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

[castlecake2.0]

Could someone point out where the Adventureland expansion pad is?

 

[DisneyDodo]

Anything they consider doing that involves reducing the water storage capacity of RoA will require some sort of an offset to the water storage capacity somewhere else within the water system which includes Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake. That is a requirement of the South Florida Water Management District. RoA is linked via the canal on the West of MK down to Seven Seas Lagoon. It doesn't mean they could not do it, but it would require either Seven Seas Lagoon or Bay Lake to be expanded to match the water storage capacity lost with such a reduction. SFWMD is where you would see the early permit if they are considering anything like that.

Right, which is part of why I think the total removal of the river is so unlikely. The proposal I shared above is what I view as the most extreme scenario. What I think is most likely would be them shortening the river to a lesser extent, just enough to open up the area northwest of HM to allow for better guest flow and a more complete and cohesive Villains (or whatever) land for BBTM Phase 2.

It would still be a pretty expensive change, but they wouldn’t have much trouble offsetting the lost water retention capacity.

 

[DisneyDodo]

Could someone point out where the Adventureland expansion pad is?

 

[castlecake2.0]

View attachment 778625

Thats a long walk, but I guess similar to Indy at DL

 

[TheCoasterNerd]

If they mess with them, this would be my ideal shortening situation - shorten it, add lands around it. Note that there would be more lands behind the rivers but I didn't have space to connect that in this design.

This would be a nice compromise - keeping the bottom half and boat but still shortening it. This would allow them to connect it with more lands but still have water and an island.

This would be the worst-case scenario - filling them in entirely. I had to scramble for ideas for this one so pardon the shoddiness. This would allow them to have many new attractions but would lose one of the best parts of the park.

*all concepts presented are my own. I have no relation to The Walt Disney Company or anyone within it.
*made in Canva using screenshots of Walt Disney World and Disneyland maps
*representative of the alterations of the river, not the content of the land that replaces it.

Either way, the amount of money it'd take to remove the rivers is what will probably save them. I can see them shortened, but not removed. They know the love for the rivers and they know the outrage they'd get for removing them, so between that and budget I don't think they're going to fill them in.

 

[doctornick]

You are only thinking of land availability. However, you have to account for the loss of access to maintenance for the Lilly Bell with the expansion north of BTMRR. If they lose that, then you might as well either dock the boat permanently and convert to restaurant(which I believe was one rumor that was floating around), and then potentially convert TSI to some other. So losing the ROA would give full access and more space for whatever they may be adding to do it.

They already have one moveable bridge over the canal. It’s not really that big of a deal to have the guest path to Beyond Thunder Mountain be moveable to allow for ongoing access between the RoA and 7SL. they’d only typically need that open overnight anyway (and rarely) not during park operating hours.

Epcot does just fine with a drawbridge in the pathway.

 

[UNCgolf]

Thats a long walk, but I guess similar to Indy at DL

I'd expect them to build bathrooms and at least a snack stand on the way, but who knows.

 

[DisneyDodo]

I'd expect them to build bathrooms and at least a snack stand on the way, but who knows.

Another option (that I don’t anticipate would ever happen) would be to use the expansion plot to create a little mini land with a smaller ride, QS restaurant, bathrooms, etc. It’s a big plot of land, so it could be used for multiple things, but all rumors I’ve ever heard for that area have been for a single E-ticket ride.

 

[Phicinfan]

They already have one moveable bridge over the canal. It’s not really that big of a deal to have the guest path to Beyond Thunder Mountain be moveable to allow for ongoing access between the RoA and 7SL. they’d only typically need that open overnight anyway (and rarely) not during park operating hours.

Epcot does just fine with a drawbridge in the pathway.

But will it make sense, and what does that do to space.
the options listed above by @TheCoasterNerd all basically close off the outer way for maintenance for the Lilly Bell. I don't see them keeping the Lilly Bell as is, if this is the case. So do you dock it permanently, or do you get rid of it and ROA to make easier paths and space

 

[Coaster Lover]

Another option (that I don’t anticipate would ever happen) would be to use the expansion plot to create a little mini land with a smaller ride, QS restaurant, bathrooms, etc. It’s a big plot of land, so it could be used for multiple things, but all rumors I’ve ever heard for that area have been for a single E-ticket ride.

I mean, that's essentially what was proposed when Fire Mountain was proposed for that spot ~30 years ago... build a path back to a mini-land with a few shops/food places and whatnot just behind the PoC show building between the Jungle Cruise and the railroad tracks, then a longer queue for the main attraction that would go under the railroad tracks and back to the main show building in the southwest corner of the plot... I can't imagine any plans to build anything else back there would be significantly different (logistically)

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

I honestly can't remember the last time Disney built a new theater venue at a domestic park

Hyperion at DCA I beleive unless you count the rebuilt Festival of Lion King Theatre.

View attachment 778625

If they use that expansion pad they should make a new MK entrance for monorail, boat, and pedestrian traffic - the current main entrance needs some relief from traffic and that would be a big help.

 

[EricsBiscuit]

You are only thinking of land availability. However, you have to account for the loss of access to maintenance for the Lilly Bell with the expansion north of BTMRR. If they lose that, then you might as well either dock the boat permanently and convert to restaurant(which I believe was one rumor that was floating around), and then potentially convert TSI to some other. So losing the ROA would give full access and more space for whatever they may be adding to do it.

They can build a drawbridge across the canal very easily and that is not unprecedented. Take the drawbridge between China and Africa pavilions at Epcot for example.

 

[Coaster Lover]

I am curious... if they are planning on using the pad suggested for BBTM as well as the Adventureland pad, what options does that leave on the table as the most likely options for future expansion of the MK? Is north of Fantasyland an option? What about just north of Tron? Or southeast of Tomorrowland?

 

[Phicinfan]

They can build a drawbridge across the canal very easily and that is not unprecedented. Take the drawbridge between China and Africa pavilions at Epcot for example.

I am not disputing that, but that will interupt the view and area, it will also keep BTMRR seperate by a waterway from rest of the "desert" area - which makes no sense yes?

I am not saying they should, or are removing ROA, just saying I see the logic in that it could very well be the case.

 

[SailorMercury]

I am curious... if they are planning on using the pad suggested for BBTM as well as the Adventureland pad, what options does that leave on the table as the most likely options for future expansion of the MK? Is north of Fantasyland an option? What about just north of Tron? Or southeast of Tomorrowland?

I could be wrong, but I think there's a pad past Storybook Circus

 

[James Alucobond]

I am not disputing that, but that will interupt the view and area, it will also keep BTMRR seperate by a waterway from rest of the "desert" area - which makes no sense yes?

I am not saying they should, or are removing ROA, just saying I see the logic in that it could very well be the case.

If the Frontierland extension is just one attraction, they could conceivably place it behind Thunder Mountain via a path north of the restrooms currently beyond Frontierland Station. It would then back up to or displace the Liberty Belle maintenance area. A drawbridge running parallel to the railroad bridge could connect directly into a possible phase 2/villain land.

 

[DisneyDodo]

I am curious... if they are planning on using the pad suggested for BBTM as well as the Adventureland pad, what options does that leave on the table as the most likely options for future expansion of the MK? Is north of Fantasyland an option? What about just north of Tron? Or southeast of Tomorrowland?

They could expand east of TL on the other side of World Drive

That land is “marginally suitable” for development.

 

[danlb_2000]

They could expand east of TL on the other side of World Drive
View attachment 778654
That land is “marginally suitable” for development.

That would be challenging because you have World Drive, the railroad and monorail spur tracks between the park and that land.

 

[DisneyDean97]

I mean, that's essentially what was proposed when Fire Mountain was proposed for that spot ~30 years ago... build a path back to a mini-land with a few shops/food places and whatnot just behind the PoC show building between the Jungle Cruise and the railroad tracks, then a longer queue for the main attraction that would go under the railroad tracks and back to the main show building in the southwest corner of the plot... I can't imagine any plans to build anything else back there would be significantly different (logistically)

View attachment 778640

If only they were building Fire Mountain :/

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

If only they were building Fire Mountain :/

We aren’t allowed to want nice things anymore.