Authentic egg tarts and Chinese chess are showing up: Hong Kong Disneyland is about to expand, with original Pixar characters making a surprise appearance!

Every time Disney’s D23 fan convention comes around, it brings countless surprises for theme park fans. Hong Kong Disneyland Resort has just announced an exclusive expansion plan for Hong Kong, with the most anticipated additions being a new immersive Pixar theater show set to open in Toy Story Land in the first half of 2027, along with a major expansion of Tomorrowland’s Marvel-themed area.

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Poppy, an original character created exclusively for Hong Kong, makes a surprise debut

Set to premiere in the first half of 2027, this new Pixar theater show brings together beloved animated films including Toy Story, Monsters, Inc., Cars, The Incredibles, and Inside Out. It also introduces Poppy, a shy, adorable plush toy created exclusively for the show. The story follows Poppy as she moves from Hong Kong with her young owner, Aria, to the house next door to Andy’s. To help her adjust to her new surroundings, Woody, Buzz Lightyear, and Andy’s toys spring into action for a heartwarming adventure about friendship and growing up.

Most charming of all, the land’s design incorporates Hong Kong childhood touchstones such as Chinese chess, rattle drums, and authentic egg tarts. Disney is also teaming up with Pixar Animation Studios and Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) for their first cross-studio collaboration, combining live performers, physical sets, and digital art with an upbeat original theme song, “Bloom,” to create an unprecedented cinematic theater experience.

Tomorrowland’s skyline reimagined: Marvel Avengers-themed area expands

Beyond the Pixar area’s upgrades, the heart of the Stark Expo area will also gain a new highlight. A new Avengers Technology Research Lab pavilion will reshape Tomorrowland’s skyline, featuring advanced technology developed by Stark Industries, Spider-Man’s Peter Parker, and others.

The expanded area will include a new themed attraction and a Quinjet landing pad, where guests can fight alongside Spider-Man and other Super Heroes, travel through Wakanda and the Sanctum to take on formidable enemies, and be ready for unexpected encounters with heroes.

More touching than the attraction updates alone is the local sentiment woven into the project

Seeing familiar local memories like egg tarts and Chinese chess brought to life in Disney stories gives the entire park a different kind of warmth. If you’re planning a Disney trip soon, consider adding this one-of-a-kind Disney park set between mountains and sea to your 2027 travel list, and plan a return to experience its unique magic.

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