Disney World Villains Land New Details & Inspirations Revealed

This weekend at Destination D23, we have been receiving some exciting announcements about new additions coming to Disney World! Today, we have some new details about the highly anticipated Villains Land coming to Magic Kingdom.

Disney previously shared that this new land would include two major attractions, dining, and shopping, but we have not heard many details about this project since its initial announcement. Now, we have a new look at the design inspiration for the land. Keep reading for more details!

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Disney World Villains Land Design Inspiration

During the initial announcement of this new Villains Land, we received a first look at concept art giving an overall impression of the land, which you can see above. Now, we have a more detailed look at the inspiration for the design of specific architectural elements in the land.

At a Destination D23 panel, Disney Legend and former animator Andreas Deja shared that he was consulting on this new project. He is best known for bringing some iconic Disney villains to life, including Gaston, Jafar, and Scar. Deja described how Imagineers are using the personalities and bold visuals of these characters as source materials when designing the land.

In developing the land, they first had conversations with the Walt Disney Animation Studios artists about the animation source material, and the takeaway was that it was important “to reflect the look and feel of the characters’ animation in the land’s physical structures and appearance.”

Disney went to Paris, France, and Barcelona, Spain, for inspiration. There, they studied Art Nouveau architecture design and partnered with local professors, as well as art and architectural historians, to get a closer look at the architectural aesthetics that will serve as design inspiration for the new Villains Land.

In Paris, a big takeaway was how “natural motifs and swirling designs there make nature appear to be ‘cursed' like magic has frozen it into place.” In Barcelona, the art style is Modernisme, which has fewer natural patterns and gives off an “otherworldly, unnerving appearance.” 

In both locations, the team also noted the color palette and rich tones of the architectural elements, with colorful stained-glass windows and painted metals. These serve as design inspiration for how they might bring the jewel tones of the animated villains to life in the architecture of the land.

This is a pretty interesting collage that looks at the animated Disney villains alongside specific architectural design inspiration. You can tell from this research that the design of the land is going to be very bold and interesting. Everything is intentional!

The team coined the term “Conjured Architecture” to describe the similarities of the animated villains and Art Nouveau's style, which both share a “magical, fluid, and organic appearance.”

Photo via Disney Parks Blog

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The Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island recently closed at Magic Kingdom to make way for the construction of a new Cars-themed area and this new Villains Land. You can see all details about the new Cars area that is coming as part of this Magic Kingdom expansion here. This reimagined section of Frontierland will include two new rides, including a thrilling rally race through the mountains. Disney recently revealed new details about this Cars area, including inspiration and concept artwork for the land.

You can also read about some of the other Disney World news from Destination D23 this weekend, including the announcement of a Walt Disney Audio-Animatronics figure coming to a classic ride and new changes coming to a top Disney World ride later this year.