What's New at Walt Disney World?

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Re: What's New at Walt Disney World?

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UmbrellaFish wrote: Mon Sep 18, 2023 10:10 amDisney has confirmed the presence of a live bear at Magic Kingdom today:
https://wdwnt.com/2023/09/confirmed-bla ... -the-park/
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Re: What's New at Walt Disney World?

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I’m so glad the bear was safely captured and released.

I’m sure she just wanted to see the Country Bear Jamboree before it gets redone!
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Re: What's New at Walt Disney World?

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:lol:
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Re: What's New at Walt Disney World?

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Today marks the 52nd anniversary of the opening of Walt Disney World and the Magic Kingdom! It is also the 41st anniversary of Epcot.

Happy Anniversary to the Most Magical Place on Earth!
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Re: What's New at Walt Disney World?

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Newly released footage of the capture of the black bear in Magic Kingdom: https://youtu.be/l9s3LGcCnhM?si=wmqaRCAfKYFOA-J9
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Re: What's New at Walt Disney World?

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Jenny Nicholson released a video about her experience on the Galactic Starcruiser last month: https://youtu.be/T0CpOYZZZW4?si=QaIdAdB6v5y-KepA

Earlier this week, she revealed the video received copyright strikes from Disney with people speculating this was retaliation from Disney due to the viral video’s negative coverage of Galactic Starcruiser: https://old.reddit.com/r/videos/comment ... s_against/ (Reddit thread with video embed)

I’m a Patreon supporter of Jenny Nicholson— she covers a diverse range of topics, but if there’s any Disney movie fans out there who’d like to learn a little more about the parks, I recommend any of her videos about Disneyland and WDW. She is a former Disneyland cast member and she has great, level headed and critical takes about Disney’s theme park offerings. Not Disney-related, but she also has an excellent video about a now defunct theme park in Utah called Evermore. Another great video about the My Little Pony “brony” phenomenon.

Anyway, I don’t think Disney was deliberately “retaliating” against Jenny here, but if they were, it has Streisand-effected them.
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Re: What's New at Walt Disney World?

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The Country Bears are back!


Full show here: https://youtu.be/eK1Y_WoxTEE?si=fJSUTJ1ttjse6JnV

The animatronics got some much needed TLC and I like the musical choices.

I miss the more mature humor from the original show, but I think this update means CBJ is sticking around for awhile longer and that’s good news to me.
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Re: What's New at Walt Disney World?

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Announcements so far:

New nighttime parade coming to Magic Kingdom in 2025

Dinoland USA is being turned into Tropical Americas at DAK— the village of Pueblo Esperanza

Indiana Jones ride confirmed to be coming to Animal Kingdom, replacing Dinosaur. Takes place in Ancient Mayan temple, completely new story (not remake of Disneyland ride)

Tropical Americas will feature a carousel. The story behind the carousel is that a villager has carved animals from his favorite Disney movies.

Encanto ride coming to Tropical Americas. Appears to be Omnimover. Ride is set on the day Antonio receives his powers.

Tropical Americas set to open at DAK in 2027.

Zootopia Tree of Life show coming Winter 2025

A new Epcot lounge coming in 2025

Pirates lounge coming to MK in 2025 (sounds like it’s coming to Tortuga Tavern)

Test Track coming 2025

Monsters Inc Land is coming to DHS :shock: :shock: (Launch Bay??? Muppets????) This is a real surprise

Monsters Inc will have a door roller coaster (suspended coaster)

New Cars Land coming to MK’s Frontierland with two new rides. New Cars Land is not set in Radiator Springs, set in wilderness

New Mandalorian and Grogu storyline coming to Millennium Falcon

Villains Land confirmed for Magic Kingdom: will feature 2 major new attractions, dining, and shopping. No details though.
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Re: What's New at Walt Disney World?

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When I went to bed there was no news; waking up just now, there is so much news to process!!! Reading also on WDWNT to fill me in:

Villains Land! Finally! If anything closes to make room for it, it's the Riverboat and Tom Sawyer Island. My heart kind of breaks for Walt if the boat is no more, but I won't be too sad about the island closing, if it happens. I wonder what the "2 major attractions" will be!! I don't buy much Villains merchandise, but I bet the shopping will be fun! We already have Gaston's Tavern; I wonder what other restaurants we could get.. like themed to a particular villain or like villains in general. An Ursula's lair? a castle (I doubt this would happen), like the Queen, Maleficent, the Horned King? Dr. Facilier's lair? As for foods they could serve, obviously poisoned apple. Um, venison (wink, wink Bambi's Man).
I wouldn't be upset if they brought back the pork shanks from Gaston's Tavern (I haven't been since pre-Covid, but they had removed them from the menu). Large plates of eggs 😂. Kronk's spinach puffs!!! (And extract of llama drink!). Um maybe Hazelnut soup? Candy for King Candy?

Mandalorian coming to Smuggler's Run: I mean, besides literally being in the Millennium Falcon so it doesn't make sense... otherwise gimme more Grogu!

Cars Frontierland: That sounds great! I wonder what will close though.

Monsters, Inc. land: Yes!! Omg finally finally finally we are getting the coaster!!!!!! Will there be new shopping (probably) and restaurant (maybe?!)?

Zootopia: Better Together: As much as I enjoy It's Tough to Be a Bug, we've known we're getting Zootopia, which I love so that's ok with me. I will miss ITtBaB, but it's had a nice long run. Yay Clawhauser animatronic!

Pueblo Esperanza: I do really like the Dinosaur ride, but both of the new rides should be really fun. So the Encanto ride we'll be on the omnimovers riding past screens and maybe some animatronics? The carousel sounds cute.
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Re: What's New at Walt Disney World?

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blackcauldron85 wrote: Sun Aug 11, 2024 5:05 am When I went to bed there was no news; waking up just now, there is so much news to process!!! Reading also on WDWNT to fill me in:
I stayed up all night Friday into Saturday for the movie announcements, only got like 4 hours of sleep before I had to go to work. Last night, I found a livestream of the parks event on YouTube and watched it all. I wanted to strangle someone every time a musical performance interrupted the parks announcements. I don’t know how it played to the (intended audience of) people in the room, but it was so frustrating. Towards the end I could tell they were saving up something big, so that kept me going. They talked about Fortnite for like 15 minutes and I still have no idea what that is. But it was all worth it to hear the Villains Land announcement.
Villains Land! Finally! If anything closes to make room for it, it's the Riverboat and Tom Sawyer Island. My heart kind of breaks for Walt if the boat is no more, but I won't be too sad about the island closing, if it happens.
I’m so excited!!! I think you’re right about the Riverboat and Tom Sawyer Island. I feel similarly to you. I enjoy the island, it’s kind of like MK’s best kept secret. But it’s a lot of under utilized space. I’m more concerned about losing the steamboat, too. The kinetic energy of having the steamboat in the background really brings the park to life. You need monorails and People Movers moving past you. I really feel like it makes a difference to the experience, whether you’re actively conscious of them or not.
I wonder what the "2 major attractions" will be!!
The concept art shows a thorny rollercoaster track— so likely Maleficent inspired. I’m hoping for an intense roller coaster with lots of animatronics. In my head: Maleficent’s the big baddie, but there are animatronics of all the villains and they’re planning to take over the MK. Something with Ursula would be fun, too, for the second ride! You could work with water, or do something around her tentacles. I feel like they need Ursula presence there because she’s so popular, but because of her character design, she’s basically impossible to do a meet and greet of so I think an Ursula themed ride would be a great solution!

Cruella must have a clothing boutique!

And speaking of, I need meet and greets. Disneyland has a lot more villains than MK. I feel like the only villain you can easily and regularly meet at MK is Gaston. Is that right? We need to be able to meet Maleficent and the Evil Queen. And we need a visiting villain spot so they can rotate in others: Frollo, Ratcliffe, Mother Gothel, etc etc
We already have Gaston's Tavern; I wonder what other restaurants we could get.. like themed to a particular villain or like villains in general. An Ursula's lair? a castle (I doubt this would happen), like the Queen, Maleficent, the Horned King? Dr. Facilier's lair?
Oh, that’s a good point about Gaston’s tavern! I feel like if they chose to theme a restaurant to Ursula, they’d be expected to have a lot of seafood or at least guests would assume they serve seafood and I think that’s too divisive among appetites. And they already have a seafood restaurant anyway. Maybe the Evil Queen’s banquet hall? Ooh! I hope it’s Evil Queen themed because then it could be Bavarian style food, and yes, you’re right, no matter what they’re going to be doing something with the poisoned apple. It would be fun if you had a villain version of Cinderella’s Royal Table!

I know Universal’s Dark Universe is going to have a vampire Steakhouse Stakehouse. And another restaurant or food stand that will serve Dollywood style cinnamon bread.

I wonder if a villains land would finally break MK’s run of being a dry park. Already you can buy alcohol at, I think, all the sit down restaurants in MK. But this land I think is really going to appeal to adults and I don’t think Disney’s going to leave money on the table… maybe this will lead to alcohol stands at MK.
Um, venison (wink, wink Bambi's Man).
:o :o :o

Sounded like it’s going to take a long time before this is ready. I’m guessing 2029 at the earliest.
Cars Frontierland: That sounds great! I wonder what will close though.
I heard about the Cars Frontierland rumors before and was really put off. I don’t like the property that much, and as cool as I hear Radiator Springs Racers is out in CA, I don’t want another clone of something in FL. Especially when (I think) Test Track already uses the same ride system as RSR.

All that said, when they revealed this mini land wasn’t taking place in Radiator Springs and that the ride was also going to be themed differently from RSR, I was sold. I’m glad it’s not an exact clone and I think it’ll be fun. And Cars is such a huge property especially for little boys, I’m glad it’s getting more representation in the parks.

The rumor I’m hearing is that the Cars stuff won’t require shutting anything down (can you imagine if they were shutting down Big Thunder Mountain for this? I’d riot). It sounds like it’s going where the Rivers of America is currently…
Monsters, Inc. land: Yes!! Omg finally finally finally we are getting the coaster!!!!!! Will there be new shopping (probably) and restaurant (maybe?!)?
This came so far out of left field. I was like, wtf? At first, I didn’t know why anyone would really want a Monsters Inc land… I mean, the aesthetics of the factory is like warehouse work. Who wants to be reminded of work on vacation? Lololol But then we got more details and more concept art and I was sold.

The door roller coaster?!?!?! Finally!!! And it’s going to be a suspended coaster which I think is new at WDW. I swear I remember saying “oh I bet they’re going to make a roller coaster out of this scene” the very first time I saw Monsters Inc. Only took them 20 years!

Do you think they’ll bring in the hibachi restaurant from the film??? They have to, right!!! Could be so cool— and I don’t think DHS has any Asian restaurants currently.

My big question is… where is this going??? Right before I started the livestream, I watched Brayden of Mickey Views’ YouTube video about D23 parks predictions. I haven’t watched a lot of his stuff, but a lot of people online swear by his intel. And during the video, he said Muppets and Star Tours were on the chopping block for a new land. And then they announced Monsters Inc land at D23 but didn’t reveal what it was replacing…… not saying it means anything, but I’m a little worried for those attractions now. Taking over Star Wars Launch Bay and Animation Courtyard would also make sense, though.

The other thing that excites me about the Monsters Inc land: it’s unique! I like when the parks have unique to them lands and attractions, instead of clones everywhere.
Pueblo Esperanza: I do really like the Dinosaur ride, but both of the new rides should be really fun. So the Encantoride we'll be on the omnimovers riding past screens and maybe some animatronics? The carousel sounds cute.
I’ve had enough time to grieve Dinoland and move on! lol I really, really do love Dinoland though. And I’m so sad to lose all those Dinosaur animatronics. We need something else dinosaur themed at WDW now. But I think Tropical Americas will fit in nicely with the way DAK is already split up, with Africa and Asia. I hope the Encanto ride is really cool.

Also, I am pumped for the night parade!!! One of my favorite memories as a child was seeing Spectromagic. I’m so glad a new nighttime parade is coming back to the Magic Kingdom.

So much amazing stuff to see and explore soon!!!
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Re: What's New at Walt Disney World?

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I hadn't zoomed into the Villains land concept art until right now and I do see the track.

You have really great ideas! I think a Villains version of Cinderella's table is genius.

I was going down the list of films to see what Villains food there could be and I see you don't like the venison idea :lol:!

Yeah, I definitely don't want BTMR closing for Cars.

Omg I wasn't thinking of the hibachi restaurant idea but YES YES YES!

Spectromagic is my favorite parade, so I hope the new nighttime parade is amazing!

RUMOR: Monsters Inc. Land Will Replace Animation Building at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Not Muppets
https://wdwnt.com/?p=1112788

Monsters Inc. Door Coaster Track Layout Revealed in Imagineering Model for Walt Disney World
https://wdwnt.com/?p=1112823

RUMOR: Tom Sawyer Island & The Rivers of America to be Demolished, Riverboat Closing Forever for Magic Kingdom Expansion
https://wdwnt.com/?p=1112774

*Edit*

First Pueblo Esperanza Carousel Creature Revealed for Disney’s Animal Kingdom
https://wdwnt.com/?p=1112888
So cute!

First Look at Model for Pueblo Esperanza, New Tropical Americas Themed Land for Disney’s Animal Kingdom
https://wdwnt.com/?p=1112814
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Re: What's New at Walt Disney World?

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blackcauldron85 wrote: Sun Aug 11, 2024 11:01 amFirst Pueblo Esperanza Carousel Creature Revealed for Disney’s Animal Kingdom
https://wdwnt.com/?p=1112888
So cute!
Is it weird I’m looking forward to this carousel more than the Encanto ride? lol. I just think it might be very beautiful and I like the story behind it. I’m worried they will cheap out on the Encanto ride— I really want it to be on the scale of Mystery Manor, but I’m afraid they won’t do that. :/
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Re: What's New at Walt Disney World?

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BREAKING: Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island to be Transformed into ‘Cars’ Expansion at Magic Kingdom

https://wdwnt.com/2024/08/rivers-of-ame ... land-cars/
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Re: What's New at Walt Disney World?

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I have some good memories over the years on the island and on the Riverboat, so it's very bittersweet, but I am looking forward to the new mini land. And I think the carousel is adorable, too!!
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Re: What's New at Walt Disney World?

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I love cars but I don't think that this franchise fixs there. I think that a new land for them would be better than replacing something that it's ok.
Do we know if the new Encanto ride is going to replace de Dinosaur one? I love this ride too much...
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Re: What's New at Walt Disney World?

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Disney confirmed at this D23 that Dinosaur will be replaced by Indiana Jones. California already has an Indiana Jones ride that uses the same ride system at the Dinosaur ride. However, the settings and storylines of the two Indiana Jones rides will be different. The new Florida Indiana Jones will not be a copy of the California Indiana Jones, it will be an entirely new story.

I think we’re seeing a complete transformation and redefinition of WDW’s Frontierland. Visiting the parks often in 2018-2019, it was the one land that felt the most dated. By which I mean, Frontierland is really indicative of the interests and tastes of the public circa the 1950’s, going back to Disneyland. Westerns just do not have any of the relevance they once did. I think Disney is broadening the concept of Frontierland to represent the US’s Western expansion— with Liberty Square nearby, the whole land becomes something of a mini Disney’s America.

Think about it, if you begin in Liberty Square you are in 18th century colonial America, then you move forward in time and geography to a Nashville honky tonk with the Country Bears, then you travel to the Mississippi River and New Orleans with Tiana, then you go to the deserts out west with Big Thunder and finally you end in the Sierra Nevada mountains with Cars. The new Frontierland will be like starting in the East and moving to the West of the United States.
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Re: What's New at Walt Disney World?

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UmbrellaFish wrote: Tue Aug 13, 2024 2:00 am I think we’re seeing a complete transformation and redefinition of WDW’s Frontierland. Visiting the parks often in 2018-2019, it was the one land that felt the most dated. By which I mean, Frontierland is really indicative of the interests and tastes of the public circa the 1950’s, going back to Disneyland. Westerns just do not have any of the relevance they once did. I think Disney is broadening the concept of Frontierland to represent the US’s Western expansion— with Liberty Square nearby, the whole land becomes something of a mini Disney’s America.

Think about it, if you begin in Liberty Square you are in 18th century colonial America, then you move forward in time and geography to a Nashville honky tonk with the Country Bears, then you travel to the Mississippi River and New Orleans with Tiana, then you go to the deserts out west with Big Thunder and finally you end in the Sierra Nevada mountains with Cars. The new Frontierland will be like starting in the East and moving to the West of the United States.
It makes sense now that you said that.
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Re: What's New at Walt Disney World?

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News some people feared has been announced:

BREAKING: MuppetVision 3D Closing for Monsters Inc. Land, Rock ‘N’ Roller Coaster to Star Muppets & Electric Mayhem

https://wdwnt.com/2024/11/breaking-mupp ... osing-dhs/

CONCEPT ART: MuppetVision Changing to Mostropolis, Mama Melrose’s to Become Harryhausen’s, & More Monsters Inc. Land Details

https://wdwnt.com/2024/11/concept-art-m ... tails-dhs/

Full Details on Rock ‘N’ Roller Coaster Changing to Muppets & Electric Mayhem Thrill Ride

https://wdwnt.com/2024/11/full-details- ... pets-ride/

Disney ‘Exploring Ways to Preserve’ MuppetVision 3D
https://wdwnt.com/2024/11/disney-explor ... vision-3d/

I hope they donate elements of MuppetVision 3D to the Puppetry museum in Atlanta. I’m glad Disney is attempting to preserve the attraction, as it was the last thing Henson worked on.

I think a Muppets overlay in Rockin Roller Coaster is just what that ride needs.

I think this means the TLM Theater is safe. I wonder what plans they have for Animation Courtyard, though? It does need some revitalization.

I assume Monsters Laugh Floor is moving from Magic Kingdom to DHS? Which then frees up that space in Tomorrowland.

On the film side, I bet a Monsters Inc 3 is in the works, too…
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Re: What's New at Walt Disney World?

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I will miss Muppet-Vision 3D for sure. Maybe they'll put the film on Disney+? Super duper excited for the Muppets coming to Rock 'N Roller Coaster though! The absolute most perfect choice they could make!!
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Re: What's New at Walt Disney World?

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I'm not happy about transforming the roller coaster into a Muppet's ride. I don't like rollecoasters and that means that I can't enjoy any muppet expirience on the park.
Also I don't find Monsters INC as iconic to have their own zone. It's a good franchise but they have better options to make rides and lands.
I think that Walt Disney World is making things that they are going to regret in the future. They should learn about Tokyo Disneyland.
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