Rumor D23 2024 WDW Rumors, Predictions & Discussion

[Parker41056]

After considering what didn't get announced that was rumored, my thoughts have shifted somewhat about where some things should go.

For AK, nix the clone of Paris' Lion King and instead revive the left half of the original blue sky art as an Oceania miniland. Do the Moana flume and move TriceraTop Spin over, converting it to the proposed kakamora spinner.

For MK, subsequently ignore Moana in favor of setting sights on Tomorrowland next. It needs a massive amount of help since many things within (Monsters, Buzz, Speedway) will be redundant in short order.

For EPCOT, find a way to make something for Coco work with Mexico. Yes, I know there are challenges, but with it now not showing at either MK or AK, it feels appropriate to put it on the table once more. This can be way down the road, though. There are obviously far more pressing issues at EPCOT.

Love the Oceania land revival at DAK. While I firmly believe that DAK needs a Lion King attraction, Moana would work great in DAK. Don't get me wrong, Moana would work great in Adventure Land as well but they already have a flume and focus needs to be on the expansions there.

As for Tomorrowland, agree. reimagine that space and add another unique and original attraction. Convert Speedway to either a kid Tron attraction with electric cars or even better, candy racers from Wreck it Ralph.

Not sure the Mexico Pavilion has the scope to bring Coco to life as it should be. I'm all for a Coco attraction though just think it needs to be bigger and Mexico really doesn't have the space. Maybe build a new Mexico Pavilion with Coco attraction and convert the existing one to another country. What they should consider is Tangled addition to the Germany Pavilion. World Showcase sure needs the people eaters.

 

[Lilofan]

When the 2026 recession cancels all these plans

I didn’t see so many cheering during the 2008/09 recession where many lost their jobs, homes, and a substantial part of their net worth.

 

[Parker41056]

So when does Universal make an Epic announcement to control the new cycle? Tomorrow in the morning?

Agree, They will announce some a new land coming to existing parks. Zelda or Pokemon. Maybe even announce a phase 2 expansion at EPIC such as Great Hall at Potter or Luigi's Mansion.

 

[Parker41056]

Wow, new artwork for Cars attraction at WDW. Rivers of America will be going away. Silver lining is this will allow a more direct path to Villains are and allow much more expansion area for the build out.

 

[Goofyernmost]

It had a very large hourly capacity which kept the lines down. There was the rumored sinkhole thing, but I think that's been disproven.

Yes, I know it was a large capacity ride, but there was a time when the line, snaking through the queue was out the door. At the end it was one car full, three cars empty. It could have been the slowest load in the world and it still wouldn't have had much of a line. The problem was that even though there were some diehard fans, like myself, there were not enough of us to pay for the existence of the park much less Horizons.

The "notable exception" that was hinted at was Splash Mountain.

Sorry, but I thought we were discussing Epcot. My bad, but what I said about it is still true.

Splash Mtn. was a completely different story. Pressure bought on by people that knew that originally Disney used the From "Song of the South" causing them to unknowingly set it up for doom. The story line for Splash was from the Uncle Remus stories which was a depiction of the culture of freed Slaves written about 100 years before Slash Mtn. was even thought of.

"Uncle Remus is the fictional title character and narrator of a collection of African American folktales compiled and adapted by Joel Chandler Harris and published in book form in 1881".

The movie did that same thing pointing out the bigotry of the Plantation owners after the slaves were freed and strongly pointed out how much more caring and wise the freed men and women were than the white folks that once owned them.

If it did anything it erased the story of the slaves brought over here forcibly to work the fields owned by the rich southerners. It doesn't take much imagination to figure out, being in Florida, what group it was that probably applied pressure on Disney to remove it.

 

[Goofyernmost]

Wow, new artwork for Cars attraction at WDW. Rivers of America will be going away. Silver lining is this will allow a more direct path to Villains are and allow much more expansion area for the build out. View attachment 808598

I cannot make anything out about this except the distant drawing of Big Thunder mtn. way in the back. I also see what I think looks like water so I cannot see where we are losing RoA. That would also mean losing the Liberty Belle.

 

[Mark Dunne]

So let me get this right, i need to pop to universal, borrow a DeLorean, then tap in 2027, IM UP FOR THAT!!

 

[Goofyernmost]

That’s a great example of one of the biggest changes in how P&R now works. They used to build things we didn’t know we wanted and we fell in love with them. Now they only build things they think we want.

Welcome to the wonderful world we presently live in.

 

[Lilofan]

Welcome to the wonderful world we presently live in.

Like what some other power people outside of Disney build their " pet projects ". The one thing is after going back and forth these projects at times get approved.

 

[mightynine]

That’s a great example of one of the biggest changes in how P&R now works. They used to build things we didn’t know we wanted and we fell in love with them. Now they only build things they think we want.

@wdwmagic let me multiple react to this post, k thx

 

[Vegas Disney Fan]

They absolutely nailed this presentation in a way they hadn’t even come remotely close to doing in decades. Did they put someone new in charge of it? Did they learn all of the right lessons from their 2022 disaster? Hard to believe this is even the same company.

My first thought was this is Igers last D23 so he wanted to go out with a bang, I was surprised he wasn’t onstage for it.

The move to the Honda center was brilliant though, more capacity for fans and more room to create a spectacular show.

 

[MerlinTheGoat]

I cannot make anything out about this except the distant drawing of Big Thunder mtn. way in the back. I also see what I think looks like water so I cannot see where we are losing RoA. That would also mean losing the Liberty Belle.

The entirety of the RoA along with the Liberty Belle are done for if this project gets built. They are filling the moat in and plopping this Cars miniland on its southern footprint. Presumably with Villains planned for the northern section at some point.

 

[Vegas Disney Fan]

Filling in ROA would be the worst decision in the history of the parks.

 

[Bocabear]

Filling in ROA would be the worst decision in the history of the parks.

I agree... It would forever change the feel of the park...Adding Cars would also forever muddle the idea of a Frontierland and all themes would start to feel extremely muddled...I hate the idea of losing the riverboat and the water... When you see it put together on the footprint of the river it just feels wrong in so many ways...

 

[MerlinTheGoat]

No, i'm afraid it's very much a hinged take. The problem is that there's an abundance of competition to the list of "worst decisions in parks history". This does however happen to be one of them. Absolutely a horrible decision by all accounts regardless of whether it ranks at the very top.

It's also now abundantly clear why they didn't announce that this would be replacing the RoA/TSI at the stage presentation and offset it to the concept art days later. People were already lukewarm on the announcement at the presentation (with a few groans heard apparently), imagine what sort of reaction there would have been had they announced this was not an expansion anymore but rather a replacement of two classic and beautiful opening day attractions on stage.

Even a lot of the people at Disney know this is a terrible idea. Sadly no one with any power apparently.

 

[GhostHost1000]

It's starting to make sense why they didn't announce locations during the D23 announcements... however what doesn't make sense is

Star Tours to Monsters to Star Wars Land

Liberty Square to Cars to Country Bears to Pecos Bills to Tiana’s Bayou to Big Thunder

 

[DarkMetroid567]

That’s a great example of one of the biggest changes in how P&R now works. They used to build things we didn’t know we wanted and we fell in love with them. Now they only build things they think we want.

Society changed. If the film studios post-pandemic tried to dedicate their efforts to building things we didn’t know we wanted, they’d all be bankrupt by now.

 

[GhostHost1000]

Remember how just a few days ago so many of us were excited about all the new things they were going to announce coming to and expanding WDW?

…then we realized the timelines, locations, and what was being replaced.

 

[SplashJacket]

Remember how just a few days ago so many of us were excited about all the new things they were going to announce coming to and expanding WDW?

…then we realized the timelines, locations, and what was being replaced.

View attachment 808733

I was blown away by what they announced. Far exceeded my expectations.

Cars was my only hesitation, and the news turns that hesitation into legitimate anger. It definitely sours the presentation as a whole, even if I really like what else is coming.

If muppets truly does get replaced, that would be another significant souring, but wouldn’t even remotely compare to this.

 

[J4546]

lol it would be funny if they expand the norther side of RoA and had it go into villains land