MK Piston Peak and Villains Land Construction Thread

[Fox&Hound]

Slightly concerning that the entrance area to BTMM appears to be gone in those pics now. Theres litterally no walkway from the main path up to the entrance now. Seems an odd choice for a ride due to reopen soon unless they've decided to move the entrance over to the top left corner somewhere.

I am wondering about this too. That area is always such a pinch point that I hope they address it.

 

[Touchdown]

Hot take: they should have a path that leads to Fantasyland and along that path is an amphitheater where they can move Fantasmic to, then make a new show at Hollywood.

MK doesn’t need a third night show, especially when it’s not accessible for 1/3rd of the year at night. Only in anniversary years does DL have three night shows.

 

[Fox&Hound]

They need a lot of land with all of the shopping, food, bathrooms, and rides. Especially coasters take up a lot of space.

Really excited they have been told to dream big.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

Only in anniversary years does DL have three night shows.

There are other times when DL has offered Fantasmic, a night parade, and Fireworks.

With how MK is set up though, it would be best to create a Villians viewing area for fireworks perhaps with some extra effects / unique music to seperate the crowds.

 

[Touchdown]

There are other times when DL has offered Fantasmic, a night parade, and Fireworks.

With how MK is set up though, it would be best to create a Villians viewing area for fireworks perhaps with some extra effects / unique music to seperate the crowds.

Assuming you are putting F! Between FL and VL you are also putting it right in the middle of the firework fallout zone which is not an ideal place for an amphitheater for a highly technical show with pyro effects that has night shows.

 

[Fox&Hound]

Can someone explain with the pictures where the river/water will be returning? Please and thank you.

 

[PuertoRekinSam]

Oh man…. If it is I sure wish this could have happened before the demolition of Rivers of America.

I suppose there is a tiny tiny chance that the new version of Villians could include a riverboat? I mean if budget is secondary…. I can dream!

I mean Madam Medusa from the Rescuers is a villain and you could put Devil’s bayou on the other side of BTM and have a Bayou sandwich.

 

[Disney Analyst]

Do we think that’s really possible this late in the stage (already into land clearing)??

They’ll have to redesign… reengineer… it’ll be 5-8 years away now??

 

[Sorcerer Mickey]

I’m hearing the initial plans for Villains Land have been scrapped. Imagineers have been told to think of bigger, bolder ideas. Budget secondary.

Not sure if this is “new players, new game” re: Josh as CEO.

Bolder? Bold Mountain confirmed.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Do we think that’s really possible this late in the stage (already into land clearing)??

They’ll have to redesign… reengineer… it’ll be 5-8 years away now??

Depends on what is being redesigned. Disney already makes use of fast-track project delivery where construction, particularly site work, starts before design is complete.

 

[BrianLo]

I’m hearing the initial plans for Villains Land have been scrapped.

What do you mean by “scrapped”?

We’ve seen iterations of rides and concepts where we have publicly known elements that are removed (Toy Story land and SDMT come to mind). By scrapped I assume you mean sent back to improve and iterate on it?

 

[UNCgolf]

I think the "exposed" coaster has to be reevaluated. Does that approach represent Disney at its best?

That was my immediate thought too. An exposed coaster moving throughout the land is a killer for theming (outside of a few specific circumstances).

If they want a coaster, put it in a corner where it's hidden from the land itself (like Hagrid's) or put it inside.

 

[DrStarlander]

Hot take: they should have a path that leads to Fantasyland and along that path is an amphitheater where they can move Fantasmic to, then make a new show at Hollywood.

Interesting, would you be able to see fireworks from there too? I was curious to see if that could fit. I'd doubt they'd want an empty amphitheater while walking through the area (like at DAK) so maybe they'd shield it inside a Mt. Prometheus type caldera from Tokyo DisneySea?

 

[Timothy_Q]

I’m hearing the initial plans for Villains Land have been scrapped. Imagineers have been told to think of bigger, bolder ideas. Budget secondary.

Not sure if this is “new players, new game” re: Josh as CEO.

Could this not be from a few years ago, in regards to the Villains land that was presented alongside Coco and Encanto beyond BTTM? Or do you believe this is in response to the "current" art nouveau land presented at 2024's D23?

 

[rreading]

Vertical rebar for the retaining wall now going in. The wood strips down the roughly center of the winding forms establishes the edge of the raised central "ground" area of Piston Peak. Once that's backfilled with dirt they can put in drainage/utilities, and then start construction on the buildings/attraction proper. The area between these wood strips and the shoreline is the "river zone."
View attachment 907822View attachment 907823

I haven’t been up to the walls where I thought the walkway along the rivers of America had been destroyed…but from Tom Bricker’s photo on DisneyTouristBlog, it looks like at least some of it has survived, and that the new river will flow through here once again!

Won’t be the same, but…

 

[lentesta]

I’ve been wondering about this. The more you see each passing week from Bioreconstruct’s wonderful photos, they just keep clearing more and more areas. I mean it could also be for improvements to backstage areas and more lay down yards, but it is incredible when you see the full photo of the park just how large the cleared land is.

Literally checked with Bio directly before I said anything.

 

[lentesta]

Could this not be from a few years ago, in regards to the Villains land that was presented alongside Coco and Encanto beyond BTTM? Or do you believe this is in response to the "current" art nouveau land presented at 2024's D23?

I believe this is very recent.

 

[lentesta]

What do you mean by “scrapped”?

We’ve seen iterations of rides and concepts where we have publicly known elements that are removed (Toy Story land and SDMT come to mind). By scrapped I assume you mean sent back to improve and iterate on it?

I will attempt to get a before/after next week.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

What do you mean by “scrapped”?

My guess is…. The current plan was a bit “eh” kind of like galaxies edge. Certainly not cheap, and certainly impressive in part, but overall not everything it could be.

we had all hoped things would change when Josh got to wear the sweater. Looks like we may get our wish!

 

[BrianLo]

This is this new CEO’s identifiable legacy project, so it’s not surprising more resources are being thrown at it.

Iger’s or Chapek’s executive fingerprints are on a lot of the other stuff.

My guess is…. The current plan was a bit “eh” kind of like galaxies edge. Certainly not cheap, and certainly impressive in part, but overall not everything it could be.

we had all hoped things would change when Josh got to wear the sweater. Looks like we may get our wish!

I am hopeful it translates towards “add more elements” as opposed to start over. More retail and dining, more set dressing. More entertainment. Strengthen the ride scopes. Galaxies Edge but instead of removing key elements, more are being requested.