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

[Animaniac93-98]

Josh: We need to think BIGGER!

WDI: *increases premium bar capacity from 150 to 200 seats*

 

[Professortango1]

I don’t see how you can possibly consider MK anything less than a full day park. It’s more like a 2 park.

Disneyland is a full day park. Magic Kingdom....that's a little less than half as many rides (23 vs 49.) They are supposedly adding 4, which should help on top of Tron.

When I visit Disneyland a major ride is down for a refurb, it's no big deal. At MK, Big Thunder being down is far more heavily felt.

I typically go late summer and can finish the parks by 3/4:00 without issue. Epcot is the one exception due to the size and how exploration is built into the park design.

 

[dlfan1313]

I am far from wearing a short skirt and tight sweater with a big, curly letter "D", but as much as I'd love there to be more to do at each park, or just more parks, I have to say that for me, all 4 WDW parks are full-day affairs. MGM and AK at opening were not for sure. I think I understand the sentiment in what people are saying, and I think it's Disney's fault (I'm not smart enough to explain fully, but I feel like they create a frantic feeling in their guests) but I'd counter by saying that you might be missing what I see as the part of the main point of what DIsney parks are meant to be. Slow down a bit. Relax. Be on vacation.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

Disneyland is a full day park.

Disneyland is the ultimate - that’s for sure. I’d definitely say it’s a 2 day park.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

Disneyland is a full day park. Magic Kingdom....that's a little less than half as many rides (23 vs 49.) They are supposedly adding 4, which should help on top of Tron.

When I visit Disneyland a major ride is down for a refurb, it's no big deal. At MK, Big Thunder being down is far more heavily felt.

While this is true, this also ignores the non-ride attractions MK has. 4 animatronic shows (the most of any castle park at the moment), PhilharMagic, Laugh Floor, Enchanted Tales. There's now day and night parades, plus the nightly fireworks etc. There are other things to do to fill a day. It still has the most attractions of any WDW park.

Absolutely the park has capacity issues (not just ride related) and not as many rides as Disneyland, but if the only thing that qualifies a Disney theme park as being "full day" is having over 30 rides, than none are except the original Disneyland.

 

[Disstevefan1]

I have chosen to believe they’ve decided to make Villains a 5th gate instead.

There will be no 5th gate. They don’t even want to expand their existing parks; they either destroy and replace or simply shutter existing attractions.

 

[Mike S]

You guys are operating on your feelings from the early 2000s and not thinking about the current construction, the difference in ride count is going to be significantly lessened between DL and MK when all is said and done, especially if you count attractions and not rides, let’s count them:

DL: 41 attractions
MSUSA (4)
-Mr. Lincoln
-Mr. Disney
-Train
-Vehicles
Adventureland (4)
-Tiki Room
-Jungle Cruise
-Indy
-Treehouse
NO Square (3)
-POTC
-HM
-Tom Sawyer
Bayou Country (3)
-Tiana
-Pooh
-Canoes
SWGE (2)
-Rise
-MF
-Frontierland (3)
-BTMRR
-Columbia
-Mark Twain
Fantasyland (12)
-Casey Jr
-Pinocchio
-Snow White
-Carousel
-Dumbo
-Peter Pan
-Toad
-Tea Party
-Alice
-Matterhorn
-Storybook Cruises
-iasw
Toontown (3)
-Rodger Rabbit
-MMRR
-Gadget
Tomorrowland (7)
-Subs
-Monorail
-Autopia
-Space
-Star Tours
-Buzz
-Astro Orbiter

MK: 38 attractions
MSUSA (2)
-Train
-Vehicles
Adventureland (5)
-Treehouse
-Aladdin
-Jungle Cruise
-Tiki Room
-PotC
Frontierland (5)
-BTMRR
-Tiana
-CBJ
-Piston Peak Rally
-Piston Peak #2
Villains Land (3)
-Big Dark Ride
-Coaster
-Little Dark Ride
Liberty Square (2)
-HM
-HoP
Fantasyland (9)
-iasw
-Peter Pan
-Philharmagic
-Carousel
-SDMT
-Pooh
-Tea Party
-Belle
-VotLM
Storybook Circus (2)
-Dumbo
-Goofy
Tomorrowland (8)
-Tron
-Space
-Speedway
-CoP
-Astro Orbiter
-Peoplemover
-Buzz
-Monster Inc

That’s only a difference of three attractions, and when 3 of DLs are different ways to circumnavigate the ROA it shrinks further. In just a few short years DL’s considerable lead in attractions over MK will have all but evaporated, assuming everything currently rumored has come to pass.

*Edit forgot MK Tea Party originally*

Disneyland did it by constant expansion while there’s a history of Magic Kingdom classics being torn out with one of the most beautiful areas being the latest casualty. The only Disneyland classic I see bemoaned is the PeopleMover whereas Magic Kingdom has a whole laundry list.

 

[FerretAfros]

That would make MK, SWO and Epic Universe the only full day parks in Orlando for me then. None of the DLR parks fit that criteria either. Also means the regional parks are a more complete experience then the heavy hitters as no time in the last 5 years have I spent a full day, opening to close, at any of the other Disney Parks and the other Universal parks. Sound right to you?

It doesn’t for me, the question is would I get bored or want to leave any of those parks early if I had to spend a full day. Again, the answer is for DHS and AK is yes. Universal is a more difficult answer as I always have Hotel Express when I go to those parks.

Yes, all of the Orlando parks are under built for the crowds they see, including MK (caveat: I haven’t been to Epic yet and it’s been decades since I’ve been to Sea World).

It’s why an Orlando vacation is seen as a uniquely stressful experience. It’s why a cottage industry of guidebooks, mommy blogs, and influences has developed to help people craft battle plans for their trips. It’s why there are so many people (children and adults alike) having meltdowns in the parks.

And it’s not just about rides. MK is in desperate need of additional quick service restaurants. WDW’s characters are typically locked in meet & greets because they’d be swarmed by guests in walkways. Universal’s parks have little to do for people unwilling or unable to go on thrill rides. Refurbishments are delayed to the point of needing extensive overhauls because the parks don’t have enough slack to accommodate routine closures. Nighttime shows are often swarmed with crowds, encouraging upcharge reserved viewing areas.

The Orlando market is unique in that it’s viewed as somewhat of a rite of passage for many families. These sorts of issues don’t exist to this extent elsewhere, because frequent repeat visitors wouldn’t tolerate it. But with the long cycles of time between repeat visits for the average guest, a certain degree of misery has become an accepted part of the experience. Normal businesses don’t operate like that, because they’d drive customers away, but there are so many people trying to relive memories of long ago or trying to keep up with the Joneses that Orlando continues to be busy even when they’re not offering great experiences.

 

[DisneyHead123]

Yes, all of the Orlando parks are under built for the crowds they see, including MK (caveat: I haven’t been to Epic yet and it’s been decades since I’ve been to Sea World).

It’s why an Orlando vacation is seen as a uniquely stressful experience. It’s why a cottage industry of guidebooks, mommy blogs, and influences has developed to help people craft battle plans for their trips. It’s why there are so many people (children and adults alike) having meltdowns in the parks.

And it’s not just about rides. MK is in desperate need of additional quick service restaurants. WDW’s characters are typically locked in meet & greets because they’d be swarmed by guests in walkways. Universal’s parks have little to do for people unwilling or unable to go on thrill rides. Refurbishments are delayed to the point of needing extensive overhauls because the parks don’t have enough slack to accommodate routine closures. Nighttime shows are often swarmed with crowds, encouraging upcharge reserved viewing areas.

The Orlando market is unique in that it’s viewed as somewhat of a rite of passage for many families. These sorts of issues don’t exist to this extent elsewhere, because frequent repeat visitors wouldn’t tolerate it. But with the long cycles of time between repeat visits for the average guest, a certain degree of misery has become an accepted part of the experience. Normal businesses don’t operate like that, because they’d drive customers away, but there are so many people trying to relive memories of long ago or trying to keep up with the Joneses that Orlando continues to be busy even when they’re not offering great experiences.

I agree with you that the parks may be underbuilt, although I disagree that people go strictly for nostalgia or appearances. I do think “there’s a there there” in terms of Disney magic. When my son was younger he would melt down all the time on Disney trips, but he always wanted to go. Honestly, when he was struggling the most with sensory issues, I’m not entirely clear on what he liked about being there, but he always asked to go. There’s something that people can’t put their finger on that draws them back.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

Normal businesses don’t operate like that, because they’d drive customers away, but there are so many people trying to relive memories of long ago or trying to keep up with the Joneses that Orlando continues to be busy even when they’re not offering great experiences.

Disney can also exploit the relative scarcity of their product, as there's still only two Disney resorts in North America, and most people who live within, say, a day's drive of WDW are likely not going to some other Disney resort elsewhere.

 

[Centauri Space Station]

Disneyland did it by constant expansion while there’s a history of Magic Kingdom classics being torn out with one of the most beautiful areas being the latest casualty. The only Disneyland classic I see bemoaned is the PeopleMover whereas Magic Kingdom has a whole laundry list.

That’s because most people online aren’t old enough to remember all the classics removed, there were tons from the 60s- early 2000s. Mine train thru rainbow caverns, Adventure through inner space, COP/ America Sings/ Innoventions, Skyway, CBJ, Magic eye theater, Splash, Motor boat cruise, Indian village, big thunder ranch, Pack mules, etc.

 

[Mike S]

That’s because most people online aren’t old enough to remember all the classics removed, there were tons from the 60s- early 2000s. Mine train thru rainbow caverns, Adventure through inner space, COP/ America Sings/ Innoventions, Skyway, CBJ, Magic eye theater, Splash, Motor boat cruise, Indian village, big thunder ranch, Pack mules, etc.

Thanks for correcting me, a good amount of those are missed as well.

 

[aladdin2007]

there are threads for epic, back to villains land please

 

[rreading]

Disneyland is the ultimate - that’s for sure. I’d definitely say it’s a 2 day park.

Curiously enough, my two children (who live in Texas and have visited WDW over a dozen times) have only felt like they’ve done enough and were ready to go back to the hotel after 36h at DLR

We’re going back to Cali this summer as I really enjoy both coasts, but…

 

[FigmentFan82]

The bigger and boulder directive has me very excited! Once again, I’m always very curious about what types of quick serve or table service dining options might be incorporated into this and possibly the Carr land area as well. I know they probably won’t be anything sit down in cars land, but I’d like to hold out hope for some type of quick serve that might have a fun connecting theme.

 

[DisneyHead123]

The bigger and boulder directive has me very excited! Once again, I’m always very curious about what types of quick serve or table service dining options might be incorporated into this and possibly the Carr land area as well. I know they probably won’t be anything sit down in cars land, but I’d like to hold out hope for some type of quick serve that might have a fun connecting theme.

It seems like Josh is more spontaneous and less scripted than Iger. He pops into the parks, walks up to guests, seems to go where he sees something interesting happening, etc. I wonder if that general personality trait will transfer to the parks - maybe he’ll break the mold of previous lands and we’ll see more surprises.

 

[Disstevefan1]

I really hope Josh does things to make WDW better and not just milk WDW like the cash cow it is.

 

[rreading]

Curiously enough, my two children (who live in Texas and have visited WDW over a dozen times) have only felt like they’ve done enough and were ready to go back to the hotel after 36h at DLR

We’re going back to Cali this summer as I really enjoy both coasts, but…

I realized this morning that without context this might not make sense:

Riding Space Mountain at DL involves heading into a dead land, winding through barren walkways until you get to the theming in the last 20-30% of the queue.

Whereas in MK, even walking up to space is part of the experience; and as soon as you enter the queue you’re in the environment

See also: pirates. Little mermaid. 7DMT.

Indiana Jones at DL is beloved partly due to the ride, but it’s also a WDW level queue. Radiator springs certainly as well. But they’re more the exception

But unless you take the entirety of the park as the sufficient theming, there just isn’t enough space for the individual rides to breathe in themselves.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

But unless you take the entirety of the park as the sufficient theming, there just isn’t enough space for the individual rides to breathe in themselves.

That makes sense - it’s why Disneyland is “charming” to some but certainly not as grand. Paris got the balance perfect - the charm of DL and the grand scale of WDW.

 

[_caleb]

I realized this morning that without context this might not make sense:

Riding Space Mountain at DL involves heading into a dead land, winding through barren walkways until you get to the theming in the last 20-30% of the queue.

Whereas in MK, even walking up to space is part of the experience; and as soon as you enter the queue you’re in the environment

See also: pirates. Little mermaid. 7DMT.

Indiana Jones at DL is beloved partly due to the ride, but it’s also a WDW level queue. Radiator springs certainly as well. But they’re more the exception

But unless you take the entirety of the park as the sufficient theming, there just isn’t enough space for the individual rides to breathe in themselves.

I’ve always seen what you’re calling “WDW-level” as simpler than typical DL queues, which, due to the smaller size and greater density, have to manage thematic transitions with a greater degree of intentionality and creativity.

If you have the benefit of wide open minimally-themed space between attractions, it seems like immersive queues would be much easier.