’s a full look at all the announcements…

STAR WARS: GALAXY’S EDGE
When Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opens at Disneyland Resort next summer and at Walt Disney World Resort in fall 2019, guests can take the controls in one of three unique and critical roles aboard Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run. Meanwhile on Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, guests can join an epic battle between the First Order and the Resistance – including a face-off with Kylo Ren.

Star Wars themed land model, for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, opening at Disneyland in summer 2019 and Walt Disney World in fall 2019

The two new experiences will be paired with the land’s interactive components and optional integration with the Play Disney Parks app.

Chapek also provided a sneak peek at the Star Wars resort coming to Walt Disney World Resort. The multi-day, fully immersive adventure will take guests aboard a luxury starship with all the features expected of a first-class hotel, including dining, recreation, and accommodations, “all authentic to the Star Wars universe”.

The much-anticipated Star Wars resort hotel coming to Walt Disney World Resort as part of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in fall 2019 is billed a multi-day, fully immersive adventure that will take guests aboard a luxury starship with all the features expected of a first-class hotel, including dining, recreation, and accommodations, all authentic to the Star Wars universe.

MICKEY MOUSE
The mouse that started it all, Mickey Mouse, turns 90 this year. Chapek says Disney Imagineers have been hard at work creating Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, using breakthrough technology to transform a 2D cartoon into a real-world experience. The first-ever ride-through attraction themed to Mickey Mouse – set to open in fall 2019 – will feature a new original story and theme song.

On Jan. 18, 2019 ‘Mickey’s Mix Magic’ will light up the night at Disneyland Park with all-new music, projections and lasers that set the scene for an epic dance party that takes over almost the entire park. The party will get even bigger when the fan-favorite Mickey’s Soundsational Parade returns to the resort Jan. 25, featuring an all-new float with Mickey himself, who will lead the celebration down Main Street, U.S.A.

And at Walt Disney World, from Jan. 18 to Sept. 30 Mickey & Minnie’s Surprise Celebration at Magic Kingdom will feature new food, merchandise and entertainment.

A new cinematic nighttime experience, ‘Wonderful World of Animation’, is coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios on May 1 as part of the 30th Anniversary of Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The show take guests on a journey through more than 90 years of Disney animation, all beginning with Mickey.

EPCOT
A multi-year transformation of Epcot, designed to honour the park’s original vision while making it “more timeless, more relevant, more family and more Disney”, is currently underway.

Chapek revealed that the Ratatouille experience coming to the France pavilion will be called Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure. There’s also a new ‘Beauty and the Beast’ sing-along. And Canadians will be glad to hear this news: an update to the O Canada! 360-degree show.

NEW RESORTS
Chapek also revealed the name of Disney’s newest resort: Reflections. The deluxe, nature-inspired resort coming to Orlando will feature more than 900 hotel rooms and proposed Disney Vacation Club villas when it opens in 2020.

Chapek also offered a look at Disney’s Riviera Resort, projected to open in fall 2019, as the 15th Disney Vacation Club property.

Rendering of the new Riviera Resort at Walt Disney World, opening 2019