Welcome back to the second month of Rumor Round Up. You can visit the November edition here. This update branches out a bit more from just Walt Disney World as we add in some Disneyland Rumor Round Up.
As always, I put out the disclaimer that none of the things I post in this article are official and may not even happen.
Magic Kingdom
Wishes is going to be replaced between now and the 50th anniversary in 2021.
Epcot
Rumblings are happening with Imagineers that something is going to need to be done after the changes at Hollywood Studios are complete as Epcot is not the park it used to be.
Also in Epcot, a rumor came out that the Pixar and Disney short film show where Captain EO used to be is only a placeholder to see if the crowd will be interested in an Inside Out show to eventually come there.
As for Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom, there are no new rumors to report yet.
Disneyland
Executive changes
Michael Colglazier, the current president of the Disneyland Resort, has his contract up in January of 2016. He will get a contract extension unlike some of the recent presidents before him. Jon Storbeck, the VP of Disneyland Hotels and Downtown Disney, will be retiring in January. Mary Niven will then move into a newly created position of Senior Vice President of Resort Operations. The General Manager of Aulani will be moving over to Disneyland and will be the VP of the Disneyland hotels and Aulani. Downtown Disney and Disney California Adventure will be getting a new VP; her name is Christie Fleischer. Kris Theiler will then become the new Disneyland VP, moving from being the DCA VP. That’s a lot of changes!
Star Wars
Demolition will get underway in January. Star Wars Land will end up having three entrances to it in Disneyland. The Disneyland railroad and Rivers of America will get adjusted routes to make room for Star Wars. The demolition project has a code name of “Delos” and the construction project has a code name of “Atlantis”. The storm trooper battle ride will feature a trackless ride system and a lot of new technology. Projected opening for this highly anticipated land is spring 2019.
Downtown Disney
Downtown Disney will be set to get a major remodel like Disney Springs is receiving in Walt Disney World. It’s been said to be a west coast version of Disney Springs. No word on when this will start or what will be coming.
Disney California Adventure
Luigi’s once flying tires is being changed into Luigi’s Festival of Dance. This remake is done and should soft open in December before opening in January.
The plans to add a Marvel area to an expansion plot in DCA were sent back to get changed and enhanced. These changes include a new E-ticket coaster. The expansion is likely to open in two phases with meet and greets and merchandise locations opening before Star Wars land in 2019 and then the Marvel coaster would then open a year or two later.
Disneyland’s own version of MyMagic+ will be coming in 2016. However Disneyland will not get MagicBands but will get a new app where guests can get digital FastPasses. Even more attractions will end up receiving FastPass capabilities and the legacy FastPass system will still be there in addition to the new digital FastPass. The app will require location services to be on as it wants you to be inside one of the two theme parks. The new system will roll out in Disneyland over 2016 and 2017.
That’s it for this month. Come back in the new year as that is when it’s expected the Star Wars construction on both coasts will begin.
