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D23 has revealed much of Disney’s US$60bn spending plans for its parks, with attractions and lands themed around a large number of iconic IPs in the company portfolio
Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | 12 Aug 2024
A Monsters, Inc. ride will also be Disney’s first suspended rollercoaster Credit: Disney
Disney has unveiled much of its US$60bn (€55bn, £47bn) commitments to its parks worldwide, announcing a Disney villains-themed land, a Monsters, Inc. land and a doubling in size of Avengers Campus among a host of major additions to its offering.
Announcing its global parks masterplan at the D23 fan event, Josh D’Amaro, Disney parks, experiences and products chairman, introduced the plethora of additions coming to the operator’s parks worldwide.
Disney Villains
Coming to Magic Kingdom in Orlando, a land based on Disney’s villains is in the works, with two major new attractions planned alongside themed retail and dining experiences.
Disney’s villains have gained significant popularity in recent years among the Disney fan base, with certain villains such as Cruella DeVille getting her own origin movie, with a second currently in production.
“This land will be home to the villains that you know, and those that you loathe,” said D’Amaro “Be prepared, you poor unfortunate souls. It’s going to be a fearless new vision for what a Disney experience can be.”
Villains land will be unlike anything Disney has ever produced in its parks CREDIT: DISNEY
Monsters, Inc.
Meanwhile, 2001’s Pixar classic Monsters, Inc. will form a new themed land at Orlando’s Hollywood Studios park.
Introduced on stage by Bill Crystal - the voice of Mike Wazowski - the land takes visitors into the world of Monstropolis, with a suspended coaster taking visitors into the door vault alongside Mike and Sully.
“The first time I saw Monsters, Inc., all I wanted to do was ride on one of those doors like Mike and Sulley,” said D’Amaro. “You’ll go into the factory and experience the first suspended coaster ever in a Disney park. Remember in the movie how those claws grab the doors and hoist them up into the air to take them away? We’re doing that, too. And you’re going along for the ride.”
Avengers Campus
The hugely popular Avengers Campus is set to double in size at Disney’s California Adventure park.
Featuring two new attractions, Robert Downey Jr, will play a role in Avengers Infinity Defence and Stark Flight Lab.
Reprising his role of Tony Stark in Stark Flight Lab, the ride will see visitors test out Stark-made pods.
Meanwhile in Infinity Defense, guests will travel to locations including Wakanda, Asgard and New York City, where they will meet the Mad Titan Thanos in a battle to save the universe.
Animal Kingdom
Disney’s Animal Kingdom is set to gain two new additions, with a new land named Tropical Americas set to replace the existing DinoLand.
Within the new land, will be the introduction of two major IPs - Encanto and Indiana Jones. Both set to open in 2027 along with the new land, the Encanto attraction will see guests travel through Casita on the day Antonio receives his gift. The world is well suited to attractions, with the cinematography from the hit ‘We Don’t Talk About Bruno, laid out using the principles of a dark ride attraction.
Meanwhile, the Indiana Jones ride will take place “in an ancient Mayan temple that Indy has recently discovered”. According to D’Amaro, there is a warning of an “ancient mythical creature” that could cause trouble on the ride.
Cars
Cars will be taking up space in Magic Kingdom’s Frontierland, with a pair of attractions set to take visitors off-road, while another will be targeted at families with young children.
“The American West has always been about keeping your eyes on the horizon - believing in yourself, carving your own path, and striving toward success,” D’Amaro said.
“That goes for miners in the mountains, bears from the country, a princess from the Bayou or a racecar from the big city.”
Life will soon be a highway at Magic Kingdom CREDIT: DISNEY
Avatar
Avatar is coming to California Adventure, with a new land set in a different location to Pandora in Orlando’s Animal Kingdom.
Inspired by Avatar: The Way of Water and the upcoming Fire and Ash, as well as future instalments in the Avatar franchise, a new ride will see guests journey by boat on “an excursion in search of majestic natural wonders that can only be found on Pandora”.
The Lion King
The soon-to-be-rebranded Disney Adventure World at Disneyland Paris is also welcoming a major Disney IP, with a ride inspired by The Lion King coming to the park.
Also featuring themed dining and retail, the ride experience will follow Simba on the journey from cub to king, with D’Amaro promising visitors will feel like they’ve “stepped right into that movie”.
A Lion King attraction is coming to Disneyland Paris CREDIT: DISNEY
Coco
Another franchise set to get its first ride experience is Coco. Set to break ground in 2026, D’Amaro says the ride will draw inspiration from “Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean,” with visitors on the ride taking a journey to the film’s Land of the Dead.
Walt Disney
Finally, a first in any Disney park will see an animatronic of Walt Disney appear when Disneyland debuts “Walt Disney – A Magical Life” as a show in 2025.
Set to be hosted inside the Main Street Opera House, the experience will play in rotation with “Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln” - Disneyland’s classic stage show featuring an animatronic version of Abraham Lincoln - which is undergoing an extensive US$5m refurbishment.
“An animatronic of Walt Disney is an idea that’s been whispered in the hallowed halls of Imagineering for years, maybe even decades now,” said D’Amaro. “We are finally ready.”
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