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

[TrainsOfDisney]

They just want to ride Rise of the Resistance.

Then that is all they should have built. (And some shops of course $$$).

Or…. They would like to see Darth Vader and Yoda…. Ya know….. the most iconic movie characters ever.

 

[Mr. Sullivan]

Then that is all they should have built. (And some shops of course $$$).

Or…. They would like to see Darth Vader and Yoda…. Ya know….. the most iconic movie characters ever.

I really need some of you to step outside of the Disney fan bubble (and the Star Wars one too if necessary) and seriously ask yourself if most of the folks who’re moving through these parks are really, truly stopping to think to themselves “gosh I wish Darth Vader was here!”

The answer is no. They’re really, truly not. Mainly because they’re in a theme park with a lot of other stuff to do besides Galaxy’s Edge, but also because the average person really doesn’t care about Star Wars beyond a normal, surface level enjoyment.

That is not to say I think GE should’ve been timeline locked. I don’t, even as a big fan of 2/3 of the sequels. But I also live and go to the parks among folks who aren’t nearly as into SW as myself and they utter not a word about Vader or Yoda or Luke.

SWGE is deeply flawed and it’s timeline lock is one of them. It going away slowly is welcome. But you’re absolutely kidding yourselves if you think John and Jane Doe are that hung up on it.

The wants and desires of fandom are not the wants and desires of the real world and you all really have to start coming to grips with that.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

The wants and desires of fandom are not the wants and desires of the real world and you all really have to start coming to grips with that.

I’m not talking about fandom, Darth Vader is one of the top recognizable movie characters of all time. That’s a fact.

And to keep it on topic - he’s also a villain!

 

[Professortango1]

Then that is all they should have built. (And some shops of course $$$).

Or…. They would like to see Darth Vader and Yoda…. Ya know….. the most iconic movie characters ever.

I prefer Kylo Ren and Old Man Luke. Vader gives me boomer energy and while I enjoy the annoying Ep 5 Yoda, I don't see them going that direction and would instead focus on his Obi Wan turn that happened as the films progressed.

What I find missing the most is the monsters and fun violence. Star Wars has so many big alien animals and weird characters and has child-friendly threats around every turn. SWGE has no big monsters, two (nearly) static small creatures to see and shrug at, one Alien stuck in NPC loop, and not one violent occurrence taking place. This should be like Frontierland. with gunfighters doing streetmosphere that turns into a show.

If the bad guys can only walk around and tell you to keep moving, then they are just Street CMs during fireworks, but with voce boxes and helmets. "Keep moving! You there! You better move along!" The gag runs out of steam very quickly when it's the one trick you offer.

 

[GenChi]

The Disney parks, and especially Walt Disney World as an IP has already won the battle over universal theme parks. as long as Disney continues to bring the quality that they are currently bringing they have nothing to worry about.

Complacency in any industry is asking to be overtaken. Culture changes, perception changes, demographics change. Entification can damper any company goodwill quick. That they have had the cultural heart for a long time does not mean they will forever. Assuming they "won" is how companies fail.

Not that they will fail oc, or Disney parks should change what works, but them thinking they can get away with any price, any decline of quality, and ignore the changing market is a poor decision. A villains land where the coaster is not remotely a thrill ride is ignoring them, and as a pure expansion it will not impact the existing MK but as you said they need to think through the ideas and what people expect walking into the theme if they are putting this effort in. If Universal does and Disney does not for new attractions it is not great for them.

New Gen here. Disney dogwalks Universals IP in my local circles. I don't rememeber the last time people talked about an actual Universal IP. Universal's IP is either very weak or they can't/don't do anything with it which is shown by how half of their brand new park is not even based on their IP and why they had to use HP 3 times in a row.

HP is huge but losing a lot of favor with my demographic due to the author. Nintendo is... still pretty big but also routinely seen as a greedy mega corporation who is very antigamer/anticonsumer. Nintendo is probably too big to actually go away but both of these IPs have major hits to their reputation in my local circles. Not to mention that their spin offs (especially HP) have failed.

Entirely different from my personal experience. And saying Universal's IP is twisting the topic a bit since we know licensed IP is a good chunk. HP and Nintendo are effectively Universal IP at the park level, you would be hard press to find a single IP at Disney World bigger with that group then that (especially when Pokemon is upcoming).

And let's be real, Disney as a megacompany now has a horrible rep itself in those same groups lol

 

[Professortango1]

I’m not talking about fandom, Darth Vader is one of the top recognizable movie characters of all time. That’s a fact.

And to keep it on topic - he’s also a villain!

Kylo Ren is a villain and a recognizable character as well. And one that I find more interesting.

But as the OP was saying, most of dint care about which voice is coming out of the guy clad in black armor and cape..And we don't care about which Hemet shape he has. He's black knight villain in either era, so swapping one for the other is pretty much a wash for most folks.

 

[Professortango1]

New Gen here. Disney dogwalks Universals IP in my local circles. I don't rememeber the last time people talked about an actual Universal IP. Universal's IP is either very weak or they can't/don't do anything with it which is shown by how half of their brand new park is not even based on their IP and why they had to use HP 3 times in a row.

HP is huge but losing a lot of favor with my demographic due to the author. Nintendo is... still pretty big but also routinely seen as a greedy mega corporation who is very antigamer/anticonsumer. Nintendo is probably too big to actually go away but both of these IPs have major hits to their reputation in my local circles. Not to mention that their spin offs (especially HP) have failed.

I'll say, of my friends group 25-45, we are planning a trip to Epic Universe. We've never chatted about visiting WDW as a friend group. Partly because we have Disneyland and WDW falls a bit short park per park, but also because Universal put together some great looking stuff to experience.

I don't enjoy HtTYD as a film franchise. but I'm excited to go to that land and ride those rides because it looks good. Same with MOM. Potter is equivalent to Star Wars for me, but the Potter lands and attractions are some of the best theme park experiences I have had. And I ride Indiana Jones opening day when the ice machine was working.

Universal isn't perfect. (Curse of the Werewolf, World of Nintendo) but it feels like they keep taking the notes and refining while Disney has felt very "shut up! We will tell you what to consume and you'll like it."

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

But you’re absolutely kidding yourselves if you think John and Jane Doe are that hung up on it.

So do you think Galaxies Edge is what John and Jane want? Why or why not?

I’m not talking about Rise - we all agree that attraction is great.

 

[DisneyDean97]

I’m hoping the E-Ticket ride is a boat ride— save the SCOOP/Avengers ride system for a different park like DHS… Magic Kingdom shouldn’t have screen rides

 

[phillip9698]

Kylo Ren is a villain and a recognizable character as well. And one that I find more interesting.

But as the OP was saying, most of dint care about which voice is coming out of the guy clad in black armor and cape..And we don't care about which Hemet shape he has. He's black knight villain in either era, so swapping one for the other is pretty much a wash for most folks.

I can’t believe I’m actually reading this. Having Darth Vader and original Luke available in that land would absolutely have a major impact on how the average person feels about it.

Darth Vader is one of the most recognizable and iconic villains of all time in any source of media. He absolutely is not just swappable with any bad guy in a cape. On pretty much every first time trip I go on with people, at some point I end up having to tell them Darth Vader won’t be in the land. He is the character they ask to see/meet like clockwork. Spending the amount of money they did on this land and excluding all those original trilogy characters ranks as one of the most egotistical and idiotic decisions Disney has ever made, that’s how bad it is.

It’s like you are saying you could swap Mickey Mouse and Chuck E Cheese because at the end of the day they are both rodents. Good grief!

 

[BrianLo]

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

The limitation is driven out of costs. Unless they downscale it, it’s a very large and high capacity system that requires an exceptionally large footprint. I don’t think it can handle true multiple floors as the boats would probably plow water and flood the basement. As a result, it also exists on a scale level that most other rides don’t, absolutely massive set pieces and showrooms are somewhat a requirement to enthrall the 30 passenger vehicles.

Now here’s where I say something controversial. Obviously Rapunzel isn’t an E and Lion king is going for a flume - but Frozen is not a good boat ride. It’s a good ride grafted onto the completely wrong system. It should have been an LPS, but instead it became “switchbacks the boat ride” to achieve its desired show-scene intervals. The solution was also not SDL Pirates tech as it demanded a vertical axis to climb the mountain.

When they use this ride system it’s almost a default commitment to one of the largest scaled rides on a given property.

 

[danlb_2000]

Im not sure why people are so incredulous they would make a Rescuers dining area but think an Emperor’s New Groove e-ticket makes total sense.

Those films are on the second (or third?) tier in terms of impactful or interesting villains, and, in an odd bit of coincidence, have made approximately the same amount at the box office (despite respective initial release dates in 1977 and 2000).

Aren't we about due for a live action Emperor’s New Groove remake.

 

[ManicMillennial]

It’s like you are saying you could swap Mickey Mouse and Chuck E Cheese because at the end of the day they are both rodents. Good grief!

In all fairness most kids will have a fun time ether way.

 

[Tha Realest]

Looking at the plans, it strikes me that Disney is building yet another dead end. Monster Land, Animation Courtyard, and here - it’s just unappealing, impractical design.

Someone should tell their analytics team that a “dead” end is too scary for kids and maybe they’ll build out a Bluey egress to the land.

 

[LilDudesDad]

I have absolutely no idea.

There is a second POC center of page coming off of the existing water. Not sure why they would choose to make that long of a run when sewer is shown leaving plan Northeast of that building and there will be water running near by.

 

[lazyboy97o]

I believe it was Eisner who lost the Potter deal. It really goes underreported how much Eisner liked live action IPs. Almost to the detriment of us missing out on many renaissance era attractions.

Universal Orlando didn’t secure the rights to Harry Potter until May 2007.

 

[HMF]

And let's be real, Disney as a megacompany now has a horrible rep itself in those same groups lol

After the last few decades that reputation is quite deserved.

 

[HMF]

I’m not talking about Rise - we all agree that attraction is great.

It could be greater.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Aren't we about due for a live action Emperor’s New Groove remake.

No, they should do a live action, big budget Kingdom in the Sun.

 

[ERED]

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?

View attachment 909538

Interestingly ENG seems to be a cult classic for my teen and his group. He’s 16 and he watched it on his own. It’s not one I watched with him. Everywhere is different I suppose.