It’s an exhilarating time to be a Walt Disney International fan. We’re anxiously expecting bulletins for the impending development cycle of “turbocharged” enlargement to look what’s at the horizon within the subsequent decade. Rumors and wishful pondering are swirling, with hypothesis of recent lands and points of interest, plus experience reimaginings and different growth.
Along side contemporary and thrilling new buzz, some age-old rumors gained’t die, doping up over and over through the years with a cussed endurance–like a penguin or camel or cockroach, relying upon your point of view. So it must come as no wonder that sure chances are creating a resurgence as soon as once more, for the reason that a couple of of those initiatives had been pitched all over the ultimate construction cycle that got here to a untimely finish.
That such a lot of rumors are swirling isn’t surprising. The corporate has $17 billion funding plans for Walt Disney International within the subsequent decade. There’s each and every incentive to spend that a lot or extra, as theme parks had been a space of power and steadiness for the corporate, with the previous decade of investments fueling huge enlargement. On height of all that, the elephant within the room for Walt Disney International is Common’s Epic Universe, the 3rd theme park being inbuilt Central Florida via Comcast. That may renew the theme park wars within the decade to return, motivating Disney to get a hold of a greater “resolution” to Epic Universe than it’s present “not anything.”
With all of that mentioned, now not all “rumors” for the way forward for Walt Disney International are of equivalent high quality or probability. The ones are very a lot air quotes round rumor, as such a lot of of the proposals we’ve heard about are WDW diehard’s daydreams. Issues we as a fan neighborhood would jointly love to look and may love to will into life, however are however not likely. If this wishful pondering is repeated ceaselessly sufficient and with a undeniable self assurance, it takes on quasi-rumor standing–like a nasty recreation of phone. That’s probably the most checklist under.
There also are entries that experience extra credibility to them, and a better probability of coming to fruition down the street. Those are actual rumors, or had been at one level. If the above class is sort of a dangerous recreation of phone, that is corresponding to “the place there’s smoke, there’s fireplace.” Rumors that experience lingered as a result of they’re just right concepts–and the ones by no means die in Imagineering. On the other hand, being a good suggestion doesn’t on my own ensure a venture being greenlit, which means we may have to attend some time longer for those ideas to return to lifestyles.
Suffice to mention, we’d wager in opposition to listening to any of the next bulletins all over the Horizons Park Panel on the 2024 D23 Expo. Perhaps in 2026, 2028, or additional down the street–however the possibilities of the rest in this checklist changing into reputable in 2024 is exceedingly not likely…
Skyliner Enlargement – This one helps to keep bobbing up, and I’m now not truly certain from the place. Each and every time I listen rumors of a meant Skyliner growth, the routes are other. Every so often there’s a connection for Coronado Springs, Animal Kingdom Hotel, and the All Stars to Animal Kingdom. Then there was once Coronado Springs to Snowstorm Seashore and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. But any other was once ??? (I don’t keep in mind) to Disney Springs.
I’ve a difficult time believing that any of those or different routes occur. The primary Skyliner fulfilled a purpose of having buses off the roads, upgrading lodging to create two “Worth Plus” and one “Reasonable Plus” hotel, whilst giving a brand new Disney Holiday Membership tower in no guy’s land a definite promoting level.
Prior to having a pipe dream about Skyliner growth, it’s important to resolution a crucial query: what does this do for Disney? Coronado Springs already does slightly neatly because the conference resort, the All Stars serve a task as budget-friendly lodging, and there’s little incentive to spend so much to make get entry to more straightforward to a shopping mall full of 3rd events. About the one chance, I suppose, is additional decreasing exertions and different prices of buses, however I don’t see that on my own as sufficiently compelling for Skyliner growth.
De-Disco-ified Yeti – Joe Rohde promised to mend the notorious Disco Yeti that hasn’t labored for many of Expedition Everest’s life. The mythical Imagineer couldn’t get that executed when he was once round, and now he’s long gone (no less than formally). C’mon, does any person truly imagine that Disney goes to spend the cash important to mend this? When even the park’s greatest recommend–and one with inside affect–couldn’t get it executed?
I’ll admit that that is in part wishful pondering on my phase. The Yeti Audio Animatronics was once a colossal waste of cash for one thing that may simplest be observed for a fragment of a 2nd. In a park that has a lot of issues and is in pressing want of a large number of assist, the yeti must now not be mounted anytime in no less than the following decade. Budgets are finite and that’s a deficient use of each (down)money and time. Sorry now not sorry.
If you happen to nonetheless assume Disco Yeti must be mounted, I’m curious which parks venture you assume the ~$50 million must come from? Tropical Americas, Past Giant Thunder–perhaps Magic Kingdom doesn’t in truth desire a night time parade? Enthusiasts whinge about Walt Disney International now not getting sufficient consideration, however it does–the larger downside is that the corporate doesn’t spend cash smarter in the case of WDW.
fifth Gate – I’m now not even going to dignify this one with a long clarification. We’ve been over this time and time once more, however it helps to keep bobbing up because of Common’s Epic Universe.
Many lovers be expecting an similar “resolution” to Epic Universe, and the one factor that may truly compete with a brand new theme park is a brand new theme park. That totally won’t occur. There’s a 0% likelihood Disney broadcasts a fifth theme park for Walt Disney International on the 2024 D23 Expo and prefer 2% that one is introduced via the 2034 D23 Expo. If you wish to learn extra about this subject: Right here’s Why a fifth Theme Park Will NOT Be Constructed at Walt Disney International within the Subsequent Decade.
Wonders of Wakanda – Again when the primary Black Panther film was once a destroy good fortune on the field place of job, there have been almost-immediate credible rumors that Disney was once comparing it for the parks. One of the crucial main contends was once for it changing Wonders of Lifestyles again in 2018. Clearly, it didn’t win out as Play Pavilion was once introduced as a substitute. That idea has since been shelved.
Within the ultimate 12 months, each Disney CEO Bob Iger and Parks Chairman Josh D’Amaro have mentioned Wakanda as a number one candidate for growth at Walt Disney International or Disneyland. It’s proper up there with Frozen, Encanto, and Coco because the IPs discussed maximum. And it’s the one a kind of that doesn’t have already got a house at Walt Disney International or a touchdown position in Tropical Americas at Animal Kingdom or Past Giant Thunder at Magic Kingdom.
Repurposing the Wonders of Lifestyles pavilion into Wakanda would create a de facto Wonder miniland in International Discovery, and it may well be the second one ‘Different International Show off’ pavilion. From Walt Disney International’s point of view, and as a question of marketability, that most definitely makes a large number of sense. Individually, I don’t love the speculation of extra Wonder in EPCOT, however I think that Wakandan generation may well be the leaping off level for this to be shoehorned into EPCOT. It wouldn’t make any much less sense than the Wonders of Xandar, which matches decently neatly as a framing instrument.
Nonetheless, I don’t assume this occurs. If Walt Disney International has any urge for food for extra Wonder (and that’s a large “if”), a reimagined Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster is essentially the most logical touchdown level. That will be the inexpensive and extra marketable possibility, and go away the Wonders pavilion open for extra family-friendly ideas that may well be higher suits.
The Simpsons – There are extremely credible rumors that once Common’s license at the Simpsons expires in 2028, the ones lands will shut. There are myriad causes for this, from the experience device being in deficient form and coming near the top of its lifestyles to Common in need of devoted Nintendo presences in every of its present gates along with Epic Universe. I will not independently corroborate Common rumors, however the ones explanations cross the odor take a look at for me.
What does now not cross the odor take a look at is the belief that after the theme park license reverts to Disney, they’re going to benefit from that via development their very own land, enchantment–no matter. This isn’t a reputable rumor, it’s an assumption. And, personally, it’s now not a just right one. The Simpsons is effective to the Hulu again catalog as it has a ton of episodes. I’m extremely skeptical that it’s precious as a theme park belongings within the 2030s, when the franchise’s height reputation is over 30 years previously.
Monsters, Inc. Doorways Coaster – Since I’ve been lively within the fan neighborhood as an grownup, there were rumors of a Monsters Inc. Doorways Coaster. At one level, it was once a “executed deal” for the spot subsequent door to Toy Tale Mania in Pixar Position. That was once lengthy prior to Toy Tale Land was once a factor.
In the future (most definitely when Toy Tale Mania were given a 3rd monitor, taking that possibility off the desk), the site moved to Animation Courtyard. Different variations position it in Sundown Show off or house this is these days behind the scenes however may well be repurposed to glue lifeless ends of the park.
For the document, I feel the Monsters Inc. Doorways Coaster is a smart concept for a family-friendly “tale” coaster. I additionally assume that there’s reality to the perception that just right concepts by no means truly die in Imagineering and that applies to this idea. So I nonetheless assume there are respectable odds this will get constructed someplace, at some point. I’m simply now not assured it’ll be at DHS or greenlit till there’s any other Monsters film that does neatly on the field place of job.
Megastar Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Enlargement – Disney won’t ever admit it, however Megastar Wars: Galaxy’s Edge has underperformed relative to expectancies. I roughly hate even announcing this, as there’s a cottage business of Cartmans who feed off of anger against Disney’s dealing with of the franchise. However it’s however true, and you wish to have to seem no additional than Disney cancelling plans for the Paris model of the land and not cloning the growth any place else. (To not point out the unmitigated failure of Galactic Starcruiser, however that’s a fairly separate subject.)
Had Megastar Wars: Galaxy’s Edge been a good fortune, it had a lot of room for growth at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. And it nonetheless apparently may take over Grand Road or extra behind the scenes actual property, including any other experience and extra within the procedure. It gained’t. No less than, now not anytime within the foreseeable long term.
The most productive case situation–and one who I strongly imagine must occur–is a comfortable reboot of the land that ditches the stern “tale” and timeline laws to make the land extra amusing. That might yield extra leisure and the previously-planned eating place, and it could give Galaxy’s Edge a shot within the arm within the procedure. And that may lead to additional growth of the land down the street, however no time quickly.
Jungle E-book Experience – Again prior to there have been credible rumors of a Lion King experience heading to Animal Kingdom, there have been reviews of a Jungle E-book enchantment heading to EPCOT as a part of an India pavilion. Like Lion King, a part of the rumor was once that the Jungle E-book enchantment would make the most of the similar experience device as Shanghai Disneyland’s Pirates of the Caribbean: Combat for the Sunken Treasure.
This experience device for an underwater-controlled boat was once patented via Disney a number of years in the past, however has but to resurface in different points of interest except Shanghai. In the past, the experience device was once additionally rumored for Peter Pan’s By no means Land Journey in Myth Springs at Tokyo DisneySea and a brand new Pandora enchantment in Animal Kingdom (lengthy prior to it turned into a rumor for Disneyland Hotel).
Regardless of Lion King having the transparent merit, it doesn’t seem that Jungle E-book experience rumors are utterly lifeless. I wouldn’t wager on them coming to fruition anytime quickly, however I additionally wouldn’t wager in opposition to them. Jungle E-book is without doubt one of the few animated classics that doesn’t have an enchantment (the reside motion remake additionally did truly neatly). That on my own provides a component of plausibility to this chance.
Ice Age Mountain – Ever since Disney bought the rights to Ice Age by the use of the Fox transaction, concepts have floated round concerning the franchise discovering a house at Animal Kingdom. Observe that I’m now not calling those rumors and even wishful pondering, it simply appeared like lovers baselessly assumed that since Ice Age was once fashionable (was once it truly, regardless that?), it’d finally end up within the parks.
The newest iteration of that is an overlay of Expedition Everest. Now not as a result of there’s a unmarried iota of reality to it, however as a result of, I suppose, there’s snow at the mountain and within the film? It must cross with out announcing, however this isn’t going to occur.
Extra usually talking, I don’t assume any Ice Age points of interest or a land will ever occur at Walt Disney International. Rightly or wrongly (rightly is the right kind resolution), Disney does now not view Ice Age as considered one of its top-tier franchises. There hasn’t ever been any sign in anyway that the corporate plans on incorporating those films into the parks.
It must be telling that now not even characters have seemed within the parks at this level. In the event that they’re now not keen to spend the minimal on leisure or brief choices, what cheap foundation is there for believing they could construct a complete land or experience?
International Show off Enlargement – Walt Disney International has a protracted and wealthy historical past of unbuilt International Show off pavilions that got here so shut to going down. Maximum notable are Equatorial Africa, Spain, and Israel, all of that have been in truth introduced via Disney. If you happen to’re now not conversant in those ideas, there’s a lot about them in Walt Disney’s Epcot Middle: Developing the New International of Day after today. On the time this e-book was once written, it was once nonetheless believed that those pavilions had been coming to EPCOT Middle, so the e-book spends time discussing them.
Rapid-forward to the 2010s (and even perhaps previous), and the large rumor was once Brazil. The rumors truly received momentum from 2017 to 2019, to the purpose that a press release all over the latter 12 months’s D23 Expo was once believed to be a executed deal. In truth, a scheduled tweet from Disney companions “leaked” the scoop…that by no means was once. Whilst we don’t know needless to say what took place, extra rumors afterwards prompt it was once a timing factor and Disney now not in need of to announce all over the 2019 Amazon rainforest fires. Then, in fact, 2020 took place.
Rapid ahead once more to this 12 months, when Disney introduced D23 Brazil: The Final Fan Match to be held in Sao Paulo this November. So in fact that’s going to re-light the rumor and/or hypothesis mill. For our phase, we’ve heard completely not anything credible. A couple of Brazil or any new pavilion in International Show off. It does now not appear to be there’s any urge for food for additional growth in International Show off. Even though there must be.
Disney’s Magical Categorical Returns – It’s not likely that Disney’s Magical Categorical is ever coming again. On the other hand, if ever there was once a time to carry again the airport transportation that gave Walt Disney International a quasi-captive target market and helped building up occupancy, it’s when the competitor throughout the city is opening a brand new theme park and has a glut of resort stock expecting the instance.
Because the resolution to finish Disney’s Magical Categorical was once made, we’ve been announcing it is unnecessary even from a trade point of view–that there should be extra to the tale. It is because, in contrast to different on-site visitor perks, the “unfastened” provider was once extremely precious to Walt Disney International. It made vacationers a captive target market who had been much less more likely to cross and spend cash in different places.
Way back, Walt Disney International made up our minds that the rise in reasonable in line with visitor spending with Disney’s Magical Categorical plus the perceived comfort and goodwill received from providing the provider outweighs the typical in line with visitor price of providing the provider. It’s conceivable that calculus modified all over the generation of pent-up call for, particularly as rideshare products and services turned into extra not unusual and more straightforward to burst the Disney bubble, so that you can talk.
However the opening of Epic Universe may well be instance for revisiting the verdict. We’ve additionally been announcing for some time that the most important risk Common poses to Disney comes by the use of resort occupancy numbers. If Epic Universe can peel away even ~10% of on-site visitors from Walt Disney International, that’s a large downside.
Disney’s Magical Categorical may assist deal with that, whilst additionally protecting a subset of visitors totally on-site. The bubble isn’t as robust because it as soon as was once and there’s actually no means to stop WDW visitors from taking day journeys to Common, however there are methods to stay them staying on-site at Walt Disney International. Perks is considered one of them, and there’s no higher perk than DME!
So whilst I’d nonetheless wager in opposition to a go back of Disney’s Magical Categorical within the close to long term, I feel there’s a non-zero likelihood of it going down…and the chance will increase if Walt Disney International feels power from Common Orlando.
BONUS: third Gate at Disneyland – DisneylandForward has damaged the brains of Disney lovers. What was once as soon as concept inconceivable–a 3rd gate at Disneyland–now looks like a foregone conclusion to a couple. We stay seeing this pop up on lists of predictions for the 2024 D23 Expo, to the purpose that it’s using me loopy.
The probabilities of DisneylandForward are truly thrilling. However that’s all they’re–chances. For just like the dozenth time, DisneylandForward isn’t a substantive plan or development venture, it’s extra like a zoning proposal. DisneylandForward is truly all about paving the way in which for long term trends of an unsure nature via giving Disney extra autonomy over land use via enjoyable the DRSP.
Even though its approval does require Disney to take a position no less than $2 billion into the parks over the following decade, with doable for $2.5 billion, it doesn’t require that to be spent on precise growth past the berms. Disney may spend double that quantity at the present parks with out rising the footprint of the hotel in any respect and that might nonetheless fulfill the stipulations of the DisneylandForward approval. In truth, that’s practically precisely what I feel will occur (with the conceivable exception of what’s these days the Hollywood Backlot being constructed out into the bus loop).
Numerous lovers are making large assumptions in line with the environmental have an effect on find out about for DisneylandForward. That used precise display constructions for points of interest from Tokyo and Shanghai, which were given lovers excited, however all of the ones had been placeholders. It’s so much more straightforward to simply recycle plans that experience already been made and drop them into this sort of record moderately than make new (faux) plans for no actual goal.
To finish this on an constructive word, I in truth do assume I’ll see a 3rd park at Disneyland in my lifetime. And albeit, I wouldn’t be stunned if paintings began on it someday within the 2030s. Not like Walt Disney International, there are a large number of explanation why it in truth makes some extent of sense. Each time the third gate does come to fruition, it’ll be a right away results of DisneylandForward laying the basis for it. I simply don’t assume that it’s within the playing cards for the medium-term. There’s a lot of room for enlargement throughout the present gates, in order that’s what we’ll see first.
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YOUR THOUGHTS
What rumors would you wager in opposition to being showed on the 2024 D23 Expo–or ever? Which of those do you assume are fan having a pipe dream? Which do you view as ‘just right concepts that by no means die’ throughout the halls of Imagineering? Every other chronic rumors for Walt Disney International that you just’d wager in opposition to? Are you excited/constructive about what’s going to be printed all over the Horizons Park Panel, or taking an “I’ll imagine it once I see it” stance given all the cancelled initiatives of the ultimate ~5 years? Any wonder bulletins you assume may well be conceivable?
