Welcome to the final 2018 edition of Disney Rumor Round Up — you can check out the November 2018 installment here. This month we look at what came true throughout the year of 2018 and what rumors still exist. Disclaimer: Any rumors mentioned in this article are not confirmed by Disney and may not ever happen.
Rumor that were confirmed in 2018
- Talking Mickey was taken out of the Magic Kingdom
- The Main Street Theater at the Magic Kingdom is cancelled
- Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway will open fall 2019
- A new nighttime spectacular at Epcot
- A new resort (Reflections: A Disney Lakeside Lodge) on the River Country property
- A temporary or interim Epcot fireworks show called Epcot Forever
- No air conditioning inside Disney Skyliner cabins
- Wreck it Ralph VR experience at The Void
- Artist Point becomes Storybook Dining
- Rafiki's Planet Watch closes
- New hotel within the Swan and Dolphin complex called The Cove
- PizzeRizzo has moved to seasonal operation
Magic Kingdom
The Magic Kingdom is beginning to gear up for its 50th anniversary in 2021. Tron Lightcycle construction has temporarily closed the Walt Disney World Railroad and the Tomorrowland Speedway. In addition to that, aesthetic upgrades to Tomorrowland continue. Most recently Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor's signage changed to something reminiscent of the original Tomorrowland, when Magic Kingdom opened in 1971. More of these changes will come as we approach 2021.
The Magic Kingdom has been without a nighttime parade for quite a while now and according to Wdwmagic sources one is still coming for the 50th anniversary and it could include a Mary Poppins Returns portion. Many Disney fans have been hopeful for a new nighttime parade since the loss of the Main Street Electrical Parade. Other entertainment changes possible for next year are updates or brand new holiday fireworks shows at the Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party and Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. These would likely be Happily Ever After versions of these shows to incorporate projections.
Epcot
Many news items came out surrounding the future of Epcot this year, yet many still remain if the rumors are to be believed. According to several sources a new World Showcase pavilion, most likely Brazil, is still very much happening. Details of what the pavilion could include vary depending on the source. This would also likely be a post-50th-anniversary addition to the park. We also still have rumors regarding a new attraction within the United Kingdom pavilion.
We also still have several updates or changes rumored for Future World. Wdwmagic sources say that it's possible one side of Innoventions could be torn down as part of the Epcot overhaul. With D23 Expo 2019 in August we are bound to get some information on what's next for the theme park beloved by so many.
Some recent and rather strange news broke in late December with the possibility of a theft of a Disney audio animatronic. Buzzy from the former Wonder of Life's Cranium Command attraction was removed "without authorization" as one source put it. The attraction has remained in its old state for quite a long period of time with Disney doing very little to it since it closed. People have snuck inside and taken videos and photos of its state. One source did post a from inside with the animatronic missing. It is still unclear whether or not Disney did this themselves or if the animatronic was indeed removed by someone that was not supposed to do so.
Hollywood Studios Hollywood Studios is in the midst of its big overhaul, with many changes still to come. In 2019 a new park logo will debut and of course the long-awaited Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge. The Indiana Jones and Echo Lake area is in question for the future as Disney looks to possibly expand upon the Indiana Jones property in this park. We also have Star Tours, which will not be part of Galaxy's Edge and likely become a new experience with a new Disney property in the future.
Animal Kingdom
Animal Kingdom has been more quiet after the Pandora expansion was completed. The park is still being explored for improvements or expansions though. Over the past year an expansion of the incredibly popular Pandora: The World of Avatar has been rumored as well as changes to Dinoland U.S.A. The future of the Rafiki's Planet Watch area seems to be in question as well, as it could be a prime location for expansion of Disney's largest theme park.
Walt Disney World Resort
The Disney Skyliner is set to open in 2019 and is sure to be a popular and exciting new mode of transportation. Moving around the resort easier has been, and continues to be, a big aspect of improving things in time for the 50th anniversary of the resort. Road improvements, expansion of the Minnie Van service, the Skyliner, and more have all been trying to make things easier for guests. We also have the ongoing rumors of monorail replacements. That likely is still a few years away though.
Disneyland Disneyland has the pleasure of being the first to open Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge in summer 2019. The park will also debut a new Mickey themed nighttime spectacular. Existing rumors point to the park getting a clone of Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway back in the ToonTown area. California Adventure is set to debut the new Inside Out attraction in Pixar Pier and we are bound to get even more details regarding the major Marvel expansion on the Bugs land plot. There is also the uncertainty into whether Disneyland will add any more hotels in the coming years.
For further discussion on all of this and more, visit the Rumors and News board on Disboards.com
