WDW Rumor Tracker, Version 3

MisterPenguin · Sep 20, 2020

This is a collection of rumors from trusted insiders (not wild speculation or assumptions). They don't come from me. The information had been originally posted to the various threads of the forum and are just repeated and collated here. There is a link as to where they came from.
If you want to discuss or comment on the rumors, then follow the link and post in those threads.
Do not comment or start discussions in this thread. The moderators will delete them.
Do not ask if there are updates. Go to those threads and ask there.
It's OK to discuss the rumor as rumors... as to their source and conflicting information and updating out of date rumors.

WDW Parks Rumors/Inside Info/Timeline on WDWMagic -- Jump to...

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Previous Versions:

Version 1 of Rumor Tracker (Apr 2017 - Sep 2017)
Version 2 of Rumor Tracker (Sep 2017 - Dec 2019)

MisterPenguin · Sep 20, 2020

Magic Kingdom

Magic Kingdom 50th Anniversary (Oct 1, 2021)

Called: The World's Most Magical Celebration
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)
  - Official closure announced: March 31, 2023 [link to 50th closure announcement].
- Altho, it seems the will to keep up the 50th celebration is waning. E.g., in 2022, the Holiday Parties will return which will keep day-guests from seeing Disney Enchantment which was supposed to be the special 50th fireworks show.
50th new fireworks show: Disney Enchantmentstarting Oct 1, 2021
- Will include projections on Main Street (construction for that taking place August 2021)
- HEA status
  - 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]~~ Nope
  - ~~more rumblings it will be HEA with a 50th tag [here].~~ Nope
  - 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]
  - And it seems HEA will be on the way back when the 50th is over (perhaps Spring of 2023). [here]
  - It seems the 50th Replacement, Disney Enchantment (DE) will go away when the 50th ends (which is March 31, 2023). HEA is a likely replacement [here]
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.
~~"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
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]
- Possible that the current pink/salmon paint job is not liked by execs since the concept art sold them on a much softer use of pink, which may mean a change earlier than the usual paint maintenance [here]
~~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]~~ NOPE
- Due to staffing and COVID, FoF not expected to return until 2022 [here]
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.
- ~~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]~~NOPE
  - OR... WDW realizes Disney Enchantment ain't that beloved nor that explicitly 50th-related, and so, the Party Nights return in 2022.

Night Time Parade

~~Get a new night time parade back eventually. [here]~~
~~Festival of Fantasy didn't turn out to work well at night, so, not used. Though, an iteration of Move It Shake It was moved to early evening.~~
~~But there will definitely be a new night time parade for the 50th in 2021. [here] [here]~~
~~Definitely planned for the 50th. Big budget. Some Paint the Night tech and some new tech. [here]~~
~~The song "Trip a Little Light Fantastic" may make an appearance [here]~~
~~Still the plan, but not 'greenlit' yet [here]~~
~~However, 'outside sources' say both "definitely yes" and "definitely no" [here]~~
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]

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]
  - Power and Light refresh is taking place now (Apr-May 2022)
- Current construction is just clean up for that has started and all the other plans are now shelved. [here]
- In the late Summer 2021, some more retheming was taking place with new concrete
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]
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]
  - 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]~~ Nope
  - Now scheduled for Fall 2022 [here] and [here]
  - TRON opening is now trending toward Late Fall [here]
  - There could be soft opening possibility mid-November for an early December opening [here] [here]
Speedway is getting an overhaul. [Here.]
- Electric cars? [Possible.]
  - Still a plan. [here]
- Not likely to be Sugar Rush from Wreck-it Ralph. [Here.]
- Maybe a Tron theme for Speedway by 2021? [Here] and [Here] and [Here]
- in the artwork for Tron, the Speedway still exists -- this is a sign it isn't being removed as some sites have rumored [but the artist's rendering of Tron doesn't show what the overhauled Speedway will look like, there's separate unreleased art for that.]
- still a plan to overlay the Speedway (with, most likely TRON) [here]
- Or no Tron Light Racers at all [here]
- OR... Speedway will change... or go away. [here]
Space Mountain
- As part of the TRON Coaster and Speedway work, Tomorrowland Power and Light (SM Gift Shop) will get a minor overhaul [here]
Carousel of Progress is getting a refurb, most likely updating final scene and reskinning the AAs [here] and news of when that may happen has 'gone quiet' [here]
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]
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]~~ NOPE

Adventureland

Tiki Room: a possible contender of multiple plans is to replace Tiki Room with something else. Multiple sources say such a plan, along with others, exists [here]
- no new builds expected [here], the Tiki Exterior will remain even if the interior changes [here]
- it won't be Club 33 [confirmed, Club 33 went elsewhere]
- Moana is front runner to join the birds, possibly [here]
- timeframe: by the end of 2021 [here] [now, obviously changed if not discarded due to pandemic]
- @Ronnie Sanford in a post now gone, posted 'to see the Tikis while you can' on June 20, 2019
- 'Some Other Site' reported confusingly in the same blog post that the Tiki Birds were going away (implying completely gone) and being overlaid. Disney Parks Blog has been publicly disputing This Site's recent rumors by saying that the birds and Tiki room are staying... but also possibly hinting at changes (e.g., adding in Moana as some of our insiders have been saying). [here]
- but some sort of change is still expected [here]
wdwthemeparks on Moana coming to 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.
- DONE
Treehouse: Maybe even the Swiss Family Treehouse will get some sort of change. [here]
Fire Mountain (false) Rumor: A volcano for Adventureland was once on the drawing board a long time ago, the rumor it's back on the table as a possibility has recently been revived.
- For: Jim Hill (other online sources are quoting Jim Hill)
- Against: MansionButler84, marni1971, WDW1974
- So... not likely at all.

Liberty to Frontier

Frontier Land Update: cancelled - was supposed to get an update for the 50th, but Tomorrowland edged it out. [here]
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad was hoped to get the special effects ('splosions!) that the DL version had sooner than later, but, now probably later.. in 2020. [here] [now postponed or cut due to pandemic]
Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island are potentially on the chopping block [here]
Country Bears: Maybe new songs [here]
- Maybe a show update [here]
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]
- So, WDW has to pay the full cost of a Tokyo retheme unless they chose a different IP that Tokyo is OK with. [here]
- Disney execs keep mentioning it, hasn't been called off.
- the retheme is definitely on and will open in DL and MK in late 2024 [official]
- the big question now is when will Splash close for the retheme? guesses:
  - During the usual January maintenance it will close and not come back
  - OR, winter of 2022-2023 sometime [here]
  - OR, after the 50th [here], which now officially closes on March 31, 2023 [link to 50th closure announcement].
Muppets and Hall of Presidents
- Biden AA arrived.
- ~~Looking at incorporating Muppets in some way into the show [here]~~ Nope

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) DONE
Nothing major is coming to FL [here]

Haunted Mansion restaurant. [here]

MisterPenguin · Sep 20, 2020

Epcot Entrance & World Celebration, Discovery, & Nature

Epcot in General

Epcot Update: Epcot is getting a major update that will have several phases that will run from 2017 to 2021+ [official]

with delays: started in 2019 and will likely run until 2023-2025
scope is more than $2 billion over more than 3 years [here]
There is a push to include more IPs (Intellectual Properties) into Epcot [here].
Bob Chapek on Epcot update: to stay true to Epcot’s original vision while making it “more timeless, more relevant, more family, and more Disney"
Epcot is likely to get a 'new name'... but not much different... probably going with all caps and maybe some sort of prefix or suffix, e.g., Disney EPCOT, or EPCOT Center.
- New font for Epcot has appeared with a mostly all-caps look. Website still uses "Epcot."

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 completed.
New entrance lighting package installed to complement SSE's "Beacon of Light" 50th update

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

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]
NE Building: The Electric Umbrella will be a rethemed QS/TS restaurant, still on track.
- Turns out to be QS only, not TS. Called "Connections." DONE
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]
- new MouseGear called Creations Shop
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" and should be open Sept or Oct of 2021. Will contain new Club Cool.
SW Building: demolished right before the pandemic. It is presumed that the new, scaled-back festival center will go here.
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.
- Journey of Water's timeline was 2023, pre-COVID [here] Still on track to come to EPCOT.
Hub Dreamer's Point statue of Walt: timeline was 2023, pre-COVID [here]
Hub Wishing Tree: Status unknown
Hub Fountain: Still coming, timeline unknown
Hub entertainment/outdoor plaza: Status unknown (artist concept shows 'flying' acrobats and a Alice themed tea party)
Star Bucks: already moved to a 'temporary' location in between Imagination and World Showcase Plaza
- Now relocated in Connections. DONE
Fountain Stage: already moved to a 'temporary' location at World Showcase Plaza

Imagination Pavilion

In summary: Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but nothing is 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]

Spaceship Earth

Siemens Sponsorship
- Siemens is ending sponsorship of Spaceship Earth and Illuminations. Confirmed by a Siemens' press release. Discussion of what that may mean here. [accomplished]
- FALSE RUMOR: "Siemens lost their sponsorship of Spaceship Earth when they offered to provide a new fleet of monorails as long as the monorails had 'sponsored by Siemens' on them." Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope.
- Siemens didn't have strong reasons to sponsor, and sponsorship of the fireworks show being removed from them helped push them away. [here]
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]
- The full refurb for SSE could take up to three years to accomplish [here]
- The original plan for rerouting load and unload (which was to utilize or rebuild Project Tomorrow) may not be happening [here]
- SSE's retheme is pushed off, not cancelled, and may have a change of direction [here]
- SSE's retheme is indefinitely delayed [here]

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]
Ellen's closed on Aug 13, 2017
Story based on Peter Quill having visited Epcot when he was a child
closure of Ellen's confirmed to be August 13, 2017
it will be a launched coaster, Vekoma train, good amount of rows, launches, no inversions [here]
- like TRON / Crush's Coaster with a launch [here]
- maybe like this [here]
Permit filings label construction as "Project S". [here]
- Revealed as Sausalito [here]
Food & Beverage associated with GotG is a possibility [here]
~~Will be called "Infinite Universe" [here] and [here]~~
- Actually, will be called Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind [here]

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]
- PLAY! has been cut back in scope. Timeline delayed by 5 months because of pandemic [here]
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]

R.I.P Horizons

The real story of why Horizons went away (and not because of sink holes) [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]~~
- Opening Sept 20, 2021 [here]
Specs:
- space elevator simulator entrance
- Name: Space 220 (220 miles is height of the International Space Station)
- Large table service for close to 300 guests, a show, and other surprises [here]
- A 250 ft curved projection window along the south and southwestern interior wall [here]
- 16-seater bar, 188 seats upper tier (104 west / 84 east) and 188 seats lower tier [here]
- could have some good ol' Disney IP showing up somehow [here]

World Nature (West side)

Land Pavilion

Living with the Land refurb [here]
- now, not so likely [here]
- but still planned [here]
Dining: additionally, a dining refresh [here]
Awesome Planet movie opened Jan 17, 2020

Living Seas Pavilion refurb around 2021 [here]

A recent survey may point to something new at the Seas (that isn't aquarium related) [here]
Any Seas updates are now back-burnered [here]

Journey of Water: see hub section above

MisterPenguin · Sep 20, 2020

Epcot World Showcase

Agent P World Showcase Adventure to be replaced by DuckTales, no timeline [here]

May not being happening or indefinitely delayed [here]

Festivals:

There is an idea for a summer event... [here]

Mexico: maybe Coco (the new movie) will be overlaid unto the Gran Fiesta ride in Mexico ~~[strong, mid 2020]~~ [overlaid like Gran Fiesta was overlaid]

timeline:
- ~~expect Coco overlay to happen regardless of how the movie's box office goes [here]~~
- ~~now up in the air due to the overlay becoming less definite and more iffy [here] [and here]~~
- ~~project not dead, but drive to make it happen is diminished [here]~~
- 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]
budget of $75 million [here]
- another confirmation of the $75 million budget [here] but, might be old info and the overlay is still not happening [here]
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]

Norway(ish)

Anna and Elsa may be in ravamped outfits this Fall. [here] [completed]
indeed, they are in their Frozen 2 outfits [here]

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]

Wakanda

Yep, that was a thing once planned on in World Showplace in the Africa spot: indefinitely delayed or completely cut [here]

American Adventure

Predictions of a BBQ place replacing Liberty in have been fulfilled. [here]

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
  - ~~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]
  - ~~For this year, late 2020 [here] and [here]~~
  - ~~For delay, [here] and [here] and [here]~~
  - ~~For "not likely this year, but if it does come this year, it won't by 'til mid to late December" [here] and [here]~~
  - ~~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]~~
  - Disney announced it will open for the 50th... Oct 1, 2021.
- Some info on the original ride that might affect the new clone.
- ground clearing began 9/20/17
- will be called "Remy's Ratatouille Adventure" [official]
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]
- IdF's projection system was just updated Spring of 2018 (no new film yet)
- will be seamless [here]
Beauty and the Beast Sing-along
- Sharing IdF's theater (not replacing it... maybe alternating times?) [official]
- debut during Arts on Jan 17, 2020 [here]

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]
The Poppins attraction would have been like Enchanted Tales with Belle [here]

Canada

Predictions of a new O Canada! film are fulfilled, started on Jan 17, 2020 [here]
The closed upstairs shop of La Boutique des Provinces is supposed to become a Food & Beverage place. [here]

New National Pavilions

Brazil: a possible new national pavilion
- ~~Timeline: (2021?) (2022?) in 2022 [here]~~
- ~~Ground breaking before Winter 2019 [here]~~
- ~~Brazil's paperwork is being finalized [here]~~
- ~~original artist's concept of Brazil when first floated long ago... new renderings in the works. [here]~~
- ~~Brazil pavilion will cost $450 million with Brazil (i.e. Brazilian interests) picking up $250 million of it [here] [here]~~
- ~~possible attached attraction/ride [chance of an attached attraction down to more than likely not than likely]~~
- ~~This cost is way too high for just a pavilion, and so, it's likely going to include an E-Ticket [here]~~
- ~~or not [here] and [here]~~
- and... it seems to have fell thru
- A Brazil pavilion isn't necessarily dead dead [here]
- Indefinitely delayed [here]
- 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]
after Brazil, Spain is the next contender (a long shot) for a pavilion. [here]
- and Spain's off the table it seems [here]
or maybe three new pavilions by 2025 [here]
and maybe India is one of them [here]

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]
- ~~rumored by Another Site to only go to May 2020.~~ [here]
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]
  - Harmonious music will be mostly Disney songs in different languages and arrangements with some new music and a framing device [here]
- Cleared land next to Germany pavilion and fireworks canal toward 'Africa' is for prepping for the new fireworks shows and not for a new national pavilion [here]
- Name: ~~The new show will be called IllumiNations [plus something else] [here]~~
  - ~~To be called "Windows on the World" [here]~~
  - Illuminations: Windows on the World sponsored by Intel [here]
  - To be called: HarmoniUS, in 2020, but no date yet [here]
  - Now, no capitalized "U"... Harmonious
- The main screen of Harmonious is flat and doesn't turn. This would hurt the view from the island between UK and France (they'd see it from the side). But this island was used for upcharge Events views. So... Event may be taking over Showcase Plaza (where the current dessert party and FP+ viewing had been). [here]
Pandemic Timeline Issue:
- During pandemic, all fireworks shows are on hold. Don't know when any can come back.
- 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...
  - Epcot Forever hasn't been pulling in crowds like Illuminations did, so, Epcot restaurants are asking WDW to fast-track Harmonious [here]
  - No desire to keep Epcot Forever around longer than it needs to. May even switch to Harmonious's infrastructure before fully complete [here]
  - However, EP is planned to come back eventually [here]
  - Harmonious Timeline: 2021 for the 50th (which is officially in October) [here]
  - Harmonious not likely in 2020, but when fireworks are allowed again, it may be the show and not Epcot Forever. [here]
  - 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]

MisterPenguin · Sep 20, 2020

Disney Hollywood Studios

Tower of Terror will not get the Guardians of the Galaxy overlay that the one in Anaheim is getting [confirmed by Bob Chapek]

Reaffirmed: ToT will remain untouched by GotG [here]

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]
but pandemic can change/delay/scuttle plans...

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.
- Any new timeline overlay would not be a seasonal thing, but permanent [here] (until they decide to change it again)
- Such a change (not decided upon yet) would take less than a year [here]
Any "Phase II" updates to Galaxy's Edge is now indefinitely delayed [here]

Toy Story Restaurant

scope scaled back, delayed 8 months [here]

Echo Lake area is safe for now [here]

Drive-in and Commissary safe for now [here]

Sunset Blvd

no current plans disrupt the theming of Sunset Blvd [here]
but a hint that whatever RnRC remains or become may not wind up on Sunset in a further expansion of the park [here]
- RnRC may be rethemed, or just reoriented from Sunset Blvd to be part of a new land(s) that will be behind it taking over currently back stage areas (and maybe Animation Courtyard buildings?) [here]

Hub

Nighttime animation hub show could replace the Star Wars night show [here]

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]
- Fantasmic! arena and stage received major refurbishment from 2021 into 2022. Casting was initiated but then delayed. As of May 2022, the are still blocking and workshopping the new show which will have at least one new segment, new orchestration, and projection mapping. And then rehearsals with multiple crews will need to take place. So, Spring 2022 predictions are now mid-Summer. [here] [here] [here] [here] [here] [here]
- And now: Before Thanksgiving [here]
- And is October 26 before Thanksgiving? Yes, yes it is. [here] [here]
Indy is safe for now. [here]
Frozen singalong likely to stay even during pandemic, just with modifications [here]
A Rapunzel Show was coming to DHS... and it's delayed, with changes [here]
Mermaid, Beauty... are all long running shows and plans were made for replacements but then delayed. Will they ever be updated with, e.g., the Aladdin show that was in Anaheim or the Tangled show that's on the cruise ships?
- Both are due for some change [here] and [here]
- But changing them, which was definitely on the table and one supposed to happen this year, but unknown why there doesn't seem to be any movement on this [here]
The Theater of the Stars where Beauty and the Best plays could be demo'd for something new or possibly enclosed [here] and probably enclosed again [here]
Little Mermaid could 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]
Launch Bay changed in 2019 or even sooner. Disney Jr. is safe. [here]
Of these four: Voyage of the Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast Stage Show, Fantasmic, and Indiana Jones Stunt Show; expect 1 to be changed ~~in 2018,~~ another by 2019, and the other 2 refreshed by 2021. Also expect a new show in a new-ish location. [here]

The rumored "Phase 3" is not going to be another land, but instead, updates like the Mickey ride; however, there once was talk of "2 new areas" in the planning stages which are now off the table

No other big stuff for five or six years [here]
Is Monstropolis / Pixar Land Coming to DHS? [not very likely] [and still no]
Animation Courtyard is next after SWL for a re-do. [here] and [here]
Still some undetermined plans for DHS after SWL opens [here]

New Name: ~~Hollywood Studios is still getting an unknown name change, but that seems to be held off until the new Lands are completed. What an adventure!~~

~~Name change may coincide with SWL and MMRR openings. [here]~~
Name change not happening -- official [here]

MisterPenguin · Sep 20, 2020

Animal Kingdom

Pandora

An extra attraction and a full sit-down restaurant a possible addition [here] [updated].
- It does exist, but unlikely to be enacted [here]
- Or, it's still in the cards [here]
Phase II Addition
- A description of a proposed Phase 2 attraction in Pandora [here]
- The Pandora expansion is indefinitely delayed [here]
a good portion of the interactive at-night lighting effects did not turn out as planned. [here]

Northern Project: Some long term proposal to make use of the land north of Kali and south of Conservation Station. [here]

Something within a decade [here]
a 'northern project' sometime mid next decade [here]
long-term goal to get to the Conservation Station on foot [here]
Planet Watch reverting back to it's previous incarnation is indefinitely delayed [here]

DinoLand: There were many rumors concerning this area with one or more attractions being replaced with various rumors that kept shifting. Given the pandemic and the closing of Primeval Whirl, any rumors worth mentioning would only be those from plans made in a post-COVID world. See Version 2 of the tracker for what these all were. Though, this prescient one:

~~Primeval Whirl may be gone in a year or two [here].~~ And... it's gone.
The space may be used for a quick flat-ride replacement (2023 or 2024), OR... saved for a more major land addition (2025 or 2026) [here]

Flights of Wonder:

New show opened in April 2018 - - UP! A Great Bird Adventure
- Show was revised due to poor reception
- Show was revised again on Nov 8 2018 for Diwali celebration
- Show will be revised again because of poor reviews [here] and [here]
- Show was revised again post-COVID with just the birds performing and no story/act attached.
- Future of the show is unknown

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.. everything is now trashed and it ain't ever coming back [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]
- A lite version of FotLK is in the works opening Jun1 with no Tumble Monkeys. [here]

Zootopia: Zootopia never was planned to be and never will be a DAK attraction [here] and [here]

Indiana Jones: Anything that was Indiana Jones that was going to come to DAK is now cancelled [here]

MisterPenguin · Sep 20, 2020

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.

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]
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
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
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
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.
- 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.
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]

Transportation

Some Type of Transportation Other Than Gondolas!
- hints of new mass transit that is not bus, not gondola lift, not monorail, not rail; but whatever it is, it's years away [likely]
- still not gondola lifts [here]
- maybe dedicated roadways (no cars, flyways over hiways), maybe with rail or some type of tracked system (maybe AI controlled?) [here]
AI driven buses, vans, cars?.... <silence>
- And driverless it most likely is.
  - And driverless transports pushed back a bit waiting for better tech [here]
Monorail
- Now that the automation has been completed, expect upgrades to the vehicles [here] which includes being flush to the loading platform for easier load of vehicles [here]
- Bob Gurr and Bombardier
  - Legendary and retired Imagineer, Bob Gurr, let loose that WDW was in the process of contracting with Bombardier for new monorail trains (thanks, in part, to several recent non-lethal but-could-have-been mishaps). Not a done deal... yet.
  - Option: Extending the stations to accommodate longer trains. [here]
- still going with Bombadier, still in the works [here]
- How about a Bombadier Innovia 200? [here]
- if still happening, still a few years away and will be incremental changes [here]
- Silver monorail was just refurbished, which is a sign that WDW isn't getting new monorails soon and in time for the 50th. So, they're getting refurbed in the meantime. [here] [here] [here]
DAK to/from AKL Transportation
- A new non-Gondola and non-bus way to link AKL with AK in in the works (years away)
- Could also link in Disney Springs and elsewhere [here]
Train from airport to Disney Springs
- Brightline discussion thread [here]
- Target is 2023, but, could be delayed to 2024 [here]

Miscellaneous

Fifth Gate: Ain't happening. No trusted insider had indicated this in the works. In fact, they say it isn't.
Club 33: All the rumored Club 33s (one for each theme park) are completed.
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]
Cryptic clue: Maybe there will be something built immediately behind World Showcase (American, Japan, France), or, the gondola system is set up for expansion, or, something... [here]
50th Plans Are Mostly Known: Almost everything that will open in time for MK's 50th (Oct 2021) has been officially announced. [here]
- And now many are up in the air due to the pandemic
Hours: How WDW determines how late they'll be open to [here]
What does a SVP-Commercial Strategy and Chief Revenue Officer do? [here]
Joe Rohde and the mystery of Bali [here]
Frozen: Other than minor things at DHS (e.g., incorporating songs from the Frozen short into the sing-along), no more Frozen additions expected in WDW. [here]
While "more Disney" is a company goal leading to incorporating established Disney IPs from movies into the parks, there still is the possibility of "non-IP" attractions being added. [here]
GotG coming to the Energy pavilion will be the only Marvel integration in WDW... that's the plan... for now. [here]
The Muppets are under Walt Disney Imagineering (under their puppetry division). [here]
Disney Dining Plan, shelved during the pandemic, may come back in 2022 [here]

MisterPenguin · Sep 20, 2020

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

Marketplace Makeover: There are plans [here] In approval stages [here] (and from other sources), however, it seems a long time delayed, and with the pandemic, pushed off for far longer.

MisterPenguin · Sep 20, 2020

Resorts

Value Designation: Designation of Value, Moderate, and Deluxe being done away with. Rooms priced as the market will bear. Multiple criteria will be considered in pricing: closeness to a park, size of room, theming, amenities, etc.... Computer searching for price range replaces cost tiers.

Since this rumor, years have gone by with revamps to hotel designations with regard to villas, DVC, Disney Springs, Good Neighbor, special status of Swolphin, Four Seasons, etc.... But, still haven't done away with "value v. moderate v. deluxe"

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]
Cost:
- ~~early and rough guesses at cost: here.~~
- Actual costs: ~~here~~
will have a themed shuttle from resort to back stage entrance to SWL through a covered bus terminal [here]
will have all the features of a first-class hotel: dining ("high-end dining"! [official]), recreation, accommodations, all authentic to the Star Wars universe (though, permits showed no pool) [here]
Likely Site is Project H in this permit [here]
- Project H***** is the SW Resort [here] [here]
- And it stands for "Hubble" [here] with [here] was a roundabout confirmation. Also.. [here]

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]

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
It's a Marriott "Autograph Collection" hotel. [here]

Miscellaneous

Maybe 6 new boutique hotels 2018-2031 [here]
Maybe a super-deluxe [here]
Maybe the empty resort pad on Seven Seas Lagoon that was once going to be the Venetian will be developed after all [here]
- This rumor has popped up again: Discussion

MisterPenguin · Sep 20, 2020

Resources

Forum

Big List of Forum Abbreviations

Maps

Google Earth Pro

It's free, download here
Quick how-to on the very useful Polygon Tool

RCID Address Finder

Rick Singh CFA Orange County Property Appraiser Florida

Often has the latest satellite imagery. Will also identify ownership of plots.

Disney's Web Map without borders

Maps of the Reedy Creek 2010 - 2020 Plan

How to Search for Permits

Other

Animation Screencaps: Don't bother firing up D+ on your computer to grab a screencap... they got you covered. (External link)

MisterPenguin · Sep 20, 2020

No Genie

Show up, get in standby lines, OR, use Boarding Groups/Virtual Queues -- either way, all rides can be ridden at no additional cost this way
Can still use My Disney Experience app (MDE)
The old "My Plans" section can be accessed by searching for my plans in the search bar.

Disney Genie [DG] (without the "+")

The app that will plan your day 'for free' by guiding you to your preferred attractions (standby lines) throughout the day.
Coming Oct 19, 2021 to WDW. [Start date at DL is still TBD.]

Disney Genie+ [DG+]

What is it?
- DG+ is an add-on to the free Disney Genie app... for a daily fee.
- It will then show on your app, the list of attractions/rides that have a "Lightning Lane" (what used to be called "FastPass Queue/Line").
- It shows the next available "Lightning Lane Pass" for that attraction. Click on it, and you know have a scheduled Lightning Lane.
Purchasing Genie+
- Costs $15 per day per guest per day at WDW; costs $20 at DL.
- DG+ can be bought on a day-to-day basis.
  - You can purchase a theme park ticket with DG+ added on
  - You can add DG+ to your ticket already purchased
  - You can purchase DG+ for the day through the app
    - DG+ can be added to the day of your visit starting at 12:00 AM (let's call it 12:01 AM, so we know which side of the divide we're on). Then, at 7:00 AM, you can do your DG+ stuff.
  - If you purchase a multi-day ticket/package, you can add DG+ for the whole stay.
- APs can purchase DG+ per day on each day they attend.
  - It is unknown at this time if Disney will have an option to pay one price to add G+$ to an AP for every visit (like a Park Hopper Pass can be added).
- When you make a DG+ LL selection. It can be cancelled so that you can choose a different LL.
Benefit: Lightning Lanes [LL]
- DG+ gives you access to Lightning Lanes (LLs, previously, FP Queues), which are available one-at-a-time throughout the day.
  - In this way, you can schedule your LLs like Maxpass in DL or with the old paper passes.
- Shows you the next available scheduling slot for a slew of rides (with the exception of select 'tier 1' rides that now have an individual extra cost [see ILL below]) and you pick one, and show up at the time.
- All guests can schedule their first LL at 7a at WDW. At DL, they can schedule their first LL once in the park.
  - WARNING: If you grab a LL for later in the day, the 120 minute times starts when the park opens, and not at 7 AM. If your first LL of the day is at park opening, it makes no difference. If your first LL is later in the day, your next LL window will be 2 hours after the park opens.
- You don't have to be in the park in which your next LL is scheduled (so, you can chose your LL at the resort, e.g., or at another park and then hop)
- When can you grab your next LL? Book another LL when your return window opens for your current 'open' LL, OR, after 2 hours since your last selection, whichever is sooner, which is the current DL practice of Maxpass.
  - This means that, e.g., if at 9 AM you pick up a Big Thunder Mountain LL scheduled for 4 PM, then, at 11 AM, you can choose a new DG+ LL pass.
- Note that you can only get one LL per ride per day. For example, if you grab a LL for Haunted Mansion, you can't get another LL for HM in that same day. You'll have to use the Standby line for a second ride. This includes purchasing an ILL (see below). However you get a LL for an attraction, you can't get another LL for that attraction the same day. Re-rides can be accomplished by using the Standby Queue/Line.
- It seems the the same grace period from FP+ exists for LLs, namely, 5 minutes before and 15 minutes after stated window.
Benefits, Miscellaneous:
- at DL, Genie+ gives you Photopass and audio tour tracks
- At WDW, G+ doesn't give you photopass, but you get augmented reality lens and some audio tour tracks.

Individual Lightning Lanes (ILL) [formerly knowns as Individual Attractions Lightning Lanes $elect Experiences (IA$)]

Buy up to two Individual Lightning Lane $elections (formerly, "fastpasses") for select rides
- The select rides are: Space, 7DMT, FEA, Rat, RotR, MMRR, FoP, Everest
If you buy your max of 2 for the day, they must be two different attractions, no double dipping.
- If you also purchased DG+ (see above), you're still limited to one LL per attraction per day, whether by ILL or DG+.
Unlike DG+LLs in which you can only grab the next available time slot, these individually selected pay-per-ride ILLs can be scheduled at a wide range of time slots if those slots are available.
- Once you purchase it, you'll see all the available time slots of the day.
Disney Resort Guests at WDW can purchase ILL at 7am day-of.
- Non-resort-guests at WDW, and everyone at DL, have to wait until the park opens to buy their ILL.
You don't have to be in the park in which your ILLis scheduled
- this way, you can chose your ILL at the resort, e.g., or at another park and then hop
When you make a ILL selection, it cannot be moved or cancelled for some other attraction or time. It is non-refundable.
You don't have to purchase Genie+$15 in order to buy your one or two ILL. A person looking for rides on Genie (regular, not 'plus') will see a button to *purchase* a LL for select rides.
Disney wan't sure what to call this. We've seen, and they may still use at times...
- Lightning Lane Select Experiences
- Individual Attraction Selections (IAS)
- Individual Attractions
- Individual Lightning Lanes (ILL) (!!)
- Individual á la carte Lightning Lane Entrance
At launch, ILL attractions will be priced at $7-$15 per attraction per person. Everest will be the cheapest and Rise of the Resistance being the most expensive. Prices will fluctuate based on demand (so far, prices we've seen have fluctuated only a few dollars)
- the most expensive ILLs are capped at $15.
If the attraction you paid for goes down...
- you will be allowed to ride it when it comes back up at any time later in the day
- if it goes down for the rest of the day, currently, you can get a gift card refund from Customer Service, but there is plans to make the refund automatic
- If it goes down and it comes back up, but you couldn't go the attraction at a later time (e.g., you already left the park), you can contact CS for a refund

Virtual Queues

Will be found under Genie (regular, not 'plus')
Rat will have them.
RotR recently got removed from VQs, it may go back on
If you miss the VQ lottery:
- These attractions could possibly wind up with standby lines on slow days, or,
- you may be able to buy a IA$ for it under Genie (regular, not 'plus')

Disney Genie, Genie+, and Lightning Lane FAQ for Walt Disney World

Your most frequently asked questions about the new Disney Genie service coming to Walt Disney World.

www.wdwmagic.com

This is a helpful graphic by @JAB...

MisterPenguin · Sep 20, 2020

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MisterPenguin · Sep 20, 2020

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MisterPenguin · Sep 20, 2020

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MisterPenguin · Sep 20, 2020

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.]
- Electric cars? [Possible.]
  - Still a plan. [here]
- Not likely to be Sugar Rush from Wreck-it Ralph. [Here.]
- Maybe a Tron theme for Speedway by 2021? [Here] and [Here] and [Here]
- in the artwork for Tron, the Speedway still exists -- this is a sign it isn't being removed as some sites have rumored [but the artist's rendering of Tron doesn't show what the overhauled Speedway will look like, there's separate unreleased art for that.]
- still a plan to overlay the Speedway (with, most likely TRON) [here]
- Speedway is now not likely to get a TRON retheme. [here] { added }

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 }

Shows

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]

Disney Maddux · Sep 26, 2020

Great job as always!

itsy bitsy spider · Oct 15, 2020

Great job Mister Penguin

This pandemic has probably nixed the idea of a 5th gate anytime soon. They can't even finish the rides that have been under construction in their existing parks.

MisterPenguin · Oct 15, 2020

itsy bitsy spider said:
Great job Mister Penguin

This pandemic has probably nixed the idea of a 5th gate anytime soon. They can't even finish the rides that have been under construction in their existing parks.

As my tracker points out, there never was any credible plan for a 5th gate ever. So, it's hard to nix what never was and was never to be.

MisterPenguin · Oct 15, 2020

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]
- Possible that the current pink/salmon paint job is not liked by execs since the concept art sold them on a much softer use of pink, which may mean a change earlier than the usual paint maintenance [here] {added}

Tomorrowland

Carousel of Progress is getting a refurb, most likely updating final scene and reskinning the AAs [here] and news of when that may happen has 'gone quiet' [here] {added}

Night Time Parade

Or, it's a modified Paint the Night that will move to Florida [here] [here] [here]
- or maybe not? [here] {added}

Epcot Entrance & World Celebration, Discovery, & Nature

Hub

NE Building: The Electric Umbrella will be a rethemed QS/TS restaurant, still on track.
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]
NE & SE Buildings: Disney wants new merch and restaurant and Club Cool open by 50th [here] {added}

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
  - 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]
  - For this year, late 2020 [here] and [here]
  - For delay, [here] and [here] and [here] {added}
  - For "not likely this year, but if it does come this year, it won't by 'til mid to late December" [here] and [here] {added}

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?

Reservation System
- discussion [here] {added}
Park Hopping
- it will return, even if Reservations are still in place, but, not a priority [here] {added}
FP+ (or other premier access schemes)
- unlikely to return or be initiated while Reservations are still in place. [here] {added}
Plexiglass!
- expect more rides to get plexiglass so as to increase capacity (more people in same vehicle, and thus, increased throughput of people) [here] {added}
Virtual Queues
- unlikely for more except for Ratatouille, and even then, unlikely [here] {added}
Nighttime Entertain (e.g., fireworks)
- should come before Reservations end, tho neither are happening soon [here] {added}

MisterPenguin · Oct 22, 2020

Magic Kingdom

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, 2012 [here] but it is definitely returning and not being scrapped [here]. Disney decided to replace *all* the linear induction motors. [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]
- Or... not even until 2022 [here] and [here] {added}

Epcot Entrance & World Celebration, Discovery, & Nature

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] {added}

Epcot World Showcase

Fireworks Show: a complete replacement of IllumiNations

Permanent replacement in Fall 2020 {Project K(appa)}
- The main screen of Harmonious is flat and doesn't turn. This would hurt the view from the island between UK and France (they'd see it from the side). But this island was used for upcharge Events views. So... Event may be taking over Showcase Plaza (where the current dessert party and FP+ viewing had been). [here] {added}

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?

Virtual Queues
- unlikely for more except for Ratatouille, and even then, unlikely [here]
- 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] {added}

WDW Rumor Tracker, Version 3

President of Animal Kingdom

President of Animal Kingdom

President of Animal Kingdom

President of Animal Kingdom

President of Animal Kingdom

President of Animal Kingdom

President of Animal Kingdom

President of Animal Kingdom

President of Animal Kingdom

President of Animal Kingdom

President of Animal Kingdom

President of Animal Kingdom

President of Animal Kingdom

President of Animal Kingdom

President of Animal Kingdom

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

President of Animal Kingdom

President of Animal Kingdom

President of Animal Kingdom