Walt Disney Co. has unveiled ambitious plans for its theme parks and resorts at the D23 fan-club convention in Anaheim, California. Key highlights include:
1. Villains Land: Disney will introduce its first-ever land dedicated to movie villains at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom in Florida. This new area, set to be as expansive as the Star Wars-themed lands, will feature two attractions, shopping, and dining options.
2. Frontierland Upgrade: The Magic Kingdom will also see a Cars-themed area in Frontierland, including a ride through wilderness featuring mountains and geysers.
3. Avengers Campus Expansion: The Avengers Campus at Disney’s California Adventure will be expanded with two new attractions: a flight simulator featuring Marvel’s Tony Stark and a ride based on the Pixar film ‘Coco’, showcasing the Land of the Dead.
4. New Attractions Worldwide:
– Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Florida will introduce a Monsters Inc.-themed land with a roller coaster.
– Animal Kingdom will get a new Indiana Jones ride and a magical house from ‘Encanto’.
– Shanghai and Hong Kong Disney parks will see new Spider-Man attractions.
– Paris will feature a new lake and a log flume ride based on ‘The Lion King’.
5. Disney Cruise Line Expansion: Disney plans to build four new cruise ships between 2027 and 2031, complementing the existing fleet. A new ship will be based in Singapore.
6. Celebrating Disneyland’s 70th Anniversary: Disneyland in California will debut an animatronic version of co-founder Walt Disney.
7. Upcoming Disney Collaborations: Disney will continue to integrate its characters into Fortnite as part of its partnership with Epic Games.
These announcements come as Disney aims to double its capital investment in parks to $60 billion over the next decade, despite recent slowdowns in the parks business. The new developments are expected to revitalize visitor interest and expand Disney’s global appeal.