By now, you may have seen the reports that the Villains Land project at Magic Kingdom is changing. It all started when Len Testa said plans for the land had been scrapped, and that Imagineers were told to think of bigger, bolder ideas. What does that mean and what could be in store?
For starters, there was some speculation over the accuracy of Testa’s comments. For what it’s worth, it’s unlikely the Villains Land plans were scrapped entirely. But, it does sound like the original plans for Villains Land are no longer in play. Another Disney insider, Martin Smith, teased that the brakes have been hit on the original concepts.
The timing of this news is certainly interesting. Permits for Villains Land have already been coming out, including a storm sewer permit that outlined some of the buildings that will be in the land. It’s unclear when Imagineering was told to plus the land, and if any of those permits need to be changed. It’s also possible the core plans will remain the same, but the details and extras are going to be enhanced.
Assuming the plans weren’t entirely thrown out, what could “bigger and bolder” mean here? If the plans for a coaster are sticking around, for example, a boosted version of the ride might mean the inclusion of animatronics or more theming versus a more scaled down concept. The land as a whole could also see more intricate and detailed theming.
What drove this reported need to add to the land? Josh D’Amaro, who officially takes over as Disney’s CEO in March, may be trying to put a stamp on one of the first major projects under his watch. We also think Disney kept a close eye on what Universal did up the road with the Dark Universe land in Epic Universe. The success and scale of Universal’s villains-style land may also be pushing Disney to do more.
We can’t help but get excited about all of these rumblings. Too often we’ve seen Disney scale back on projects in favor of a reduced budget. Here, the opposite might be true. As biased Disney fans, we think that’s the right call. They can’t miss with Villains Land. Disney doesn’t want a repeat of Galaxy’s Edge, a land that many feel fell short. Disney should take its time and make sure they get this one right.
Stay tuned! We should have a more firm idea of what’s coming in the near future.
