Ah, 2017. What a time to be a Walt Disney World fan. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and Toy Story Land had been already below development, and forward of that yr’s D23 Expo, there have been rumors trickling out that the board had accepted a a number of billion greenback enlargement plan that would come with the Nice Mickey Journey, Gondolas, DVC at Caribbean Seashore, Spain and Brazil in World Showcase, and rather more.
Clearly, a few of that was barely incorrect. However with exception of Brazil and Spain, the rumors ended up being proper–with an emphasis on the “rather more” half. As we wrote not too long ago in 2024 D23 Expo Want Checklist: Lion Kings & Figments & Bing Bongs, Oh My!, this yr’s occasion has the potential to as soon as once more attain the identical highs as 2017.
That was the most effective D23 Expo for Parks & Resorts bulletins and one of many largest days ever for Walt Disney World information. A ton of game-changing tasks which have rolled out within the years since and eternally modified the panorama of Walt Disney World. It was the final true blockbuster D23 Expo–going into and popping out of the pandemic, the 2019 and 2022 occasions weren’t practically pretty much as good, with quite a lot of issues that had been cancelled or by no means occurred. In contrast, what was introduced on the 2017 D23 Expo truly got here to fruition, with one evident exception…
Introduced on stage by then-Parks Chairman (and future umbrella fanatic) Bob Chapek, the Fundamental Road USA Theater through the Parks & Resorts panel was the one huge venture that didn’t get constructed. The venue was described as being impressed by Kansas Metropolis’s Willis Wooden Theater from the Nineteen Twenties, the place Walt Disney lived after he left Marceline.
Chapek himself likened the Fundamental Road Theater venture to the Hyperion at Disney California Journey, saying it might home Broadway-style reveals like Frozen that had been enormous hits at Disneyland Resort. “The brand new Fundamental Road Theater at Walt Disney World continues that streak by bringing a brand new venue for world-class leisure to the world’s largest park.”
Right here was the idea artwork shared by Bob Chapek and Disney again in 2017:
The venture acquired underway just a few months later, with Imagineering submitting a allow bundle for “Magic Kingdom East Facet Modifications” in November 2017 that encompassed each TRON Lightcycle Run and the Fundamental Road Theater venture. Different permits instructed that the theater can be completed by late 2019 and would open in 2020.
These made clear that it might go onto a backstage parking zone between Tomorrowland Terrace and City Sq. Theater, alongside the present bypass that’s used for Halloween and Christmas social gathering entry and fireworks exit. (See the allow beneath–the theater is “MK1” on the backside; TRON is “MK2” on the prime.)
Building was about to start on the Fundamental Road USA Theater, with backstage prep work starting and house being cleared to permit the work to get underway behind the prevailing City Sq. Theater and Tomorrowland. Then out of left discipline got here credible rumors in February 2018 that the Fundamental Road Theater had been paused indefinitely–successfully abandoning the venture proper because it acquired going.
Walt Disney World by no means made an official announcement (so I assume technically it’s nonetheless in venture purgatory?!) to cancel the Fundamental Road Theater, however the space was un-cleared, the parking zone was put again into use, and subsequent permits for TRON Lightcycle Run scrubbed the Fundamental Road Theater. And likewise, you haven’t stepped foot into this theater (as a result of it doesn’t exist), so it’s protected to say the rumors had been correct.
It was additionally rumored that the Fundamental Road Theater venture was “delayed indefinitely” to be able to allocate funds to a different main venture that will debut in time for Walt Disney World’s fiftieth Anniversary. A type of rumors pointed to new monorails, because the fleet was outdated and overdue for alternative in 2017. Clearly, that didn’t happen. One other chance was a extra bold EPCOT overhaul, which I think was the precise rationalization…till March 2020 occurred, after which it wasn’t. However that’s not the purpose of this submit.
Right here’s my full response to the Fundamental Road Theater from my D23 Expo autopsy: “My preliminary response to this theater is that it doesn’t match the size of Fundamental Road, U.S.A. If the size is off, it doesn’t matter what real-world place impressed the theater–it won’t match. The idea artwork additionally makes the supplies (largely concrete) look dissimilar to the remainder of Fundamental Road, however that would simply be the artwork. On the plus aspect, if this implies eliminating that infernal Cinderella Fortress Forecourt Stage, I assume it’s not all unhealthy.” (I used to be quite a bit much less verbose again within the day.)
Regardless of the allow bundle revealing that the Fundamental Road Theater can be off Fundamental Road (there was quite a lot of confusion on the time about whether or not it’d be changing City Sq. Theater), I doubled down on this sentiment when phrase of the cancellation broke, calling the information “fantastic by me” and reiterating that the design regarded boring and outstanding however poorly-themed.
A little bit of an apart, however I additionally stated the D23 Expo gave the vibe of a ‘Disney Decade 2.0’ with bulletins that had been sufficiently obscure in order that they could possibly be deserted or altered with little fanfare, pointing particularly to how the EPCOT overhaul idea artwork solely flashed on the display and was by no means launched publicly.
Three iterations of the EPCOT overhaul later, I used to be proper about that final level. However nothing else. The opposite tasks from the 2017 D23 Expo had been constructed and most turned out very well. If something, Disney followers underestimate simply how a lot the D23 Expos from 2015 and 2017 set Walt Disney World up for the last decade to return and to compete with Common in 2025 regardless of not opening something new (sure, actually). I used to be additionally unsuitable in regards to the Fundamental Road USA Theater venture–it’s unlucky that it wasn’t constructed.
Truly, I’m not going to stroll that again all the best way. The idea artwork as revealed was underwhelming. Not solely that, however I believe I’ve been vindicated a couple of occasions over with Imagineering’s “huge field” builds since 2017. Not even Tokyo Disney Resort has managed to flee this pattern, as its new Fantasy Springs Lodge is about as bland because it will get, making Disney’s Riviera Resort look well-designed by comparability.
However I additionally assume the Fundamental Road Theater may’ve been higher than the idea artwork instructed and in addition wouldn’t have realized my worst fears. For one factor, the large field lodges are ugly partly due to their sightlines and partly due to their scale and visibility from all sides.
Whereas this regarded unhealthy within the idea artwork, the viewing angles can be extra restricted because it’d be down a hall. Timber may’ve executed quite a lot of the heavy lifting in concealing it from the Fundamental Road bypass, and it most likely wouldn’t have even been seen from Fundamental Road USA correct, because the buildings would’ve blocked it.
Additionally, there’s nothing to say Imagineering couldn’t have constructed one thing that regarded higher than the starkly utilitarian idea artwork. Not precisely a excessive bar, there.
There are a couple of the explanation why it’s time to revive the Fundamental Road Theater venture now. The primary was intimated above, which is that it might get reveals off the Cinderella Fortress Forecourt Stage and into a correct venue. Daytime stage reveals in that ‘venue’ are depressing a lot of the yr.
As we reported earlier this month, the Cinderella Fortress Forecourt Stage is closed by way of the tip of summer time for “refurbishment.” Sure, work is definitely taking place to the stage, nevertheless it looks as if very handy timing given the oppressive warmth and humidity, which make these usually disagreeable daytime stage reveals even worse than regular. It’s no enjoyable to camp out and watch these reveals within the scorching solar, and it may possibly’t be good for the performers, both.
Don’t get me unsuitable–Cinderella Fortress is an superior backdrop for leisure. Nevertheless it’s additionally extremely impractical (and lazy) for daytime stage reveals, that are the one variety Magic Kingdom does throughout each day operations. If it’s going to stay round, I’d love common nighttime stage reveals in that spot, however in any other case, an indoor and air-conditioned venue makes extra sense. It’s protected to say that Orlando’s summers aren’t abruptly going to get cool and comfy.
Equally, it’s price stating that Magic Kingdom is the one park at Walt Disney World that doesn’t have a large-scale musical stage present. Sure, there’s Nation Bear Musical Jamboree, Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room, and Carousel of Progress–however these aren’t the identical. It’s truthfully type of odd that Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom arguably have an overabundance of reveals, whereas Magic Kingdom doesn’t have sufficient.
Not solely that, however Magic Kingdom is the one fortress park with this downside (assuming Disneyland plans on doing one thing with Fantasyland Theatre post-Pixar Fest). The entire relaxation have stage reveals, and lots of of them comply with the same montage-style system that swap out the framework however are in any other case very related. (That’s even true of the new-ish Mickey’s Magical Music World at Tokyo Disneyland, which I assume is much like what this MSUSA theater would’ve been because the growth timelines had been related.)
As Magic Kingdom will get busier–presumably the objective given Past Massive Thunder–having an enormous Broadway stage present venue wouldn’t simply be good for friends, however nice for operations. This theater would assist take in crowds and be a superb change-of-pace attraction.
Another excuse is extra tangential to the Fundamental Road Theater itself, however equally vital. Magic Kingdom wants a Fundamental Road bypass.
That is already evident throughout peak season, in addition to round Fortunately Ever After and Competition of Fantasy Parade. And if Magic Kingdom is ever going to have a nighttime parade once more (about that…), a bypass can be a useful asset for crowd management. It’s crucial for leisure proper now, however frankly, it’ll be crucial normally in ~5 years with Past Massive Thunder.
If we’re being real looking, the one manner a Fundamental Road bypass will get correct funding and turns into one thing higher than what’s there proper now could be if there’s a venture anchoring it. This theater can be precisely that. Whereas I’m real looking sufficient to not count on one thing on par with the prevailing Fundamental Road, I do know Imagineering can be bold and creative if given the prospect–engaged on a Fundamental Road venture can be an honor for a lot of Imagineers, and it might grow to be a ardour venture.
Lastly, as a result of we’ve seen what these Broadway type reveals may be–and so they’re glorious!
Disney Dwell Leisure has gotten actually, actually good at creating stage reveals like this. I’d go so far as to say that proper now could be a golden age of leisure, no less than from a inventive perspective (actually not in amount or atmospheric acts) and the Disney Dwell Leisure staff can completely ship. Simply take a look at the stage reveals they’ve delivered to life at Disneyland Paris, Tokyo Disney Resort, Hong Kong Disneyland, Shanghai Disneyland, or aboard Disney Cruise Line.
That is even true at Disneyland in California. The one slight downside there may be that each one of those nice reveals have fallen sufferer to cost-cutting. Though each present staged there was nice, there isn’t something within the Hyperion–neither is there any precise leisure at Fantasyland Theater. However that’s not a inventive failing of Disney Dwell Leisure. Blame Disneyland administration for being low-cost.
The issue is that Walt Disney World administration is, traditionally, additionally low-cost relating to reside leisure.
The Florida parks have misplaced a lot distinctive leisure during the last decade, and particularly since 2019-2020. Given the whole lot that has been minimize or continues to be “briefly unavailable” following the phased reopening (that started over 4 years in the past) the entire premise of this submit feels a bit foolish, frankly. Walt Disney World spending the cash to provide and employees a Broadway type stage present? Certain factor, Bob. Simply as quickly as free FastPass and Disney’s Magical Categorical return.
Nonetheless, I’m maybe foolishly optimistic about Walt Disney World’s future leisure prospects. All the pieces I’ve heard has me feeling good in regards to the future. As I’ve stated earlier than, there’s a cause that Walt Disney World introduced David Duffy over from Disneyland Paris and we must always begin seeing the fruits of that in 2025.
Whereas the Fundamental Road Theater couldn’t be one in every of Walt Disney World’s “solutions” to Epic Universe in 2025, it most likely could possibly be prepared by Spring 2027 if the venture had been accelerated. That’s manner earlier than Past Massive Thunder and doubtless previous to Tropical Americas, too.
Failing all else, if Walt Disney World put the sources into making a spectacular stage present–one thing alongside the traces of Mickey and the Magician or Massive Band Beat (pre-COVID), they might completely monetize it. I’m not saying that is what I wish to see–fairly the alternative–however they might simply promote Lightning Lane Single Move to a present that good.
Finally, I’m not upset that the Fundamental Road Theater venture acquired delayed indefinitely in 2017. With so many different tasks having greater precedence, it wouldn’t have shocked me if it had been constructed on a good funds and with out adequate design and placemaking. Given the venue’s dimension and outstanding location on Fundamental Road, it needs to be created with cautious consideration to element and thoughtfulness as to the way it’ll mix with the enduring space. With $17 billion to be spent within the subsequent decade, hopefully the Fundamental Road USA Theater may be revived and given a wholesome funds together with a correct bypass.
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YOUR THOUGHTS
What did you consider the Fundamental Road Theater venture? Glad it was cancelled or would you want a Broadway-style stage present and themed bypass of Fundamental Road for crowd management? Do you assume the looks of the proposed theater was ‘ok’ or ought to it have been themed higher? Agree or disagree with our take right here that the Fundamental Road Theater needs to be revived? We love listening to from readers, so please share some other ideas or questions you’ve within the feedback!