Now that 2015 is underway, many of us are starting a “resolution”, keeping a resolution, or maybe even finished with a resolution! No matter how you start the year, a new year brings hope of new things, new adventures, and wishful thinking. There is no doubt the Walt Disney World Resort is always trying to attract guests to the parks. Inspired by the recent Disney Parks Blog article “Fifteen Reasons to Visit Walt Disney World Resort in 2015”, I thought of some things that I wish we would hear more about in 2015. Some things are already in the works and some are just, well, wishful thinking!
5 – New Park or Resort Hotel
This is clearly just a wish! With all the redeveloping, updating, and construction underway at WDW, there is little to no chance for any news on this. Although with crowd levels increasing, dreams of a 5th gate always remain among Disney fans. Now that the Contemporary, Grand Floridian, and Polynesian Village have received Disney Vacation Club updates, when and where will another DVC resort be constructed? Personally, I would love to see a DVC resort built in mind for smaller families and tighter budgets! Something where the majority of rooms are studio rooms or one bedroom suites and where the price per point was not as expensive. I would love to buy into DVC and use point flexibility for vacations but the purchase price per point seems to be getting higher!
4 – Animal Kingdom Updates
Construction has begun on Avatar Land. There are a few websites that show aerial views of the progress, which is little more than dirt and a vague layout of the new area. However, Disney CEO Bob Iger was quoted saying the new Avatar Land ride was real and lifelike at the Variety Dealmakers breakfast in December. It would be great to hear more about this new land in 2015. As the expected opening in 2017 draws closer, fans want to hear more details of rides and attractions that will open with Avatar Land.
Animal Kingdom is also preparing to become a “full day” park, in that a new nighttime spectacular, “Rivers of Light”, will open in 2016. Other than a few announcements here or there, I’m curious just exactly what I can expect to see when this opens. I’d love for Disney to release more information in 2015 to generate more excitement!
3 – Magic Kingdom Hub Completion
For some reason, Disney takes forever to construct/remodel anything; I’d like to think it’s because they are so particular in their work! I would love to be able to bring my family to Disney’s most popular park with no construction walls!
2 – EPCOT Updates!!!
Walt’s vision for EPCOT were scrapped and turned into a theme park. Unfortunately, the park has looked mostly the same and is starting to lose it’s “City of Tomorrow” feel. Most people can accept or love the futuristic space feel of Tomorrowland in Magic Kingdom. EPCOT has a similar feel in Future World, but does that really say “City of Tomorrow” in a more realistic sense? To me when I enter Future World, I feel like I’m stepping into a larger version of Tomorrowland. EPCOT’s Future World could use a little TLC. The biggest news recently for EPCOT is the Norway Pavilion and the new Frozen attraction – if you call that “big” news. Theres a lot of debate if this cheapens the feel of the country or adds to the pavilion. Either way, its a small improvement (for the sake of this article) to a park that needs more attractions and updates.
1 – Star Wars Land
Disney, PLEASE tell us what you are planning for Hollywood Studios! Trust me, I’ll be just as excited if you tell me now versus later. Hollywood Studios is a place we all love and want to love but the lack of exciting attractions in Disney’s most thrilling park leaves us a little empty as we travel to the exits. We know its coming. We know the backlot area will receive improvements. We know Star Wars will have a presence in the parks. We know the Sorcerer’s Hat is coming down. Just tell us exactly what your plans are and hire those guys that construct for Universal and build something really cool so we don’t have to hear about Diagon Alley anymore!
What are things you hope to hear or wish you could hear from Disney concerning WDW in 2015?
