Throughout the subsequent decade, Walt Disney World goes to reimagine rides in Animal Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, and Magic Kingdom. In all probability a number of which can be overdue for alternative in addition to opening day originals in want of updates. This lists the points of interest which can be prime candidates to be overhauled and what we’d prefer to see if or when that happens. (Up to date April 12, 2025.)
For starters, we all know extra journey reimaginings are on the horizon as a result of Disney has mentioned so. Whereas the corporate has plans to speculate $60 billion in Parks & Resorts over the following 10 years, CEO Bob Iger mentioned the spending can be backloaded. However he additionally indicated {that a} menu of recent issues will begin opening in 2025, and there’ll be a cadence yearly of further funding and elevated capability from then by means of the 2030s.
Equally, Parks Chairman Josh D’Amaro has made feedback that they need to develop the footprints of the parks by constructing past the berm whereas additionally bettering utilization inside them. Each of this stuff essentially imply journey reimaginings. One, as a result of bettering utilization is “code” for reimaginings (or shenanigans like Genie/NextGen, however Disney has realized from these errors).
The excellent news is that there are a dozen-plus points of interest which can be at phases of their life cycle after they want to be up to date. Nicely, possibly this isn’t a optimistic out of your perspective–nostalgia is an enormous a part of the Disney expertise and alter to fan-favorites might be troublesome to just accept.
Not solely that, however not each previous journey reimagining has been ahead progress–some have been downgrades or lateral strikes. Experience reimaginings additionally usually are not almost as “attractive” as park enlargement. A clean canvas is rather more thrilling for its infinite potentialities than even the incremental enhancements of a well-executed reimagining.
I get it, however I additionally disagree with that sentiment. It’s the identical sort of pondering that fuels followers to maintain clamoring for a legendary fifth gate at Walt Disney World moderately than, you realize, fixing and increasing upon the present 4 parks, 3 of which nonetheless want a number of assist. As thrilling as a fifth park is on paper, a lot of the funds can be blown on infrastructure as an alternative of points of interest.
It’s a considerably comparable thought with journey reimaginings. There are simply a dozen Walt Disney World points of interest which can be outdated and may very well be dramatically improved. This may very well be achieved quicker and cheaper than fully-fledged enlargement, too. In a world the place money and time are finite and even $60 billion received’t go almost so far as some followers would possibly assume, reimaginings are key.
Anyway, let’s get right down to brass tacks and canopy the prime candidates for reimaginings at Walt Disney World, beginning with a number of updates…
UPDATE: Buzz Lightyear’s House Ranger Spin – The primary of a trio of journey reimaginings that has been introduced since this listing was first revealed is Buzz Lightyear’s House Ranger Spin. That is probably step one in a bigger-picture overhaul of Tomorrowland–however let’s not get forward of ourselves.
I really like the thought of this attraction as a shooter journey that makes use of bodily present scenes to make it participating for company who need to benefit from the attraction passively. A few of the staging, props, and Audio Animatronics are actually cool. The interactivity is enjoyable, and Walt Disney World might use extra points of interest like this. I personally choose gamified points of interest like this–ones which can be pleasurable whether or not you play or not, because it provides multigenerational enchantment.
It feels like Walt Disney World agrees! Imagineers are taking the bones of Buzz Lightyear’s House Ranger Spin and modernizing the attraction with improved gameplay, new blasters, and a wide range of enhancements together with a brand new present scene and Audio Animatronics character! Buzz Lightyear’s House Ranger Spin will shut for reimagining beginning in Fall 2025 and reopen someday in 2026.
UPDATE: Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster – When initially penning this listing, I wrote that I used to be totally satisfied that it will occur within the subsequent few years. Reimagining Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster is not only the protected transfer, however it could be cash properly spent. It presents a chance for Imagineering to simply inject new life in an attraction that’s inherently common as a thrill journey, and would give the corporate one thing to market between now and 2026.
Our submit, Will Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster Be Reimagined?, lined potentialities for the brand new theme in addition to why we strongly imagine it will occur sooner or later. Nicely, we now know it will occur, as Walt Disney World has formally introduced a Muppets Mayhem Makeover of Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster!
Precise dates and particulars are nonetheless unknown, however we acquired one in every of our needs! Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster is more likely to shut inside the subsequent 12 months and reopen by some level in 2026. There’s nonetheless time for “One other Final Goodbye” earlier than Aerosmith says “Peace Out” and makes approach for the Muppets and Electrical Mayhem Band!
UPDATE: DINOSAUR — Walt Disney World followers will debate the demise of Dinoland and Dino-Rama for many years to return. Followers are already unhappy in regards to the chance of dropping DINOSAUR, which is now confirmed as closing in early 2026 to make approach for Indiana Jones Journey.
Scientifically talking, dinosaurs are the awesomest animal of all-time, edging out hammerhead sharks and the T-800. There are dozens of slam dunk concepts involving dinosaurs in theme parks that may’ve been wondrous to behold. None of them have occurred or will occur, which I feel is really a disgrace.
With that mentioned, DINOSAUR simply isn’t it. The journey has a lot squandered potential, and even its diehard followers will understand this as soon as Indiana Jones Journey opens. As a lover of dinosaurs, I’d’ve beloved to have a DINOSAUR with the standard of Indiana Jones Journey. However that’s not what we acquired, and as such, DINOSAUR is due for a reimagining.
The model of Indiana Jones Journey that Walt Disney World will get sounds implausible, that includes a Mayan temple and the Quetzalcoatl (a feathered serpent god). I simply hope someday down the street, Disney offers Imagineering the funds and freedom to create a dinosaur land that basically wows. Jurassic Park and Common don’t have a monopoly on the idea. Imagineers might create an unique theme park IP with dinosaurs that knocks our collective socks off!
BONUS: House Mountain – With a trio of entries on our want listing for reimaginings now confirmed as coming true, it appears proper so as to add a brand new one. House Mountain is an apparent alternative, even when it’s not my first one.
Sarah is all for an overhaul of House Mountain. For her, the issue is the roughness of the journey, which is bodily uncomfortable and headache-inducing. Sarah’s perspective is just not distinctive amongst followers–many view House Mountain as an antiquated thrill journey that point has handed by. Particularly now that Cosmic Rewind and TRON Lightcycle Run are open.
There’s little denying that this rickety ole curler coaster might use a refresh. House Mountain was as soon as slated for a complete overhaul in 2009, however that as an alternative ended up being a multi-month venture that concerned TLC however was largely beauty and thematic in nature. Over 15 years later, it’s protected to imagine the journey wants a re-tracking extra now than it does then. From what I perceive, curler coasters don’t age like wine. With Imagineering eyeing Tomorrowland for enhancements, it wouldn’t shock me if House Mountain goes down for a prolonged closure after Huge Thunder Mountain Railroad and Buzz Lightyear’s House Ranger Spin reopen in 2026.
If House Mountain is reimagined, I hope it’s lovingly enhanced versus overhauled. The old-fashioned results within the queue, star tunnel music, twin monitor structure, and even the post-show scenes are all fan favorites for a motive. House Mountain might use a re-tracking, on-board audio, projections and different results, however that nostalgia gasoline ought to all stay unchanged. It’s a tricky needle to string on this 50-year outdated traditional!
Sew’s Nice Escape – I’m undecided Sew’s Nice Escape qualifies as a “reimagining” since: 1) it’s completely closed, and; 2) it is going to be changed outright, essentially remodeling it into one thing else. That is thus extra a redevelopment moderately than a reimagining.
Nevertheless, Imagineering is boxed in with the previous Sew’s Nice Escape area given what’s adjoining and above it. So the constructing received’t be torn down, and there’s probability that the following occupant makes use of the same structure to take advantage of the restricted footprint right here.
As for what might exchange Sew’s Nice Escape, there are a selection of choices. Probably the most boring of which might be importing Sew Encounter from one of many worldwide parks. It’s mainly Turtle Speak, however with Sew (who’s an alien, not a turtle). Another choice can be one thing comparable, however with Baymax as an alternative of Sew. There’s additionally Pixar’s Elio, which is a science fiction movie and thus might conceivably match into Tomorrowland. The issue with Disney sci-fi movies, although, is that they’ve a 50/50 shot at flopping.
Disney & Pixar Quick Movie Competition – There are additionally a number of completely different movies in EPCOT that might make this listing, however the one one which needs to be an pressing precedence is the Disney & Pixar Quick Movie Competition. The fabric right here is satisfactory and value watching, making it an honest possibility in the event you’re craving air-conditioning or seeking to escape a storm. However on the finish of the day, these are actually simply Disney and Pixar cartoon shorts that you might watch on Disney+ at house.
Despite the fact that it’s higher than some EPCOT movies, the explanation a reimagining needs to be prioritized right here is as a part of a bigger-picture Creativeness pavilion overhaul. The #1 entry on this listing is, spoiler alert, a reimagined Journey into Creativeness with Figment (and Dreamfinder). That journey plus a redone ImageWorks plus one thing worthwhile within the Magic Eye Theater might breathe new life into this nook of the park.
As for what ought to exchange the Disney & Pixar Quick Movie Competition, the apparent candidate is an Inside Out present. That might give the pavilion an unique character in Figment for the followers, plus IP drawing energy for informal company. It doesn’t should be a lavish manufacturing–one other 3D movie might conceivably work–however I’d like to see a Bing Bong Audio Animatronics determine.
Magnificence and the Beast: Stay on Stage — This stage present retelling Magnificence and the Beast in condensed type is actually as outdated because the animated film itself. It’s pleasurable, doing an enough job with choreography, performances, and dramatic styling. Generally simple-but-good is greater than sufficient.
The issue is that Magnificence and the Beast: Stay on Stage simply feels outdated. The whole lot about it simply offers off Nineteen Nineties vibes. It’s the totality of all of it, and the way it contrasts with newer diversifications of animated motion pictures that offers it away. So many extra trendy productions have come and gone at Disneyland and Disney Cruise Line that may very well be plugged into DHS and can be a breath of recent air, comparatively talking.
To that time, I’d like to see this changed by a kind of DCL productions. My favourite is Tangled: The Musical, which might even be a fantastic possibility given how underrepresented Tangled is within the parks. However even the newer Magnificence and the Beast or Frozen musicals from DCL can be implausible. I’d choose that to a montage present, however am not essentially averse to one thing like Mickey and the Magician, which is an unimaginable manufacturing.
Peter Pan’s Flight – This journey’s enduring reputation and the truth that it instructions a number of the longest wait occasions in all of Walt Disney World means it shouldn’t be changed by a completely new journey idea. Flying over the streets of London and Neverland is a timeless lightning-in-a-bottle expertise that ought to by no means go away.
As a lot as I really like the brand new Peter Pan’s By no means Land Journey in Fantasy Springs, I’d not need to lose the straightforward allure and delight of Peter Pan’s Flight for it. (Not that it issues, since By no means Land Journey would by no means slot in such a small footprint and I can’t see Disney spending “OLC cash” on considerably comparable attraction when Peter Pan’s Flight continues to be so common.)
As an alternative, Peter Pan’s Flight needs to be plussed with projection mapping and different lighting results–as has been achieved in Anaheim, Paris, Shanghai, and Tokyo. Updating infrastructure so the flight is much less jerky and smoother would assist with suspension of disbelief. If we’re actually daydreaming, changing the journey system solely with bigger automobiles to enhance hourly throughput can be superb. (That’s most likely a stretch.)
Imagineering acquired it proper with Peter Pan’s Flight a long time in the past, so that is extra a modernization than a fully-fledged reimagining. Over time, Imagineering has achieved precisely that with Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean, plus different Fantasyland classics at Disneyland. It’s time Peter Pan’s Flight left its datedness within the mud and acquired an opportunity to fly larger.
Spaceship Earth — The final attraction standing from EPCOT Middle’s unique slow-moving darkish journey slate. Spaceship Earth was scheduled for reimagining again in 2020, which was overdue even then. The monitor is in tough form and the descent offers off deserted mall vibes. The present model of the attraction, (partially) redone in 2007, is now the longest-running incarnation of Spaceship Earth.
The best way this journey communicates to company–particularly within the finale–likewise feels antiquated. Ironic and disappointing on condition that it’s an attraction about communication. Humanity’s shared story is a compelling one and the journey’s location inside EPCOT’s iconic geodesic sphere is absolutely cool, however Spaceship Earth squanders a lot of its potential. Particularly the clunky conclusion that fails to encourage.
The “Story Gentle” reimagining that was slated to happen in 2020 was controversial, with many purists cringing at the potential for character IP being added. No matter occurs at this level can be a special idea than that, and truthfully, I’m keen to roll the cube. The present state of the second-half of the attraction is embarrassing, the script is drained, and the tacky screen-based ending is atrocious.
Spaceship Earth deserves higher, and diehard followers shouldn’t need to concern a reimagining as a result of the tip outcome would possibly, in some way, be even worse. Personally, I’d be completely nice with a fiber optic gentle path ‘main’ the best way by means of the present scenes, plus the addition of an all-new finale. No have to reinvent the wheel (or movable sort printing press?), simply add readability to what’s communicated and an exclamation-inducing finale.
Tomorrowland Speedway – Excellent for individuals who need to benefit from the stench and cognitive impairment of auto exhaust, Tomorrowland Speedway is noisy, smelly, and simplistic. The flip aspect is that Tomorrowland Speedway is a ceremony of passage attraction for teenagers that’s deserving of its place in Magic Kingdom.
Again earlier than we had a child, I felt like I “wanted” to defend Tomorrowland Speedway to be able to be balanced and never one of many dreaded, out-of-touch Childless Millennial Disney Adults. Now I’m free to say what I actually assume underneath the duvet of parenthood: Tomorrowland Speedway is a waste of treasured actual property. There’s nothing Disney can do to distinguish it from dime-a-dozen go-cart rides. It’s time to interchange Tomorrowland Speedway fully.
Tokyo Disneyland “traded” their model for Fantasyland and Tomorrowland enlargement that includes a Magnificence and the Beast E-Ticket, indoor theater, and Baymax flat journey. There isn’t that a lot area right here, however Disney might nonetheless achieve this a lot to make Fantasyland and Tomorrowland circulate higher and modernize this stretch of the park. The Baymax flat journey plus one other main Fantasyland headliner might exchange it, whereas additionally making TRON Lightcycle Run circulate higher with the remainder of the park.
With a Vehicles space coming to Frontierland that appears prefer it’ll embrace a non secular successor to Tomorrowland Speedway, it now seems that Imagineering is paving the best way for liberating up this land for future growth. If not, they need to at the least modernize the fleet and add higher present scenes. Something to make Tomorrowland Speedway much less embarrassing.
Journey into Creativeness with Figment — Now again in meet & greet type and shortly to have his personal function movie, Figment is extra common than ever. It simply is sensible to reimagine Journey into Creativeness. It would generate goodwill amongst WDW diehards and forge new followers within the course of.
It’d be one thing that may outline the EPCOT transformation, tying it collectively right into a extra cohesive venture. Figment would turn out to be the face and mascot of the new-look EPCOT, elevating the in any other case underwhelming central backbone within the course of. Oh, and it’d be a license to print cash–simply consider the merchandising potential!
Figment is common not for the prevailing attraction in its present sorry state, however because of the unique Journey into Creativeness. If something, the truth that the journey and its star character nonetheless have a strong maintain on adults of a sure age a long time after they disappeared speaks volumes in regards to the indelible impression they left on the youth of the Nineteen Eighties and Nineteen Nineties.
The unique Journey into Creativeness was mesmerizing. Above all else, it was imaginative, as cliche as that may sound. As a younger little one, I used to be spellbound by the unique, its characters, and the evocative scenes they inhabited. It was a timeless attraction that captivated company, sparked their imaginations, and solid lifelong Walt Disney World followers. Recapturing that misplaced magic and spirit of creativeness would have the identical impression immediately, proving that rides don’t want film IP to be huge successes. That the theme parks, themselves, are a type of mental property.
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YOUR THOUGHTS
Do any points of interest at Walt Disney World strike you as being prime candidates for journey reimaginings? Something you assume our listing “snubbed” that needs to be slated for alternative or at the least an replace? Do you agree or disagree with our decisions? Any questions we can assist you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even whenever you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!
