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

[BrianLo]

In other news, are we all thinking:
Tropical Americas - 2027
Monsters - 2028
Cars - 2029
Villains - now more late 2030/early 2031? Or is 2029 still on the table, which would coincide with Josh's line at D23 2024 of "everything announced will be open in 5 years"?

Streets of America decade-on-decade does not close until April. So it really depends on how much parallel planning can occur or how much these changes push things back.

2031 would strike me as an overly aggressive multi year stall-out. With how water management is progressing in parallel that seems less likely to be the case. Likewise the Cars project could still make end of 2028. The complexities of that project may be different, but it’s much further along than Encanto was.

The bigger piece of intel I think is if we have another unknown project in the mix. (Epcot 2029). Which would behoove them to space out the major additions and give them the space they need to keep the project cycle up to the standard they keep insisting they are trying to hit.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

I’m struck by how there’s more like 10 subgroups of dedicated online fans and they can sometimes feel like entirely different worlds.

Even in my own head there can be conflict. It’s amazing to me that I think an Avatar land at DAK is better than a Star Wars land at DHS.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

By far the most controversial thing walking out of D23 I heard discussed by a mile was the Walt Figure. Nothing about all the WDW things everyone here has hyper focused on for years.

I think that's because you were in Anaheim, where whatever happens at WDW is just whatever, even if it's a big investment

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

I think that's because you were in Anaheim, where whatever happens at WDW is just whatever, even if it's a big investment

Lots of people attend d23 from outside Anaheim.

 

[BrianLo]

One last thing. I’m surprised/saddened that we are finally potentially getting a Florida version of SDL Pirates tech and 90% of the chatter is just about a roller coaster.

Speaking of discordance, I feel very off-base with the reaction of this community. WDW has had so many roller coasters of late (three fairly non accessible ones in a 6 year span). Maybe this has driven a new insatiable roller coaster fanbase that I never felt Disney traditionally was defined by.

 

[Unbanshee]

In other news, are we all thinking:
Tropical Americas - 2027
Monsters - 2028
Cars - 2029
Villains - now more late 2030/early 2031? Or is 2029 still on the table, which would coincide with Josh's line at D23 2024 of "everything announced will be open in 5 years"?

D'Amaro didn't say everything announced would open in five years. He said, "I can't wait for you to see these projects start to come to life over the next five years."

 

[BrianLo]

I think that's because you were in Anaheim, where whatever happens at WDW is just whatever, even if it's a big investment

Absolutely! But just to highlight how drastically different communities exist.

The 2022 cycle did seem most negative about Zootopia overtaking Dino.

 

[Chester&Hester Enthusiast]

Alright, here’s my ‘market’ take. Small sample size, but consider it as you will.

I work with hundreds of Gen Z teenagers daily and have for about a decade. I’m in a city that loves Disney and it’s not a surprise when there’s a break that a ton of them travel down to Disney World. That’s what they do. With all of that said, I have never, not even once, heard one teenager mention watching TENG. I haven’t even heard quote the ‘wrong lever’ as a meme. I understand it’s a small subset that doesn’t represent all of Gen Z, but to say Disney is choosing that IP to appeal to Gen Z is such a head scratcher to me.

Now, Millennials are a little different. They know the IP and if you say the ‘wrong lever’ quote they’ll laugh. That said, I don’t know any who’d put that in their top 10. I was born in ‘91, so I’m right in the heart of Millennialism, and I can’t think of anyone who would choose a TENG family coaster over a Maleficent thrill coaster.

All that to say, who’s the coaster for? Families that are mid on the IP? Don’t get me wrong, I know it has fans, but online voices are much louder than actual visitor opinion. I don’t know anyone who would hear “Hey, the landmark attraction of Villains Land is a kiddie coaster themed to TENG on the level of Slinky Dog!” and rush to book a trip.

I understand people want the land family friendly. I don’t disagree. But you can have one actual thrill attraction in a land based on villains, who are supposed to be at least a bit scary. If they don’t, it’s gonna be a colossal financial mistake. Not because I say so, but because they’d be failing to actually market this new, groundbreaking land to anyone.

I was about to post the same thing when I saw that post. I also work daily with hundreds of teens and would be shocked if any sizeable portion of them have even seen ENG, let alone could quote lines from it.

Us Millennials, though?

 

[Fox&Hound]

Would there be enough room for something like Hagrids and a mega E ticket boat ride? I’d imagine no? I guess my school of thought is that one of the experiences in the land was always going to play second fiddle due to space constraints and/ or budgets. In this iteration of the land it’s the coaster. So in my mind it comes down to one’s preference of a having a state of the art boat ride or a state of the art coaster. I think that MK not only needs the state of the art boat ride more but it’s better suited for the parks demo. Not to mention if we’re talking about using an IP to its full potential the boat ride would seem like the way to go for Maleficent.

I don't like the comparison to Slinky Dog for the coaster though.

Why would you theme a boat ride to Maleificent and not an Ursula or Hades experience? That does not track for me…

 

[Animaniac93-98]

One last thing. I’m surprised/saddened that we are finally potentially getting a Florida version of SDL Pirates tech and 90% of the chatter is just about a roller coaster.

After 10 years I think the novelty and demand that something be built with it has worn off a bit...

That doesn't mean it wouldn't be a big deal if it was used, but I think there's a feeling it's not necessary to make a great new boat ride.

Other Disney boat rides built since (Frozen and Tangled at TDS, Lion King) have elected not to use it for whatever reason

Speaking of discordance, I feel very off-base with the reaction of this community. WDW has had so many roller coasters of late (three fairly non accessible ones in a 6 year span). Maybe this has driven a new insatiable roller coaster fanbase that I never felt Disney traditionally was defined by.

Once upon a time Universal Studios and Sea World had 0 roller coasters. Now Sea World is the "coaster capital of Orlando" and Universal has opened 5 this decade to date, with another on the way.

There's a kind of coasters arm race in Orlando right now and that's set an expectation for how Disney can top their competition, if not in thrills, than in execution.

 

[AidenRodriguez731]

Why would you theme a boat ride to Maleificent and not an Ursula or Hades experience? That does not track for me…

Because Ursula is already featured prominently enough like a few hundred feet away?

And Hades? I'm not sure but they are using him in a good role for him as well

 

[DrStarlander]

One last thing. I’m surprised/saddened that we are finally potentially getting a Florida version of SDL Pirates tech and 90% of the chatter is just about a roller coaster.

Speaking for myself, the coaster is more "real" because a coaster was depicted in the concept art. So the rumors directly relate to an attraction type I have confidence in is part of the project. Meanwhile, no dark ride was depicted so the rumor/reporting around Shanghai Pirates comes with a bigger grain of salt.

And what we have heard (Maleficent theme) is a mixed bag for me. I love Maleficent in both her forms. And I like the good fairies. But that's about where my interest in Sleeping Beauty ends. And so how are they going to fill up a Shanghai Pirates scale attraction with content? I hope we don't come around every corner and see Maleficent again (like we see Tiana around bend after bend in TBA). And I also, importantly, don't want them making up a new story about Maleficent (opening a poison and potions co-op?) within the confines of the Sleeping Beauty story/world. So, if we had heard that many villains would be featured, I for one would be chattering a lot more about it (because ultimately what I really want out of this entire land is to see amazing animatronics of a half-dozen villains).

There's a kind of coasters arm race in Orlando right now and that's set an expectation for how Disney can top their competition, if not in thrills, than in execution.

There's definitely not a coaster arm's race in California.

 

[mickEblu]

Why would you theme a boat ride to Maleificent and not an Ursula or Hades experience? That does not track for me…

Well Ursula I think is a non starter since the Little Mermaid ride exists. Hades underworld would make for a cool attraction but he just doesn’t have the star power if you will. They could and should incorporate the underworld somehow though in the ride with a Hades scene. That would be cool.

 

[All blacks]

All this is just speculation,and rumors until Disney or Josh says comes out at probably d23,or a earnings call.
Remember no one guessed disneyland was getting star wars land,no one new about the kuka arm ride at Avengers. to name a couple instances.
What has been announced is 2 major rides. That's all so far.
Whatever gets announced your not going to please everyone. Everyone has an opinion in this world,and everyone thinks they are right. This goes for life in general.

 

[Jedi14]

Why would you theme a boat ride to Maleificent and not an Ursula or Hades experience? That does not track for me…

It seems like they decided early that Maleficent was getting the E ticket so she’s now getting the dark ride over the coaster.

 

[TheDisneyParksfanC8]

If anything I think the size of the dark ride building confirms this will use the Avengers ID ride system.

 

[Phicinfan]

One last thing. I’m surprised/saddened that we are finally potentially getting a Florida version of SDL Pirates tech and 90% of the chatter is just about a roller coaster.

Speaking of discordance, I feel very off-base with the reaction of this community. WDW has had so many roller coasters of late (three fairly non accessible ones in a 6 year span). Maybe this has driven a new insatiable roller coaster fanbase that I never felt Disney traditionally was defined by.

Here here!! I am very tired of trying to make WDW Six flags. Give me a well executed dark ride any day!!

 

[GenChi]

You’re very right, and I actually think that plays into them trying so hard to get us into their parks. It’s well known this generation is less inclined to build a family, so they need to make sure they’re pulling those that have. They also know that this generation is a bit more inclined to seek experiences that they feel are worth the time and effort over just a general vacation because they can’t afford to just take a trip, it’s gotta be a DESTINATION, and I think that has motivated them to make nostalgia plays.

This is ultimately one of many different reasons why I think making this coaster Slinky Dog 2 instead of something like Velocicoaster is a misfire.

Disney will never win the IP battle for these gens when Universal has Nintendo, HP, etc. They have to win by better, grander experiences for those rides. For many a Slinky Dog level thrill for a villains coaster, even for a ENG coaster based on that scene (that has a 90 degree drop and high speed) will be underwhelming for the guest expectations. Expectation for a coaster in a villains land is not another tame experience similar to what exists in MK.

On that, talking with Gen Z who went to Disney & don't beliving the magic meme, Magic Kingdom is usually put as the worst park they went to (sometimes under AK) due to small size and lack of perceived older age attractions. They much preferred Hollywood Studios and Epcot for older-geared experiences. Perhaps unfairly MK is seen as watching your toddler have fun & having almost nothing else if you have no kid, and remember Gen Z largely is not having kids. Being the flagship that stigma extends to the resort as a whole. A extreme, potential top 5 coaster in the world (like Velocicoaster usually is ranked) + top in the world villains dark ride would go such a long way in breaking that stigma & make Gen Z think it is worth the high admission. It would cost the same if not less than this Slinky 2 coaster.

This is the most visited theme park in the world, so maybe they simply do not care for good reason. But this would permanently put MK and indirectly the resort in that uncool, toddler only image to Gen Z and beyond, vastly different from Universal's many experiences for all ages image. If they cannot gear one ride older for a villains land they never will, and why should this gen & younger care for them vs Universal? Not like their nonexistent kid will beg to go.

 

[HMF]

You’re right about consensus.

And I agree with your critique of Galaxys Edge. But my point is GE is a joyless, dour place - a war torn, third-world country with fascist banners, littered with robot garbage. Dirty, ugly color pallet, no greenery or water… a repellent place. Unhappy. I believe this is largely why it fails as a land for the average Disney park guest.

And Villains land may run the same risk.

I still think putting Galaxies Edge in Disneyland Park was a bad idea for this very reason, seeing how it was Walt's park and Walt famously wouldn't let them make even the Haunted Mansion look dilapidated.

 

[HMF]

Are you making the claim that Galaxy’s Edge has not interested casual guests?

Most casual guests expect characters from the Original Trilogy not the poorly written sequel characters.