WDW Rumor Tracker, Version 3

Status
Not open for further replies.
MisterPenguin

MisterPenguin

President of Animal Kingdom
Premium Member
Original Poster
Epcot Entrance & World Celebration, Discovery, & Nature

Hub
  • NE & SE Buildings: Disney wants new merch and restaurant and Club Cool open by 50th [here]
    • Mousegears not delayed, on track. Starbucks will wind up in NE [here]​
  • SE Building: MouseGears will be rethemed to a new merchandise store
    • new MouseGear should be done by the end of 2021 [here]
Festival Center
  • a three-tiered structure likened to a footstool or a mushroom has been officially announced to be in the process of being redesigned to something not as expensive
  • no timeline or art concept is known so far
  • Re-redesigned to be just a "Festival Area" according to Disney.
    • Just a compromise until a permanent structure comes along... which might be the original 3-tiered building after all [here]​

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]
    • by Summer of 2021 [here]


Epcot World Showcase

France
  • 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
      • Probably open between March & June of 2021 [here]

Magic Kingdom


Magic Kingdom 50th Anniversary (Oct 1, 2021)
  • The usual Halloween and Christmas parties will be back not only in full force in 2021, but with upgrades [here]



Disney Hollywood Studios

Shows
  • Fantasmic!
    • Fantasmic! was suspended in 2020 because of the pandemic. A socially distanced one should open in Feb 2021 [here]



Animal Kingdom

Rivers of Light: Show was permanently canceled during the pandemic. No info on any possible new water-stadium show.
  • Or... maybe not so cancelled. [here]
Festival of the Lion King / Nemo the Musical
  • Nemo the Musical and FotLK were suspended during the pandemic
  • Nemo is permanently cancelled [here] and [here]
  • FotLK will come back [here]



In General / Park Wide

Pandemic Effects (Reservations, FP+, Hopping, etc..): After reopening from the pandemic, Disney did away with FP+ (see section directly above), Park Hopping, and then instituted a Reservation System in order to limit the number of guests in the parks. Will any or all of these return or go away?
  • Park Capacity
    • Difficult to understand what that is since we don't know what is considered 'Full.' Started at 25%, then went to 35%​
    • Is it now 40%?​
    • Yes. [here]​
    • No. [here]​
    • Maybe in between. [here]​
​

Train from airport to Disney Springs
  • Brightline discussion thread [here]
  • Target is 2023, but, could be delayed to 2024 [here]
 
MisterPenguin

MisterPenguin

President of Animal Kingdom
Premium Member
Original Poster
Magic Kingdom

Magic Kingdom Train
  • Very lengthy refurbishment including complete refurb of tracks, ties, and berm, as well as the tunnel for TRON.
  • timeline: not until mid-2022 [here] {added}
Muppets and Hall of Presidents
  • Biden AA coming. But, we don't know what changes, if any will be made.
  • Looking at incorporating Muppets in some way into the show [here] {added}
Magic Kingdom 50th Anniversary (Oct 1, 2021)
  • there will be an eventual replacement for "Happily Ever After" (which replaced "Wishes")
    • although... there may be rumblings that since HEA was so well received, they might just update and upgrade it instead of a brand new show. [here]
    • more rumblings it will be HEA with a tag [here] {added}

Jungle Cruise: Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson will star in a Jungle Cruise movie. He posted on instagram that "we'll partner with Disney's brilliant Imagineers to help re-engineer and re-design the #JungleCruise ride in all the Disney theme parks around the world." Orlando Sentinel says Disney says there is no plan to revamp the ride.
  • A refresh is coming, not based on the movie, but to make some scenes less problematic with regard to the human population of those river jungles. {added}



Epcot Entrance & World Celebration, Discovery, & Nature


Entrance
  • The entrance is losing the monuments and reverting back to the original Epcot design. As of Sep 2020, completed except for the fountain. [concept art]
  • A reconfiguring of trams and security is completed.
  • Fountain completed, landscaping and lighting package still in process, new Leave a Legacy walls outside the park nearing completion. {added}

Hub
  • NE & SE Buildings: Disney wants new merch and restaurant and Club Cool open by 50th [here]
    • Mousegears not delayed, on track. Starbucks will wind up in NE [here]​
    • Gift Shop should be ready by Summer, may keep "MouseGear" name [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.
    • For the NW building to be demo'd: [here] and [here]; and JoW get just tweaks [here]
    • Hint that the NW building will stay and JoW will need major changes [here]
    • NW Building is in process of being demolished. {added}
    • Journey of Water's timeline was 2023, pre-COVID [here] {added}




Epcot World Showcase

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
    • Probably open between March & June of 2021 [here]
    • While much of the chatter is for it to open in March, May may be on the table [here] {added}


Disney Hollywood Studios

Fantasmic!
  • A claim that Fantasmic! would restart in Feb 2021 [here]
    • But, as we near the end of Feb, doesn't seem likely. It has been refurbished during the downtime and is definitely coming back... soon. [here] {added}


Animal Kingdom


Festival of the Lion King / Nemo the Musical
  • FotLK will come back [here]
    • A lite version of FotLK is in the works opening Jun1 with no Tumble Monkeys. [here] {added}


In General / Park Wide

  • The Muppets are under Walt Disney Imagineering (under their puppetry division). [here] {added}
 
MisterPenguin

MisterPenguin

President of Animal Kingdom
Premium Member
Original Poster
91JLovesDisney said:
Wait is it official we're getting a Wreck-it-Ralph attraction at Stitch?
Click to expand...
That's not what the tracker says...

  • 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]
 
91JLovesDisney

91JLovesDisney

Well-Known Member
MisterPenguin said:
That's not what the tracker says...

  • 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]
Click to expand...
Oh my bad - I only read the first one.
 
BasiltheBatLord

BasiltheBatLord

Well-Known Member
It would be really awesome to get an overall timeline in this thread, similar to what you did in previous versions. Might be hard to do with so many things going on, but it would be very useful for trip planning.
 
MisterPenguin

MisterPenguin

President of Animal Kingdom
Premium Member
Original Poster
BasiltheBatLord said:
It would be really awesome to get an overall timeline in this thread, similar to what you did in previous versions. Might be hard to do with so many things going on, but it would be very useful for trip planning.
Click to expand...
That would be tricky. Anything debuting this year is iffy on the calendar due to COVID.

And anything for next year (GotG, Journey of Water, Festival 'area', TRON) has no specific time yet for next year other than "2022."

And there's nothing specific or announced for 2023 or later. All major capex expenditures are indefinite at this time.

But, I'll try to put something together... but it won't be anywhere near precise.
 
MisterPenguin

MisterPenguin

President of Animal Kingdom
Premium Member
Original Poster
Magic Kingdom


Magic Kingdom 50th Anniversary (Oct 1, 2021)
  • there will be an eventual replacement for "Happily Ever After" (which replaced "Wishes")
    • although... there may be rumblings that since HEA was so well received, they might just update and upgrade it instead of a brand new show. [here]
    • more rumblings it will be HEA with a tag [here]
    • HEA was suspended because of COVID, likely to be back quite a bit before Oct 1 50th celebration [here] {added}
  • The usual Halloween and Christmas parties will be back not only in full force in 2021, but with upgrades [here]
    • MNSSHP will not happen in 2021. Replaced by Halloween-themed Disney After Hours "Boo To You" events. {added}
TTA: Peoplemover: scattered IP could be showing up [here]
  • Lengthy Refurbishment: Before the pandemic lockdown, TTA was having operational issues. It then closed down for repairs. After the lockdown, it remained closed and it's re-opening date kept being moved further and further away. Now, it seems it will be closed until Jan 2, 2021 [here] but it is definitely returning and not being scrapped [here]. Disney decided to replace *all* the linear induction motors. [here]
  • TTA is now opened. The time down was just to repair it and keep it from 'bumping' cars. [here] Any planned introduction of IP scenes or sections did not happen at this time, and maybe never will... or will it? [here] {added}

EPCOT

NE & SE Buildings: Disney wants new merch and restaurant and Club Cool open by 50th [here]
  • Mousegears not delayed, on track. Starbucks will wind up in NE [here]​
  • Gift Shop should be ready by Summer, may keep "MouseGear" name [here]​
    • Nope, will be called "Creations Shop" {added}
Fireworks Show: a complete replacement of IllumiNations
  • Pandemic Timeline Issue
    • Post-pandemic, Epcot Forever will be back for the Summer of 2021 switching to Harmonious for the 50th (Oct 1, 2021). [here] [here] [here] [here] {added}


Disney Animal Kingdom

Rivers of Light: Show was permanently canceled during the pandemic. No info on any possible new water-stadium show.
  • Or... maybe not so cancelled. [here]
  • Or.. something else, but definitely something. [here] [here] {added}



In General / Park Wide


WDW 'MaxPass'? Is a version of MaxPass (paid FP) coming to WDW and FP+ going away?
  • More on FP+ not coming back or significantly altered [here] {added}
Miscellaneous
  • S.E.A.: No rumors of this backstory being incorporated into WDW for a while now. With the imperative of "more Disney," it seems that S.E.A. isn't "Disney," at least not without a popular movie to back it up.
    • And now, more SEA being added to Jungle Cruise: [here] {added}
 
Last edited:
SteveAZee

SteveAZee

Premium Member
MisterPenguin said:
Magic Kingdom


Magic Kingdom 50th Anniversary (Oct 1, 2021)
  • there will be an eventual replacement for "Happily Ever After" (which replaced "Wishes")
    • although... there may be rumblings that since HEA was so well received, they might just update and upgrade it instead of a brand new show. [here]
    • more rumblings it will be HEA with a tag [here]
    • HEA was suspended because of COVID, likely to be back quite a bit before Oct 1 50th celebration [here] {added}
  • The usual Halloween and Christmas parties will be back not only in full force in 2021, but with upgrades [here]
    • MNSSHP will not happen in 2021. Replaced by Halloween-themed Disney After Hours "Boo To You" events. {added}
TTA: Peoplemover: scattered IP could be showing up [here]
  • Lengthy Refurbishment: Before the pandemic lockdown, TTA was having operational issues. It then closed down for repairs. After the lockdown, it remained closed and it's re-opening date kept being moved further and further away. Now, it seems it will be closed until Jan 2, 2021 [here] but it is definitely returning and not being scrapped [here]. Disney decided to replace *all* the linear induction motors. [here]
  • TTA is now opened. The time down was just to repair it and keep it from 'bumping' cars. [here] Any planned introduction of IP scenes or sections did not happen at this time, and maybe never will... or will it? [here] {added}

EPCOT

NE & SE Buildings: Disney wants new merch and restaurant and Club Cool open by 50th [here]
  • Mousegears not delayed, on track. Starbucks will wind up in NE [here]​
  • Gift Shop should be ready by Summer, may keep "MouseGear" name [here]​
    • Nope, will be called "Creations Ship" {added}
Fireworks Show: a complete replacement of IllumiNations
  • Pandemic Timeline Issue
    • Post-pandemic, Epcot Forever will be back for the Summer of 2021 switching to Harmonious for the 50th (Oct 1, 2021). [here] [here] [here] [here] {added}


Disney Animal Kingdom

Rivers of Light: Show was permanently canceled during the pandemic. No info on any possible new water-stadium show.
  • Or... maybe not so cancelled. [here]
  • Or.. something else, but definitely something. [here] [here] {added}



In General / Park Wide


WDW 'MaxPass'? Is a version of MaxPass (paid FP) coming to WDW and FP+ going away?
  • More on FP+ not coming back or significantly altered [here] {added}
Miscellaneous
  • S.E.A.: No rumors of this backstory being incorporated into WDW for a while now. With the imperative of "more Disney," it seems that S.E.A. isn't "Disney," at least not without a popular movie to back it up.
    • And now, more SEA being added to Jungle Cruise: [here] {added}
Click to expand...
"Creations Ship"?
 
IanDLBZF

IanDLBZF

Well-Known Member
MisterPenguin said:
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]
  • More on FP+ not coming back or significantly altered [here]
Click to expand...
Could you update this too?
 
MisterPenguin

MisterPenguin

President of Animal Kingdom
Premium Member
Original Poster
Magic Kingdom


Magic Kingdom 50th Anniversary (Oct 1, 2021)
  • Called: The World's Most Magical Celebration { Added }
  • Timeline: May 2021 to the end of 2022. [here]
    • COVID has obviously changed the timeline to Oct 1, 2021 to Spring of 2023 (a year and a half) { Added }
  • 50th new fireworks show: Disney Enchantmentstarting Oct 1, 2021
    • Will include projections on Main Street (construction for that taking place August 2021) { Added }
    • HEA status
      • there will be an eventual replacement for "Happily Ever After" (which replaced "Wishes")
      • HEA was suspended because of COVID, and is now back for Summer 2021 until the Oct 1 50th celebration
      • Disney said HEA was going away to replaced by Enchantment. But it can always come back, or Enchantment can be semi-permanent. [here] { Added }
  • Have something new in each park by the 50th other than the stuff already publicly announced to include all the announced projects (minus Main Street Theater) as of March 2018, plus one more at Epcot (UK ride?), impressive entertainment package at all 4 parks, and a lot of ride refurbs. [here] Not so much thanks to COVID. { Updated }
  • "50 Things" marketing campaign will take place to list 50 new things added to the parks in celebration of the 50th [from a "Spirit thread"]. Nope { Updated }
  • Festival of Fantasy Parade will likely not be replaced by brand new 50th parade, but only get a float or two for the anniversary [here]
    • Due to staffing and COVID, FoF not expected to return until 2022 [here] { Added }
  • The MK Halloween and Christmas Parties
    • The usual Halloween and Christmas parties will be back not only in full force in 2021, but with upgrades [here] Nope.
    • MNSSHP will not happen in 2021. Replaced by Halloween-themed Disney After Hours "Boo To You" events.
    • MVMCP will not happen in 2021. Replaced by Disney After Hours "Very Merriest" events. { Added }
    • So as not to take away the 50th fireworks from day-guests, the Halloween and Christmas Parties will likely not be back until 2023. [here] { Added }


Night Time Parade
  • Night/Electric Parade Timeline: before pandemic, there was indeed one planned for the 50th [here]
  • And it's likely to be a mix of old parade elements with some new [here] [here]
  • Or, it's a modified Paint the Night that will move to Florida [here] [here] [here]
    • or maybe not? [here]
    • and still not [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...
    • In the late Summer 2021, some more retheming was taking place with new concrete { Added }
  • TRON Coaster has been announced at D23 Expo 2017
    • TRON Timeline: by October 2021 for the 50th [here], or.. mid 2021 [here]
      • Or... not even until 2022 [here] and [here]​
      • Interior construction put on hold in 2021, but then resumed in late Summer 2021 (earlier than expected).​
      • Likely to open Spring 2022 [here] { Added }​
  • Speedway is getting an overhaul. [Here.]
  • Magic Kingdom Train
    • Very lengthy refurbishment including complete refurb of tracks, ties, and berm, as well as the tunnel for TRON.
    • timeline: not until mid-2022 [here]
    • Or... by Dec 2021 [here] { Added }


Adventureland
  • Jungle Cruise: Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson will star in a Jungle Cruise movie. He posted on instagram that "we'll partner with Disney's brilliant Imagineers to help re-engineer and re-design the #JungleCruise ride in all the Disney theme parks around the world." Orlando Sentinel says Disney says there is no plan to revamp the ride.
    • A refresh is coming, not based on the movie, but to make some scenes less problematic with regard to the human population of those river jungles. { Completed }

Liberty to Frontier
  • Muppets and Hall of Presidents
    • Biden AA arrived. { Added }
    • Looking at incorporating Muppets in some way into the show [here] Nope { Updated }


Fantasyland
  • Mickey's PhilharMagic to get a content update [here]
    • Still on track, in 2019 or 2020. [here] and [here]
    • A Coco segment will debut on Oct 1, 2021 (already showing in DL's version) { Added }


Epcot Entrance & World Celebration, Discovery, & Nature


Entrance
  • New entrance lighting package installed to complement SSE's "Beacon of Light" 50th update { Added }


World Celebration (spine/hub/festivals) The center spine and hub is now called World Celebration. It was supposed to contain these elements below which are now either cut, delayed, or altered due to the pandemic

Hub
  • SE Building: MouseGears will be rethemed to a new merchandise store
    • MouseGear renovation is a full gutting of the building [here]
    • MouseGear timeline delayed 4 months because of pandemic [here]
    • Club Cool will be relocated in the newly themed MouseGear building [here] [here]
    • new MouseGear should be done by the end of 2021 [here] { Added }
    • new MouseGear called Creations Shop and contain Club Cool { Added }



World Discovery (East side)

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]
    • Delayed 5 months by pandemic [here]
    • Still not until 2022 [here]
    • Spring of 2022 [here] { Added }


Space 220 Restaurant (restaurant in Earth orbit)
  • Timeline: Space Restaurant to open in 2019 [here]
    • Opening Sept 20, 2021 [here] { Added }

Epcot World Showcase

Agent P World Showcase Adventure to be replaced by DuckTales, no timeline [here]
  • May not being happening or indefinitely delayed [here] { Added }


Disney Hollywood Studios

Star Tours
  • Star Tours did get new scenes from Episodes 7, 8, & 9
  • Star Tours eventually reconfigured for some other IP after SWL opens [here]
    • But now, not likely to happen [here] { Added }

Shows
  • Fantasmic!
    • An update is constantly talked about internally, but is just at the 'possible' stage.
    • A potential replacement for Fantasmic has been killed, but that doesn't mean some other thing couldn't replace it [here]
    • A "daytime Fantasmic" idea was being kicked around, but not so much anymore
    • Fantasmic is due for some change [here] or not [here]
    • Fantasmic! was suspended in 2020 because of the pandemic. A socially distanced one should open in Feb 2021 [here]
    • A claim that Fantasmic! would restart in Feb 2021 [here]
      • But, as we near the end of Feb, doesn't seem likely. It has been refurbished during the downtime and is definitely coming back... soon. [here]
      • Lengthy refurb shows technical updates to the show. The real question is how much the content of the show will be updated or not. [here] and [here] { Added }

Animal Kingdom

DinoLand
  • Primeval Whirl may be gone in a year or two [here]. And... it's gone. { Completed }


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]
  • More on FP+ not coming back or significantly altered [here]
  • And it's come to pass... Genie, Genie+, and Individual Attraction Selection was the replacement. { Completed }

Pandemic Effects (Reservations, FP+, Hopping, etc..): After reopening from the pandemic, Disney did away with FP+ (see section directly above), Park Hopping, and then instituted a Reservation System in order to limit the number of guests in the parks. Will any or all of these return or go away?
  • Reservation System
    • discussion [here]​
    • Disney likely lowering their park capacity (the amount of people that triggers phase closings) [here] { Added }​
  • Park Hopping
    • it will return, even if Reservations are still in place, but, not a priority [here]​
    • it has returned, but limited to 2 PM and gated by Park Reservations { Added }​
  • FP+ (or other premier access schemes)
    • unlikely to return or be initiated while Reservations are still in place. [here]​
    • replaced by Genie, Genie+, and Individual Attraction Selection { Completed }​
  • Plexiglass!
    • expect more rides to get plexiglass so as to increase capacity (more people in same vehicle, and thus, increased throughput of people) [here]​
    • plexiglass removed Summer 2021 { Completed }​
  • Virtual Queues
    • unlikely for more except for Ratatouille, and even then, unlikely [here]​
    • will definitely be for Rat and RotR. Maybe for TRON and Cosmic Rewind when they open. { Added }​
    • Or.. becoming more likely for rides whose lines get way too long snake to much into walkways, like Jungle Cruise or Smuggler's Run [here]​
  • Nighttime Entertain (e.g., fireworks)
    • should come before Reservations end, tho neither are happening soon [here]​
    • Fireworks are back. RoL is dead. Fantasmic is in refurb limbo. DHS hub projections back. { Updated }​
Transportation

Miscellaneous
  • Disney Dining Plan, shelved during the pandemic, may come back in 2022 [here] { Added }


Disney Springs

Cirque: The new show Drawn To Life was put on indefinite hold because of the pandemic. No news on when it will return.
  • Debuts Nov 8, 2021 { Added }

Resorts

Star Wars Hotel: Worked stopped during pandemic shutdown, but has resumed.

Swolphin new tower
  • The Cove was renamed to Swan Reserve. [here]
  • Timeline:
    • 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]
    • Opening keeps moving back. New first date that reservations can be made: Oct 13, 2021 { Added }


Miscellaneous
  • Maybe the empty resort pad on Seven Seas Lagoon that was once going to be the Venetian will be developed after all [here]
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Register on WDWMAGIC. This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.

Back
Top Bottom