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

[HMF]

If they did this to see how fandom would react, then they are discovering that NO MATTER WHAT direction they take, fandom is going to split and a lot will hate it, and a lot will love it.

Unless it's the Zootopia show in Animal Kingdom which virtually everyone hates judging by the reaction on this forum.

 

[HMF]

I’m afraid we’ll never see a coaster as elaborate or as thrilling as Expedition Everest again at WDW

We won't see an original concept not based on a movie again either most likely.

 

[HMF]

I agree but don't think it's a bad thing in a park with very little for kids to do. Which I think DHS works better as an adult focused park anyway but ill defend Toy Story land esp compared to the other versions out there in the world

Comparing it to the other versions is not a high bar. DHS's is the best execution of a bad concept IMHO.

 

[Figments Friend]

Well this is just beginning…..

More info will be coming out and then the real ranting shall begin.
Like Martin said, get your popcorn ready.

But yes, think of this project as Fantasyland with Villains.
This is the direction I am sensing from my limited take.

Family friendly was always the goal, and anyone assuming it was going to be a darker and a more ‘scary area’ to the Park was setting themselves up for disappointment.

Hoping for the best.
Keeping my expectations in check.


-

 

[Mortimer Mouse]

I also think idolizing villains is not a great mood to set, like these folks are very bad,

This.

I’ve always hated the idea of a villains land. I think its appeal is too limited to Disney nerds, kind of like how galaxy’s edge only really appeals to Star Wars nerds.

Families visit the MK to feel joy and it may be dawning on them a land dedicated to evil characters might not exactly give you and your kids those warm feelings inside (in again, the exact same way Galaxys edge doesn’t).

The fact there isn’t a consensus in this forum on what exactly it should be is just further proof for me it’s a bad idea.

 

[CoastalElite64]

Maybe Disney should’ve just made Villains a 5th gate and then they could have both the adult oriented attractions and the more family friendly side.

This! Not necessarily just villains but a thrill leaning park with mature attractions. Make it the anti-Magic Kingdom and cater to both audiences.

 

[phillip9698]

This.

I’ve always hated the idea of a villains land. I think its appeal is too limited to Disney nerds, kind of like how galaxy’s edge only really appeals to Star Wars nerds.

Families visit the MK to feel joy and it may be dawning on them a land dedicated to evil characters might not exactly give you and your kids those warm feelings inside (in again, the exact same way Galaxys edge doesn’t).

The fact there isn’t a consensus in this forum on what exactly it should be is just further proof for me it’s a bad idea.

There isn’t anything that could be agreed upon with a consensus here. Nothing!

Galaxy’s Edge isn’t mediocre because it’s Star Wars, it’s because Disney created a boring, mediocre, and barren land with zero kinetic energy that is centered around characters people are meh about instead of fan favorites.

Look at what Universal did with Harry Potter and compare it to what Disney wanted to do. It’s not just the IP that matters, how you use it is even more important.

 

[Mortimer Mouse]

Josh also promised “two major attractions,” so a high-thrill coaster (like the art clearly showed) plus a dark ride is what we expected.

Man it’s still kind of depressing to me no matter how large a new land is, it can have no more than 2- 2.5 rides.

 

[Mortimer Mouse]

There isn’t anything that could be agreed upon with a consensus here. Nothing!

Galaxy’s Edge isn’t mediocre because it’s Star Wars, it’s because Disney created a mediocre and barren land that is centered around characters people are meh about instead of fan favorites.

Look at what Universal did with Harry Potter and compare it to what Disney wanted to do. It’s not just the IP that matters, how you use it is even more important.

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.

 

[Mr. Sullivan]

This.

I’ve always hated the idea of a villains land. I think its appeal is too limited to Disney nerds, kind of like how galaxy’s edge only really appeals to Star Wars nerds.

Families visit the MK to feel joy and it may be dawning on them a land dedicated to evil characters might not exactly give you and your kids those warm feelings inside (in again, the exact same way Galaxys edge doesn’t).

The fact there isn’t a consensus in this forum on what exactly it should be is just further proof for me it’s a bad idea.

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

 

[Brer Oswald]

May I ask why it wasted potential? An anchor attraction full of a bunch of different villains that have nothing to do with each other. It sounds like potential for a gigantic mess of an attraction.

This is what the land already is, so why not lean all in with the anchor attraction? Usually that what the attraction is supposed to do right? Tie the whole land together.

 

[James Alucobond]

This is what the land already is, so why not lean all in with the anchor attraction? Usually that what the attraction is supposed to do right? Tie the whole land together.

That isn't what anchor attractions have traditionally done. Name one that amalgamates various unrelated IP instead of just having a series of internally consistent self-contained rides that are either IP-less or focus on a single IP.

 

[Brer Oswald]

Well this is just beginning…..

More info will be coming out and then the real ranting shall begin.
Like Martin said, get your popcorn ready.

But yes, think of this project as Fantasyland with Villains.
This is the direction I am sensing from my limited take.

Family friendly was always the goal, and anyone assuming it was going to be a darker and a more ‘scary area’ to the Park was setting themselves up for disappointment.

Hoping for the best.
Keeping my expectations in check.


-

Feels redundant in a park that already has Fantasyland (and a Fantasyland that still needs help no less).

 

[Brer Oswald]

That isn't what anchor attractions have traditionally done. Name one that amalgamates various unrelated IP instead of just having a series of internally consistent self-contained rides that are either IP-less or focus on a single IP.

I’ll pose this question then. If this land is just a bunch of self contained stories based on Fantasy IP, why is it not just a part of Fantasyland?

There’s no purpose to this land if they’re just going to continue the status quo. There’s only reason to create a villains land is to create an environment where they all interact outside of the confines of their film’s storyline.

 

[Phicinfan]

Mansion Pirates, Alien Encounter and the original Snow White's Adventures would strongly disagree with that. The first Silly Symphony was about dancing skeletons in a graveyard BTW.

Sorry, 2 of those are gone for that reason, and pirates is not scary, it’s all tongue in cheek. I would add so is Mansion in part

 

[Brer Oswald]

Sorry, 2 of those are gone for that reason, and pirates is not scary, it’s all tongue in cheek. I would add so is Mansion in part

Alien Encounter was too much, but Snow White was not. Disney has become way too scared of being remotely scary. They’ve shunned a core part of their DNA.

 

[Lord Fozzinator]

I would honestly like a big ride lineup. Cars gives us 2 rides. That helps capacity but that land replaced stuff. Villains land needs to at LEAST have 3 and I’m happy that’s what they’re planning but I would be even happier if the land had 4 maybe even 5 rides. Perhaps it’s 5 experiences with a mix of rides, shows, and walk throughs.

 

[Brer Panther]

The villains area and attractions need to pick and choose who compliments each other, not just throwing whoever together for the sake of inclusion

That's a good point. Could you really picture Malificent teaming up with Cruella? Wouldn't Shere Khan and Scar be more likely to EAT the human villains than team up with them?

 

[Fox&Hound]

This is why I wanted Villainsland in DHS. That park already is more mature anyway and has Fantasmic which plays so nicely into the theme. If Disney is going to chicken out and neuter the villains then build it in DHS, brand that as a more mature park which it already kinda is since little kids can’t ride a lot of the Etickets, and build something else here: Coco, Carsland, etc. Why waste villains just to be watered down? They heard the fan reaction at D23; they know what fans want. It does not have to be terrifying but should be a Hagrid’s level coaster and a Shanghai pirates boat ride. No spinners, please. Emperor’s New Groove “pull the lever” is bad arm chair imagineering. Are imagineers even doing their job if they just take ideas off of Disney reddit forums? You promised better Disney, be better. This is the chance to add a thrilling ride to Mk that people will talk about a attract a different crowd. Please don’t mess this up…

PS- A Hades dinner show? Great!

 

[lazyboy97o]

If they did this to see how fandom would react, then they are discovering that NO MATTER WHAT direction they take, fandom is going to split and a lot will hate it, and a lot will love it.

If this is coordinated to see reactions it should have been done years ago. The concept design phase is about establishing the direction for the project. It should be done before a project is officially approved. Not nearly two years later when you should be focusing more on completing design work.