News Villains Land Announced for Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom

[Bocabear]

I’d be fine with some joke-y moments from some of the more comedic villains like Hades and Yzma because that’s in character for them but villains like the evil queen, Maleficent, and Chernabog definitely need to be played straight.

I don't know.... I would have originally thought that, but after seeing all the videos of the Evil Queen walkaround character from Disnewyland, I kind of like her being funny... Atr least people cant say she is too scary which was the initial response to Disney doing a Villains area...(as if Disney ever really does "scary"...lol) The evil queen as snarky is kind od fun... Like the Queen Of Hearts... and Cruella, and the newer Malefecint...

 

[MisterPenguin]

I heard that the Villains dark ride is your vehicle careening around wildly knocking Villains off of cliffs and parapets.

 

[Stripes]

It’s also not just about the ride vehicle. Monsters will apparently employ some tricks we haven’t seen since Alien Encounter.

Like I said, Villains shouldn’t go that far but I feel like the main non coaster E Ticket might not go far enough.

In one word I would describe the Universal Monsters as “scary.” For Disney‘s Villains I would say that word is “evil.”

I suspect the two rides will lean into those adjectives, with Monsters Unchained being more scary and the Villains dark ride being more sinister and thrilling.

 

[GhostHost1000]

In one word I would describe the Universal Monsters as “scary.” For Disney‘s Villains I would say that word is “evil.”

I suspect the two rides will lean into those adjectives, with Monsters Unchained being more scary and the Villains dark ride being more sinister and thrilling.

or budgets will get cut and we'll end up with a new version of something like Snow White's Scary Adventures

 

[Stripes]

or budgets will get cut and we'll end up with a new version of something like Snow White's Scary Adventures

Yeah…no.

 

[HauntedPirate]

I have it on good authority what two Disney villains will have a central spot in the land (if built). THat is Elite information. But Of course you won't find me Bullied into Saying anything at the moment...

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I'm really confused on what you are getting at? My list has nothing to do with anything built before 2010 with the exception of some of the infrastructure for replacements that exist on both sides of the table (Bourne reuses the old T2 theater as an example). Why does what happened 35 years ago affect the investment levels of the past 15 years?

I'm not trying to compare the resorts as a whole, only the investment in the past 15 years.

You’re doing a comparison including a by gone era of full build outs. Most notably Epcot and magic kingdom…but the other two to a certain extent as well.

There’s a great book that details the construction of Epcot - i think it’s Married to the mouse (but it might be project future?…it’s been a minute) that talks about the “get it done” attitude as the bills mounted.

What has happened since 2010? Not even close. It’s all marketing analysis and moves for PR while will trying to reduce lb for lb overhead and increase attendance and price.

It’s not “bad business” at all…but is it “bad Disney”? Well the current trends and realities don’t paint a good picture.

 

[GhostHost1000]

I have it on good authority what two Disney villains will have a central spot in the land (if built). THat is Elite information. But Of course you won't find me Bullied into Saying anything at the moment...

Bob & Josh dark ride confirmed! - I'm scared just thinking about it

 

[HauntedPirate]

Bob & Josh dark ride confirmed! - I'm scared just thinking about it

Josh? No, he has his own scary adventure on resort TV’s. Think more villainous. And less hair.

 

[britain]

It also looks extremely kinetic, to a wildly impressive degree.

I think the one thing I would’ve given it is a C ticket dark ride, because I do think Epic as a whole needs more indoor attractions (Islands does too for that matter) and a nice smaller scale people eating dark ride is one of the holes it has in its initial lineup imo.

I have a feeling they want to really make sure the stage show gets attention, because it looks quite special. One more ride might have lead guests to the skip stage show.

 

[britain]

It certainly could be -- I just don't see it. Nothing about it looks interesting at all to me.

That's not Universal's fault, though. I think the art style/design of the IP itself is kind of bland and generic.

I don’t think the films style is bland, it’s visuals are actually quite spectacular and the design is unique.

I think it will turn out to be the most fun part of the park, but visually… they somewhere made the decision to not REALLY try to bring Berk to life. There’s no Galaxy’s Edge / Carsland scale of rock work here. This looks like the most compromised of all the areas of the park, and they have chosen to rely on the strength of kinetically intertwined attractions rather than impressive vistas.

 

[Coaster Lover]

I wonder if a Hades AA that shoots fire is possible…

Their history of mixing animatronics and fire isn't the best!

 

[britain]

I think you are reading more into this than I am. I took away it's more just the feel of the land and the rides. Not straight Horror nights scary, but more of a scary tone than say Not So Scary. It doesn't mean the ride needs to be the most intense thing at Disney, just the vibe of the place. Not jokes and good guy wins type stuff, or "Look how misunderstood these villains are, they are good at heart."

I once again serve notice that villains land is a bad idea. Just like it was wrong to not include Dr. Facilier in TBA, it’s wrong to dedicate a narrative (rides, stores, restaurants) to nothing but villains.

This whole concept was driven by marketing, driven by fan sales of villain merchandise. Not by expert storytellers. Villains LOOK cool, but WDI is going to find themselves tying themselves in the same knots they tied themselves in with Tiana’s. In that case, they’re trying to tell a satisfying story without any threat. It’s impossible. Similarly, they are going to try to tell satisfying stories without any good guys. Good luck! All villains, all the time is going to be wearying and one note, even if you bounce back-and-forth between funny and scary villains.

The only possible way I can see them hitting the right emotional harmonies is if there’s some part of the whole land that hasn’t been mentioned yet, like maybe a secret “YOU are the hero that needs to thwart the villains” aspect to it. Rebel Spy style.

 

[GhostHost1000]

I once again serve notice that villains land is a bad idea. Just like it was wrong to not include Dr. Facilier in TBA, it’s wrong to dedicate a narrative (rides, stores, restaurants) to nothing but villains.

This whole concept was driven by marketing, driven by fan sales of villain merchandise. Not by expert storytellers. Villains LOOK cool, but WDI is going to find themselves tying themselves in the same knots they tied themselves in with Tiana’s. In that case, they’re trying to tell a satisfying story without any threat. It’s impossible. Similarly, they are going to try to tell satisfying stories without any good guys. Good luck! All villains, all the time is going to be wearying and one note, even if you bounce back-and-forth between funny and scary villains.

The only possible way I can see them hitting the right emotional harmonies is if there’s some part of the whole land that hasn’t been mentioned yet, like maybe a secret “YOU are the hero that needs to thwart the villains” aspect to it. Rebel Spy style.

who said it would be all villains all the time though? We have rides in Fantasyland and shows throughout with the good and the evil characters in them...the focus is however on the good and the happily ever after. In villainsland, the main focus of the attractions could be the villains I assume

I don't know honestly... lots of possibilities...and lots of time for Disney to screw it up come up with the right things

 

[LSLS]

I once again serve notice that villains land is a bad idea. Just like it was wrong to not include Dr. Facilier in TBA, it’s wrong to dedicate a narrative (rides, stores, restaurants) to nothing but villains.

This whole concept was driven by marketing, driven by fan sales of villain merchandise. Not by expert storytellers. Villains LOOK cool, but WDI is going to find themselves tying themselves in the same knots they tied themselves in with Tiana’s. In that case, they’re trying to tell a satisfying story without any threat. It’s impossible. Similarly, they are going to try to tell satisfying stories without any good guys. Good luck! All villains, all the time is going to be wearying and one note, even if you bounce back-and-forth between funny and scary villains.

The only possible way I can see them hitting the right emotional harmonies is if there’s some part of the whole land that hasn’t been mentioned yet, like maybe a secret “YOU are the hero that needs to thwart the villains” aspect to it. Rebel Spy style.

Sorry, totally disagree. I think some of the suggestions we've seen here are actually pretty solid for the land design. Tiana was forced in, and I don't like what they did with it, but I also don't think they HAD to tie themselves in knots to do it. That was a self-inflicted wound because of what a few wanted told as opposed to what could be told. I think the same would go here. Now, whether we trust that they can do it is a different question, but I think it is possible.

 

[Nickm2022]

Sorry, totally disagree. I think some of the suggestions we've seen here are actually pretty solid for the land design. Tiana was forced in, and I don't like what they did with it, but I also don't think they HAD to tie themselves in knots to do it. That was a self-inflicted wound because of what a few wanted told as opposed to what could be told. I think the same would go here. Now, whether we trust that they can do it is a different question, but I think it is possible.

I partially agree, 1. do I think Disneylands Tiana is the by far and away clearly the better version and what it was designed for yes, but 2. do I think Tianas fits better in New fronterland then the current one at MK, yes. Personally Ive always felt MK had the worst fronterland. So while I am not in love with Cars, I do actually like the idea of changing Frontierland to being about American adventures, wether it be daring miners, an American princess, or cars exploring the American nature. It seems like a much more encompassing and flexible land, kinda like how Fantasyland isn't focused on a specific time period (like Frontierland being about the old west), but rather certain types of characters. I think once done with Cars and BT Tianas will oddly fit better and seem like a more cohesive land, even if we have the lesser version of the ride.

And for Villains, it's gonna be tucked away near the back, and connect to Haunted Mansion. So even if you don't like it your not really forced to walk through it unlike lets say Main Street or something. Also Villains is a land catered for adults and teens. Something Esiner went over the top on but was right in realizing the importance of catering to all audiences. Disney parks should be made for kids, but adults are welcome, and I think Villainsland captures this perfectly. Plus cars (for kids) villains (adults welcome)

 

[Soluna16]

Does anyone know why we still have the "Evolving Epcot" and "Studios Redevelopment" subforums but don't have any for any of this new construction as it starts?

 

[UNCgolf]

I once again serve notice that villains land is a bad idea. Just like it was wrong to not include Dr. Facilier in TBA, it’s wrong to dedicate a narrative (rides, stores, restaurants) to nothing but villains.

This whole concept was driven by marketing, driven by fan sales of villain merchandise. Not by expert storytellers. Villains LOOK cool, but WDI is going to find themselves tying themselves in the same knots they tied themselves in with Tiana’s. In that case, they’re trying to tell a satisfying story without any threat. It’s impossible. Similarly, they are going to try to tell satisfying stories without any good guys. Good luck! All villains, all the time is going to be wearying and one note, even if you bounce back-and-forth between funny and scary villains.

The only possible way I can see them hitting the right emotional harmonies is if there’s some part of the whole land that hasn’t been mentioned yet, like maybe a secret “YOU are the hero that needs to thwart the villains” aspect to it. Rebel Spy style.

My problem with a Villains land is that Disney villains are quite varied in nature. Most of them are very different from each other, and they're also from wildly different settings/IPs.

I struggle to see how it can be done without the land feeling like it was designed around one specific villain and then most or all of the others are just thrown in.

 

[Bocabear]

I don't get how Cars is about exploring the west... It is about a road rally in some place we don't know from any of the source material..... So we are going from the Iconic Old West of BTMR to another region of the country for a road rally in cartoon cars... They are completely disconnected... Our Frontierland could be the best Frontierland if they would make it so...Instead they throw a New Orleands Based Tiana in and then say...well see, MK's Frontierland isn't so great....Never mind they are responsible for making it feel even less cohesive than Splash did... Cars are not going to further the Frontierland Narrative...they will end up being their own thing in a weird plopped down miniland...

 

[Ichabod Crane]

or budgets will get cut and we'll end up with a new version of something like Snow White's Scary Adventures

Hey now, Florida’s Snow Whote was a great ride (the best of the Snow White dark rides by far) and I miss it dearly!