Also I wonder how much the box office of The Mandalorian and Grogu will impact a possibly Disoveryland Star Wars sub-land? There was so much talk about this a while back but... more recent silence?
I am a bit puzzled about this and state of all the other rumours as well. Based on everything we’ve heard over the past few years, the DLP masterplan for new rides and mini-lands must be extensive. Some projects - particularly rollercoaster refurbishments - aren’t optional but necessary, as several tracks are nearing the end of their lifespan. Add to that the sheer amount of available expansion land and the fact that DLP still lacks several top-tier attractions found elsewhere, and the long-term potential is enormous.
When the turbocharged $30 billion global park expansion investment was announced, insiders suggested this would finally be DLP’s moment to catch up in a meaningful way. To be clear, the current expansion work at DLP is significant. But according to those same insiders, figures in the $10 billion range were being rumoured for DLP alone. The gap between those expectations and what we’re actually seeing is striking. It’s frustrating - though unfortunately not that surprising.
At that rumoured investment level, there shouldn’t have been many trade-offs. Moana could have been added to Adventureland. Pandora could have gone into DAW. Star Wars - in my opinion ideally in DAW as well - could have been developed properly. And beyond that, other new attractions or updates for Disneyland Park should have been a easy given - all within the 7–10 year turbocharged timeframe until 2033.
Instead, it feels like DLP's constrained funding is driving compromises: projects swapped between parks, scaled-down concepts with one-ride-only-lands, and well stretched timelines. On top of that, there’s the constant gamble over which IP will generate the biggest draw. That risk pushes decisions toward marketing logic rather than thematic coherence.
Yes, Avatar’s box office success would support bringing Pandora to DAW. But what truly matters is the quality of execution. The reason Pandora at AK works so well isn’t just the IP - it’s the immersive world-building, quality and real storytelling. That’s what makes an attraction timeless. In my opinion IP popularity is secondary at best.
RotR is a perfect example: it’s extraordinary because of its ambition and execution. It would remain impressive even if interest in Kylo Ren faded. A rumoured Star Wars speeder-bike attraction could be fantastic - but only if it stands on its own merits. It can’t rely solely on the popularity of characters like Grogu - that can fade quickly these days.
In the end, world-class design outlasts box office trends. That’s the standard DLP should be aiming for - again.
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