
Welcome to the November installment of Disney Rumor Round Up! You can view the October edition here. Let’s get right into this month’s rumors!
Disclaimer: none of the things mentioned in this article are official and may not ever happen.
Magic Kingdom
It appears the Wreck-It Ralph attraction that was rumored to be replacing Stitch’s Great Escape has been changed to something else that is said to be more promising than the Wreck-It Ralph attraction would have been. Stitch will still close soon but no word on what exactly will replace the attraction. That also doesn’t mean Wreck-It Ralph won’t come to the parks though.
Epcot
Innoventions plans are starting commence and we should see changes there sooner than later. This wouldn’t be the only changes at Epcot though.
Over the next 8 or so years, Epcot should see some major work. If the current plans are approved (currently they are not), this work would be bigger and have a larger budget than the California Adventure makeover.
- Millennium Celebration tarps in Future World will go away.
- New Illuminations show, very likely using the drone technology that is debuting this holiday season at Disney Springs.
- Universe of Energy replacement by 2020, most likely Guardians of the Galaxy-related.
- Leave a Legacy stones at the front of the park would be going away.
- New names to locations in Future World
- New store in MouseGear space
- Expansion of Starbucks
- Innoventions expansion, with new “expo” feel that is not attached to an existing intellectual property. The outside would get a new look as well.
- Mission: Space updates
- The Land and The Seas pavilions would get some enhancements or changes.
- World Showcase would see more intellectual property-based attractions.
Hollywood Studios
Toy Story Land has foundations in place for both attractions that will be in the new land. Right now this land is projected to open in Summer 2018.
As for Star Wars Land, a crane is onsite and pounding in piles for what is assumed to be one of the show buildings for a Star Wars attraction. Also in Star Wars Land news, Disney is working with companies it partners with like Visa and Coca-Cola. Disney of course wants this land to be incredibly immersive and doesn’t want Coke or Visa logos in that part of the park. Star Wars Land is projected to open in late 2019.
Animal Kingdom
Rivers of light is still coming but it’s really unknown when right now. It has been said executives were in town recently and want this show to open as soon as possible because Animal Kingdom is suffering in keeping guests there at night. The delays are also costly to Disney. A rumor even suggests that there was a small bump between two floats that caused a minor setback. With that said it could be anytime now that it opens.
Disney has announced that Pandora: The World of Avatar will open in Summer 2017. While no specific dates are rumored right now, I am sure they will be soon. Disney also unveiled a look at the premiere audio animatronic that will be used in the Na’vi River Journey. This animatronic is unlike anything Disney has done before and should amaze guests. The only downside to this is that it’s the only animatronic of that technology that will be used in the land. The River Journey will hold around 4 animatronics total, 1 being the Shaman figure that Disney has showed us.
The tale of Guardians of the Galaxy…
It appears that Disney is not going to be putting Guardians of the Galaxy into the Hollywood Studios version of Tower of Terror. This was said by Chairman of Disney Parks and Resorts Bob Chapek at the D23 Destination D fan event recently. That does not leave out the possibility that the Hollywood Studios ride could still be changed. Chapek also mentioned that the parks will see more use of the Society of Explorers and Adventurers; this concept is used in the Tokyo Disneyland Tower of Terror.
Walt Disney World Resort
Walt Disney World has recently had some security scares. This has brought many to question how their security works and how affective it is. Disney is working on a new security plan for the parks that seems to include expanded security at all four parks, the big one being the Magic Kingdom. Guests would get security screening at the Ticket and Transportation Center before taking the ferry or monorail to the park, bus guests would be screened at the Magic Kingdom entrance closer to the bus stops instead of in front of the Train Station. Monorail guests would be screened at the resorts before boarding. The other three parks would just have expanded security where everyone goes through metal detectors.
Also Walt Disney World has recently begun testing in-park cabanas. These cabanas start at the low price of $650 for the day and hold up to 8 people with reserved parade and firework viewing. This test, if successful, will be rolled out resort wide and at Disneyland. There are even plans to build this into the Star Wars Experience.
The Disneyland Resort
The Guardians of the Galaxy redo of the Tower of Terror in Disney California Adventure has a reported opening date of May 27th, 2017.
It is also being said that more Marvel-related attractions will be teased next year at the D23 Expo in July. The Marvel attractions that go to Disney California Adventure are then also going to go to Disneyland Shanghai.
Disneyland will debut their new version of Fantasmic on June 23, 2017 during a media event where Paint the Night will also make its comeback.
Star Wars Land is projected to open in mid 2019.