MK Villains Land Announced for Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom

[Jack Torrence]

The space requirements for a screen aren’t the same as for practical scenery and animatronics. It’s not really that simple to just swap the two.

I mean we just know the general outline of the building (we think) from the permits. And the permits can definitely be scrapped and resubmitted if they want to change something that they think they need more space for. My overall point wasn't really about the specifics like that, it was more that I think the general concepts of the rides, ride systems, stories are probably in place and its about how they're presenting that that is changing. Idk if that means more animatronics, add in the effect that got budget cut, put back in that pre-show animatronic, etc. but when we talk about plussing those are what my mind goes to, not a complete tear down and rework of the foundation and concept of the land back to blue sky.

 

[Brer Panther]

Len Testa said the dark ride was originally believed to be MMRR scale yet now new management is pushing for ROTR scale, which is what it should for villains. Does this imply the dark ride will indeed be trackless rather than use the TDS Pan/Avengers ride system?

Oy, not another trackless dark ride...

 

[MisterPenguin]

Oy, not another trackless dark ride...

Don't get into a car at night!!

 

[James Alucobond]

Oy, not another trackless dark ride...

He made no claim as to the ride system. He was saying he imagined the change in scale for the dark ride might be akin to the change in scale from, say, upgrading MMRR to Rise. It was purely a speculative exemplar and was not meant to be taken literally in any respect.

 

[Professortango1]

If only we could get it upgraded to a Monsters Unchained or a Haunted Mansion or an Indiana Jones Adventure. Rise is fun, but a bit too many screens and open spaces. Give me physical sets, animated figures, blacklight, optical and auditory illusions.

I recall at one point, the ankle ticklers from HISTA were supposed to be in the jeeps for IJA for the rat section, as well as the running bug seats from TTBAB. Imagine integrating those features into a ride with creepy crawlies!

I'll take trackless if it is a Sleepy Hollow-themed attraction as our carriage races from the Headless Horseman. It can even break away from our horse a la MMRR.

 

[Disgruntled Walt]

I'd personally like to see the Tokyo Peter Pan ride system used here. It can be family-friendly and thrilling, interact with screens and animatronics, etc.

 

[aladdin2007]

I'd personally like to see the Tokyo Peter Pan ride system used here. It can be family-friendly and thrilling, interact with screens and animatronics, etc.

I could certainly see that for maybe a smaller dark ride say for Nightmare Before Christmas?... But I think they want bigger for Villains by the sound of things, not that I want another giant warehouse with big rooms trackless ride either. Wouldn't mind a boat ride but then maybe it would be too much like Pirates, still could be good.

 

[Coaster Lover]

I'd personally like to see the Tokyo Peter Pan ride system used here. It can be family-friendly and thrilling, interact with screens and animatronics, etc.

I feel like of the known dark ride systems that Disney has in their repertoire, this has to be in the top 3 choices for the Villians Land dark ride.

 

[TheDisneyParksfanC8]

I feel like of the known dark ride systems that Disney has in their repertoire, this has to be in the top 3 choices for the Villians Land dark ride.

People would want a villains ride to be thrilling the Pan EMV would be far superior to trackless in this setting. I just hope they make the screens and sets a lot bigger then TDS pan. But I guess we will see once Infinity Defense works next year.

 

[gorillaball]

Hopefully one lesson they've learned from Epic is how merciless the criticism will be if the new development areas are too hot and lacking shade. Magic Kingdom's Frontierland is significantly influenced by the fact it is a parade corridor and therefore isn't able to have as much tree coverage as it could. With the loss of RoA and replacement with a lot of concrete the heat is only going to go up.

It would be very helpful for Disney to move the parade corridor to the east side of the park somehow, for two reasons: incorporating tree-planter islands into the Frontierland corridor will transform that area into a lush forest (perfect for Country Bears) and mimic what's successful at Grizzly Peak in DCA. And with all the guests that will be focused on the west side of the park -- with Piston Peak and Villains Land -- moving the parade to the east side would help distribute crowds.
View attachment 908149

Given where all the backstage parade storage is, it’s not going to shift east. Hopefully enough trees in the expansion along w water, not as wide of water but potentially moving water, which would be better, will hopefully lead to nothing significantly hotter.

 

[RosR9]

I'd personally like to see the Tokyo Peter Pan ride system used here. It can be family-friendly and thrilling, interact with screens and animatronics, etc.

As someone who can’t do any ride with 3D elements, I really hope this isn’t the case

 

[gorillaball]

As someone who can’t do any ride with 3D elements, I really hope this isn’t the case

I can do them, but would also prefer not 3D. It seems they have have tried to avoid where possible lately - Rat removing them.

 

[BrianLo]

Even if $2B was thrown at each land, there's still $7B leftover for cruise ships.

Small correction, the 17B proposed for WDW is not shared with their DCL plans. DCL has a separate 12B earmarked from the broader 60B.

Only 11.9B of WDW’s 17 is for traditional capital investment / expansion however.

 

[JD80]

Small correction, the 17B proposed for WDW is not shared with their DCL plans. DCL has a separate 12B earmarked from the broader 60B.

Only 11.9B of WDW’s 17 is for traditional capital investment / expansion however.

And let's not pretend they can't add to that. That money is already earmarked and there is speculation that there is two halves of expansion with another half coming after villains.

Theres nothing stopping them from allocating the second half funds to the first half and then allocating more in 4 years as villains starts taking shape.

 

[ManicMillennial]

That’s the impression I was getting from all this. Extra money being put into the pre existing budget.

 

[marni1971]

Screeeech. The sound of the brakes going on. Probably for the best in the long run. Interesting times.

Get the Popcorn ready.

 

[wdwmagic]

Here is a quick look from today at the area beyond Big Thunder. Amazing how this view has changed.

 

[BrianLo]

Screeeech. The sound of the brakes going on. Probably for the best in the long run. Interesting times.

Get the Popcorn ready.

I wonder if there’s alternative other proposals waiting in the wings to cover the gap. Looking at Epcot.

There seems to still be concern about urgency and volume if this is now pushed back.

 

[marni1971]

I wonder if there’s alternative other proposals waiting in the wings to cover the gap.

The foot will be back on the gas soon enough.

 

[nickys]

Screeeech. The sound of the brakes going on. Probably for the best in the long run. Interesting times.

Get the Popcorn ready.

Just fill RoA up again. “Nothing to see here”.