After months of anticipation, Disney took the stage at the D23 Expo in Anaheim and gave their road map for the future. Rumors had been flying about possible Star Wars and Pixar expansions, and many were correct. It was a thrilling weekend for theme park fans regardless of whether they attended the event. Both Disneyland and Walt Disney World are receiving new lands that should draw huge crowds. In particular, the changes to Disney’s Hollywood Studios will dramatically alter that park.
Plenty of reliable sites have reported on the news and begun speculating on the details. Amazing concept art is readily available, and it’s easy to watch videos of the presentations. I won’t spend a lot of time regurgitating the information. Instead, this is my first pass at assessing Disney’s plans and how they’ll fit inside the parks. We’ll begin today with the Star Wars expansions, and I’ll cover the new Toy Story attractions on Wednesday. There is too much information to discuss in one article.
The Force is Coming to Disney Theme Parks
The prospect of more Star Wars at the Studios is hardly new; most have expected it since Disney acquired Lucasfilm in 2012. Bringing expansions to both coasts raises the bar, especially given each area’s size. This isn’t a simple overlay or single attraction. These will be immersive 14-acre lands with multiple attractions, shops, and dining establishments. I won’t overdo the Harry Potter comparison, but it’s naïve to think Disney hasn’t studied Universal’s success. CEO Bob Iger called this land a “jaw-dropping new world”, and I doubt it’s just hyperbole. The stakes are too high for Disney.
I’m definitely in the tank for more Star Wars in the parks, especially if they’re highly detailed environments. The concept art promises a trip to an alien planet with intricate structures and lush scenery. Disney will likely build on what it’s doing with Pandora at the Animal Kingdom. Having two “signature attractions” and a themed cantina should distribute crowds (relatively speaking) and avoid logjams. I’m nearly as excited about the cantina and themed shops as the rides. I want to see Disney compete at the highest level, and their choices represent a movement back into that zone.
One attraction promises the chance to pilot the Millennium Falcon, which makes me wonder how that might happen. Could it be an individual simulator that expands on the Toy Story Mania technology? Another option is a motion simulator like Spider-Man that combines screens, movement, and 3D. The other ride “puts guests in the middle of a climactic battle”, which could be anything from a coaster to an immersive dark ride. I’m inclined to expect that Disney won’t go too far with the thrills and risk limiting potential riders.
How Long Will This Take?
There are some unanswered questions about the Star Wars expansions on both coasts. The big unknown is the time involved with building them. Disney is wisely introducing other Star Wars additions sooner to keep us engaged and help sell The Force Awakens. The Star Wars Launch Bay attractions will open later this year in the Animation pavilion at the Studios and Innoventions at Disneyland. While photo ops, stores, and character greetings aren’t super exciting, I don’t mind the change. Innoventions in particular was hardly an exciting place in recent years.
In 2016, the Season of the Force events should also help maintain the pace. Traditionalists may hate the idea of Hyperspace Mountain at Disneyland, but I’m curious to see how it will work. I’d rather see this update in Orlando, but the on-board audio in California makes it a no-brainer. If that wasn’t enough, we’ll see a new destination on Star Tours and new fireworks at the Studios.
All of these additions are nice, but guests may get antsy if we don’t see the new lands until the next decade. I expect that it will take at least three years once they’ve broken ground, and that’s probably optimistic. It wouldn’t be a shock to see the opening date pushed back to 2020 or even 2021 given Disney’s normal timing.
Where Will They Go?
The fun part now is speculating on where exactly the Star Wars lands will exist inside the parks. Initial reports had the Disneyland version replacing Big Thunder Ranch and Toontown, plus some backstage areas. Given the 14-acre size and a report yesterday from Theme Park Insider, the park may still keep Toontown. What’s interesting about this possibility is how it will connect to the rest of the park. It makes the most sense to be close to Tomorrowland, but the most likely transition would be with Frontierland.
That may seem awkward, but Bob Chapek (chairman of Walt Disney Parks & Resorts) offered an intriguing clue during the D23 presentation. He referred to the new world as a “remote frontier town”, which means it might connect well to the Bryce Canyon of Big Thunder Mountain.
The Studios’ expansion will probably surround Star Tours, but it isn’t clear which nearby sections will house it. Will the new attractions take over the Streets of America and Lights, Motors, Action! stunt show? Or will they move into the space formerly occupied by the Backlot Tour? Will the Muppets survive? Anything is possible, and Disney may announce even more changes to the Studios down the road.
A lot of real estate has closed or isn’t drawing crowds these days. Having state-of-the-art, immersive lands in a few areas would make the other parts look stranger. Sunset Boulevard isn’t going anywhere, and the Great Movie Ride and Toy Story Mania are safe. The rest of the park is fair game.
My Current Take on Star Wars
I’ll admit that Disney’s approach to the parks under Iger has frustrated me. I’m still not thrilled about Frozen Ever After coming to EPCOT. That said, I’m ecstatic about the D23 announcements. The Star Wars expansions look incredible and should be immersive environments. I grew up loving the original trilogy but was skeptical that Disney would pull the trigger. My only concern is about the time, but there’s more urgency with these lands than New Fantasyland. Universal is bringing Potter to Hollywood and Kong to Orlando next year. They aren’t going to stop. Disney needs to move faster, and their plans show recognition of the growing threat.
It may seem like a contradiction, but I also like the fairly limited space for the new lands. Fourteen acres is a good size, but it won’t overwhelm the rest of the park. I was nervous that Tomorrowland in California would essentially become a Star Wars land. The changes at Innoventions and Space Mountain (seasonally) do hint at that direction, but they feel less intrusive. There will be giant bottlenecks when it opens, but it won’t feel out of place like Frozen in World Showcase.
I can understand the concerns of fans that wish Disney wouldn’t focus so much on a single franchise. I’d love to see attractions in the vein of Mystic Manor at Hong Kong appear in the U.S. parks. That said, I’ve accepted the current landscape of themed entertainment from the big players. Universal has shown the impact of using a beloved franchise if you deliver groundbreaking attractions. The D23 announcements show that Disney is ready to play in that sandbox. I can’t wait to see what happens.
Sources: Orlando Sentinel, Theme Park Insider, Disney Parks Blog
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Jessica says
Love your insights! I did read on the Disneyland Today twitter feed that confirms the location for the Big Thunder Ranch area and backstage areas, a separate tweet from the same account said Toontown stays. I am very interested to see what happens to Tomorrowland as a result of the Star Wars presence. Particularly when the land is fully open and operational. I wonder what they will do to keep Tomorrowland relevant and will they move Star Tours? So many questions but a lot of fun to see it develop and unfold. Thanks for your contribution, you always seem to cover every angle.
Dan Heaton says
Thanks Jessica! I also saw the confirmation today about the location in California. It’s still not clear where the Star Wars land will end up in the Studios, but there are a lot of moving parts with that expansion. It’s going to be fun to see what happens.