D23 Expo 2024 - News & Rumors

[Evan]

One thing that I wish that could have been announced is a Hollywoodland replacement for DCA. Since Avatar seems more than likely destined for the Simba lot, I had the impression HL would be addressed before Avatar and thus would be at the panel tonight. Perhaps Hollywoodlands replacement will be something brought up at D23 2026.

I almost guarantee avatar is going in Hollywoodland. Coco Pixar Pier.

I don’t think they’ve announced anything for the Disneyland forward plots yet.

 

[SeventyOne]

Aside from the night parade at MK, I wouldn't bank on much of anything beside Indy as a "done deal". Disney has announced far too many things and then unceremoniously had them disappear, never to be mentioned again.

I see you catching a lot of flak in the other threads -- and in fairness this discussion best limited to this thread -- but the simple truth is the 1970s resort expansion and the Disney Decade were largely derailed by a major recession and trouble in the Middle East driving up oil prices. If you don't see a real potential for both in 2025 - 2026, you haven't been paying attention.

I imagine Zootpia and Encanto a lock as well as Indy, and the carousel is a carousel. Everything else WDW could quietly go back into the vault if external pressures or internal failings cause Epic Universe to underperform.

 

[OrlandoGuy]

I see you catching a lot of flak in the other threads -- and in fairness this discussion best limited to this thread -- but the simple truth is the 1970s resort expansion and the Disney Decade were largely derailed by a major recession and trouble in the Middle East driving up oil prices. If you don't see a real potential for both in 2025 - 2026, you haven't been paying attention.

I imagine Zootpia and Encanto a lock as well as Indy, and the carousel is a carousel. Everything else WDW could quietly go back into the vault if external pressures or internal failings cause Epic Universe to underperform.

Being worried about stuff getting cancelled is missing the forest for the trees, IMO. Yes, we missed out on a theater and a playground in Epcot a few years back.

We also got significant investments every year since 2017.

2024 was a slowdown with nothing but a reskinned flume ride, and everybody was ready to write off Disney again. Now we have the next few years laid out for us all over again. Stuff could definitely get cut, but thinking this won’t represent another five/six years of huge investment is not rooted in any sort of recent precedent.

 

[Tbad556]

Being worried about stuff getting cancelled is missing the forest for the trees, IMO. Yes, we missed out on a theater and a playground in Epcot a few years back.

We also got significant investments every year since 2017.

2024 was a slowdown with nothing but a reskinned flume ride, and everybody was ready to write off Disney again. Now we have the next few years laid out for us all over again. Stuff could definitely get cut, but thinking this won’t represent another five/six years of huge investment is not rooted in any sort of recent precedent.

That's my biggest thing as well.

Play Pavilion, Spaceship Earth redo, Main Street Theater, and a carousel ≠ full on lands and E-tickets. We still got Toy Story Land, Galaxy's Edge, Starcruiser (for better or worse), Runaway Railway, Guardians, Tron, Tiana, Ratatouille, etc.

Would I be shocked to see Pueblo Esperanza lose its carousel for example? Absolutely not. But I would be shocked if Indiana Jones just didn't happen. Would I be shocked if Villains Land looked way more watered down than the concept art for budgetary reasons? Not even a little. But I think we still get the two attractions promised (whether it's an Avengers ride type of delay for one attraction is another discussion lol). Do I think some of these make take longer than expected and that's part of why we largely didn't get set dates or locations? Possibly! But I think they still come.

Cuts & delays are definitely possible, but I think we have to compare what was presented yesterday to what has actually been lost in recent years if we want to play that game. I think most of us are aware that these projects may experience turbulence and Disney deserves some hesitation after the construction habits of recent years, but the end product is still exciting and something to look forward to despite any of that.

 

[PerceptiveCoot]

Timeline guess:

Disneyland
Avengers and Stark Flight Lab (2027). They will rush order this for the movie.

Avatar (2028). Presumably the bus loop and pedestrian bridge get built first over at the Eastern gateway, albeit without the parking structure.

Coco (2029)
We already have a rough timeline, and it's presumably starting later to accomodate a bridge over to the Simba lot or to relocate the parade buildings.

WDW
Zootopia Show (Feb. 2025)
Dinosaur closure (Fall 2025)
Carousel and Pueblo Esperanza (Fall 2026)
Monsters Inc (If RNR retheme) (Spring 2027)
Indy (Summer 2027)
Encanto ( Late Late Fall 2027 )
Monsters Inc (New Build) ( Spring 2028 )
Cars ( Late Late Fall 2028 )
Villains ( 2030 )

 

[Mad Dog]

On Monsters Inc. I've noticed that RNR has continued to have 'considerable' downtime, even after this recent return from its second refurb. Most days its down 20 to 35% of the day. Though it may originally targeted have been for a different spot of DHS, I wouldn't be surprised if it ended up where this very problematic coaster resides.

 

[OrlandoGuy]

On Monsters Inc. I've noticed that RNR has continued to have 'considerable' downtime, even after this recent return from its second refurb. Most days its down 20 to 35% of the day. Though it may originally targeted have been for a different spot of DHS, I wouldn't be surprised if it ended up where this very problematic coaster resides.

I see the logic but I don’t think what was shown in the door coaster model would fit into the existing Rock and Roller Coaster building. Even assuming the model isn’t 1:1, the lack of launch and clearance necessary for suspended vehicles take up a lot of extra space.

 

[Cup_Of_Coffee]

The Big Plus....These are such major announcements for WDW (with the caveat they get followed through to completion), that Universal will really have no choice but to follow through on significant new D/E attractions for Studios and IOA soon after Epic opens. This is a pure Orlando Theme Parks War, if ever there was one.

As always, the Universal vs Disney battle is the absolute best thing capitalism has produced, ever. I know tickets and hotels and AP’s aren’t cheap, but the consumer is constantly benefiting in Orlando by all the constant competition.

I am beyond pleasantly surprised by the WDW announcements, great time to be in Orlando!

 

[PerceptiveCoot]

As always, the Universal vs Disney battle is the absolute best thing capitalism has produced, ever

Well, the space race also produced a lot of good things, but maybe this is a close second.

 

[Jake S]

Well, the space race also produced a lot of good things, but maybe this is a close second.

Good point, so let's say the best thing capitalism on capitalism violence has produced.

 

[fryoj]

Over/under on how many of these open after Epic's second gate

 

[Mad Dog]

Over/under on how many of these open after Epic's second gate

None....all before

 

[Jake S]

Yeah, I'm not convinced we'll see a second gate near Epic in the next decade. As usual, this would be a lovely thing to be wrong about.

 

[Mad Dog]

Yeah, I'm not convinced we'll see a second gate near Epic in the next decade. As usual, this would be a lovely thing to be wrong about.

Universal needs to do a damn lot at Studios and IOA before they even begin to 'think' of a companion Epic park.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

Over/under on how many of these open after Epic's second gate

How about we get the first one opened.

 

[PerceptiveCoot]

Yeah, I'm not convinced we'll see a second gate near Epic in the next decade. As usual, this would be a lovely thing to be wrong about.

We will see a comprehensive fix to the Orlando transportation network before we see a second Southern gate.

 

[Nick]

So still nothing for the former (not realized) Play pavilion in Epcot, no makeover for the Imagination Pavilion and I was expecting DL would get it's People mover back.

This is what we say about having expectations too high. Disney broke most every reasonable expectation and somehow didn't meet yours.

The holes in the park lineup are still glaring - don't forget Stitch. If they can fill out some of those experiences as they're making these huge expansions I'd be happy.

I really don't think they know what to do with that Stitch building. It's a very limiting attraction space and it can't really be torn out without closing cosmic ray's and doing demo into there as well.

I see you catching a lot of flak in the other threads -- and in fairness this discussion best limited to this thread -- but the simple truth is the 1970s resort expansion and the Disney Decade were largely derailed by a major recession and trouble in the Middle East driving up oil prices. If you don't see a real potential for both in 2025 - 2026, you haven't been paying attention.

I mean, yeah, things happen. If the economy goes all the way down the toilet, I would hope the projects simply get put on indefinite pause and not be flat out cancelled, but I know some things would see the chopping block most likely.

 

[Jerroddragon]

I'll say its funny to see all these Youtube titles being like Universal Epic will destroy Disney...but now its like
Will it now? I think WDW got some pretty great announcements and while yes they have to build them still as long as they do then I think WDW is looking pretty good

While Disneyland will be good as well, its funny I just thought there would be more...but really Disneyforward is just so far away and most major additions wont happen until 2030s. I think if we are lucky the Avangers attraction makes 2028 because shovels are not hitting the ground until next year.
Avatar 2029 or maybe 2023 depending on where its going

 

[Nick]

I'll say its funny to see all these Youtube titles being like Universal Epic will destroy Disney...but now its like
Will it now? I think WDW got some pretty great announcements and while yes they have to build them still as long as they do then I think WDW is looking pretty good

While Disneyland will be good as well, its funny I just thought there would be more...but really Disneyforward is just so far away and most major additions wont happen until 2030s. I think if we are lucky the Avangers attraction makes 2028 because shovels are not hitting the ground until next year.
Avatar 2029 or maybe 2023 depending on where its going

Well I mean Epic and these Disney announcements aren’t even really competing with each other so the argument sort of falls flat on its face.

Epic will blow Test Track 3.0, Zootopia: Better Together, and Disney Starlight out of the water

 

[Jerroddragon]

Well I mean Epic and these Disney announcements aren’t even really competing with each other so the argument sort of falls flat on its face.

Epic will blow Test Track 3.0, Zootopia: Better Together, and Disney Starlight out of the water

I'm just saying So many were writing off Disney....but now to me its going to be hard to hate on them. I mean sure could we have seen many of these things sooner? But Overall WDW is getting more then enough to me in the next 5-6 years