DHS What should they do with Animation Courtyard?

[Nickm2022]

They are expecting Zootopia 2 to be a big win for them. Three things seem likely to me ... Zootopia for DHS. Moana attraction for MK. Inside Out attraction for Epcot ... (and in a perfect world Lion King for DAK.)

With Moana, Inside Out & Lion King additions maybe being announced at the 2026/2028 expo.

** with Marvel as a possible dark horse for Animation Courtyard instead of Zootopia **

I agree with all of that, and I don't think Marvel is a dark horse, frankly they could do a zootopia and marvel land next to each other at the same time like Toy Story and Star Wars, connecting what was animation courtyard to the new muppets area.

Also with inside out, completely agree the debate tho is just where. I also wouldn't rule out COCO for epcot w the new ride.

 

[Bocabear]

Honestly, what does "Fast Tracking" any of these projects mean? Adding a covered seating area in TSL has taken iterally years...Best case scenario on any of this stuff seems 5+ years away...minimum Especially with the MK where they have not even announced the closures yet, let alone started any construction...and by then won't the timeline for the big investment be about over?

 

[Giss Neric]

I would love if they bring the Walt Disney – A Magic Life to Hollywood Studios. Lets see how good the Walt AA first when it debuts in Disneyland soon.

 

[bmr1591]

Agreed. That Tangled ride is perfect for DHS, which lacks a boat ride and could use one without a height requirement.

I disagree. This belongs in the Germany pavillion.

 

[Advisable Joseph]

To be frank I haven’t heard Zootopia for this area for a good while now and to be double frank I don’t think announcing Zootopia for this area would steal any of EU’s thunder at all.

Remember, pushing Zootopia out of there increases the odds of it coming to the north of Animal Kingdom, possibly as part of a Disney-character-oriented iteration of Beastly Kingdom.
From 2008, I believe:

http://blueskydisney.blogspot.com/2008/04/worlds-fourth-kingdom-at-ten.html
Honor Hunter, the writer/blogger who runs blueskydisney.blogspot.com, has updated us once again...
"Beastly Kingdom" is not dead. It's not only dead, but the concept is apparently moving forward ...
The Beastly Kingdom will be coming back, but with well known disney characters, instead of just plain old mythical creatures....

IIRC, the original Beastly Kingdom concept would be folded into the main part of the park, hence Expedition Everest and the new Indy Jones attraction.

Also,

I was actually told by a vp from Ak (in 1999) that Beastly Kingom was part of a "twenty year plan" for the park.

So the timing is about right.

 

[bmr1591]

Remember, pushing Zootopia out of there increases the odds of it coming to the north of Animal Kingdom, possibly as part of a Disney-character-orientation iteration of Beastly Kingdom.

I wouldn't be opposed to replacing Planet Watch with a Zootopia land where you ride the train to it. It almost makes it feel like you're leaving Animal Kingdom to go to the city, just like in the movie. And it could be disconnected from the rest of the park as to not disrupt the theme.

 

[Advisable Joseph]

So

I wouldn't be opposed to replacing Planet Watch with a Zootopia land where you ride the train to it. It almost makes it feel like you're leaving Animal Kingdom to go to the city, just like in the movie. And it could be disconnected from the rest of the park as to not disrupt the theme.

Sorry, I meant "Disney-character-oriented" not "Disney-character-orientation"

 

[UNCgolf]

I wouldn't be opposed to replacing Planet Watch with a Zootopia land where you ride the train to it. It almost makes it feel like you're leaving Animal Kingdom to go to the city, just like in the movie. And it could be disconnected from the rest of the park as to not disrupt the theme.

That would be an operations nightmare with the train bottleneck getting people in/out of the area.

Regardless, they can't really replace Planet Watch. They could remove it as a guest facing area, but it's the veterinary facilities for the park and it wouldn't make much sense to move them.

 

[ToTBellHop]

I disagree. This belongs in the Germany pavillion.

If we want to further cartoonify World Showcase, sure. But Epcot does not want for boat rides. Or rides without height requirements. DHS does on both counts.

 

[ednamodedarling]

That would be an operations nightmare with the train bottleneck getting people in/out of the area.

Regardless, they can't really replace Planet Watch. They could remove it as a guest facing area, but it's the veterinary facilities for the park and it wouldn't make much sense to move them.

I would assume there would be a semi-themed walking trail as well.

 

[Fox&Hound]

A dark ride on the scale of Great Movie Ride focusing on the history of Disney animation. You board your cars and everything starts out black and white, you float along with Steamboat Willy, it moves on to Snow White with effects to showcase the Multiplane camera, (as it progresses, the colors get more and more vibrant) then it moves through the Renaissance days, all the way up through Pixar and beyond. Not trackless. Not omnimover. Do it along the lines of Spiderman to allow the feeling of speed, floating, flying, etc.

Would it ever happen? Nah.
But imagine the still pictures during concept and construction showing off scenes of their most beloved attractions.

I love this idea! What a great watch to represent some much forgotten films not represented much in the parks: 101 Dalmatians, Robin Hood, Emperor’s New Groove, etc

 

[unclejeff]

Doesn't Universal lose exclusive rights to the Avengers in 2029? If so, now would be the perfect time for Disney to announce an Avenger's Campus, given a likely 3- or 4-year construction timeline.

I personally can't see it going anywhere but in the Animation Courtyard space. It's such an underused space practically in the center of DHS. I would find it hard to believe Disney hasn't had that space earmarked for Avengers for at least a decade. An Avengers Campus, or similar land, only fits thematically in DHS imo, and the perfect location in that park is available for it.

 

[Agent H]

Doesn't Universal lose exclusive rights to the Avengers in 2029? If so, now would be the perfect time for Disney to announce an Avenger's Campus, given a likely 3- or 4-year construction timeline.

I personally can't see it going anywhere but in the Animation Courtyard space. It's such an underused space practically in the center of DHS. I would find it hard to believe Disney hasn't had that space earmarked for Avengers for at least a decade. An Avengers Campus, or similar land, only fits thematically in DHS imo, and the perfect location in that park is available for it.

There is no expiration date on the marvel contract. The Simpsons one is rumored to expire in 2028 though.

 

[ChewbaccaYourMum]

Does Coco 2 being announced for 2029 release
+
Coco ride already being developed for DCA
+
Previously Disney already exploring ways to try to bring Coco to WDW (original TA and BTM 'bluesky', both having Coco in it)
=
Maybe we're overthinking it and the answer is very obviously a big "Land of the Dead" Coco land in Animation Courtyard? With probably that boat ride DCA is getting + dining/shopping and maybe a second FOP/Soarin type attraction flying over the Land of the Dead?
I have no insider info, but hypothetically, if that's it-- who says no?

 

[seabreezept813]

It won’t happen, but I think Fantasy Springs would be a great match for this park. Obviously skip Frozen.

And the Pixie Hollow ride... unless there are actual fairies in it because that ride is a big ??? to me

 

[TheDisneyParksfanC8]

Does Coco 2 being announced for 2029 release
+
Coco ride already being developed for DCA
+
Previously Disney already exploring ways to try to bring Coco to WDW (original TA and BTM 'bluesky', both having Coco in it)
=
Maybe we're overthinking it and the answer is very obviously a big "Land of the Dead" Coco land in Animation Courtyard? With probably that boat ride DCA is getting + dining/shopping and maybe a second FOP/Soarin type attraction flying over the Land of the Dead?
I have no insider info, but hypothetically, if that's it-- who says no?

If the land opens by the time Coco 2 comes out, both the boat ride and hypothetical flying attraction would probably pull elements from the second film. The boat ride at DCA appears to be heavily based on the first movie.

Side note, I am not a big fan of Coco getting a sequel. Like Up before it, it was a great standalone story.

 

[ChewbaccaYourMum]

If the land opens by the time Coco 2 comes out, both the boat ride and hypothetical flying attraction would probably pull elements from the second film. The boat ride at DCA appears to be heavily based on the first movie.

Side note, I am not a big fan of Coco getting a sequel. Like Up before it, it was a great standalone story.

Yeah, I'm not sure how I feel about a sequel, yet, but just from taking the information that it's happening, a land could be exciting.

I would highly doubt, even if that's what's going in AC, that it would be open by 2029. I think no matter what is going in AC, isn't coming till between 2031-2035 probably. I feel like we already know what is coming to WDW from now till 2030, for the most part, minus some surprise, little things perhaps.

 

[Purduevian]

Does Coco 2 being announced for 2029 release
+
Coco ride already being developed for DCA
+
Previously Disney already exploring ways to try to bring Coco to WDW (original TA and BTM 'bluesky', both having Coco in it)
=
Maybe we're overthinking it and the answer is very obviously a big "Land of the Dead" Coco land in Animation Courtyard? With probably that boat ride DCA is getting + dining/shopping and maybe a second FOP/Soarin type attraction flying over the Land of the Dead?
I have no insider info, but hypothetically, if that's it-- who says no?

I can't find the posts... but I believe insiders were saying the MK, DHS, and AK were "fighting" over what IPs were going in what park.

MK: ended up getting Cars and Villains but almost got Coco, Encanto, and Moana
AK: ended up with Encanto, Indy, and zootopia, but almost got Moana (and zootpia in a different place). Apparently Coco was also a possibility for tropical Americas

DHS was apparently up for Cars and/or Villains... but clearly didn't get either of those. It got Monsters Inc. However, it looks like Moana and Coco were both almost planned for MK and AK. We also have a Coco ride coming to DCA... so costs could be shared.

So my bet is either Moana splash mountain ride... or Coco Land, complete with the DCA boat ride and flight of the alebrije

Here is a crude paint drawing showing FOP main show building (Flight of the alebrije), WDW pirates (boat ride), and the bone yard (a playground).

This would be a great addition to DHS because it would.
1) add a new LLSP for DHS to make money on
2) add a 0 height family high capacity ride
3) add a playground
4) add a new visual area that is different than any other area of the park.

Chance of this happening? 1%... seems too expensive haha.

View attachment 848757

 

[Nickm2022]

What's interesting about coco is I honestly can not think of a single IP that could work in any of the four parks. COCO would work in Tropical Americas at AK. At Mexico in EPCOT if they want to expand that pavilion. In new frointerland by pesos bill at Magic. and literally anywhere at HS. How does it not have a ride at wdw.

 

[Stupido]

The Land of the Dead from Coco would definitely be a world I'd love to explore. I think it would lend itself perfectly to the "explore the worlds of your favorite movies" theme that Hollywood Studios is transitioning to.

The boat ride could be a retelling of the first movie from the point of view of those in the afterlife, and the second flying attraction could cover the sequel plot? Or just further explore the world? The music is so rich, and there seems to be so many events happening in the afterlife, I could see them having material for a stage show here too.