What if…Magic Kingdom was built today?

[Disney Warrior]

Magic Kingdom, which right now holds around 67 attractions, is (imo) a decent theme park. It (mostly) provides a good balance of attractions, from thrill to family to IP to original. But that begs the question: what if the Magic Kingdom was built in 2024? Would it even hold a candle to the real one? Would it feel like a dystopian version? Maybe. More info on the next post

 

[Disney Warrior]

Let's start with Main Street, which would now be Mickey Avenue, as in Shanghai Disneyland. This land would be themed to Mickey and friends, of course, and it would add more IPs. The place where you can meet Mickey is now home to all of the Sensational Six. Don't worry, the railroad's still here. It's just that this land doesn't have a turn-of-the-century theme anymore.
Onto Adventureland, which has seen some changes. The Swiss Family Treehouse is swapped out for the Adventureland Treehouse from Disneyland, and the carpets would still exist. But unfortunately, the Tiki Room wouldn't exist. Instead, a new show themed to Moana (retelling the movie) would replace it. The Jungle Cruise would still exist (Disney's not that evil) but with more ties to SEA and random Disney character cameos. Pirates would still exist, except that it would be entirely based on the movies (and it uses the Shanghai ride system).
Frontierland isn't really unrecognizable, but in a way it is. First of all, Tom Sawyer Island wouldn't exist, it (and the Rivers of America as a whole) would be replaced by the Cars themed experience that they're adding in our world. Tiana's Bayou Adventure would be built, and Big Thunder Mountain wouldn't be built. It would be replaced by a coaster themed to Toy Story that only vaguely fits “Frontierland” (it would be themed to Woody's Roundup and have a design more suited for Fantasyland. The shooting gallery obviously wouldn't exist, and neither would the Country Bears (sadly). The latter would be replaced by a show featuring Mickey Mouse and friends (and possibly Toy Story characters too)

See what other changes are made in the next part.

 

[John park hopper]

Mk was built in 18 months back in 71 the way Disney builds things now (other than DVC) it would take them 10+ years

 

[Disney Warrior]

Anyways, Liberty Square is literally unrecognizable. It's now Villains Land, which is themed to Disney villains. Also, this land would not be an opening day land. Disney would never build the Hall of Presidents today, so it is replaced by a dark ride (maybe a trackless one that takes 5 years to build and breaks down often) themed to Maleficent, Hades, and Cruella. There's no riverboat because there's no river. The Haunted Mansion stays, but characters from the Nightmare Before Christmas are there year round. Yes, there are only two attractions, and they are both dark rides. Sounds familiar?
As for Fantasyland, I don't think it would see many changes. It's a Small World would now have Disney character cameos, Peter Pan would be unchanged, PhilharMagic would still exist, the castle would be themed to every princess (and as such the carousel now has a generic theme), the Beauty and the Beast darkride from Tokyo would be built behind Beast's castle, Little Mermaid and 7 Dwarves would still exist, same with Pooh, the princess meet and greet area, and the teacups, Fairytale Garden would become a DVC lounge, and Storybook Circus would remain the same (except for the meet and greet area; guests will instead meet characters from the newest/hottest Disney movie). (If you were expecting Frozen, they’re not here. They're in Epcot.)
Now onto Tomorrowland, and hoo boy. I think Disney would've ruined this land way more than they did in our world. Firstly, the Speedway would still exist, but it would instead be themed to Wreck it Ralph. Space Mountain wouldn't exist, Tron would actually replace it. As for what exists on Tron's plot? Nothing. There would be no Peoplemover (sadly), but there would still be the Astro Orbiter. Disney also wouldn't have built the Carousel of Progress today, so it goes. Instead, it's replaced by a dark ride themed to Wall-E that takes up less space. Laugh Floor and Buzz would remain unchanged, and Stitch would be replaced by another very simple meet and greet area where you can meet random Disney characters.
The parades and fireworks shows would be the same as our world's, but entirely themed to IPs.

And that's what Magic Kingdom would look like if it were built in 2024. Yeah, it feels like an evil dystopian version of the most visited theme park in the world. If this were real, it would probably open in 2036 (or never). I probably won't do the other parks in WDW because they'd probably be the same if they were built today. Feel free to leave comments.

 

[Miru]

Let's start with Main Street, which would now be Mickey Avenue, as in Shanghai Disneyland. This land would be themed to Mickey and friends, of course, and it would add more IPs. The place where you can meet Mickey is now home to all of the Sensational Six. Don't worry, the railroad's still here. It's just that this land doesn't have a turn-of-the-century theme anymore.
Onto Adventureland, which has seen some changes. The Swiss Family Treehouse is swapped out for the Adventureland Treehouse from Disneyland, and the carpets would still exist. But unfortunately, the Tiki Room wouldn't exist. Instead, a new show themed to Moana (retelling the movie) would replace it. The Jungle Cruise would still exist (Disney's not that evil) but with more ties to SEA and random Disney character cameos. Pirates would still exist, except that it would be entirely based on the movies (and it uses the Shanghai ride system).
Frontierland isn't really unrecognizable, but in a way it is. First of all, Tom Sawyer Island wouldn't exist, it (and the Rivers of America as a whole) would be replaced by the Cars themed experience that they're adding in our world. Tiana's Bayou Adventure would be built, and Big Thunder Mountain wouldn't be built. It would be replaced by a coaster themed to Toy Story that only vaguely fits “Frontierland” (it would be themed to Woody's Roundup and have a design more suited for Fantasyland. The shooting gallery obviously wouldn't exist, and neither would the Country Bears (sadly). The latter would be replaced by a show featuring Mickey Mouse and friends (and possibly Toy Story characters too)

See what other changes are made in the next part.

“Disney’s not THAT evil…”

That gets me thinking… what if Disney was that evil? How would the Magic Kingdom look if Disney was even more evil than today? Would every land be based on a single IP? Would they throw in Fox stuff despite it not fitting in? Would Mickey Avenue become Marvel Avenue? Galaxy’s Edge instead of Tommorowland?

 

[The Lochness Monsta]

“Disney’s not THAT evil…”

That gets me thinking… what if Disney was that evil? How would the Magic Kingdom look if Disney was even more evil than today? Would every land be based on a single IP? Would they throw in Fox stuff despite it not fitting in? Would Mickey Avenue become Marvel Avenue? Galaxy’s Edge instead of Tomorrowland?

They are definitely that bad. There's no way they'd do anything creative that wasn't tied to a IP. Eisner was right when he said Iger isn't creative enough to run the company.

 

[Miru]

They are definitely that bad. There's no way they'd do anything creative that wasn't tied to a IP. Eisner was right when he said Iger isn't creative enough to run the company.

Plus they’re slowly relying less and less on IPs that they even created at all. Imagine a Magic Kingdom with a jarring mixture of random IP like Die Hard, LOST, etc.

 

[The Great Gonzo]

Plus they’re slowly relying less and less on IPs that they even created at all. Imagine a Magic Kingdom with a jarring mixture of random IP like Die Hard, LOST, etc.

I'd actually love to see an Ice Age land in Animal Kingdom. But I get what you're saying man.

 

[Evilgidgit]

The Magic Kingdom wouldn't be built today because Chapek would've cut the budget down to it being a DVC kiosk in Miami Airport.

 

[Miru]

I wouldn't blame the Covid scapegoat for anything. Daddy Iger has been in charge of things for a very long time. The last Disney park to open in Florida was back in 1998, when I was still actually young.

The last park to open under direct Disney control period was 2001

 

[Mr. Sullivan]

Yep, for some strange reason they want to get rid of the Old West theming too. I heard it's because of slavery, but that would mean anything before 1865 can't be used.

Walt must be rolling over in his grave.

I don't think it's because of that, I think it's because most people really don't care about the old west anymore because it's been done to death and you can see a version of it at practically every theme park. The "old west land" is a staple of theme parks all over the world, and they all offer pretty much the same style of stuff, Disney included. It's boring.

Plus, there's a lot more to the frontier than the cowboy thing that Frontierland's been limited to this entire time. They've been missing out on some really interesting things by limiting themselves to the desert, rocks, and the wild west. There's a reason Frontierland's often the worst part of every castle park! It's so limited in scope. I actually think they'd do much better inventing Frontierland today because they wouldn't be nearly as tunnel visioned on the one aesthetic. It's one place their current hodge podge of things approach would work well.

 

[Miru]

Yep, that's true. DCA in California. Which was opened up by Eisner as well.

Since then Mr IP (Iger) has reused and destroyed everything in the cupboard. And for some reason he hasn't fired Kathleen Kennedy despite her obvious incompetence.

Now even the TV animation department has been destroyed, and Pixar are likely next on the chopping block… Marvel are making a comeback at least.

 

[Miru]

I think Pixar will be okay, because they are just going to keep doing sequels. Reusing characters that they came up with under Lasseter.

Those sequels could be awful though. So they’re not okay. And they also have at least two originals left to go.

 

[Miru]

Disney's problems

Are firing people that don't deserve it (Depp, Lasseter, Carano)

and

Hiring people that don't deserve it (Nia Dacosta, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy)

Don’t forget Steve Whitmire, Warren Spector, Dana Terrace, etc.

 

[Disgruntled Walt]

Disney's problems

Are firing people that don't deserve it (Depp, Lasseter, Carano)

and

Hiring people that don't deserve it (Nia Dacosta, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy)

Well, it sounds like Lasseter was actually a bit of a creep, but I think I agree with you for the most part.

 

[Disgruntled Walt]

@Disney Warrior If Magic Kingdom were built today, it would likely not be themed to Adventure, Frontier, Fantasy, and Tomorrow at all. It seems like the directive from TWDC for their theme parks today is the Universal style of lands themed to specific properties. The irony is that Magic Kingdom as originally constructed presents so much opportunity for multiple IPs in each land, but if they built it new, they probably wouldn't go this route. I could see Frozen, Lion King, Moana, Toy Story, and Cars being the IPs they select for their different lands. It would stink, too.

In my opinion, a good theme park needs attractions that can stand on their own; otherwise, you either have rides with expiration dates (which need to be updated or rethemed) or rides that represent IPs that have become evergreen. At a certain point, though, a park that is themed only to the five franchises I mentioned above would become stale, and you'd have to add a whole new land or retheme an existing one in order to move the park forward. It's a cycle that Magic Kingdom as originally constructed could avoid because of its lands themed to general ideas rather than particular properties.

I feel like when looking at most of the Universal parks, there's going to be a time when most of the rides there will need to be updated or replaced because they are almost exclusively tied to IPs.

 

[Disgruntled Walt]

This is a good idea for a series, and I think you could do the other parks, but there is one problem: they would all be the same style of cookie-cutter, insert-current-IP-here park. It's what all of the parks (other than MK) are slowly regressing towards.

 

[WaltWiz1901]

If Magic Kingdom were built today, it would likely not be themed to Adventure, Frontier, Fantasy, and Tomorrow at all. It seems like the directive from TWDC for their theme parks today is the Universal style of lands themed to specific properties. The irony is that Magic Kingdom as originally constructed presents so much opportunity for multiple IPs in each land, but if they built it new, they probably wouldn't go this route. I could see Frozen, Lion King, Moana, Toy Story, and Cars being the IPs they select for their different lands. It would stink, too.

In my opinion, a good theme park needs attractions that can stand on their own; otherwise, you either have rides with expiration dates (which need to be updated or rethemed) or rides that represent IPs that have become evergreen. At a certain point, though, a park that is themed only to the five franchises I mentioned above would become stale, and you'd have to add a whole new land or retheme an existing one in order to move the park forward. It's a cycle that Magic Kingdom as originally constructed could avoid because of its lands themed to general ideas rather than particular properties.

I feel like when looking at most of the Universal parks, there's going to be a time when most of the rides there will need to be updated or replaced because they are almost exclusively tied to IPs.

You win the thread...even more than the Warrior did (other than a few differences here and there, his take on a modern MK isn't too dissimilar from the real MK today)

In hindsight, it's somewhat telling - and a bit miraculous - that Shanghai Disneyland's initial attraction lineup was set in stone by 2010, since had development begun even only a few years later, there's a non-zero chance that it would more likely resemble what you hypothesized.

Doubly more of a problem when Imagineering phones the IP du jour in instead of using it to an advantage or going above and beyond with it (plenty of examples of either scenario, if not both, exist across nearly every resort). All the more reason why trying to chase the Wizarding World (and failing most of the time) is a fruitless endeavor that they should just give up on

 

[Disney Warrior]

I couldn’t even imagine what Epcot would be like if it were built today (though it would be such a dystopia), but I think Future World would become IP World and would World Showcase even be built? The park would probably be called something like “Disney's Discovery World“ or something

 

[Miru]

In the front of Epcot what they basically did was give it 3 generic names they can put any IP in.

So generic, in fact, they spark no real ideas or concepts aside from “IP smorgasbord”.