Since I went over my realistic wishlist, let’s go over many possibilities for pretty much every area they’d realistically be able to do.
It’s a long read, but I hope you find it worth it! I put a lot of thought into it.
Plot in Adventureland for an E-ticket: Moana, Lilo & Stitch, and Aladdin all work. Depending on what they do for another land after Monstropolis I think determines whether Moana goes here or not.
North of Villains, for a third land up there, whatever they feel like someday. Could be a future IP, maybe it’s even like Lord of the Rings, who knows, they could do literally anything. It probably would be a non-IP locked land that they can add things to overtime. My guess is this plot gets developed in the 2040s though, there’s a TON of other areas that will need work and expansion over the 2030s, and it would be unusually for TWDC to continue to develop MK at this scale because I mean we didn’t get a major new ride after Splash until SDMT, and not a true “E-ticket” until TRON, and finally a headliner with Villains in 2029/30. Remember, Disneyland Got Indiana Jones in the 90s too AND Rise, so all the MK stuff announced is basically getting MK up to where it should’ve been in like 2019, but everything Josh is signaling, and just the obvious reality that the parks are money printers if you do it right, I see zero reason to expect a change in approach: I mean, Disney themselves have said capacity expansions are the future of their growth.
People on WDWMagic need to start understanding what this shift really means. It does not mean this insane laundry list gets done anytime soon, but it probably means all these areas I’m mentioning here will get redeveloped/expanded in this half of this century.
Tomorrowland has tons of work still to be done on existing attractions still:
Space Mountain, the old
Stitch theaters, and the current
Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor. Tons of room. You could add two rides too! One where the old
Tomorrowland Theater was and another where the current
bathroom for Space/COP is.
For the
Tomorrowland Speedway it should probably be split between Fantasyland and Tomorrowland, with a decent-sized fountain display on the Tomorrowland side. Could do like an Alice in Wonderland mini-land like B&TB has with a dark ride next to a redone Teacups and the other Tomorrowland side for Big Hero 6/Wreck-It-Ralph.
Fantasyland has
Peter Pan’s Flight that is in need of a redo, and while I wouldn’t replace it, it does need an update and modernization (good audio, some moving figures like DL and Shanghai, modern lighting, walls/fiber optics, projection mapping).
The Storybook Circus tents could easily be replaced for another mini-land for another Princess based on a popular movie with enough room for an E-ticket. To me, that’s perfect expansion to do when they don’t want to blow off billions of dollars. Perfect for the late 2030s or early 2040s once Beyond Big Thunder and Tomorrowland are done. Plus toss in an Adventureland ride for good measure.
Future World
Spaceship Earth would get a redo: spirit of original, but with a new script, new descent, and totally new dialogue for all the animatronics with new programming in new AAs, and a new track. Should feel like the original redo but not about “storytelling@ but instead still about the human spirit, history, innovation, the future and communication. Should almost become like a modern Horizons I think, but it would have to be done right.
I’d overhaul Imagination and create a new Mystic Manor quality Figment ride, with a new Honey I Shrunk The Kids show, or some IP that actually could expand upon Imagination in a creative way.
Wonders of Life would become a new Health Pavilion with an E-ticket Inside Out ride headlining, I’d totally demolish the old Body Wars structure and make a new larger showbuilding in its place.
The plot between the Seas and the Land would partially be taken up by a higher capacity version of Crush’s Coaster, with the gravity building pushed as back as possible. I’d also try to update the Seas aesthetically and to add some sort of “snack” option that’s a must-do, themed to Nemo/Crush.
World Showcase
For the next 3 full-scale World Showcase Pavilions I’d do:
Greece,
Egypt,
Brazil,
South Korea, &
Spain would be the countries I’d add.
Greece would have an E-ticket Hercules ride and be between Germany and Italy.
Egypt between Japan and Morocco and if Morocco doesn’t get the Aladdin ride (and it doesn’t go into Adventureland or HWS), I’d go ahead and put it here. Imagine having the pyramids in the distance. Would be god-tier.
Brazil would be on the firework hazard plot and would be more expensive, I’d put a C-ticket Rio ride there.
South Korea would have no ride but a must-do Kpop experience. South Korea would be between Germany and Brazil.
Spain would be a “half pavilion”with no rides, and be in the Ratatouille plot, so you’d basically just have a Flamingo dancing show, a single shop, and a single quick-service, plus a snack cart.
Morocco would get a new belly dancer show with higher quality food, and if Egypt doesn’t get the Aladdin ride I’d put it here with an entrance in the back left half of the pavilion.
I’d add a Tangled ride to
Germany.
Mary Poppins or 101 Dalmatians to the
UK.
I’d replace Reflections of China with the new beginning of a queue space for a Mulan ride (with the showbuilding behind the pavilion).
China needs to draw away from Frozen and Mulan is so beloved; plus there’s tons of space back there, you’d be surprised.
And Pinocchio or Luca to
Italy.
Coco in
Mexico is also possible in the plot between Mexico and Norway, I’m not joking, but that’s the least priority of all these I’d say.
As for the fireworks, I’d update it and keep the show generally as is, but I’d also start doing extra evening hours at EPCOT and show an updated version of Illuminations: Reflections of Earth for it. I’d also keep World Showcase opened until 10:30 or 11pm every Friday and Saturday night. It might need a couple more rides (say Hercules and Mary Poppins) to really justify it, though.
Galaxy’s Edge gets a new E-ticket, Dinner Show, and land updates.
Galaxy’s Edge gets a thrilling rollercoaster in its expansion plot themed to pod-racing or speeder bikes. You could do it outdoors, but indoors is probably best.
Toy Story Land would receive a Lincoln Log flume ride (if Moana doesn’t happen) and a second flat ride.
I’d also make
Rise of the Resistance Rise of the Rebels.
Timeline unlocking the entire land is a must. Never should’ve been apart of it, ever, especially not for a “general purpose Star Wars Land that doesn’t recreate beloved locales.” Still, I’d love to see elements from Tatooine, Endor, Coruscant, Hoth, Endor, Naboo. And others have stylistic additions and references. Adding vegetation to a lot of the land is a must too.
The whole area immediately in front of and to the right (West) of Rise needs to have animatronics and sets, Isle of Berk style. Ewoks, you name it. Would really bring out the area and end it from feeling so dead.
I’d also add the
Star Wars ~PG-13 Dinner Show that was always supposed to be added,
As part of the new coaster area, I’d add a (equally small)
Nockturn Alley “that gives Coruscant vibes” area as well that functions as a “Bounty Hunters Hideout.”
I’d re-open a new Jedi Training Academy at the park too at the Kylo ship courtyard, cheap to do and a crowd pleaser. Star Wars Hoopla returns for Star Wars Weekends alongside special fireworks for it.
I’d add walkaround Jawas and OT/PT, beloved TV show characters and droids that come out unannounced throughout the day. You never know who you’d meet!
I’d actually have
the stunt show on the area purpose-built for it with modifications if needed. I like Stormtroopers up here, but it would be cool to see Obi-Wan and Darth Maul go at it too, if not there, then someplace else they need to have the ability to do this, at least at night.
I’d have the
Disneyland projection show at HWS, nightly.
I’d build a
permanent indoor meet and greet that works for two characters. I’d say Darth Vader is permanent and then you rotate the other. Could be Luke Skywalker, Ahsoka, Padme, Obi-Wan, plus characters from recent shows and movies that are popular enough to temporarily deserve a place here (ie. Andor or Mando), you name it.
Indiana Jones and a lot of parking lots should be replaced by a massive new land. I’d do something like this honestly: a Tropical Americas/Fantasy Springs type of land with The Incredibles, Lilo & Stitch, and Moana:
The Incredibles: Nomanisan Island
E-ticket mostly outdoors Incredibles coaster that goes throughout a lot of the land and all over its miniland. I’d put a sit-down restaurant, maybe like a California Grille style menu in this area, probably just one shop.
Moana: Island of Motunui
E-ticket flume ride like Lion King headlining this area. Shops, quick-service.
Plop in a small-scaled flat ride spinner or a ride like Aquatopia at Tokyo DisneySea or Fyre Drill at Epic Universe and you’re set.
Lilo and Stitch: Kauai
E-ticket rapids ride, two shops (one for general Stitch merch and one for land merch that looks like a typical Hawaiian market), and a drink stand (Donkey Kong Country style).
A sort of Fantasy Tropical Pacific Land if you will.
It would work because HWS needs water rides, HWS needs nature areas that take you out of the concrete jungle, and these are literally tested BILLION DOLLAR movie franchises and they all have crazy merch sales, particularly Lilo and Stitch.
I’d also much prefer it to another single-IP land.
Next, the area around
Rock n’ Rollercoaster Starring The Muppets should become a mini-land for the Muppets. A smaller-scaled Muppets Courtyard if you will, maybe they make a new MuppetsVision, totally modern and extremely well-done, or maybe Muppets finds its home in the theater at Imagination, who knows.
If the area eventually gets a
purpose-built Muppets quick-service with Swedish Chef with a fountain and finds a way to integrate the theater next to it and theme it all well, it could turn out really nicely long-term.
The area behind Tot is still usable for a ride showbuilding at least, if not for Muppets, for something else. E-ticket is on the table for this plot.
Plus,
the entire area to the North of RNRC (below from the photo) of HWS is accessible to make into a small land with a major ride even if you don’t touch Animation Courtyard, the parking deck back there, or the massive office space there too. There’s enough room for an E-ticket, so a land with a tight courtyard that can control sightlines would totally work here. So I’d kill for a
Who Framed Roger Rabbit land, a
Narnia land, or something like a
Nightmare Before Christmas land.
Tower of Terror needs a DLP style update and modernization.
Toy Story Mania! needs to get on modern computers and screens, alongside seasonal overlays that just alters the visuals, not the gameplay. No-brainer to do and you just repeat it at all the parks where it’s at.
I’d also swap out
Beauty and the Beast with a much better produced show, more Disney Cruise Line caliber (tho Beauty and the Beast quality not Little Mermaid of the cruises if they are anything to go by in execution). Hunchback would be amazing, so even slightly weaker than Beauty in terms of IP would work because terrific IPs like Hercules, Princess and the Frog, Tangled, Moana, Cinderella, or even Encanto are just waiting to be milked. No reason this show needs to go on endlessly, though I get B&TB has insane appeal. I see no reason to replace Beauty, even if it stays “outside” like it is currently just being a covered venue. As while the theater and backstage spaces cover a large area, if the park loses Indy (and it will eventually), I’d rather keep the non-stunt show spaces throughout the park and just get new updates. I was pretty disappointed with the new TLM show at HWS, and while it did many things better it also did a lot worse; we need true updates and new shows.
My favorite Walt Disney World park, easily the best themed, but plainly in need of more rides even after a tropical Americas, which is why I wouldn’t even put it in my top 3 when visiting Orlando currently. Probably top 5 overall in terms of the experience, but Tropical Americas (and assuming my a new night show), will finally change that.
I’d add a night show in Discovery Lagoon that continues the spirit of Rivers of Light, but has way more fountains, much crisper projections, and aquatic drones like at Disney Adventure World Paris. I’d also include IP like Encanto, Indiana Jones, Lion King, Avatar, Zootopia, and Moana, and Jungle Book, but I’d have it focus on the nature in beauty and animals in general.
Not IP-free (God I wish we’d have that at EPCOT though), but tie any IP-used into the park of Animal Kingdom itself by featuring the Yeti from Expedition Everest too, and other “park-only” offerings.
Like celebrate the park itself, all of its IPs (and adjacent nature ones like Fantasia 2000’s sequence or Pocahontas), its connection to nature, the beauty of a well-done night show itself, etc.
I think that’s an angle the first show lacked too because version 1 had no real finale and then version 2 threw in the Circle of Life, but both versions obviously never aspired to the original ideals. I think there’s actually a world in which these two competing visions could actually work, and would work best for this type of show. Not clip show like World of Color, but totally immersing you in the feeling of rawness/beauty/violence that is nature and using the park itself to tell this story. Sort of like Disneyland Forever celebrates Disneyland Park, do that for AK and all the ways nature connects to you as an individual and Disney’s “brand” in general.
Pandora: The World of Avatar could easily support a coaster next to River Journey. I think an outdoor coaster like Hagrid’s through new insane rock work like Radiator Springs Racers would be brilliant, but another indoor ride would be nice if they eventually end up doing a fluke ride like Lion King (which is much needed, the park needs another water ride that gets you wet in addition to a coaster). Now with Encanto being inside I really don’t think indoor rides will matter as much for the park’s future, you can start adding both again.
I’d put a
new land to the North of Kalli, where you have to go past the train tracks. You could also put a third station on the track at the new land.
Zootopia makes the most logical sense and it’d be away from the rest of the park unlike Tropical Americas, so like its own thing; done right it could work as its own realm, and if that keeps the rest of AK looking like it is, long-term I’d support it. AK could also use a variety in areas and a totally new area that’s stylistically different is something I’m warming up to, as it would be very different than changing the tone of the proper park around its core. Otherwise, if they want to continue the spirit of the park and Zootopia is either relegated to HWS or MK (I wouldn’t want either tbh as those parks need more nature areas), then a Pacific land with Moana attached would be very positive too for the park. I just can’t stop thinking about how Zootopia would actually work if it’s like nestled in its own universe like Super Nintendo World is in Osaka or how Zootropolis at Shanghai is to some degree already.
I’d
update Kalli River Rapids and expand the pathway by at least 50%, making it an E-ticket. I wouldn’t want it to become Jungle Book or anything, though.
South of Expedition Everest you could do an entire land, maybe an
indoor Antarctic or Arctic land, or perhaps you just plop in a
Jungle Book boat ride. This is literally the only live action movie I’d be fine with them choosing to use for the ride instead of the original, both because I think the remake is legitimately superior in many ways, and also because tonally, I feel like it would work a lot better, where as the original Lion King I feel makes more sense to do for this park, regardless, but if it would open the door to remakes being pushed into the parks than forget I said anything.
And yes,
Expedition Everest will eventually need a big update so the Yeti being replaced by a new figure would seem logical when the day comes.
I also think
creating a new ride around Discovery River/Lagoon would actually be worthwhile if they did it right.
The park needs
another table-service restaurant though, not Tiffins-level of fine dining, or a character meal, but restaurant with really good food and atmosphere. Literally a Yak & Yeti’s rival. After Tropical Americas, it needs to happen, either as part of a new ride/land expansion, or just an add-on to Africa, Pandora, or in a new land they do, but I doubt they will. They should, but I doubt it, lol.
Nemo should eventually be replaced and the exterior themed to not feel like the park’s only outlier. It feels like a “theater,” and that needs to change. I also wouldn’t mind bringing on a DCL style single IP production to the theater. Even if it’s Encanto I think that’d be great, shouldn’t be permanent, no show should be, but I feel like they could do more with the space.
And that’s a wrap? Thoughts, questions, concerns?
Oh Monorails could happen this D23!
