Disney is planning a massive expansion in both Disneyland and Walt Disney World as they move forward with plans to expand Disneyland, Magic Kingdom, and recreate areas in Animal Kingdom. These expansions will bring a number of new rides and properties to the theme parks. Disney has promised to spend $60 billion on expansion of their parks and resorts over the next decade.
While not much has been officially confirmed quite yet, there are a number of Disney properties we want to see represented in this expansion and some of our inspiration comes from watching the successful expansion efforts that have taken place in the international Disney parks.
Let's get into the properties we want to see represented in these upcoming Disney Park expansions at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland!
Disney Parks Expansions Details
Concept art released for the new Tropical Americas at Animal Kingdom
Disneyland has recently received approval for their major Disneyland Forward expansion which will give Disney the freedom to expand their theme park which has always been limited in scope because of their location within the city of Anaheim. This is an exciting time for Disneyland fans as this $2.5 billion expansion will have a huge impact on the resort.
Walt Disney World Resort is in the midst of their own expansion plans at Animal Kingdom to bring a new Tropical Americas themed land to that park and replace more outdated areas like DinoLand U.S.A. Permits were recently filed to begin work on this expansion although we are still waiting for more concrete details.
Animal Kingdom isn't the only park receiving a new land and expanded new offerings. A future expansion at Magic Kingdom, dubbed “Beyond Big Thunder Mountain,” is also in the early planning stages. While nothing official has been announced, potential expansion ideas have teased at everything fro Encanto to a Villains land.
With that all being said, let's get into the Disney films we would love to see represented during these expansions including some inspiration we hope Disney takes from the new Fantasy Springs at Tokyo Disney among the other Disney international parks.
⭐Read more about the newly approved Disneyland Forward expansion project!
1. Tangled
The top of my list that I hope to see represented at any of these Disney Park expansions is Tangled.
I was green with jealousy watching the previews of the new Tangled dark ride at Fantasy Springs in Tokyo Disney and I would love to see a replica of this attraction come to either Disneyland or Walt Disney World. This would be an instant hit due to the popularity of the Tangled films!
2. Avatar
Concept art released for Avatar Disneyland experience
While Avatar has already been confirmed as part of the upcoming Disneyland expansion, I hope we are going to get a similar version of Flight of Passage at Disneyland Resort.
Flight of Passage is one of the best rides Walt Disney World has and it'd be great to see a ride of that magnitude incorporated into this expansion as opposed to a smaller dark ride or just an immersive area.
3. Frozen
Walt Disney World already has Frozen Ever After, a Frozen dark boat ride, so along with a similar approach to replicating the success of Avatar at Disneyland I hope we also see Frozen brought into the parks.
But rather than just replicating the Frozen attraction at Walt Disney World, it would be great to see this Frozen addition be a replica of the Frozen attraction at Tokyo Disney with full animatronics and not just projection mapped faces.
4. Indiana Jones
It is practically confirmed that DINOSAUR in Animal Kingdom will be replaced by Indiana Jones since the ride system mirrors the same kind as the existing Indiana Jones Adventure in Disneyland.
But rather than just replicating the same storyline from Indiana Jones Adventure, I would love to see a different storyline and ride experience (using the same technology) as there are so many different Indiana Jones stories that could be told.
5. Encanto
The popularity of Encanto ensures that an attraction themed after this popular film would be an instant slam dunk. Encanto has already been teased as a possible presence in the upcoming Dinoland refurbishment at Animal Kingdom.
The possibilities are endless for Encanto. While a dark ride would seem like a fun possibility, I think a walk through experience of the Encanto's Casita would be even better.
6. Beauty & the Beast
Walt Disney World does have its own Beauty & the Beast themed restaurant but aside from this themed experience the Beauty & the Beast themed attractions are nowhere to be found.
One of the most popular rides over at Tokyo Disneyland is the Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast. This trackless dark ride allows guests to board tea cups as they swirl through the tale of Beauty & the Beast complete with songs from the film and extremely well-done audio-animatronics. I would love to see this ride, or a version similar to it, come to Disneyland or Walt Disney World.
7. Moana
Moana Journey of Water has been a wonderful addition to EPCOT at Walt Disney World. This walk through experience does a great job with interactive storytelling and pays tribute to the messaging in Moana.
The popularity of this attraction demonstrates the need for Moana to be present in other Disney parks like Disneyland. With the Disneyland Forward expansion moving forward, I would love to see a Moana attraction brought to Disneyland.
8. Coco
The next three ideas on my list are all more focused on hopes and dreams rather than existing attractions that exist at Disney Parks around the world. Coco is one of the most popular Pixar films and bringing a Coco themed dark ride into Disneyland or Walt Disney World would be a great idea.
The obvious location for this attraction would be the Mexico Pavilion in EPCOT as a replacement for Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros. Put down the pitchforks, I love that ride deeply but it's hard not to admit that it's past its prime. It's either due for a full reimagining (with Coco!) or a major refurbishment.
9. Up
I might be holding my breath forever for this one but I couldn't not include it on the list especially in light of Pixar's Up 15th anniversary. Up is a beloved Pixar movie and the popularity of this film is quite obvious in the Disney Parks as any introduction of these characters in interactions or parades is always met with fanfare.
While it's not likely we'll ever see Up more strongly integrated into Disneyland or Walt Disney World, I think it's fun to still hope. I would love to see a stage show that includes a focus on this story, at the very least.
10. Villains Land
One of the longest held fan dreams is a Villains Land at Disneyland or Walt Disney World that would focus entirely on the classic villains from the Disney animated films. So think of classics like the Evil Queen, Maleficent, Ursula, Jafar but the possibilities are endless.
Disney did acknowledge this popular fan fantasy when they first started teasing the expansion in Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World as one of the potential stories they tossed around in the daydreaming process (often called Blue Sky) but it was never confirmed. While a Villains Land at either park may be unlikely, it's always a dream for many Disney fans.
11. Bluey
As we continue to daydream of possibilities we should see in Disneyland or Walt Disney World, one popular kids television show that should be represented is Bluey!
This could take the form of a fun character interaction or even got a step further into an interactive area all themed around Bluey. Bluey is a hit with guests of all ages and this would be a popular addition.
12. Aladdin
Aladdin has a pretty minimal presence in both Disneyland and Walt Disney World despite how iconic this classic Disney animation movie is.
Walt Disney World has The Magic Carpets of Aladdin which is a ride similar to Dumbo with magic carpets that fly in a circle. While this ride is fun, especially with the spitting camel, I feel that we could do more with Aladdin. A dark ride or a full show (like the old Aladdin show at The Hyperion Theater at Disney California Adventure!) would be a welcome addition.
13. The Emperor's New Groove
One of the best Disney films, in my humble opinion, is The Emperor's New Groove and it always pains me that references to this iconic film is basically nonexistent.
Many fans threw out the idea that instead of The Princess & The Frog as a retheme for Splash Mountain, it should have been The Emperor's New Groove instead with a callout to the scene in the movie where Kuzco and Pacha drop down the cliff. That's not the only possibility, perhaps this llama centric movie should get its own unique ride!
14. The Goofy Movie
The Goofy Movie is another iconic film that all millennials love dearly. And sine millennials make up a large population of Disney fans these days, it would only make sense to incorporate The Goofy Movie into the parks!
This could take place as a fun dark ride or even a stage show adaptation featuring the Powerline song “I 2 I” that often makes the top of most Disney adults music playlists.
15. Lilo & Stitch
The 2002 film Lilo & Stitch continues to be an instant classic that transcends generations and this is especially obvious when we look at how popular Stitch continues to be among guests of all ages.
While Stitch has a good character presence in Disneyland and Walt Disney World, I would love to see more of this story incorporated into stage entertainment. Or at the very least, let's update the now closed Stitch's Great Escape! attraction in Walt Disney World and reopen it with a new look and storyline.
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