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, Vehicles, Monsters, Indiana Jones, Encanto, and extra. There are additionally reimagined rides, new leisure, eating, and extra. This shares building and opening timelines for all the main initiatives introduced on the 2024 D23 Expo which might 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 lively growth. Plans are drawn. Dust is shifting. I simply wish to be clear about this: We’re doing all the pieces 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 initiatives that’ll come on-line in 2025. Additionally they shared building timelines for nearly each single mission, so now we have 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 isn’t distant–all the pieces mentioned will “begin to come to life over the following 5 years.” At first blush, this implies opening dates no later than 2029. It’s a basic math downside, proper? 2024+5=2029. As well as, media was individually suggested the introduced initiatives would all open inside the subsequent 5 years, which might imply by 2029. Provided 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 isn’t the identical as building that may 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 dearth of a definitive assertion that these initiatives 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 information is seeded to media however by no means relayed by Disney. (This occurred not too long ago with DAS and Lightning Lane modifications. What Disney mentioned in these instances was true, however they didn’t wish to make direct public statements for no matter motive.)
From my perspective, there are two distinct questions: whether or not all of those initiatives can open by 2029 and whether or not Walt Disney World desires to open all the pieces by 2029? I’ve seen plenty of followers give attention to the primary whereas ignoring the second. Actually, 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 latest observe file isn’t precisely sterling. The Big EPCOT Dust Pit turned 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 (the whole park). It’s an identical story with TRON Lightcycle Run, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Moana’s Journey of Water, or–insert any mission from the previous few 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 building timelines. There’s no motive that a lot of these initiatives needed to take so long as they did. The period of time building was paused, whereas shifting full-steam forward all through Florida, is flat-out inexcusable. Particularly, Disney ought to be embarrassed by how lengthy EPCOT was a sea of building 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 course) to make some extent. When the parks have been first closed, analyst projections advised that it will take 5 years for journey and tourism to start to get better, and {that a} return to 2019 regular would possibly by no means occur. Even over a yr 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 might end in gangbusters enterprise for Walt Disney World, a brand new downside arose: different building initiatives, provide chain disruptions, and employee shortages. Common’s Epic Universe sucked up plenty of sources in Central Florida, and that was removed from the one advanced building mission.
To this present day, delays persist for causes out of Disney’s management. (An excellent instance is Cake Bake Store, which has turn into one other punchline. Neither Disney nor the proprietor of that desires 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 initiatives at Walt Disney World in 2025, have you learnt what received’t be practically as large of an element? Epic Universe building, pandemic-era delays and disruptions, and building employee shortages. This isn’t to say all work at Common Orlando and different initiatives round Central Florida will finish, however they received’t devour sources to almost the identical diploma.
The dynamic can be extra like regular years pre-2019, when Walt Disney World building 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 here are a couple of initiatives 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 building started a few months after D23 bulletins and initiatives–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 might fortunately return to that period.
And possibly we are going to! In gentle of the above timelines, there’s no motive to consider all the initiatives on this checklist can’t be completed by 2029 if Walt Disney World so wishes. Most will start in 2025, which leaves 4 years to complete them. That’s plenty of time, even in an period the place delays are more and more widespread.
That is why 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 impression. Remy’s Ratatouille Journey might’ve opened a full yr earlier than it did. Cosmic Rewind and TRON have been likewise intentionally slow-rolled. (I’ve no clue what occurred with CommuniCore, past the plain.)
My large concern is that the earliest new land to open can be Tropical Americas in 2027. After that, I’ve a tough time believing that Walt Disney World will need to open a couple of new land per yr. 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 all the pieces on the horizon at Walt Disney World…
OPENS IN WINTER 2025 – Zootopia: Higher Zoogether has visitors 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 Powerful to Be a Bug,” the 3D present contained in the Tree of Life. That attraction is predicted to shut in some unspecified time in the future in early 2025.
- Building Begins: Early 2025 (Possibly?)
- 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 yr from now. Usually, Disney means January by means of early March (pre-Spring Break) when referring to winter. December is nearly at all times known as the “holidays” or “late” from a seasons perspective. So we’d assume that is the following new addition on the horizon, however then again, there have been no substantive updates or teases, suggesting possibly it’s nonetheless over a yr away.
Calm down 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 outdoors the attraction within the exit space present store. It might conceivably be accomplished by any level subsequent yr, particularly if it’s following the Oga’s Cantina mannequin. It’s an identical 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 Fundamental Avenue! Get able to witness “Disney Starlight.” This all-new parade will proceed the nighttime spectacular legacy began by the Fundamental Avenue Electrical Parade, utilizing the most recent expertise to inform new tales concerning the characters you like. 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” most likely isn’t the appropriate phrase for a parade, however we first heard about Disney Starlight (albeit not by that identify) months in the past. Even at the moment, substantive work was already being accomplished–suggesting that this wasn’t only a pitch or in early growth.
It doesn’t look like this can 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 sensible, 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 Take a look at Observe, which Disney confirmed will open subsequent yr (as extensively anticipated). Moreover, new particulars have been shared concerning the pre-show, queue reveals, and present scenes.
- Building Started: 2024
- Opening: 2025
That is an bold mission with an aggressive timeline and ample sources, however it nonetheless might take round a full yr to complete. It’s possible that Imagineering began with a desired end date for Take a look at 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 might hazard a guess that the goal opening date for Take a look at Observe 3.0 is round Memorial Day 2025, additionally as a part of a summer time kickoff celebration.
That doesn’t imply it should open then–it might happen earlier and even later. There’s at all times the potential of 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 most recent.
Mando and Grogu have a brand new journey on the horizon coming to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Be 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 (presently) set to be launched on Could 22, 2026. This new mission for Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run will possible debut round then, most likely 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 crucial. 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. (Now we have separate posts for the Encanto Magical Madrigal Casita Darkish Experience and Indiana Jones Journey.)
- Building Begins: Fall 2024
- Opening: 2027
In line with Walt Disney World, building on the land is about 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).”
Provided that assertion, we’re making a few assumptions. The primary is that Dinosaur isn’t 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 sensible transfer–didn’t go effectively for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.)
If this land is opening abruptly as an alternative of in phases, there’s extra work to be accomplished on Encanto–a model new construct–than there’s on Indiana Jones Journey, which is able to reuse the present trip system from Dinosaur. This additionally signifies that Dinosaur might conceivably stay open by means of Spring Break 2025 to assist take 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 (Possibly?)
Walt Disney World nonetheless hasn’t introduced the place this can be situated, which suggests to us that an official resolution has not but been made. (If it 100% have been Animation Courtyard, they’d’ve introduced that by now–since nobody cares.) Regardless that we expect 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 call 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 yr, there’s nonetheless loads of time to have this open by 2028. It’s the best mission of the most important new lands. Having Monstropolis open in 2028 maintains Disney’s annual opening cadence, so it looks like an easy conclusion.
Begin your engines, fan favourite tales and characters from Pixar’s “Vehicles” race into Magic Kingdom with two new points of interest and enjoyable for the entire household.
- Building Begins: 2025
- Opening: 2029 (Possibly?)
Subsequent to D23, Walt Disney World revealed that the Vehicles space will really change the Rivers of America, which means that Tom Sawyer Island and the Liberty Sq. Riverboat will completely shut. Whereas work on the Vehicles land begins in early 2025, this doesn’t imply that the Rivers of America will shut then. Somewhat, 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 may 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 yr, visitors could have loads of time to expertise the allure and nostalgia of Frontierland as it’s as we speak.” Our guess is that this implies these closures received’t happen till after Easter 2025.
In truth, it wouldn’t be stunning if Magic Kingdom tries to get by means of Summer season 2025 earlier than closing Tom Sawyer Island and the Rivers of America. Disney Starlight Parade goes to be vastly in style upon debut and can want ample viewing house throughout its opening summer time alongside the promenade in Frontierland. Building partitions up on one facet of the walkway would cut back viewing capability.
Regardless, filling within the Rivers of America after which constructing Vehicles land on prime of that could be a very bold mission. Followers will bemoan the prolonged timeline, however this debuting in 2029 really appears pretty aggressive given the dimensions and scope of labor.
That is no fortunately ever after. Get able to see a darker facet of your favourite fairytales when the Villains solid a spell over Magic Kingdom. Villains Land can be residence to 2 main points of interest, eating, and procuring on an extremely twisted grand scale.
- Building Begins: “Quickly”
- Opening: 2030 (Possibly?)
The secure guess 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 Vehicles land. And that land might be delayed into 2030 given how issues go together with the staging websites, filling within the Rivers of America, and building on the land itself.
Then there’s the problem of section 2s, which infamously don’t occur. No matter how you are feeling concerning the present financial system, there are first rate odds of a recession between now and 2030. And though the idea artwork seems nice, I’m involved that they haven’t settled on what this land will really function. If there’s one mission that has me anxious with a Pandora-like timeline, it’s Villains Land.
Personally, I feel that Villains Land is a improbable concept and one which can be big for Magic Kingdom. If I have been in cost, I’d completely be fast-tracking this addition and attempt to open it simultaneous with Vehicles 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 Vehicles 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 begin building earlier than the Vehicles land.
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YOUR THOUGHTS
Do you anticipate all of those upcoming Walt Disney World initiatives to open by 2029? Suppose any of them will slip into 2030-2031, or probably be cancelled fully? 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 help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even once you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!
