News 'Beyond Big Thunder Mountain' Blue Sky concept revealed for Magic Kingdom

[Bocabear]

I agree.
Which is why it’ll be disappointing when it’s Moana

LOL!!! Hopefully not...

 

[Schmidt]

I agree.
Which is why it’ll be disappointing when it’s Moana

I can get behind Moana as long as they do it right. At least that's a movie that seems to have staying power.
Good movie, characters, and story.
Movies like Encanto do not, so I'll chalk Moana up as a win.

 

[James Alucobond]

Movies like Encanto do not, so I'll chalk Moana up as a win.

I’m not saying it will have staying power, but is there some great Arbiter of Cultural Mindshare out there who’s already rendered his verdict?

 

[Tha Realest]

I’m not saying it will have staying power, but is there some great Arbiter of Cultural Mindshare out there who’s already rendered his verdict?

I think Moana reached pretty high stratosphere both theatrically and since on streaming. Highly recognizable songs, great film.

It’s popularity will be tested if not diminished by the rushed film later this year.

 

[FettFan]

That is a great idea!!! In person that ride is so amazing!! The settings are immense and the use of screens is near perfect....
That would make an unbelievable attraction for the Magic Kingdom!!

Ideally that’s what Tiana’s Bayou Adventure should have been.

 

[cjkeating]

Speaking of the Shanghai Pirates tech (someone brought it up above), I remember a few years back there were credible rumors that a few of the parks were fighting over who would possibly get the tech (with theme TBD) since the company would not want to have 2 of the same ride tech in WDW, at least of that particular ride tech. Anyone know of any movement and bringing that ride system stateside for any of the proposed blue sky expansion? I feel like that ride system was constantly being talked about as to what and where it could go in WDW but the convo has seemed to have fallen off a cliff

I believe all the parks wanted the ride tech until to they saw how much it cost.

 

[PizzaPlanet]

Does anyone know if this project would involve shortening the ROA and rerouting the train? Like they did in DL for galaxy’s edge

 

[yensidtlaw1969]

Does anyone know if this project would involve shortening the ROA and rerouting the train? Like they did in DL for galaxy’s edge

I have both heard that it would and that it wouldn't, alternately.

Shortening the river seems like a very real consideration, but it would be trickier at MK than it was at DL.

 

[doctornick]

I have both heard that it would and that it wouldn't, alternately.

Shortening the river seems like a very real consideration, but it would be trickier at MK than it was at DL.

I’d be curious as to why it would be “trickier”.

That said, I’m firmly of the belief that it would be unnecessary. There’s plenty of room north of the RoA if they want. Sure, there might be significant work needed to made it usable but that’s better than shutting down the River and the train (again)

 

[lazyboy97o]

I’d be curious as to why it would be “trickier”.

Because the Rivers of America is directly connected to the Seven Seas Lagoon and thus the larger water management strategy of Walt Disney World. Whereas Disneyland could just fill in parts of Rivers of America, at the Magic Kingdom that volume of water and the additional water the Rivers could hold would have to be relocated along with providing the additional water management capacity required of any expansion.

 

[EricsBiscuit]

Because the Rivers of America is directly connected to the Seven Seas Lagoon and thus the larger water management strategy of Walt Disney World. Whereas Disneyland could just fill in parts of Rivers of America, at the Magic Kingdom that volume of water and the additional water the Rivers could hold would have to be relocated along with providing the additional water management capacity required of any expansion.

Hopefully that protects the river somewhat from any shortsighted bean counters.

 

[MerlinTheGoat]

I'm curious whether any of the proposals would call for the permanent docking of the riverboat.

 

[Squishy]

Because the Rivers of America is directly connected to the Seven Seas Lagoon and thus the larger water management strategy of Walt Disney World. Whereas Disneyland could just fill in parts of Rivers of America, at the Magic Kingdom that volume of water and the additional water the Rivers could hold would have to be relocated along with providing the additional water management capacity required of any expansion.

Didn't they literally drain the whole thing a few years ago?

 

[EricsBiscuit]

I'm curious whether any of the proposals would call for the permanent docking of the riverboat.

Would be such a shame. Especially after they just spent a small fortune refurbishing it (including a new boiler).

Edit: they have so much space back there that they could build outside the WDWRR tracks with minimal downtime for either the WDWRR or the Liberty Belle. No matter what they do, they’re going to need to spend a lot of money on site work. A fortune on dirt alone. No sense in shortening the river and losing 2-3 attractions for another 1-2 years.

 

[MagicHappens1971]

I'm curious whether any of the proposals would call for the permanent docking of the riverboat.

I don't think this would actually happen.

 

[Squishy]

I don't think this would actually happen.

If it does, that's how you know the end is near

 

[lazyboy97o]

Didn't they literally drain the whole thing a few years ago?

Temporarily. Water wasn’t fully prevented from lowing into the area during the work and the temporary dam could have been breached/removed if a significant weather event occurred or was expected.

 

[GhostHost1000]

Moana belongs in Adventureland. Use that Shanghai pirates tech and build a great e ticket behind pirates and adventure land will be on the map.

Rejigger Frontierland as an easy to west progression. The bears in appalichia. Add more line trees and rocks. Leading into New Orleans around Tiana and then the far west with big thunder and ultimately Mexico. I think that progression fits the idea of the frontier very well from a westward expansion view. I would do giant villains section for the rest to connect back to mansion. And while there back there build the Asian Beauty and the Beast ride and connect it to Belles house. To plus up fantasyland. I'd take out the speedway and use that for some of the fantasy springs attractions. Maybe expand Peter Pan and then the old pan into tangled since we apparently can't get rid of small world.

As much as coco goes with Mexico in Epcot the space for a great ride isn't really there and I would rather they build out other countries. Give us a mulan attraction in China and poppins in UK.

If we're doing tropical americas the you can do encanto in Ak. I hate losing dinosaurs and feel like they should kept the Dino theming and build tropical just where hester and Chester's area is. Restuarantoaurus I think is well themed it's just the other side that isn't.

Hollywood you can do pretty much anything. The different studios as the lands always made the most sense to me but that ship has sailed. Something to take over all of the animation courtyard whether it's Zootopia or something all new would be preferable. Using those available marvel characters would be cool.

They could take up the Swiss family Robinson treehouse space.

 

[BrianLo]

I can get behind Moana as long as they do it right. At least that's a movie that seems to have staying power.
Good movie, characters, and story.
Movies like Encanto do not, so I'll chalk Moana up as a win.

Moana was 1 and Encanto 2 in 2023 for top movies streamed across all platforms.

Moana being most popular is valid. Encanto not being incredibly popular, is not. It also wasn’t Encanto’s first year run and other franchises that I don’t think anyone really question their validity of park expansions (new Black Panther and Avatar films) it managed to overtake.

 

[Squishy]