There’s a ton on the horizon within the subsequent 5 years at Walt Disney World with new lands and points of interest themed to Villains, Automobiles, Monsters, Indiana Jones, Encanto, and extra. There are additionally reimagined rides, new leisure, eating, and extra. This shares development and opening timelines for the entire main tasks introduced on the 2024 D23 Expo which can be coming to Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom beginning in 2025.
The excellent news is that Parks Chairman Josh D’Amaro emphasised this in his opening remarks to the Parks Panel on the 2024 D23 Expo: “Every thing we’re going to share with you is in energetic growth. Plans are drawn. Dust is transferring. I simply need to be clear about this: We’re doing every part you’re going to listen to tonight. This isn’t Blue Sky—we’re going to do all of this.” Phew.
These have been magic phrases that all of us wanted to listen to. D’Amaro and head Imagineer Bruce Vaughn have been very clear about this, and confirmed off nearer time period tasks that’ll come on-line in 2025. In addition they shared development timelines for nearly each single mission, so we’ve got pretty concrete concepts of when work will begin for every of those new lands, points of interest, and so forth. Nevertheless, there’s nonetheless some confusion…
Josh D’Amaro mentioned throughout the Parks Panel that the time horizon will not be distant–every part mentioned will “begin to come to life over the subsequent 5 years.” At first blush, this implies opening dates no later than 2029. It’s a simple arithmetic downside, proper? 2024+5=2029. As well as, media was individually suggested the introduced tasks would all open inside the subsequent 5 years, which might imply by 2029. On condition that, it looks like an open and closed case, proper?
Eh, I’m not satisfied. That verbiage that D’Amaro used throughout the Parks Panel leaves a bit extra wiggle room. Initiatives that begin to return to life within the subsequent 5 years will not be the identical as development that can end by 2029. And there’s already one large instance of additives past that point horizon–the cruise ships that’ll come on-line in 2030 and 2031.
Furthermore, the shortage of a definitive assertion that these tasks will all open by 2029 is mildly regarding. It’s one factor to inform media that, it’s one other solely to say it throughout a public presentation. Disney is pretty savvy about these things, and it’s usually the case that data is seeded to media however by no means relayed by Disney. (This occurred lately with DAS and Lightning Lane modifications. What Disney mentioned in these instances was true, however they didn’t need to make direct public statements for no matter motive.)
From my perspective, there are two distinct questions: whether or not all of those tasks can open by 2029 and whether or not Walt Disney World needs to open every part by 2029? I’ve seen quite a lot of followers give attention to the primary whereas ignoring the second. Truthfully, I feel the second query is the far larger one.
The explanation there’s a lot skepticism is as a result of Walt Disney World’s current monitor document isn’t precisely sterling. The Large EPCOT Dust Pit grew to become a punchline on this weblog, and it’s each hilarious and unhappy that it took the corporate longer to construct CommuniCore Corridor than the unique EPCOT Middle (all the park). It’s the same story with TRON Lightcycle Run, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Moana’s Journey of Water, or–insert any mission from the previous couple of years that isn’t Disney Trip Membership.
We’ve lengthy been essential of the followers who use the COVID closure as a handy excuse for these prolonged development timelines. There’s no motive that a lot of these tasks needed to take so long as they did. The period of time development was paused, whereas transferring full-steam forward all through Florida, is flat-out inexcusable. Specifically, Disney ought to be embarrassed by how lengthy EPCOT was a sea of development partitions, a blatant violation of the 4 Keys.
However it’s additionally foolish to fake that COVID was a non-factor. It was an enormous issue! There’s no sense in participating in revisionist historical past (in both path) to make some extent. When the parks have been first closed, analyst projections prompt that it might take 5 years for journey and tourism to start to get well, and {that a} return to 2019 regular may by no means occur. Even over a 12 months after reopening, Disney’s parks division was hemorrhaging a couple of billion {dollars} per quarter. It was a massacre!
As soon as issues did normalize and “revenge journey” was clearly an enormous phenomenon that may lead to gangbusters enterprise for Walt Disney World, a brand new downside arose: different development tasks, provide chain disruptions, and employee shortages. Common’s Epic Universe sucked up quite a lot of sources in Central Florida, and that was removed from the one complicated development mission.
To this present day, delays persist for causes out of Disney’s management. (A great instance is Cake Bake Store, which has turn out to be one other punchline. Neither Disney nor the proprietor of that wishes to see it frequently pushed again–there’s zero profit in doing so. It’s out of their collective palms.)
Level being, when work begins in earnest on all of those tasks at Walt Disney World in 2025, are you aware what received’t be practically as large of an element? Epic Universe development, pandemic-era delays and disruptions, and development employee shortages. This isn’t to say all work at Common Orlando and different tasks round Central Florida will finish, however they received’t eat sources to almost the identical diploma.
The dynamic will probably be extra like regular years pre-2019, when Walt Disney World development was arguably too sluggish (at the very least for us impatient followers), however nonetheless nothing like 2020 to 2024. What precisely does that imply? Listed below are a couple of tasks for mileposting:
- Pandora – World of Avatar: Introduced 2011, Building 2013, Opened 2017
- Toy Story Land: Introduced 2015, Building 2016, Opened 2018
- Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge: Introduced 2015, Building 2016, Opened 2019
- Disney Skyliner: Introduced 2017, Building 2017, Opened 2019
- Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway: Introduced 2017, Building 2017, Opened 2020
How we lengthy for these halcyon days when development started a few months after D23 bulletins and tasks–even main ones–opened 2-3 years later. I bear in mind grumbling about ‘work being purposefully unfold out over a number of fiscal years’ on the time, however I’d fortunately return to that period.
And perhaps we are going to! In gentle of the above timelines, there’s no motive to consider the entire tasks on this listing can’t be completed by 2029 if Walt Disney World so needs. Most will start in 2025, which leaves 4 years to complete them. That’s quite a lot of time, even in an period the place delays are more and more widespread.
Because of this the higher query, from our perspective, is whether or not Walt Disney World will need to open all of those additions by 2029?
One of many different issues we’ve seen within the post-reopening interval is Walt Disney World purposefully staggering new points of interest and experiences for optimum affect. Remy’s Ratatouille Journey might’ve opened a full 12 months earlier than it did. Cosmic Rewind and TRON have been likewise intentionally slow-rolled. (I’ve no clue what occurred with CommuniCore, past the apparent.)
My large concern is that the earliest new land to open will probably be Tropical Americas in 2027. After that, I’ve a tough time believing that Walt Disney World will need to open multiple new land per 12 months. In that case, it as soon as once more turns into a math downside: there are 3 different new lands and solely 2 years earlier than 2030.
Anyway, listed here are the development and opening timelines for every part on the horizon at Walt Disney World…
OPENS IN WINTER 2025 – Zootopia: Higher Zoogether has company visiting the completely different biomes you solely glimpse within the movie, touring together with Judy Hopps, Nick Wilde and different characters. That is a substitute for “It’s Robust to Be a Bug,” the 3D present contained in the Tree of Life. That attraction is anticipated to shut sooner or later in early 2025.
- Building Begins: Early 2025 (Perhaps?)
- Opening: Winter 2025
There’s some confusion about whether or not Walt Disney World will debut this in a couple of months or over a 12 months from now. Sometimes, Disney means January via early March (pre-Spring Break) when referring to winter. December is sort of at all times known as the “holidays” or “late” from a seasons perspective. So we’d assume that is the subsequent new addition on the horizon, however alternatively, there have been no substantive updates or teases, suggesting perhaps it’s nonetheless over a 12 months away.
Loosen up with family and friends at two themed lounges coming to Walt Disney World impressed by Pirates of the Caribbean and Spaceship Earth.
- Building Started: 2024
- Opening: 2025
Building has already began on the Pirates of the Caribbean tavern exterior the attraction within the exit space reward store. It might conceivably be achieved by any level subsequent 12 months, particularly if it’s following the Oga’s Cantina mannequin. It’s the same story for the Spaceship Earth lounge, which is solely changing the company sponsor space vacated by Siemens.
When the solar units within the Magic Kingdom, a brand new parade will waltz down Foremost Avenue! Get able to witness “Disney Starlight.” This all-new parade will proceed the nighttime spectacular legacy began by the Foremost Avenue Electrical Parade, utilizing the newest know-how to inform new tales concerning the characters you’re keen on. All of this is delivered to life by the magic of the Blue Fairy, along with beloved characters from Walt Disney Animation Studios movies “Peter Pan,” “Encanto,” “Frozen,” and extra.
- Building Started: 2024
- Opening: Summer season 2025
“Building” in all probability isn’t the correct phrase for a parade, however we first heard about Disney Starlight (albeit not by that title) months in the past. Even at the moment, substantive work was already being achieved–suggesting that this wasn’t only a pitch or in early growth.
It doesn’t seem to be this will probably be a race in opposition to the clock to finish, which means that it’s more likely to open round Memorial Day than mid-summer. If Walt Disney World have been good, they’d debut Disney Starlight–and regardless of the summer time celebration goes to be–throughout shoulder season after Easter to assist unfold out crowds. Though a splashy kickoff Memorial Day weekend could be enjoyable!
Discover the previous, current, and way forward for automation with a newly-rethemed Check Observe, which Disney confirmed will open subsequent 12 months (as broadly anticipated). Moreover, new particulars have been shared concerning the pre-show, queue displays, and present scenes.
- Building Started: 2024
- Opening: 2025
That is an bold mission with an aggressive timeline and ample sources, nevertheless it nonetheless might take round a full 12 months to complete. It’s doubtless that Imagineering began with a desired end date for Check Observe 3.0 in Summer season 2025 and labored backwards from there to find out when the present incarnation of the attraction wanted to shut. To that time, I’d hazard a guess that the goal opening date for Check Observe 3.0 is round Memorial Day 2025, additionally as a part of a summer time kickoff celebration.
That doesn’t imply it’s going to open then–it might happen earlier and even later. There’s at all times the potential for work being accomplished forward of schedule or delays occurring. However my educated guess is that we’re a late spring or early summer time opening. Spring Break 2025 being absolutely the earliest and July 4th being the newest.
Mando and Grogu have a brand new journey on the horizon coming to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Be a part of the Mandalorian and Child Yoda on brand-new adventures coming to Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run in celebration of the brand new Star Wars movie “The Mandalorian and Grogu” coming to theaters in 2026.
- Work Begins: 2026
- Opening: 2026
The Mandalorian & Grogu film is (at present) set to be launched on Could 22, 2026. This new mission for Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run will doubtless debut round then, in all probability barely earlier than as a promotional push for the movie. We don’t anticipate any materials modifications to the queue or pre-show, which means a prolonged closure shouldn’t be essential. Hopefully, it’ll occur in a single day like the brand new scenes in Star Excursions.
Tropical Americas will come to Disney’s Animal Kingdom that includes Indiana Jones and the magical casita from Encanto. (We’ve separate posts for the Encanto Magical Madrigal Casita Darkish Journey and Indiana Jones Journey.)
- Building Begins: Fall 2024
- Opening: 2027
Based on Walt Disney World, development on the land is ready to start in Fall 2024 and can open in 2027, “however don’t fear, you’ll nonetheless have loads of time to expertise Dinosaur once more (and get that dino).”
On condition that assertion, we’re making a few assumptions. The primary is that Dinosaur will not be closing till someday in 2025. Since that trip reimagining is not being fast-tracked, we’re additionally assuming the land received’t open in phases. (Most likely a wise transfer–didn’t go properly for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.)
If this land is opening unexpectedly as a substitute of in phases, there’s extra work to be achieved on Encanto–a model new construct–than there may be on Indiana Jones Journey, which is able to reuse the present trip system from Dinosaur. This additionally implies that Dinosaur might conceivably stay open via Spring Break 2025 to assist soak up these crowds. Clearly, all of that is unconfirmed–and the longer DINOSAUR is closed, the extra time Imagineering has to do justice to an bold reimagining. So we’d like to see it shut earlier.
It’s laughter they’re after when Sulley, Mike, and the remainder of the crew from Pixar Animation Studios’ “Monsters, Inc.” transfer into Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and let people contained in the manufacturing unit for the primary time.
- Building Begins: 2025
- Opening: 2028 (Perhaps?)
Walt Disney World nonetheless hasn’t introduced the place this will probably be positioned, which suggests to us that an official determination has not but been made. (If it 100% have been Animation Courtyard, they might’ve introduced that by now–since nobody cares.) Despite the fact that we predict it’s more likely to be Animation Courtyard, we stay fearful that it’ll find yourself changing Grand Avenue and MuppetVision 3D.
In any case, a choice must be made quickly, and as soon as it’s made, demolition might want to start. Disney has already indicated work will begin in 2025. Even when that’s simply demolition for the primary 12 months, there’s nonetheless loads of time to have this open by 2028. It’s the only mission of the main new lands. Having Monstropolis open in 2028 maintains Disney’s annual opening cadence, so it looks like a simple conclusion.
Begin your engines, fan favourite tales and characters from Pixar’s “Automobiles” race into Magic Kingdom with two new points of interest and enjoyable for the entire household.
- Building Begins: 2025
- Opening: 2029 (Perhaps?)
Subsequent to D23, Walt Disney World revealed that the Automobiles space will really substitute the Rivers of America, which means that Tom Sawyer Island and the Liberty Sq. Riverboat will completely shut. Whereas work on the Automobiles land begins in early 2025, this doesn’t imply that the Rivers of America will shut then. Slightly, that’s when work on the laydown yards behind the park will start, and that prepwork itself is probably going a reasonably concerned mission that can take a number of months.
So far as closing timelines go for the Rivers of America, all Walt Disney World has introduced is that this: “Forward of labor revving into excessive gear subsequent 12 months, company may have loads of time to expertise the appeal and nostalgia of Frontierland as it’s immediately.” Our guess is that this implies these closures received’t happen till after Easter 2025.
The truth is, it wouldn’t be stunning if Magic Kingdom tries to get via Summer season 2025 earlier than closing Tom Sawyer Island and the Rivers of America. Disney Starlight Parade goes to be massively widespread upon debut and can want ample viewing area throughout its opening summer time alongside the promenade in Frontierland. Building partitions up on one aspect of the walkway would cut back viewing capability.
Regardless, filling within the Rivers of America after which constructing Automobiles land on high of that may be a very bold mission. Followers will bemoan the prolonged timeline, however this debuting in 2029 really appears pretty aggressive given the size and scope of labor.
That is no fortunately ever after. Get able to see a darker aspect of your favourite fairytales when the Villains solid a spell over Magic Kingdom. Villains Land will probably be dwelling to 2 main points of interest, eating, and purchasing on an extremely twisted grand scale.
- Building Begins: “Quickly”
- Opening: 2030 (Perhaps?)
The secure wager is that Villains Land will debut in 2030 or 2031. Not as a result of it’ll essentially take that lengthy to construct, however as a result of it seems to be section 2 of the Magic Kingdom growth, coming on-line after Automobiles land. And that land might be delayed into 2030 given how issues go along with the staging websites, filling within the Rivers of America, and development on the land itself.
Then there’s the problem of section 2s, which infamously don’t occur. No matter how you’re feeling concerning the present economic system, there are respectable odds of a recession between now and 2030. And though the idea artwork appears nice, I’m involved that they haven’t settled on what this land will really characteristic. If there’s one mission that has me fearful with a Pandora-like timeline, it’s Villains Land.
Personally, I feel that Villains Land is a incredible thought and one which will probably be large for Magic Kingdom. If I have been in cost, I’d completely be fast-tracking this addition and attempt to open it simultaneous with Automobiles land for a very blockbuster growth of Magic Kingdom and relaunch of the park on par with Disney California Journey 2.0, which debuted with each Automobiles Land and Buena Vista Avenue. Apples to oranges comparability, however there’s nothing stopping Walt Disney World from opening each in 2029 besides urge for food to take action. Villains Land is a largely on new land, so it might start development earlier than the Automobiles land.
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YOUR THOUGHTS
Do you anticipate all of those upcoming Walt Disney World tasks to open by 2029? Assume any of them will slip into 2030-2031, or probably be cancelled utterly? What has you most and least excited? Something you’re hoping doesn’t find yourself coming to fruition? Do you agree or disagree with our assessments? Any questions we may also help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even while you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!