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

[JD80]

It really depends on the definition of PG-13. They have built plenty of rides/lands around PG-13 movies. I do think/hope it's darker/creepier than most of the lands in Disney now, but it doesn't need to be over the top levels either.

I don't think they'll go creepy/scary - I would think they go loud, brash, rude with maybe some enticing to the "dark side".

Assuming the Villains Show at DHS continues to get good guest scores.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

Assuming the Villains Show at DHS continues to get good guest scores.

Yeah - it seems to me that show is the direction they are wanting to go.

 

[FigmentFan82]

PG-13 can be many different things, our modern Marvel films are squarely in this bracket. I don't expect Villians Land to be "adult," but would love if it had a little bit of teeth.

 

[Bocabear]

PG-13 can be many different things, our modern Marvel films are squarely in this bracket. I don't expect Villians Land to be "adult," but would love if it had a little bit of teeth.

It needs to have some teeth...but walk the line so it is not too scary...Disney used to be able to do this...
Villains Land can and should be the spot in the park that is more geared towards the tween-adult audience....
Of course all done with humor and gorgeous immersion....
I don't think there is anything wrong with the Villains area being something kids grow into...the rest of the park is fine for all ages, but a Wicked Queen Ball Pit, Ursula's Splash Pad and Diaper Wash, and Captain Hook's Playground should never be part of this area....

 

[DisneyHead123]

Yeah - it seems to me that show is the direction they are wanting to go.

I didn’t necessarily get that impression based on their public notes from the research trip. To my mind fun “camp” buildings would be like the Villains built brightly colored, cartoony homages to themselves. Ursula building a castle with giant tentacles and a crown or something like that. What they showcased looked much more subtle. The biggest idea seemed to be the idea of things looking “conjured rather than constructed”. There were also references to nature creating the form of structures and also (I think) the form of structures being taken back over by natural elements (a little emptiness is form, form is emptiness type thing maybe?)

 

[ManicMillennial]

It needs to have some teeth...but walk the line so it is not too scary...Disney used to be able to do this...
Villains Land can and should be the spot in the park that is more geared towards the tween-adult audience....
Of course all done with humor and gorgeous immersion....
I don't think there is anything wrong with the Villains area being something kids grow into...the rest of the park is fine for all ages, but a Wicked Queen Ball Pit, Ursula's Splash Pad and Diaper Wash, and Captain Hook's Playground should never be part of this area....

You know, an Ursula splash pad would work well at Art of Animation though.

 

[Disgruntled Walt]

I've been thinking about how a good idea at Imagineering never really dies, and, since I'm definitely the biggest Beastly Kingdom proponent here, I'm really starting to hope that the Dragon Tower concept is rejiggered for Villains Land. I think it would make a lot of sense. Jim Hill published this article a long time ago, but it still holds true:

But all those Disney unicorn and dragon lovers out there shouldn’t completely lose heart. Long-time Disney theme park observers know it’s wise never to consider a really great concept for a theme park show or attraction completely dead. For the Imagineers have this awful tendency to recycle abandoned ideas.

Consider Disneyland’s long proposed Discovery Bay. Though Tony Baxter hatched the concept for this Jules Verne-meets-Gold Rush-era-San-Francisco Frontierland expansion back in 1977, it wasn’t until 1992 that elements of this proposed Disneyland addition finally turned up in a Disney theme park. Unfortunately for all those US-based Discovery Bay fans, the park that got the land (DiscoveryLand, to be exact) that was inspired by Tony’s concept art was Disneyland – Paris. But some of Discovery Bay did finally make it off the drawing board.

So who knows? Maybe in ten years or so, some Imagineer may come with a clever way to rework the “Dragon’s Tower” storyline. Perhaps that long rumored South American Disney theme park will have a Sleeping Beauty’s castle with a thrill ride — rather than a walking tour — as its main attraction? Maybe this thrill ride will feature a huge AA version of the Maleficent dragon, snarling and breathing fire at riders as they whiz through the attraction’s finale? Stranger things have happened, kids.

Here’s hoping that — some day, in some way — dragons and unicorns turn up in a Disney theme park.

After all, there’s always room for a little more magic in the Magic Kingdom.

@lentesta I'm curious for Jim's current thoughts on this possibility, and it might make for an intriguing conversation on the Disney Dish. Or if you've already talked about it, please direct me to the episode!

 

[lentesta]

I've been thinking about how a good idea at Imagineering never really dies, and, since I'm definitely the biggest Beastly Kingdom proponent here, I'm really starting to hope that the Dragon Tower concept is rejiggered for Villains Land. I think it would make a lot of sense. Jim Hill published this article a long time ago, but it still holds true:

@lentesta I'm curious for Jim's current thoughts on this possibility, and it might make for an intriguing conversation on the Disney Dish. Or if you've already talked about it, please direct me to the episode!

We've not talked about it, and I'll ask Jim when we're together this weekend!

 

[Purduevian]

Come up with more pictures or videos of what is happening in the construction if people don't want to just have random discussions until someone does. I think it wouldn't be long before this particular thread will end up pages away if we only have construction observations to discuss. I for one would love to be just discussing that but my camera lens won't stretch that far.

I think this is the thread you are looking for...

 

[Disgruntled Walt]

We've not talked about it, and I'll ask Jim when we're together this weekend!

Hi Len, just wanted to follow up to see if you had a chance to ask Jim about this yet!

 

[lentesta]

Hi Len, just wanted to follow up to see if you had a chance to ask Jim about this yet!

He did! I'll remind him on this week's show to talk about it.

 

[ManicMillennial]

Has anyone heard anything about the rumored hotel that is supposed to connect to Magic Kingdom having a villains theme or at least villain themed suites?

 

[James Alucobond]

Has anyone heard anything about the rumored hotel that is supposed to connect to Magic Kingdom having a villains theme or at least villain themed suites?

If it exists or is planned, I would expect Art Nouveau to match the land's aesthetic rather than anything explicitly villain-themed (artwork aside). They've pulled from the style a lot recently, including the Fantasy Springs hotel, Adventure World, and Villains land itself.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Has anyone heard anything about the rumored hotel that is supposed to connect to Magic Kingdom having a villains theme or at least villain themed suites?

No known insider has even hinted about it.

The idea comes from seeing the nearby cleared laydown yards and a wild guess from overeager imaginations and the internet echo chamber.

 

[Purduevian]

Rumor Thread 'Potential New Magic Kingdom Area Hotel'

May 29, 2024

Following up on the conversation from the Moana E-Ticket thread (thank you @The Mom for keeping us on track in that thread). Including some quotes from that thread.

@lentesta Was suggesting today on the podcast that this plot could become a DVC hotel with a private entrance to MK. It seems too small to be a hotel to me. Unless he was talking about another area?

Forgive my terrible graphics skills. Here's what I'm thinking. And I could be wrong, so let me know.

The background image is from the current CFTOB 2032 Comprehensive Plan. Areas in green are suitable for...

• Purduevian
• Replies: 126
• Forum: WDW Parks News, Rumors and Current Events

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[HauntedPirate]

Rumor Thread 'Potential New Magic Kingdom Area Hotel'

May 29, 2024

Following up on the conversation from the Moana E-Ticket thread (thank you @The Mom for keeping us on track in that thread). Including some quotes from that thread.

@lentesta Was suggesting today on the podcast that this plot could become a DVC hotel with a private entrance to MK. It seems too small to be a hotel to me. Unless he was talking about another area?

Forgive my terrible graphics skills. Here's what I'm thinking. And I could be wrong, so let me know.

The background image is from the current CFTOB 2032 Comprehensive Plan. Areas in green are suitable for...

• Purduevian
• Replies: 126
• Forum: WDW Parks News, Rumors and Current Events

• 
• 
• 

Len’s rough guess and drawing (from 18 months ago) isn’t close to where the Villains land will supposedly be built.

 

[Bocabear]

A gorgeously creepy Villains Hotel would be much less of a gamble than the Galactic StarCruiser disaster was... I think it would pretty much be an assured hit. Though with the new 6 thousand room Lakeside Lodge, will they even need another hotel for years to come?

 

[HauntedPirate]

A gorgeously creepy Villains Hotel would be much less of a gamble than the Galactic StarCruiser disaster was... I think it would pretty much be an assured hit. Though with the new 6 thousand room Lakeside Lodge, will they even need another hotel for years to come?

A hit with who? Families with kids under 6, many of whom would be scared witless before setting foot into the thing? Or the Disney Adults who continue to foist the falsehood upon the masses that "Disney Villains" is some massively popular thing?

 

[Stupido]

A hit with who? Families with kids under 6, many of whom would be scared witless before setting foot into the thing? Or the Disney Adults who continue to foist the falsehood upon the masses that "Disney Villains" is some massively popular thing?

They wouldn't be investing so much into a Villains land if the Disney Villains weren't massively popular. Just because you don't agree with something doesn't mean it's not true. Merch is constantly selling featuring villains, from clothes, to housewares, to the Disney Villain Clue at WOD. When a IP sells, they make merch everywhere (looking at you, Stitch). Villains were the second most abundant merch line last time I was at WDW, second only to Stitch. Look at the Disney Villainous board game... it's profitable enough to have 14 expansions, with more in the works. Public information states it's sold over 3 million units by 2022. There's a huge market for Disney Villains.

 

[lazyboy97o]

They wouldn't be investing so much into a Villains land if the Disney Villains weren't massively popular. Just because you don't agree with something doesn't mean it's not true. Merch is constantly selling featuring villains, from clothes, to housewares, to the Disney Villain Clue at WOD. When a IP sells, they make merch everywhere (looking at you, Stitch). Villains were the second most abundant merch line last time I was at WDW, second only to Stitch. Look at the Disney Villainous board game... it's profitable enough to have 14 expansions, with more in the works. Public information states it's sold over 3 million units by 2022. There's a huge market for Disney Villains.

A land is not the same thing as a hotel. Ever notice how the bathrooms at Disney’s Animal Kingdom don’t match the worn and gritty aesthetic just outside their doors? They’re brighter, smoother and better lit because that’s what reads as clean to people. Hotel rooms need to be more like bathrooms. They have to be easily readable as clean and well maintained. Dim lighting can be fun and mysterious in a land, it’s unsettling in a bathroom or hotel room. It’s why the announced but never opened Haunted Mansion rooms looked like plastic, because they needed surfaces that could be cleaned so you just ended up with a cheap toy look instead of an authentic Mansion experience.