Updates
- I've added all the updates since the last time I update the tracker in version 2. All the new updates appear below. DONE
- Now I need to integrate them with the carry-over from Version 2 in the posts above. DONE
Magic Kingdom
Magic Kingdom 50th Anniversary (Oct 1, 2021)
- Castle will get extensive refurbishments [here] and [here]
- The new paint job for the castle (pink walls) is a permanent art direction for the castle and not just the 50th overlay, which can still come later. [here] { added }
Night Time Parade
- Night/Electric Parade Timeline: before pandemic, there was indeed one planned for the 50th [here] { added }
- And it's likely to be a mix of old parade elements with some new [here] [here] { added }
- Or, it's a modified Paint the Night that will move to Florida [here] [here] [here] { added }
Tomorrowland
- land refresh: while the full plan hasn't been announced, this is definitely happening since it has already started with paint jobs and the closure of Stitch. However, the plans have not been finalized and there are several contenders, and so, competing ideas keep getting leaked...
- We've already seen the boulders and Carousel of Progress get a new paint job... so they're staying. And the paint job is a hint of what's to come, as well as the new Joffrey's. And rocks will be getting new lighting, like Space Mountain recently received.
- Laugh Floor, Buzz, Space Mountain, Astro Orbiter aren't part of the refresh. It'll be the look of the land with just a few attractions touched and TRON added. [here]
- final theme should be clean lines with blue, white, and purple colors [here]
- the general look will revert to the 1975 aesthetic [here]
- Tomorrowland's overall refresh is likely to be done with. Power and Light's changes that were supposed to be made may now be cut. [here] Indefinitely delayed [here] { added }
- Current construction is just clean up for that has started and all the other plans are now shelved. [here] { added }
- Stitch's Great Escape has closed. It was going to be a Wreck It Ralph ride (like Minions/Simpson in Universal), but that is nixed. Some other IP is going there by mid 2020. [here]
- There may be a semi-permanent attraction other than the M&G in there in time for the 50th. [here]
- An unknown replacement is due to open with the next three years (from 2017) [here]
- Stitch replacement indefinitely delayed [here] { added }
- TRON Coaster has been announced at D23 Expo 2017
- Tron will get a small exit shop. [here]
- Most importantly, it seems the TL to Circus path will remain and be widened! [here]
- TRON Timeline: by October 2021 for the 50th [here], or.. mid 2021 [here] { added }
- Speedway is getting an overhaul. [Here.]
Liberty to Frontier
- Splash Mountain retheme to Princess and the Frog has been rejected by OLC (Tokyo), which WDW was counting on to share the cost. (DL's version will be rethemed, but delayed by about 8 months) [here] { added}
- So, WDW has to pay the full cost of a Tokyo retheme unless they chose a different IP that Tokyo is OK with. [here] { added }
Epcot: Entrance & World Celebration, Discovery, & Nature
Epcot Update
World Celebration
Hub
- SE Building: MouseGears will be rethemed to a new merchandise store
- MouseGear renovation is a full gutting of the building [here] { added }
- MouseGear timeline delayed 4 months because of pandemic [here] { added }
- Club Cool will be relocated in the newly themed MouseGear building [here] [here] { added }
- NW Building & Journey of Water:
- The situation: The NW and SW sections of Communicore were supposed to be demolished for the new Festival Center (3 tiered building and for Journey of Water which would occupy where the NW building is and then head to The Seas. However, the pandemic stopped the demolition of the NW building and it is still standing. As WDW decides how to reimagine the Festival Building, it is questioned whether the NW building will be demolished and JoW slightly altered to mesh with the new Festival Building, OR, if the NW building will stay (or, at least, its shell) and be incorporated into a new Festival Building, which would require major relocation of JoW. { added }
- For the NW building to be demo'd: [here] and [here]; and JoW get just tweaks [here] { added }
- Hint that the NW building will stay and JoW will need major changes [here] { added }
Imagination Pavilion
- In summary: Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but nothing his happening with the Figment ride for the next few years. It was not announced with the Epcot refresh, so, it continues to be put off for years. Please stop asking if something's happening with Figment: It isn't. When someone knows, they'll post about. Please don't keep asking for the next three years: the answer is the same... 'nothing.'
- Timeline:
- if so, it's 5-6 years away (2022-3). [and again]
- And further... 2025 (if at all) [here] and [here]
- In other words *if* anything happens, the earliest is 2023 to start a project that will complete in 2025, which depends on deciding what to do with the ride (which they don't know yet) and approving a budget for it (which they haven't).
- It's long range tentative budget is less than Energy's [here]
- And another confirmation Figment might come back as a possibility [here], but might not... still several options on the table [here]
- The reason Imagination keeps getting delayed because of internal fights over its direction. While nothing is being decided, other projects jump ahead in the queue [here] { added }
Spaceship Earth
- Big Refurb/Retheme
- SSE was going to close on May 26, 2020 for major updates including shifting the story from historical modes of communication to the history of story-telling. Some of the dioramas would have been changed, while others remain mostly intact with updates (likely mostly from projectors). But the pandemic has indefinitely delayed this refurb. [the update] [the delay] { added }
- The full refurb for SSE could take up to three years to accomplish [here] { added }
- The original plan for rerouting load and unload (which was to utilize or rebuild Project Tomorrow) may not be happening [here] { added }
- SSE's retheme is pushed off, not cancelled, and may have a change of direction [here] { added }
- SSE's retheme is indefinitely delayed [here] { added }
Discovery
Energy- A replacement for Ellen's Energy Adventure will be a Guardian of the Galaxy coaster. [confirmed at D23 2017]
- Timeline: Opens Spring 2021 [here], before May [here]
- Cosmic Rewind Timeline: 2022 for Epcot's 40th. [here] { added }
- Delayed 5 months by pandemic [here] { added }
Wonders of Life: PLAY!
- Timeline: starts Fall of 2019, completed in early 2021 to open with GotG Coaster [here] and [here]
- PLAY! is scheduled for 2021 [here] { added }
- PLAY! has been cut back in scope. Timeline delayed by 5 months because of pandemic [here] { added }
- What is PLAY!?
- Found here: [official announcement] A play area (currently unnamed) with multiple interactive activities based on several IPs with M&Gs, including Food & Beverage and digital interaction [here]
- no E-Ticket attractions (and some attractions are still in flux); a bunch of entertainment. The M&G displaced from razing Communicore/Innoventions West will temporarily go to Imagination Pavilion, and then come here. [here]
- a breakdown of the concept art [here]
- a breakdown of the contents vaguely verified as not inaccurate is listed... here
- The PLAY! pavilion attractions include: "Kiddy and tween playground under the dome. A small Entertainment stage, another small themed interactive show, a walk through, a hide and seek playground and M&G. Some retail, and some QS." -Martin [here] { added }
R.I.P. Horizons
- The real story of why Horizons went away (and not because of sink holes) [here] { added }
Space 220 Restaurant (restaurant in Earth orbit)
- Timeline: Space Restaurant to open in 2019 [here]
- delayed to "this Winter" (anywhere from Dec 2019 - Mar 2020)
- and further delayed due to pandemic... no timeline at this moment
- Space 220: 99% complete, waiting for the 3rd party operator for staffing and approvals [here] { added }
Epcot: World Showcase
Mexico: maybe Coco
- timeline:
- And Coco overlay is off the table again [here]
- In The Epcot Experience, there is a Coco guitar next to the Mexico pavilion. So, the overlay was literally on the table for Mexico at one point, but, never made it to the Epcot upgrade announcements
- Coco scope scaled back and indefinitely delayed [here] { added }
- Coco has been designed for Mexico (and a copy for DL), but got cut of the current EPCOT refurb. May still happen, but years away. [here]
- A description of one plan for a Coco overlay of Gran Fiesta [here] { added }
China's 360 Degree Theater will go digital and seamless [confirmed at D23 Expo 2017]. The new film will be live action and projected from a new central ring in the ceiling. [
here]
- timeline:
- end of 2019, beginning of 2020 [here]
- if this isn't cut, expected in 2020. New camera rig should be built. Now, they have to shoot footage. [here]
- and footage is in production. On track for 2020 [here]
- perhaps to debut during 2020's Festival of the Arts [here]
- but it seems it won't since it wasn't announced with other new Epcot films [here]
- The footage for Wondrous China (360 seamless) has been shot before pandemic shutdowns. [here]
- could have some Disney IP showing up here, esp, in new 360 movie [here] { added }
Wakanda
- Yep, that was a thing once planned on in World Showplace in the Africa spot: indefinitely delayed or completely cut [here]
France
- Impressions de France: the placement of the Rat ride would not necessitate any changes to IdF or any of France's restaurants or shops
- in fact, a "new" film is penciled in for
2020 [here]... now, 2022 [here] and [here] { reaffirmed }
- the Ratatouille Ride as it exists in Paris has beat out the Beauty and the Beast ride as the new attraction for the French Pavilion. [confirmed at D23 2017]
- Timeline
- Sign outside construction says "Summer 2020"
- or, May-ish [here]
- Pandemic Panic: The pandemic paused construction of Rat which was supposed to be done in the Spring of 2020. Construction has resumed and it could be open by the end of 2020 [here]. BUT... a part of Disney management wants to hold off opening Rat until Summer/Fall of 2021 as part of a "come back to the parks" and presumably, 50th Anniversary marketing campaign. [here] { added }
- For this year, late 2020 [here] and [here] { added }
- For next year, [here] and [here] { added }
The UK:
- A Mary Poppins attraction was announced as part of the Epcot update [here], but now indefinitely delayed (and possibly cut altogether) [here]
- The Poppins attraction was about $80 million [here] { added }
- The Poppins attraction would have been like Enchanted Tales with Belle [here] { added }
New National Pavilions
- Brazil: a possible new national pavilion
- and... it seems to have fell thru
- A Brazil pavilion isn't necessarily dead dead [here] { added }
- Indefinitely delayed [here] { added }
- If there would have been a Brazil pavilion it would have had an attraction with the Three Caballeros and Coco overlays in Mexico, but the attraction and then pavilion fell through [here] [here] [here] { added }
Fireworks Show: a complete replacement of Illuminations
- Interim show is back on (code name: Spark) and called Epcot Forever, fall 2019
- a tribute to Epcot features Epcot tunes, a 'spark of imagination' that grows into fireworks, lights, lasers, & choreographed SFX and kites [official]
- will debut Oct 1, 2019 [official]
- Permanent replacement in Fall 2020 {Project K(appa)}
- featuring Disney music (IPs) inspiring the whole world, massive floating set pieces, custom-built LED panels, choreographed fountains, light, pyro, and lasers.
- Harmonious *may* have drones [here] { added }
- Harmonious music will be mostly Disney songs in different languages and arrangements with some new music and a framing device [here] { added }
- Pandemic Timeline Issue:
- During pandemic, all fireworks shows are on hold. Don't know when any can come back. { added }
- Epcot Forever v. Harmonious: Harmonious is still being constructed, so, if fireworks came back now, EF would come back until Hus is ready. But, EF isn't well liked (less crowds, kites are an issue for ops), but, EF's infrastructure is in place and Hus's isn't, so... there's this back and forth... { added}
- Epcot Forever hasn't been pulling in crowds like Illuminations did, so, Epcot restaurants are asking WDW to fast-track Harmonious [here] { added }
- No desire to keep Epcot Forever around longer than it needs to. May even switch to Harmonius's infrastructure before fully complete [here] { added }
- However, EP is planned to come back eventually [here] { added }
- Harmonious Timeline: 2021 for the 50th (which is officially in October) [here] { added }
- Harmonious not likely in 2020, but when fireworks are allowed again, it may be the show and not Epcot Forever. [here] { added }
Disney Hollywood Studios
Galaxy's Edge
- Rise of the Resistance: Overlay?
- Rise of the Resistance could be rethemed to another era in the Star Wars timeline [here] (in fact, that was a point imagineers made about SWL when building it. { added }
- Any new timeline overlay would not be a seasonal thing, but permanent [here] (until they decide to change it again) { added }
- Such a change (not decided upon yet) would take less than a year [here] { added }
- Any "Phase II" updates to Galaxy's Edge is now indefinitely delayed [here] { added }
Hub
Nighttime animation hub show could replace the Star Wars night show [
here] {
added }
- Frozen singalong likely to stay even during pandemic, just with modifications [here] { added }
- Little Mermaidcould be replaced when TSL opens in 2018.
- Voyage of the Little Mermaid stage show is likely slated to be replaced with a 'black box' ride, which is a C-Ticket dark ride that can be easily rethemed into a new ride as needed [here] and Walt Disney Presents, too, would go to be part of a new ride [here] { added }
- A Rapunzel Show was coming to DHS... and it's delayed, with changes [here] { added }
Toy Story Restaurant
- scope scaled back, delayed 8 months [here] { added }
Animal Kingdom
Pandora
- Phase II Addition
- A description of a proposed Phase 2 attraction in Pandora [here] { added }
- The Pandora expansion is indefinitely delayed [here] { added }
Northern Project: Some long term proposal to make use of the land north of Kali and south of Conservation Station. [
here]
- Planet Watch reverting back to it's previous incarnation is indefinitely delayed [here] { added }
Indiana Jones: Anything that was Indiana Jones that was going to come to DAK is now cancelled [
here] {
added }
Zootopia: Zootopia never was planned to be and never will be a DAK attraction [
here] and [
here] {
confirmed }
In General / Park Wide
WDW 'MaxPass'? Is a version of MaxPass (paid FP) coming to WDW and FP+ going away?
- In addition to keeping the free FP+ as it is, the more popular/new rides may have some or all of its FP slot allocated to a pay-for system [here]
- timeline: maybe 2019 [here]
- this is not connected with Star Wars Land (for now). SWL's lack of FP at its opening is for efficiency. [here]
- this is not connected to Virtual Queues (called 'Boarding Groups' for Rise of the Resistance ride).
- MaxPass/FP+: Internal talks to do away with FP+ or supplement it with MaxPass. The pandemic may be the catalyst to make that happen (while FP+ isn't available at the moment) [here] { added }
Resorts
Star Wars Hotel: Worked stopped during pandemic shutdown, but has resumed.
- Announced to open in 2021 [here]. The starliner's name is "Halcyon". Will open later than anticipated.
- delayed 5 months because of pandemic [here] { added }
Polynesian may be getting a major update [
here]
- And indeed a refurb has been announced.
- Polynesian Great Ceremonial House retheme with Moana elements has been scaled back in scope [here] { added }
Wilderness Area: Land cleared for "Reflections Lodge" (Project 89), but pandemic has put that on indefinite hold or scuttled. Did get a new horse barn out of it, though. But also ended the Mickey BBQ.
- A new project will eventually replace the cancelled Reflections Lodge (Wilderness area) [here] { added }
Swolphin new tower
- The Cove was renamed to Swan Reserve. [here]
- It originally was going to accept bookings starting March 1, 2021 [here].
- But now, there are indications it has a July 2021 opening date. here]
- It's a Marriott "Autograph Collection" hotel. [here]
