At last month’s D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, Josh D’Amaro saved the biggest theme park news for last: we’re finally getting a Villains Land at Magic Kingdom. So, this is what’s been “beyond Big Thunder Mountain” all along…
Villains Land represents a significant shift in thematic focus for Magic Kingdom. Unlike the park’s traditional themes centered around heroism and more light-hearted fun, Villains Land is going to delve into the darker side of Disney’s storytelling. The new land will be home to two major attractions, dining, and shopping, on an “incredibly twisted grand scale”. As we dive deeper into the newly-released concept art, we spy some roller coaster tracks lurking in the shadows… and they do look pretty twisted!
As much as I want [need] a “pull the lever Kronk” moment to happen at a theme park, the concept art paints a pretty glaringly-obvious choice for our potential Villains Land coaster. Between the thorny, twisted tracks and Maleficent the Dragon looming nearby, we’re probably going to encounter the Mistress of Evil herself. I can easily imagine a high-speed, fiery journey through Maleficent’s dungeon and lair. Perhaps the coaster could incorporate elements of Maleficent’s transformation into a dragon, featuring animatronics and special effects through smoke-filled caverns (hmm… sounds a lot like what was in store for Beastly Kingdom at Disney’s Animal Kingdom). Throw in some intense drops, sharp turns, and maybe a loop or two? WE’LL TAKE IT.
Or, perhaps the coaster will have us escaping the clutches of multiple Disney Villains. Another intriguing area within the concept art is the illuminated trench along the bottom right. There’s a coaster train zooming within the canal, which looks like it could be within Hades’ domain of the underworld. What do you think?
Undoubtedly, the addition of an E-Ticket roller coaster themed around Disney’s most notorious villains adds a new dimension to Magic Kingdom. Disney has yet to confirm any details about the two attractions in store for Villains Land, but we do know that construction will begin in 2025. We can’t wait to find out more!
Theme Park Correspondent for The DIS | Chloé loves kitschy dark rides, roller coasters, a good background area music loop, hot Butterbeer, and all things Halloween. You’ll mostly find her wandering around Orlando’s biggest theme parks snapping pics and sharing tips… or probably talking about The Great Movie Ride.
