Disney has owned The Simpsons for more than seven years, but you wouldn't necessarily know it from walking through its U.S. theme parks.
When Disney completed its roughly $71 billion acquisition of major 21st Century Fox assets in March 2019, it gained control of a huge collection of familiar characters and franchises. Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie suddenly became part of that enormous Disney portfolio.
Yet Disney hasn't rushed to put Springfield inside its parks. Instead, another theme park company continues to have the most visible physical presence for the franchise.
That's what makes a new experience at D23 particularly interesting.
Disney is giving the Simpsons family their own physical presence at the fan event, offering a small look at how the company can use the franchise beyond Disney+. And with questions surrounding the future of Universal's Simpsons agreement, the timing is hard to ignore.
Disney Owns the Simpsons, but Universal Has the Rides
Disney gained control of The Simpsons through its acquisition of Fox, but Universal Orlando Resort remains the franchise's major U.S. theme park home.
At Universal Studios Florida, guests can walk through Springfield and experience The Simpsons Ride, along with other locations and experiences based on the animated series.
Universal's own copyright information identifies The Simpsons as a 20th Television property, creating an unusual situation between two major theme park rivals.
Disney owns the characters. Universal has the themed area.
Since the acquisition, Disney has made The Simpsons a notable part of its streaming offerings on Disney+. What it hasn't done is establish the franchise as a major part of Walt Disney World or Disneyland Resort.
That has left plenty of room for questions about what Disney might eventually do with its ownership.
Now, D23 is offering a small glimpse.
D23 Welcomes the Simpsons Family
D23 is taking place in Anaheim from August 14 through August 16, bringing Disney's movies, television properties, theme parks, characters, and other brands together for fans.
This year, The Simpsons are part of that mix.
Disney has created a dedicated Simpsons photo opportunity featuring Springfield's famous family.
Guests can pose in front of a colorful backdrop featuring Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie. Giant donut sculptures complete the setup, giving the display another recognizable piece of Simpsons personality.
It's important to keep the experience in perspective.
Disney hasn't announced a Simpsons ride or themed land. This is a photo opportunity at D23, not the beginning of a confirmed Walt Disney World or Disneyland project.
Still, seeing Disney use these characters in person at one of its biggest fan events is noteworthy.
It's also happening while another major question about The Simpsons remains unanswered.
Universal’s Simpsons Agreement Could Be Important
Universal's long-term rights to The Simpsons have been the subject of speculation for years.
Reports have suggested that Universal's U.S. theme park agreement could expire around 2028, with the rumored timeline reportedly tied to a 20-year term.
However, the exact expiration date hasn't been publicly confirmed. That means 2028 should still be treated as speculation rather than a definite endpoint for Springfield.
Even if the current agreement does expire, that doesn't necessarily mean Universal will immediately remove the area.
Disney and Universal could potentially reach another agreement. Simpsons showrunner Matt Selman has also previously expressed doubt that Universal's themed areas will disappear.
For now, Universal continues operating its Simpsons experiences at Universal Studios Florida.
But if the current U.S. theme park rights eventually expire without a replacement agreement, Disney could find itself with more opportunities to use the franchise.
And that's where this gets interesting for Disney Parks fans.
My first stop at the D23 show floor: an incredible photo-op themed to The Simpsons! pic.twitter.com/k7EJUtfJzw
— Drew Smith @ D23 (@DrewDisneyDude) August 13, 2026
Could the Simpsons Have a Future at Disney Parks?
Disney hasn't announced anything suggesting Springfield is coming to Walt Disney World or Disneyland Resort.
Still, the possibilities are difficult to ignore.
If the licensing situation eventually allows it, Disney could introduce The Simpsons at Walt Disney World. Disneyland Resort could become another possibility.
Disney wouldn't necessarily have to recreate what Universal has already done, either.
Imagineers could develop an entirely different concept around the family. Disney could build something smaller, create character experiences, or continue experimenting with temporary offerings like the one appearing at D23.
Right now, those ideas remain purely hypothetical.
The D23 photo opportunity doesn't confirm that Disney has theme park plans for the franchise. It simply shows Disney putting The Simpsons in front of fans through a physical experience rather than keeping the characters primarily on streaming.
That alone makes the display worth watching.
Disney Has Plenty of Options for Springfield
Seven years after the Fox acquisition, The Simpsons remain one of the more unusual properties in Disney's enormous collection.
Disney owns Springfield's famous residents, but Universal continues to operate its most substantial U.S. theme park presence.
Nothing announced at D23 changes that.
Universal still has The Simpsons Ride and Springfield at Universal Studios Florida. Disney still hasn't announced a permanent Simpsons attraction for Walt Disney World or Disneyland Resort.
But the new D23 experience offers a reminder that Disney has these characters at its disposal.
For now, that means posing with Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie while surrounded by giant donuts.
In the future, depending on what happens with Universal's agreement, Disney could have far more options.
And for Disney adults looking for another kind of franchise inside the parks, a little Springfield might offer exactly that.
