As a lifelong Disney enthusiast who has spent countless hours exploring the magical lands of Disneyland and Walt Disney World, I must say that the proposed changes to Disney California Adventure (DCA) have me both excited and a little nostalgic.
Over the weekend, I found myself just a few rows from the stage during the D23 Experiences Showcase. That’s where Chairman Josh D’Amaro unveiled a roadmap for the upcoming years at Disney Parks. After two long years of brainstorming potential ideas, we finally received concrete announcements about what’s actually coming up. However, despite the excitement over the new offerings at Disney World and Disneyland, an inevitable question arises: where exactly will all these changes be implemented?
It’s been confirmed that The Villains Land at Magic Kingdom will be built on an area that wasn’t part of the park before, which means it’s a new expansion. In other instances, it seems likely that some beloved attractions might have to make way for upcoming major developments. Here’s what could potentially be phased out.
Tom Sawyer Island
Firstly, let’s address the recent unfortunate situation as we are aware that the loss of Tom Sawyer Island is a certainty. Just two days after the announcement of new attractions based on Cars being incorporated into Frontierland at Magic Kingdom, it was revealed that the area where these additions will be placed is currently occupied by the Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island.
As a devoted Disneyland enthusiast, gazing upon the breathtaking mountainous landscape depicted in concept art, I can’t help but feel a sense of awe. However, the prospect of losing the iconic Liberty Belle riverboat and Tom Sawyer Island is truly disheartening. It’s left me pondering, could our beloved Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island be at risk someday? This thought is undeniably weighing heavily on fellow fans hearts.
Dinosaur
It appears that the time is drawing near for the beloved Dinosaur attraction at Disney’s Animal Kingdom to close permanently. Although we knew that Tropical Americas land was slated to replace Dinoland U.S.A., it seems inevitable that this popular dark/thrill ride will cease operations as a result. However, it remains uncertain exactly when the closure will occur. Josh D’Amaro has made it clear that the transformation will take place in stages over the coming years, so while construction is expected to start soon, it won’t lead to the extinction of Dinosaur immediately.
MuppetVision 3D
Among the unexpected new features coming to Disney World is a whole territory devoted to the world of Monsters Inc, as revealed by Billy Crystal during the event. This new area will feature a roller coaster themed around the door-chasing scene from the initial movie, an idea that was conceived years ago but put on hold previously.
Rumors suggest that this new location could be part of Grand Avenue, also known as the Muppets Courtyard. This area houses the MuppetVision 3D movie, a beloved attraction that fans have been anxious about for years due to its age. Despite being old, many consider it a classic. It’s the remaining piece of Muppet media that Jim Henson personally worked on, making it historically significant.
Rock N’ Roller Coaster
For quite some time now, fans have been anticipating an update to the Rock ‘N’ Roller Coaster featuring Aerosmith. Given the band’s apparent nearing end and their lack of popularity for several decades, many believe that at least a redesign of the roller coaster is necessary. However, there could be something even more significant in store.
If the Monsters Inc. Door Coaster were to take over the location currently occupied by the Rock ‘N’ Roller Coaster, it would serve as a central hub for expanding Monstropolis. There is potential for recycling components from one coaster for the other, streamlining the construction process.
Redwood Creek Challenge Trail/Grizzly River Run
At Disneyland, we’re facing a Sophie’s Choice-type dilemma: with so many new attractions coming to Disney California Adventure (DCA), the most significant addition will be a whole land dedicated to Avatar. However, DCA isn’t a large park, and there’s limited space within its current boundaries for such an expansion. The question is, where do we place an entire new land?
The Grizzly Peak area, which has remained almost completely untouched for decades, unlike the rest of the park, is a strong possibility. The area is themed as a National Park, so we’d be swapping real trees for alien ones, but it could work. The area also already has a water ride, Grizzly River Run, and we know the anchor attraction of the land will be water-based.
Regrettably, such a situation might result in the closure of the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail – a vibrant spot where children frolic and play, scale ropes, slide, and essentially experience the joy of freedom. In essence, it serves as the equivalent of Tom Sawyer Island in Disney California Adventure. The prospect of losing this cherished location is heartbreaking, yet there’s a chance it could happen.
Monsters Inc: Mike & Sully To The Rescue
In the near future, Hollywood Land, which currently features a Monsters Inc. dark ride and a 3D theater showing Mickey’s Philharmagic, is expected to undergo major changes due to its potential for expansion and lack of other significant attractions.
There’s a chance that the Avatar world might take the spot currently held by Grizzly Peak, though such a change could feel abrupt. Alternatively, this could be where the new Coco dark ride is headed. Replacing one dark ride with another might seem regrettable given the park’s need for more of them, but it might simplify things. Additionally, if this happens, we may bid farewell to the amusing animatronics left over from Superstar Limo, a Disney attraction notorious for its poor quality.
Of Course, It’s Possible To Get New Rides Without Losing Things
It’s generally true that when new attractions are built, older ones may be phased out. However, except for the Magic Kingdom Frontierland update, there’s no absolute necessity for other changes. Walt Disney World has the advantage of vast space, and there’s ample non-park land around Disney’s Hollywood Studios where a Monsters Inc. area could be established without displacing existing structures.
Just as was implied in the presentation, it’s clear that Disneyland Resort is undergoing a significant expansion over the next ten years. Instead of just words like “DisneylandForward,” we can expect to see a substantial enlargement of Disney California Adventure. This means that areas currently used as parking lots could potentially house new attractions such as Avatar land and a Coco-themed attraction, which were not explicitly mentioned but are strongly suggested by the plans.
It’s possible that most of the upcoming attractions won’t cause us to miss anything else, but there’s a higher chance that some existing ones may be removed. The advantage is that construction on these projects likely won’t begin this year, and some may not start for several years. Therefore, if one of your favorite attractions does get closed, you’ll still have time left to enjoy it before any changes occur.
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2024-08-15 03:07