D23 - Hope and Dreams
Hey everyone. D23 is literally around the corner as I sit and write this, and before that big convention goes down in California (Aug 9-11, 2024) I wanted to jot down my personal wants in terms of announcements for Walt Disney World Resort. As with every D23 event that is held, I always secretly hope for really big news about Walt Disney World, and don’t get me wrong - I’m generally happy for any new developments, because change is good when it comes to the parks; even though some people would beg to differ. In the past years I feel like Walt Disney World fans have been let down time and time again and that we really deserve some good news and by that I mean, some really big big news. Come’on Disney we’re competing against the soon to come Epic Universe. And while I don’t expect Disney to be head to head in competition with Universal next year when Epic launches, I hope that big things are on the horizon and that fans can expect to get the same sort of feels they got when all this Epic news, and their different lands and attractions were announced. I actually won’t be surprised if Universal announces their Epic Universe opening date on or around the dates scheduled for D23.
For starters, I’m so tired of the expression “blue sky”. I hope they don’t even reference it this year at D23 at all. What I really do hope is very much the focus of the parks discussions, is that they speak about what they plan to do with the big spending that has been mentioned for the theme parks, $60 million seems like it can go pretty far and I’m hoping the largest part of that budget is going toward Walt Disney World because as much as I love WDW, there are some parts of this park that really need some TLC, some upgrades and something more than just patching and painting.
TROPICAL AMERICAS
For starters, we know the Tropical Americas land is coming to Animal Kingdom and will take over the land and space currently used for Dinoland USA. While I don’t expect an announcement for a completion date for this land, I would love a date that Dinoland will cease to be operational. This way, at least fans and park enthusiasts will know that change is on the way! It was already announced that Imagineers took research trips to Mexico to study the Yucatan and the Mayans, so let's hope we get to know very soon what they plan to do with their findings and how to incorporate authentic elements of Mexican culture and hopefully Colombian culture into the new Tropical Americas land.
We’ve also heard numerous times, even from Josh D’Amaro that this land will feature Encanto, Indiana Jones and probably Coco. We’ve even heard recently that permits were filed for a Moana-esque flume, water type ride. What that is and how it is to be incorporated into this new land, if it even is for the new land - remains to be seen. I would expect an announcement more specifically about this ride to be made as well at D23.
As of right now there are 4 sections to Dinoland USA, there is the DinoRama Carnival area, where Triceratop Spin is and the Carnival Games (as well as a big empty area that once upon a time used to be Primeval Whirl). The second area is the Dig Site, which is the playground area for little guests to enjoy and run and burn off energy. The third area is the Restaurantosaurus dining area and the final area is the Dinosaur area, where the beloved Dino Institute sits.
We’ve also all seen the initial drawings for this land where we see a beautiful rendition of the Casita from Encanto as well as a Mayan type pyramid, lovely terra cotta roofing and tropical, lush flora and fauna. If there is to be a Moana-type boat ride or any type boat or water ride in this area, it is not depicted in these drawings. There is however, in the Boneyard area, a carousel that can be seen and it was once believed by fans going to be a Coco themed carousel where the animals would be the Alebrijes that are featured in the movie. However, I’ve also heard a rumor that it is going to be a carousel with IP related animals - not specific to any one movie. I would rather the Coco themed one, as it would be more fitting to the Tropical Americas land.
Many also speculate that the Mayan type entrance in the rendering will be the entrance to the Indiana Jones themed attraction that will replace Dinosaur. Because D’Amaro said Indiana Jones and Disney fans around the world know that this attraction track is already used in other parks at Indiana Jones, it is believed this will be the new home of the Indiana Jones attraction at Animal Kingdom. This to me, if this is what is happening, is a bit of a cop out, because I would love for there to be something new instead of something else that is just being copied from other Disney Parks around the world. Plus, if WDW is going to get anything Indiana Jones, I would much rather the Indiana Jones coaster from Disneyland Paris - way more enjoyable, thrilling and fun.
Now, the Boneyard area could be kept and repurposed as an archeological dig site, which would fit into the Tropical Americas theme well. Parents and kids alike love this area and I would hate to see it totally gone. Considering they have the carousel in their drawing and there is already a spinning ride in the area, maybe the carousel would just replace the land on which Triceratop Spin sits on. The only puzzling thing to me in this area is the Casita, is it just going to be something to look at? That would be horrible.
If we are to remain geographically correct - Moana does not take place in the Tropical Americas (which by definition is mid Mexico and down, all of Central America and the northern two thirds of South America). Moana supposedly takes place in Polynesia (yes, just like the Polynesian resort), which encompasses the area that is home to Hawaii, Tonga and Tahiti. If we’re to believe that boat ride is a Moana one, this is a huge geographical area. So - maybe it's a boat ride or something else or maybe the boat ride doesn’t go in this area at all and will be elsewhere in Animal Kingdom - because let’s face it, this park is in need of some serious help. When people start cutting down their Disney park days in the next couple years to be able to spend more time over at Universal, Animal Kingdom will certainly be a park that people will begin to exclude - no questions.
BEYOND BIG THUNDER MOUNTAIN
We are expecting this to be a big topic on the agenda at this year's D23. And we also hope that whatever they have planned for this area of land behind Big Thunder Mountain will blow our minds. Coco, and a villain area have been teased for this area of Magic Kingdom, but nothing has ever been confirmed. I’m really hoping for multiple areas to be featured back here and I really hope that none of them are duplicates of what has already been launched in other Disney parks. I’ve heard that Radiator Springs might come to this area, and yes this would fit very nicely into the area, I don’t want to see something that already exists elsewhere. Encompassing the whole of Frontierland, into our thinking - the concept of the Frontier was a big thing when Walt Disney World was created in the 70’s. Today the Frontier isn’t a popular thing. Kids aren’t playing cowboy anymore and encompassing the culturally inappropriate aspect of Indigenous people into the Frontier is beyond outdated. So, what I would love to see is the whole area re-imagined as maybe a desert or a bayou (since the bayou is kind of already there, even though it's a mountain) or maybe a Great Outdoors type land. When I say I want a reimagining of the whole space, I think that Tom Sawyer Island, the Riverboat and the Rivers of America all need to go! I would rather the entire space be one giant land instead of being broken up into miniature spaces, but I would love the villain area to be incorporated. I was thinking that the area for the villains could be “The Other Side” and there would be at least two attractions, a couple shops, a quick service location and a table service dining option - plus villain meet and greets of course.
As for what else, I would love to see back here - a new headliner attraction would be a must as well as a couple medium popularity rides and a couple other family friendly attractions with no height requirement. Magic Kingdom could also really use some show space, so break up crowds and get everyone to stop congregating at the hub. Maybe an indoor theater with some sort of groundbreaking technology and some really immersive restaurant experiences.
When you look at the minimal concept art that has been released for this area, it looks very similar to concept art that was released for the Tropical americas land at Animal Kingdom - in fact the two drawings look as if they were drawn by the same artists for the same place. In this respect it's hard to distinguish one from the other. In the Beyond Big Thunder initial art work we see many Coco-esque elements - the church where De La Cruz’s guitar was housed and the cemetery surrounding it, we see the flag banners that are predominantly featured in Coco for the Dia de los Muertas festival and again in this image we see a carousel type structure as well as a building that very much resembles the Encanto casita. I wouldn’t imagine that both parks would feature the same IP in such a broad sense, an attraction or a restaurant maybe, but not something as fully immersive as a land or detailed decor elements.
EPCOT
Epcot has been my favourite park since I was a kid and I still love it as an adult, but I love it now for different reasons. As a kid I loved the front of the park more than the back (World Showcase), but now I’m the opposite and not because my likes have changed - it's because the front of the park is pretty mediocre now. I was saddened that the year long Epcot renovation revealed nothing more than trees and planters, seats and USB hubs for charging. Oh, and Journey of Water, which is beautiful and enjoyable, but nothing to get overly excited about. Guardians of the Galaxy - Cosmic Rewind is great, but that’s one element that wasn’t even a part of that gigantic, disappointing remodel
I really hope that D23 brings an announcement for the Wonders of Life Pavilion. It breaks my heart that a building I used to love going into, well into my 20’s not just sits vacant, I feel this way about The Odyssey building as well, but at least that has been getting used during festivals. It’s time that at least one of these spaces (hopefully Wonders of Life) gets put to use. I’m hoping they revive the Play Pavilion concept they spoke about prior to the pandemic . We know that Disney recently partnered with Epic Games and Fortnite and this is something that could be brought into the pavilion, but in terms of games and playing other IP’s could be brought in as well like Inside Out or Wreck It Ralph. I’m not sure of how much Marvel if anymore can be incorporated into the Orlando parks, but Marvel would also be a good fit over here. Conjuring the Play Pavilion was supposed to be a gaming and hands on interactive place, I hope they stick with that, because I feel like that’s the part of Epcot that I loved the most growing up and this is the part that is lacking the most right now. It would also be nice for something else to be added to the World Showcase. I feel like we waited so long for Remy (I don’t mean just specifically Remy, but I mean for a new family, friendly attraction to be added to the World Showcase), it would be nice to see them add a Luca something to Italy or Mary Poppins or Alice in Wonderland to the UK or even Turning Red in Canada, something new with more IP would be most welcome to it would be more relatable for the younger guests while not harming the concept of the World Showcase.
DRONE SHOW OR NIGHT TIME ENTERTAINMENT
We believe the drone show “Dreams That Soar” is a bit of a test for the team over at Disney World and that something for the nighttime is headed to one of the parks and we think it may be Animal Kingdom, because like Disney Springs, they have the biggest body of water to work over. We mentioned in our Tropical Americas section that Animal Kingdom is seriously lacking and it needs more so maybe a Drone Show at dusk is just what that park needs. Considering that Animal Kingdom closes so early most nights - even as early as 6PM - when it's not even dark, it's losing out big time. And I get that the animals need their rest and their downtime, but pushing a constant closing time of 8-8:30, would make a world of difference. The drone show at Springs has been so well received that I can’t imagine they would get rid of it, and or not make it even better. And by better, I mean make it way better and stick it in a theme park where people need to pay to see it. If Walt Disney World isn’t getting a bigger and better drone show after the already launched September closing date of “Dreams That Soar” I really hope a nighttime parade is coming back to the Magic Kingdom and if I could pick between Main Street Electrical Parade or SpectroMagic - I think I loved SpectroMagic jus a bit more than MSEP.
STAR WARS GALAXY’S EDGE
Since many of us didn’t and couldn’t afford the experience of the now failed Galactic Starcruiser, it would be nice for that building to be incorporated into Galaxy’s Edge or at least into an add on experience for people to purchase. I’ve heard people mention a dinner theater experience like Hoop Dee Doo, but Star Wars Themed. I’ve also heard mention that it remains a Star Wars hotel, in decor and dining but that the more immersive 24 hrs elements be removed. It would also be nice for the Star Wars night events to return to Hollywood Studios now that they do have a dedicated land. I loved the dessert party that they used to have at Launch Bay and then the firework and movie/projection type show - but if this is resurrected, please get rid of Launch Bay - it serves no purpose. Ideally I would love to see the Muppets moved to that whole back area where Launch Bay is and Galaxy’s Edge extended into the current Streets of America area so that Star Tours and Tatooine Traders connect better to Galaxy’s Edge without being an actual part of Batuu (which they actually aren’t).
I know there will be many announcements made at this upcoming D23, and I’m sure many of them will focus on the cruise lines and the new expansion happening at Disneyland, but I really hope that Disney World gets some love and that it will be able to stand a fighting chance in the next 2-10 years against Epic Universe, because it's going to be big competition in the years to come.
Written July 2024