Disney has lastly revealed the place Pandora – World of Avatar and the Coco boat journey shall be situated at Disneyland Resort, together with when development will start and closures essential to make method for this new land and attraction. This put up shares particulars, idea artwork, and every part we all know in regards to the plan–plus commentary and our tackle this addition for the park.
By the use of recap, Pandora – World of Avatar and the Coco-themed boat journey have been each introduced final 12 months throughout the “Horizons: Disney Experiences Showcase” or Parks Panel presentation on the D23 Expo. Disney Parks Chairman Josh D’Amaro provided a sneak peek at idea artwork for future enlargement plans at Disneyland. Or extra precisely, at Disney California Journey.
These have been simply two of a number of blockbuster bulletins for Parks & Resorts on the D23 Expo, throughout which D’Amaro revealed a number of ‘shovel to soil’ tasks that can come on-line within the subsequent 5 years, together with over a half-dozen additions that can debut earlier than the tip of 2025. He and head Imagineer Bruce Vaughn delivered on their promise to showcase concrete particulars and cease teasing ‘Blue Sky’ potentialities.
Actually, the Coco boat journey and Pandora – World of Avatar are two of the tasks that felt “least actual” to me. Disney CEO Bob Iger had been teasing an “Avatar Expertise” for over a 12 months at that time, and there have been a number of items of idea artwork, a prolonged on-stage dialogue about Pandora, and even a partial mannequin on the present ground.
Nonetheless, there was no opening 12 months given nor was there even a begin date for development. That plus the sensible actuality that there was no handy location for an enormous Avatar enlargement in DCA referred to as into query simply when it could begin development. Or somewhat, if it could. In any case, that is clearly a pet mission of Bob Iger, and his tenure is quickly coming to an finish.
Then there’s the Coco-themed boat journey. Though that sounded very promising to me and did have a begin date for development, it additionally had the fewest particulars of any main mission introduced on the D23 Expo. Not solely that, however the begin date was merely 2026. It was completely doable that one other D23 Expo would arrive earlier than development even started–once more, if it even started.
Fortunately, we now have some solutions to questions on each Pandora – World of Avatar and the Coco boat journey at Disney California Journey…
As Disneyland Resort continues so as to add new experiences to Disney California Journey, the corporate is worked up to share that the upcoming attraction themed to Pixar Animation Studios’ “Coco” shall be constructed close to Paradise Gardens Park and Pixar Pier, in areas which might be predominantly backstage at this time. Development on this Coco attraction is ready to start backstage in Fall 2025!
A few issues to notice in regards to the Coco boat journey. In the beginning, it appears that evidently this mission is being fast-tracked, with development now starting in 2025 versus 2026.
Whereas it’s completely doable that this shall be transferring back-of-house amenities and different prep-work, that counts in relation to Disney timelines. We’ve seen different tasks introduced at D23 get off to a sluggish begin as this part of labor unfolded.
The opposite factor that’s fascinating right here is that the announcement suggests two totally different areas. Close to Paradise Gardens Park would appear to point that it’s changing Goofy’s Sky Faculty, a repurposed wild mouse curler coaster that you’ll find at unusual amusement parks. The previous Mulholland Insanity was given a brand new lease on life throughout the 2012 Disney California Journey redo, however even then, the belief was that it was a stop-gap measure. Over a decade later, its time might have lastly come.
This space has lengthy been rife for redevelopment, and this nook of the park, which is an odd mixture of old fashioned Paradise Pier and newer Pixar Pier, might be repurposed right into a Coco miniland. Jumpin’ Jellyfish and Golden Zephyr might each even be reimagined or changed utterly. The one questions concern the parade route and whether or not that is really sufficient area for a present constructing for a contemporary boat journey. Actually, I’m skeptical.
The opposite trigger for skepticism right here is that Disney indicated that the Coco boat journey would exchange “which might be predominantly backstage at this time.” Nothing over right here is backstage. Disneyland Drive and Grand Californian Resort are instantly behind the guest-facing areas at Paradise Gardens Park, which can also be why the present constructing dimension is proscribed.
I suppose it’s doable to place the doorway throughout from Foolish Symphony Swings and route the queue and present constructing backstage behind Incredicoaster. That is what the above idea artwork appears to counsel. However the issue with that’s it probably conflicts with the parade route, and I can’t see DCA ditching or re-routing that.
The opposite different is behind the Incredicoaster, Inside Out Emotional Whirlwind, and the boardwalk video games. There’s ample area backstage behind the Incredicoaster, and nothing of worth would have to be misplaced to construct the Coco boat journey right here.
It wouldn’t shock me in the event that they constructed the doorway to the attraction the place the Pixar Promenade band shell is at present situated. That is probably the most logical location, and one that may make it a pure win from a capability perspective. It’s additionally price declaring that there’s a sliver of Incredicoaster within the new Coco idea artwork, and that wouldn’t be there if this have been changing Goofy’s Sky Faculty.
The one situation right here is that behind Incredicoaster isn’t close to Paradise Backyard Park. I’m guessing that was only a gaffe within the press launch. Right here’s hoping, at the least, as a result of this feature is method higher–and I’m not simply saying that as a result of I don’t need to lose Paradise Backyard Grill. (This web site would additionally additional clarify the pausing of runDisney faces at Disneyland.)
For those who’re questioning what to anticipate from the Coco boat journey, the attraction shall be crammed with the characters and music from the beloved film, as you be part of Miguel on a visit to the land of the useless.
Walt Disney Imagineering will draw inspiration for the attraction from beloved classics, like Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean. “We’re bringing our skeletal solid of characters to life in an enormous method by the newest Audio-Animatronics know-how,” D’Amaro stated at D23 Expo. “These figures will seem in methods you’ll should see to imagine.”
I’m completely on board with a Coco attraction. It’s simply among the finest–and arguably the very finest–animated movie in latest reminiscence, rivaling Moana, Inside Out, Frozen, and Zootopia. Coco has beautiful visuals and delightful music–surroundings and sounds that appear tailored for a theme park attraction. The idea is tantalizing. Describing it as a non secular successor to Pirates of the Caribbean and Haunted Mansion positively captured my consideration and creativeness.
Actually, Coco completely would lend itself to such a journey, which is an enormous a part of why that is so thrilling–as a result of you possibly can simply think about what a Pirates plus Haunted Mansion impressed Coco journey might be like. My actual hope is that that is a type of “good concepts that received’t die” in Imagineering, they usually lastly discovered a house for it after making an attempt to create space in EPCOT.
Then there’s Pandora – World of Avatar. Right here’s what Disneyland needed to share about that:
“Moreover, we’re wanting ahead to remodeling a portion of the present Hollywood Backlot space into our Avatar vacation spot in Disney California Journey. This mission remains to be within the early levels of improvement, and extra particulars shall be shared later, together with development timeframes.”
To make method for the brand new Avatar enlargement, Monsters Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue! will shut in early 2026.
The very first thing to know in regards to the Avatar enlargement is that the Japanese Gateway transportation hub is a obligatory prerequisite to Pandora.
With the intention to have enough space for the present constructing and every part {that a} fully-fledged Avatar land entails, Disney must demolish the previous bus loops and construct into that area. However as you possibly can think about, that may’t occur till the brand new Japanese Gateway transportation hub is up and working.
The brand new Japanese Gateway transportation hub doesn’t begin development till Fall 2026, so it’s going to be some time–in all probability till 2028–earlier than that can open and release the area wanted for Pandora – World of Avatar. That ought to clarify why Disney isn’t actually sharing a lot in regards to the timeline for Pandora–as a result of it’s so distant.
Nevertheless, that does make us surprise why Monsters Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue! will shut in early 2026. Does it actually want to shut then, or is it a matter of cost-savings to assist partially offset development. I can’t think about a state of affairs the place that Monsters, Inc. darkish journey is essentially within the earliest stage of labor on Avatar land.
As an alternative, this strikes me as akin to what’s taking place with MuppetVision 3D at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. It’s particularly egregious right here given the shortage of all-ages sights at DCA. I actually need to be improper about this, and I hope particulars come out that make my cynicism misplaced.
For no matter it’s price, there are current (unused) soundstages and areas throughout the current boundaries of the park that might be utilized. Disney cleared out Stage 17 in Hollywood Land, which is a gigantic venue in part of the park that basically wants new life injected into it. Perhaps work will start in, on or round these soundstages in early 2026!
Different questions stay about Pandora – World of Avatar, resembling why is Disney referring to it as a “vacation spot” versus a land? Our hope is that that is meaningless, and never an precise distinction–but it surely nonetheless looks like an odd phrase selection.
Additionally unknown is which journey system its marquee attraction will make the most of. The modern attraction is rumored to make use of the identical journey system as Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure at Shanghai Disneyland. This is able to make it considerably totally different from Na’vi River Journey in Pandora – World of Avatar at Animal Kingdom, even when the outline–minus the “hazard” half–sounds considerably related.
Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure is a superb attraction, arguably high 10 in your complete world, and an enormous a part of that’s its modern journey system. From a technological perspective, I can’t consider many sights that strategy Shanghai Pirates–in all probability Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and now Harry Potter and the Battle on the Ministry. Not a lot else, although.
It’s really a disgrace that it’s taken so lengthy for an additional attraction to make use of the Shanghai Pirates journey system, as a result of it’s that good. A superlative use of know-how that melds bodily present scenes with screens and may flip a leisurely boat journey into an motion sequence, going from on the water to the sky or wherever. It’s really the right journey system for combining the vibe of Na’vi River Journey and Avatar Flight of Passage!
Even with the “vacation spot” designation, our assumption is that Disney goes to guess huge on Pandora West. For one factor, the idea artwork suggests as a lot. It appears like a land that’ll rival the Animal Kingdom model, simply with totally different twists.
For one more factor, the approval of DisneylandForward comes with a requirement that Disney make investments at the least $1.9 to $2.5 billion over the course of the following decade. Past that, there’s the fact that investing in Disneyland pays dividends, because the parks have been busier than ever and persistently crowded since reopening. Much more so than Walt Disney World. A part of that’s clearly demographics, however Disneyland clearly has room to develop as a bona fide vacationer vacation spot.
Not solely that, however as a part of the latest earnings name, Disney shared a slideshow indicating that Pandora – World of Avatar is the #1 ranked land at Walt Disney World when it comes to visitor satisfaction. (Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is #1 at Disneyland.) From that perspective alone, it is smart that Disney would need to construct a lavish model of Pandora – World of Avatar in DCA, and never only a smaller scale “vacation spot.”
There’s additionally the straightforward actuality that you simply by no means guess towards James Cameron. There are at the least 3 extra Avatar motion pictures (that we find out about!), and there’ll in all probability be much more launched between now and the tip of eternity if the following 3 even make half as a lot as the primary two. Everybody’s at all times saying that Avatar is a “forgettable” franchise, and but, everybody additionally goes to see the flicks and the rides have lengthy strains, so it kinda looks like it’s additionally fashionable.
It’s additionally price declaring that Bruce Vaughn has returned to go Imagineering since Bob Iger first started teasing an Avatar expertise at Disneyland. Vaughn was the co-head of Imagineering throughout improvement of the unique Pandora – World of Avatar, and might be returning for his mission administration experience on that.
Between his involvement and that of James Cameron, who’s a perfectionist, we really feel fairly good in regards to the prospects for Pandora at DCA. Even with out producer Jon Landau, who handed away final 12 months, and legendary Imagineer Joe Rohde, who retired however now’s doing one thing for Imagineering (my guess is that he’s consulting on Pandora, at minimal), it looks like the franchise is in good fingers.
Again when Pandora took so lengthy to get off the bottom at Animal Kingdom, rumors urged that Cameron and his insistence on high-quality sights performed a job. We don’t anticipate this being an issue this time–as Cameron and Iger seem to have a great relationship and belief in each other, and the identical is presumably true with Vaughn.
In the end, it’ll be fascinating to see how Pandora West performs out. The idea artwork for the brand new Avatar space appears breathtaking, and an attraction based mostly on Shanghai Pirates sounds excellent for Pandora. This journey system deserves to be skilled by visitors outdoors of China, and I’m assured that if that is even 75% pretty much as good as Shanghai Pirates, it’ll change into a high 5 attraction at Disney California Journey. I might even see it surpassing Radiator Springs Racers and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance.
Actually, there’s an honest probability probability the Avatar attraction is even higher. Simply as Flight of Passage iterated on and improved Soarin, the identical might occur with this journey system. Shanghai Pirates isn’t really that nice. It’s incredible–don’t get me improper–however the journey system actually carries it, and helps overcome some shortcomings when it comes to storytelling, emotion and environment. That’s precisely the place Avatar Flight of Passage excels, which is why I’m actually excited for this boat journey in Pandora West at Disney California Journey.
That’s, assuming rumors in regards to the journey system are true within the first place. It’s additionally assuming the journey ever will get constructed. There’s nonetheless no timeline virtually a 12 months later, and the Japanese Gateway mission isn’t getting began till Fall 2026. On condition that, it’s completely believable–if not possible–that Pandora received’t open at Disney California Journey till someday within the 2030s.
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Your Ideas
What do you consider the Coco boat journey and Pandora – World of Avatar coming to Disney California Journey? Ideas on these areas for the land and journey? Dissatisfied that the Monsters, Inc. darkish journey is closing in early 2026? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Any questions? Listening to your suggestions—even whenever you disagree with us—is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!
