Change is coming in a big way to Disney’s theme parks and cruise fleet. The biggest announcements from the 2024 D23 Parks and Experiences Panel previewed additions to Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disney California Adventure, and on Disney Cruise Line. But, those announcements created more questions that Josh D’Amaro, Chairman of Disney Experiences, didn’t answer.
The most common question about most of the theme park announcements is “where is this going?” We now know that the Cars rides at Magic Kingdom are replacing the Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island, but that only scratches the surface of what Disney fans want to know.
What about the projects that need to be done that weren’t announced? More below.
Where is Monsters, Inc Land Going in Hollywood Studios?
Disney has not said where the Monsters, Inc area and its suspended coaster are going in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The concept art pieces seemingly depicted the spaces going into two different areas, indicating Disney themselves may not have made up their mind. Many fear it’ll take over Muppet*Vision 3D and the nearby area, though that hasn’t been confirmed. An article from TheWrap suggests Muppet*Vision 3D’s future is very much up in the air.
We hate to continue beating the “blessing of size” drum, but here we go again. There’s a few spaces in Hollywood Studios where you could build a Monsters, Inc. area. In fact, other options provide more space without losing a beloved attraction. Why would Disney even consider killing off The Muppets when they have empty buildings and space begging for attention?
Will fan backlash save The Muppets?
What’s the Plan for Disney Cruise Line’s Fleet?
Disney shocked fans by announcing they are going to build four more cruise ships, bringing the Disney Cruise Line fleet up to 13 ships. However, Disney didn’t provide any details on these four new ships. Where will they sail? What kind of ships will they be? Is Disney going to go bigger than the Wish-class ships, or opt for smaller, more boutique ships?
Initially, we assumed Disney Cruise Line’s four new ships would allow the company to phase out the aging Disney Magic and Disney Wonder. That doesn’t seem to be the case based on D’Amaro’s comments. Based on that, we can assume Disney is wanting to tap into even more markets around the world.
The bigger question we have is about the ships themselves. We were pretty underwhelmed with the design choices on the Wish-class ships. The areas for adults feel like an afterthought compared to the Dream-class of ships. And, compared to the new features found on competing cruise lines (like Royal Caribbean), it’s hard not to feel like Disney has to raise the bar with their next ships.
What Exactly is Going Into Villains Land?
When announcing the exciting Villains Land for Magic Kingdom, Josh D’Amaro mentioned the land would have two rides, dining, and shopping. That’s where the details abruptly ended. D’Amaro claims Disney is raising the bar with Villains Land. He didn’t elaborate on how they plan to do that.
The concept art appears to show a thorny roller coaster (Maleficent?) and some other ride (another coaster?) zipping through a greenish-blue glow. It’s never smart to make big assumptions based on concept art, and we’re not going to get sucked into that trap now. That said, we hope the two attractions offer unique experiences that along with TRON Lightcycle Run help Magic Kingdom speak to an older demographic of guests.
Our hopes for a Villains Land is that it will include as many villains as possible – not a select few. It’s also critical that the land has the right vibe. Dark, gloomy, brooding. Shaded areas are a must, which is maybe a tough proposition given Disney’s inability to include shaded areas in Orlando projects.
What’s the Disney California Adventure Map & Plan?
Yes, this is another “where is it going?” question. Forgive us. We just want to know! Disney did announce major changes to Disney California Adventure (DCA) – Avatar land, Coco attraction – and didn’t hint at where they’ll go. An educated guess says Hollywood Land’s days are numbered in favor of Avatar. Coco is a bit trickier as it’d logically make sense for Pixar Pier, but is there enough space?
Some have also asked about DCA’s name and wondering whether it fits as the park moves even further away from its roots. Does the ‘California’ portion of the name make sense if all of the California elements are removed?
DisneylandForward Plans?
Assuming DCA’s plans are contained within the existing park boundaries, the DisneylandForward ideas weren’t touched on. There’s a boatload of expansion opportunities available through Disneyland Forward. What’s the plan here? Is this why nothing big was announced for Disneyland Park?
A best guess is that the DisneylandForward approvals are simply too new, and any concrete plans coming in these areas are many years down the road. Disney wanted to stick to more finalized plans (despite our many questions above) during this year’s D23, and it’s clear the DisneylandForward stuff is still just blue sky.
However, it’s also very obvious Disney wants to utilize the DisneylandForward space and genuinely expand the California parks sooner than later. This could be a very exciting decade for Disney fans as announced spaces open and the next wave of plans are presented and started.
Tomorrowland and Imagination?
Disneyland fans were hoping (praying?) for news on a Tomorrowland refurb. EPCOT fans were similarly hoping for some love to be shown to Figment and the Imagination Pavilion. Alas, neither were mentioned at D23 2024. Both spaces are in dismal condition and Disney could’ve won a lot of fan praise by committing to either project. Why isn’t Disney prioritizing these spaces, as well as empty spaces, at its theme parks?
Maybe one day.
