Voyage of the Little Mermaid is done, won't reopen with the parks.

[tirian]

previously accessible areas in World Showcase turned into storage

I think about that every single time I’m on the third level of the Canada pavilion or inside the string of French stores, not to mention the Art of Disney. It’s one of the rare cases when Disney reduced store square footage for no apparent reason.

 

[LiterallyNobody]

Expect it to stay empty for a bit. There was an interesting idea for the entire Animation Courtyard for the 50th, but it's been canned from what I can tell.

 

[arielshi]

Can you explain further? I wasn't aware that the actor that played Prince Eric was also one of the puppeteers. How/when was he used? I assume in the Under the Sea scene?

Oh wow this is super interesting, I had no idea.

 

[DisneyDebRob]

That sounds about right. They still haven't replaced Stitch, which went to seasonal in 2016 (I believe).

The exact reason I would rather have bad attractions, like Stitch, stay rather then empty buildings for years. A bad one is better then nothing at all.

 

[Haymarket2008]

Expect it to stay empty for a bit. There was an interesting idea for the entire Animation Courtyard for the 50th, but it's been canned from what I can tell.

Ugh. Any chance these plans could pop up in the next 2-3 years?

 

[LiterallyNobody]

Ugh. Any chance these plans could pop up in the next 2-3 years?

Not that I know of. It was pretty specific to the 50th. From what I have heard, the entire area was going to be turned into a kind of 50th museum. Launch Bay, One Man's Dream, Little Mermaid, even possibly Disney Junior. The big showpiece was going to be Walt's plane that is currently stored at WDW environmental services..

 

[Haymarket2008]

Not that I know of. It was pretty specific to the 50th. From what I have heard, the entire area was going to be turned into a kind of 50th museum. Launch Bay, One Man's Dream, Little Mermaid, even possibly Disney Junior. The big showpiece was going to be Walt's plane that is currently stored at WDW environmental services..

WOW. I hope plans change because that sounds terrific. Exactly what the resort deserves for this celebration.

 

[Brer Panther]

Expect it to stay empty for a bit.

Suspected as much.

 

[ToTBellHop]

Ohhh, I just figured (guessed) he must be. Because why else would he always be around 6 feet 2 or taller? Plus all he does is come out at the end for like 10 seconds. That would be a lot of sitting around for an actor, if that's all he did.

Sign me up!

 

[The Grand Inquisitor]

It will be very interesting to see where this goes...

I'm still hoping for a complete demolition of the area for a Monsters Inc land. It would be much better than 2 shows and a Star Wars museum/ meet and greet building.

 

[The Grand Inquisitor]

I think Toy Story Land was a huge misfire -- Slinky Dog helps with capacity and is solid enough, but I don't think it's a major addition to the park. Rise and MMRR are both vastly superior rides and make it look much worse in comparison as the headline attraction for the land. It should have been the secondary ride in TSL with something more impressive getting the top billing. Alien Swirling Saucers is basically a non-entity; the lines it sometimes gets (it had little to no wait when I was there in January, but I know it's sometimes longer) is almost certainly due to the lack of attractions in the park overall.

Galaxy's Edge wasn't quite the home run it should have been IMO, but it's a good addition and certainly not a failure (contrary to what some people will tell you). And I know exactly what you mean and agree -- it's bringing more people to the park, so there needs to be more for them to do.

I agree 100%. Hollywood Studios needs a lot more additions. I'm still hoping we could see more Muppet stuff added to Grand Avenue and maybe a Indy land to replace Echo Lake.

 

[The Grand Inquisitor]

One Man’s Dream was already gone when I went in February.

They moved the exhibits to Walt Disney Presents in the corner building just before you leave Mickey Avenue/Pixar Place going to Toy Story Land.

It actually worked better, as there was a much larger space to view the exhibits, including the 1964 Abraham Lincoln.
View attachment 488507

They should turn the NBA experience at Disney Springs into a massive Walt Disney museum.

 

[The Grand Inquisitor]

The Mermaid/WDP complex is 1.1 acres. For comparison, TSM is 1.4 acres with the third track...

View attachment 488529

What about a complete demo of that area? How many acres would that be?

 

[MisterPenguin]

What about a complete demo of that area? How many acres would that be?

What do you mean 'the whole area'? Including Launch Bay and Disney Jr.?

 

[The Grand Inquisitor]

What do you mean 'the whole area'? Including Launch Bay and Disney Jr.?

Yeah all of animation courtyard.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Yeah all of animation courtyard.

3.4 acres

 

[RSoxNo1]

3.4 acres

View attachment 489206

The other component to this is that you could connect back to the RNRC courtyard.

 

[Bocabear]

It really is time for that "ToonTown" segment of the park to be built...Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin, and a few new attractions...and would be a perfect fit with MMRR right there...

 

[LiterallyNobody]

Yeah all of animation courtyard.

No chance of a complete demolition of Disney Jr. Gut the building (downstairs) and repurpose it sure, but I don't think there is a chance of them getting rid of a brand new Club 33...

 

[marni1971]

The other component to this is that you could connect back to the RNRC courtyard.

So far as I know this idea is on hold.