Disneyland Project/Rumor Tracker

BasiltheBatLord

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Disneyland Park
  • Tiana's Bayou Adventure (under construction)
    • Splash Mountain is being re-themed to "Tiana's Bayou Adventure" themed after The Princess & the Frog[official]
      • Tony Baxter will serve as "Creative Adviser" on the project [source]
      • Attraction will open in late 2024. [official]
        • D23 2022: New facade and story details [official]
        • D23 2023: Short video of under construction animatronic [official]
  • Haunted Mansion Grounds Expansion (under construction)
    • Haunted Mansion's grounds will be expanded in 2024 with a new expanded outdoor queue and retail shop outside the attraction's exit. [official]
    • The new additions will "build on the story and lore of the Haunted Mansion" and "immerse guests in enhanced theming. [official]
  • Fantasmic! 3.0 (under construction)
    • Fantasmic! will return on May 24, 2024 after a 1 year+ hiatus due to the fire incident with the dragon figure. [official]
    • The show will feature "new special effects, a thrilling new battle scene between Sorcerer Mickey and Maleficent, plus the return of the iconic Peter Pan scene." [official]
      • The new Mickey vs. Maleficent scene will reportedly not feature a dragon figure at all [source]
  • Star Wars TV Shows in Star Tours (announced)
    • Scenes from Ahsoka, The Mandalorian and Andor will be added to Star Tours in on April 5, 2024. [official]
  • Tomorrowland Changes (planned/on hold?)
    • Plans exist to eventually overhaul Tomorrowland at some undetermined point in time [source]
      • Tomorrowland overhaul is "on the far back burner", not coming anytime soon [source]
      • Two-phase overhaul planned for first half of 2020s, will include some demolition of existing structures [source]
      • Reportedly delayed indefinitely due to Coronavirus pandemic [source]
      • September 2022: Tomorrowland re-do is the next major project for Disneyland "barring a massive shakeup" [source]
    • Any overhaul of Tomorrowland would likely include demolition of the People Mover tracks, early 2020s had been mentioned as a timeframe pre-pandemic [source 1] [source 2] [source 3]
    • Some sort of Tron attraction is/was "proposed" for Disneyland, possibly the light cycle coaster in Shanghai and Florida or something unique. [source 1] [source 2]
      • Tron would have replaced Autopia and the Submarines [source]
      • Update: New intel suggests Tron coaster NOT coming to DL [source]
    • Star Tours is staying for the foreseeable future, might get replaced eventually. Iron Man simulator is NOT coming to DLR. [source]
      • There was a plan pre-pandemic to re-theme Star Tours with an unknown overlay [source]
    • Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters is/was slated to be replaced with an unknown overlay [source]
    • Tomorrowland could get a new attraction that exists at another park as part of its overhaul (Tron?) [source]
    • Much of the Tomorrowland overhaul was based on the "Lightyear" movie, re-do is now going back to the drawing board after it flopped [source]
  • Fantasyland Expansion (rumor)
    • A major Fantasyland expansion may be the next big project after SW:GE and Toontown, not much word yet though [rumor]
      • Most proposals involve Frozen [source]
    • Fantasyland Theater could be demolished for new E-ticket. Likely years away [rumor]
    • Tokyo's BatB E-ticket unlikely to come to Disneyland [source 1] [source 2] [source 3]
Disney California Adventure
  • Avengers Campus Multiverse E-Ticket (announced)
    • New multiverse E-ticket attraction [official]
      • "an epic family adventure, where you’ll get to team up with more of the Avengers and their allies to battle against foes from the multiverse, including King Thanos, a villain designed specifically for Avengers Campus."
      • Seems to have replaced the previously announced Avengers Quinjet e-ticket from 2019 [official]
      • No date or timeline announced
      • D23 2023: first look at ride vehicle [official]
Downtown Disney
  • West End Overhaul
    • The west end of Downtown Disney is undergoing a "multi-year reimagining" to include "an even broader collection of shopping, dining and entertainment experiences." [official]
      • The old AMC Theaters building and surrounding area will be transformed into a new "lifestyle space" [source]
      • Earl of Sandwich, Sugarboo and the west end Starbucks will also all close permanently. [source]
      • May 2022: More details and concept art [official]
      • D23 2022: Additional details [official]
      • Expected to be completed in late 2024 [official]
Resort-wide/Hotels
  • New entry gates (announced)
    • New, updated entry gates are expected to be constructed at both DL and DCA later this year [source]
    • The new gates are expected to be similar to the automated entry gates at Disneyland Paris and will also be updated to be stroller and ADA accessible. [source]
  • Avatar Experience (announced)
    • Some sort of Avatar "experience" is planned for somewhere in the Resort, according to Bob Iger on the February 2023 earnings call. [source]
      • Iger did not clarify what exactly the experience will be or where it will go in the Resort, however he referred to it later in the call's Q&A as "a version of Avatar", implying that it might well be a clone of DAK's Pandora land. [source]
      • March 2024: Iger confirms that the Avatar experience is "a second one [Pandora land]" [source]
    • November 2023: Imagineer Chris Beatty claimed at an IAAPA event that the Avatar experience will be located in DCA. Possible miscommunication/slip up as Disney later walked this back in a statement saying that the location has not been announced. [source]
  • DisneylandForward (proposed)
    • Disney has made public a proposal for a major expansion of the DLR under the name "DisneylandForward", publicly lobbying for changes to Anaheim zoning laws to allow for building attractions in other parts of Disney-owned land, outside of the two existing parks. [official]
      • "Possibilities" mentioned for future expansion at the resort include: [official]
        • Toy Story Land found at DHS, HKDL and Shanghai
        • DisneySea's Fantasy Springs expansion
        • Shanghai's Zootopia land
        • Hong Kong's Frozen land
        • Tron Lightcycle coaster
        • Disney Springs-esque expansion of Downtown Disney
        • Eastern Gateway parking structure
        • New theme park southeast of Harbor Blvd.
      • Disney stresses that the proposal is just in "the very beginning stages" and that no specific projects are currently planned. [official]
Timeline
Be skeptical of anything with a (?)

2018
  • October 1: Earl of Sandwich returns to DTD for limited time
  • October 12: Salt & Straw opens at DTD
  • November 4: Final performance of Pixar Play Parade at DL
  • November 4: Final performance of Jedi Training Academy at DL
  • November 16: Matterhorn reopens with new queue in DL
  • December 19: Tropical Hideaway opens in DL
2019
  • January 7: Sleeping Beauty Castle refurbishment/repairs begin
  • January 16: Ballast Point opens at DTD
  • January 17: Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough closes for refurbishment
  • January 18: Mickey's Mix Magic nighttime show debuts at DL
  • January 21: White Water Snacks re-opens at Grand Californian
  • January 25: Mickey's Soundsational Parade returns to DL with new Mickey float
  • February 5: Tangaroa Terrace opens at Disneyland Hotel
  • February 22: World of Color returns at DCA
  • March 8: Temporary Captain Marvel meet n' greet comes to DCA
  • March 29: Jessie's Critter Carousel opens at DCA
  • April 19: Live-action Aladdin movie preview opens in DL, runs through May 27
  • April 26: Mickey's PhilharMagic opens at DCA
  • May: Disneyland Hotel pool reopens
  • May: Black Tap Craft Burgers & Beer opens at DTD
  • May 28: Sleeping Beauty Castle refurbishment/repairs are completed
  • May 31: Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge opens at DL
  • June: AP system overhauled
  • June 1: Sorain' Over California returns for a limited time at DCA
  • June 7: Disneyland Forever replaces Mickey's Mix Magic at DL
  • June 7: Tale of the Lion King debuts for a limited time at DCA
  • June 28: Inside Out Emotional Whirlwind opens at DCA
  • June 30: Pixar Pals Parking Structure opens
  • July: New pool bar opens at Grand Californian
  • July 17: Mickey's Soundsational Parade ends at DL
  • August 2: Main Street Electrical Parade returns to DL for a limited time
  • Summer: Mickey's PhilharMagic gets new queue + sign at DCA
  • August 31: Soarin' returns to the Around the World version
  • September 6: Oogie Boogie Bash debuts at DCA, runs through Oct. 31
  • September 6: Halloween Screams fireworks show begins at DL, runs through Oct. 31
  • September 30: Main Street Electrical Parade ends at DL
2020
  • January 17: Rise of the Resistance opens at DL
  • February 28: Magic Happens parade debuts at DL
2021
  • April 30: Snow White's Enchanted Wish opens at DL
  • April 30: Haunted Mansion new additions debut at DL
  • June 4: Avengers Campus opens in DCA
  • July 4: Mickey's Mix Magic returns to DL, performs nightly through the summer
  • July 16: Jungle Cruise overhaul completed
  • July 17: New Coco scene premieres in Mickey's PhilharMagic at DCA
  • December 8: Disney Genie launches/FastPass system overhauled into Lighting Lane
  • Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin overhaul completed at DL
2022
  • January: Downtown Disney overhaul begins
  • March: Toontown closes for land overhaul
  • April 22: Main Street Electrical Parade and Disneyland Forever return at Disneyland, World of Color returns at DCA
  • May 28: Fantasmic! returns at DL and New Orleans Square crowd control overhaul completed
  • September 20: Eudora’s Chic Boutique Featuring Tiana’s Gourmet Secrets opens at DL
2023
  • January 27: Disney100 Celebration kicks off at the resort
  • January 27: World of Color - One debuts at DCA
  • January 27: Wondrous Journeys fireworks show debuts at DL
  • January 27: Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway opens in DL
  • February 24: Magic Happens parade returns at DL
  • March 19: The rest of Toontown re-opens at DL
  • May 30: Splash Mountain closes permanently in DL
  • June 30: Rogers: The Musical premieres at DCA
  • September 7: Tiana's Palace restaurant opens at DL
  • September 28: The Villas at Disneyland Hotel open
  • November 10: Adventureland Treehouse re-opens at DL
2024
  • January 30: Pixar Place Hotel re-theme completed
  • April 5: Ahsoka added to Star Tours at DL
  • May 24: Fantasmic! returns at DL
  • Late: Tiana's Bayou Adventure opens in DL
  • Late: Downtown Disney West End overhaul opens.
  • Late: New entry gates at DL and DCA.
  • TBA: Haunted Mansion grounds expansion completed in DL
TBA
  • Avengers Campus Multiverse E-ticket opens in DCA
  • Avatar "experience" opens
???/Blue Sky
  • DisneylandForward resort expansion
  • New night parade to DL
  • Tomorrowland overhaul at DL
  • Downtown Disney hotel back from the dead
  • Fantasyland expansion at DL

Project Map made by @Door Coaster
Green - already open
Yellow - actively under construction
Orange - on the tracker and not cancelled but not currently under construction
Very dark orange - Indefinitely delayed
Red - Official project cancelled
Light purple - status unclear
Dark Purple - Rumored project either denied by insiders or cancelled
 
Last edited:

BasiltheBatLord

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Lots of updates today courtesy of @TP2000

Updates
Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge (under construction)
  • Opening Summer 2019 [official]
    • Internal plan is to open Memorial Day weekend, but could get delayed to first week of June [source] [added]
Garden Grove Hotel [added]
  • New hotel could be coming in Garden Grove depending on November elections [source]
Star Wars Hotel [added]
  • Some version of the Star Wars Hotel from DHS is planned for DLR in the early 2020's, depending on future City relations [source]
Also added new sources on C-ticket Marvel ride and Toontown Overhaul/"Project Marceline"
 

BasiltheBatLord

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Updates

World of Color
  • WoC encountered a major issue during a refurb in May and is currently on hiatus, returning late 2018 at earliest, if not early 2019 [source 1] [source 2]
    • Not returning in 2018 [source] [added]
Paint the Night
  • PtN is staying at DCA for the foreseeable future, going seasonal in early 2019 [source 1] [source 2]
    • Already going seasonal: PtN will not run during Festival of Holidays [official] [added]
 

BasiltheBatLord

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Updates

Tomorrowland Changes
  • Jedi Training Academy ending permanently in November? Official entertainment schedule shows no performances after Nov. 4 [source] [added]
Matterhorn queue overhaul (under construction)
  • Queue is currently being re-built and re-routed to help with crowd control [source]
 

spectrodanny

Active Member
does anyone know if PTN's downtime is because of the Viva Navidad festival at DCA? if that's the case, they should move it over to DL for the holidays (I *THINK* they could still do garlands over Main Street now that the Frozen float is no longer in the parade.
 

BasiltheBatLord

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
does anyone know if PTN's downtime is because of the Viva Navidad festival at DCA? if that's the case, they should move it over to DL for the holidays (I *THINK* they could still do garlands over Main Street now that the Frozen float is no longer in the parade.
This thread isn't for discussing changes to the parks (this rule is to help make sure this thread doesn't become a neverending anything-goes-spam-fest as happens to lots of other threads around here).

Here's an appropriate thread to discuss what you're talking about: https://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/world-of-color-refurbishment.937950/page-18
 

BasiltheBatLord

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Updates

Pixar Pier Delayed Additions (under construction)
  • Luxo lamp AA still M.I.A. Delayed or cancelled? [original concept art]
    • Currently being installed, still under construction tarp [source] [added]
  • New Restaurants (under construction)
    • The following restaurants are all scheduled to open late 2018
      • Ballast Point [official]
      • Black Tap Craft Burgers & Beer [official]
      • Salt & Straw [official] [Removed due to completion]
 

beachlover4444

Well-Known Member
I heard today it's official Disneyland will not build that 4th hotel. Also I heard the reason the Luxo Lamp is missing is because there is a company that makes the actual Luxo Lamps and they have to get permission from them i.e. trademarks etc. You would think if they let them use it in movies and as part of the whole Pixar name thing it would not be a huge issue right? I think it will look awesome up there. Cant wait to see it hopefully in January. Thanks for the updates so I know what's going on as our trip approaches.
 

BasiltheBatLord

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Marvel update-palooza

Updates

Disneyland Park
  • Toontown Overhaul/Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway (planned)
  • Project is on-hold until at least 2019 in order to gauge future relations with City of Anaheim (November elections matter), but project may be complete before Superhero Land in DCA [source 1] [source 2]
    • Project has now reportedly been greenlit, but not being announced until D23 2019 at earliest [source 1] [source 2] [added]
  • Disney currently investigating whether land can be kept open during/after fireworks, no guarantee of anything [source] [added]
Disney California Adventure
  • Unnamed Superhero Land (under construction)
    • At least 1, maybe 2 E-tickets, replacing Bugs Land theater and maybe Timon lot [rumor]
      • Spider-Man attraction
        • Dark ride using new pendulum ride-system? [rumor]
        • Could be just a C-ticket spinner ride instead [source 1] [source 2]
        • Most recent report claims ride will be a screen-based shooter ride (like Midway Mania), with "webslingers" for guests [source] [added]
      • Avengers coaster [rumor]
        • Allegedly axed completely due to capacity issues [source]
          • Maybe not? Report claims back from the dead [source] [added]
    • Doctor Strange show/character experience similar to the one currently on Disney Cruise Line [source] [added]
    • Counter service restaurant [source] [added]
    • Ant-Man themed microbrewery [source] [added]
 
Last edited:

Register on WDWMAGIC. This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.

Back
Top Bottom