Welcome to another round of rumors and wild speculation from the world of the Theme Park Industry. Of course, there are always rumors of what is to come next and we at The Park Hoppers are always down to comment on what the latest gossip is around the industry. Let's get this started!
*Note* I have not included any confirmed projects in this list, such as Nintendo Land.
5. Walt Disney World's 50th Anniversary Plans
*Note* I have not included any confirmed projects in this list, such as Nintendo Land.
5. Walt Disney World's 50th Anniversary Plans
October 1st, 2021 is the 50th Anniversary of Walt Disney World and of course, they need to have some big plans in mind for the huge celebration.
The current rumor is that 50 updates will be made to various attractions by the 50th Anniversary. Heavy hitters like Big Thunder Mountain, Haunted Mansion, Tower of Terror and Peter Pan's Flight have all been rumored for updates as well as other smaller attractions such as The Seas with Nemo and Friends and Carousel of Progress might be getting enhancements as well. This project may not seem as exciting as some of the other rumors on this list, but improvements to a large number of Disney attractions is never a bad thing.
4. Secret Life of Pets Dark Ride Coming to Universal Orlando
The current rumor is that 50 updates will be made to various attractions by the 50th Anniversary. Heavy hitters like Big Thunder Mountain, Haunted Mansion, Tower of Terror and Peter Pan's Flight have all been rumored for updates as well as other smaller attractions such as The Seas with Nemo and Friends and Carousel of Progress might be getting enhancements as well. This project may not seem as exciting as some of the other rumors on this list, but improvements to a large number of Disney attractions is never a bad thing.
4. Secret Life of Pets Dark Ride Coming to Universal Orlando
Universal Pictures and Illumination has a big hit on their hands with their animated comedy Secret Life of Pets, which released in 2016. A sequel is already planned for the film, so naturally Universal wants to build an attraction based on the series. So far two different locations have been rumored, with one seeming more likely than the other. The first is replacing Shrek 4-D, which is now one of the oldest attractions at Universal Studios Florida. It is also right across the street from Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem, another Illumination franchise, which would effectively create Illumination Ave, which would work out well as a themed area. The second is replacing the old events theater in Toon Lagoon at IoA. This one seems less likely, but it would be a better use of the space than having a barely used amphitheater just sit there. Either way, it seems very likely a new dark ride based on Secret Life of Pets is coming. The question is when and where...
3. New Gondola Transportation System Coming to Walt Disney World
3. New Gondola Transportation System Coming to Walt Disney World
One of the oldest rumors that just keeps coming back is that Disney plans to expand the Monorail service to Disney's Animal Kingdom and Disney's Hollywood Studios. That rumor has never come to pass and likely never will, but it looks like we may get the next best thing. Construction permits have already been filed for some sort of project that looks to connect Epcot's International Gateway, Caribbean Beach, Disney's Hollywood Studios and possibly Art of Animation and the current rumor is a gondola transportation system. Considering there is actual evidence to support this one that is in the public domain, this seems like an oddball, but true rumor. With all the attention coming to Studios and rumored to come to Epcot (more on that later), this would be a great new way for guests to travel to those parks without waiting for a bus.
2. Epcot Getting Several New Attractions & New Country
2. Epcot Getting Several New Attractions & New Country
In 2016, Disney Parks Chairman Bob Chapek revealed that Epcot would be getting a "major overhaul" in the future. Although that language is very vague, there are some persistent rumors as to what that might entail. For starters, this project is most likely way in the future due to ongoing projects at Studios, although once Pandora is open, they might start laying the ground work for the first phase of this project. So, let's talk about each part of this grand scale rumor one at a time.
Guardians of the Galaxy Roller Coaster to Replace Universe of Energy and Possibly Wonders of Life
Guardians of the Galaxy Roller Coaster to Replace Universe of Energy and Possibly Wonders of Life
With California getting the first Guardians attraction with Mission: Breakout replacing Tower of Terror, it was only a matter of time before Disney brought the Guardians (who are not covered by Marvel's contract with Universal) to Florida. With DHS's Tower of Terror on the untouchable list and Studios in the middle of it's own major overhaul, Epcot seemed like the next best fit for a Guardians attraction. As far as location, the biggest rumor is Energy, which had a height balloon test done right over it last year. Rumor is this will be a large indoor roller coaster and they might need to take over the closed Wonders of Life pavilion in order to have enough room for the new ride. Supposedly construction on this project could start as early as this year with Energy closing between Fall 2017 and January 2018. We'll have to wait and see what happens.
Ratatouille Ride from Paris Coming to Epcot's France Pavilion
Ratatouille Ride from Paris Coming to Epcot's France Pavilion
Disney Studios Paris is home to a Ratatouille Trackless Dark Ride that has proven to be a huge hit in the French park. With Epcot having their own French Pavilion and have opened up the IP floodgates with Frozen now in Norway, why not add a proven successful new ride to the World Showcase? The rumor is that it will replace Impressions De France and use an expansion plot located behind the French Pavilion. Who knows when it would open, but it sounds like a very interesting and probably very successful plan.
Brazil or Spain Pavilion Coming to World Showcase
Brazil or Spain Pavilion Coming to World Showcase
This is another of those longtime rumors that might actually turn out to be true after decades. New pavilions have not popped up in the World Showcase since Norway in the late 80s because it requires a fairly significant contribution from the country it is based on. Well, there are new rumors that a new pavilion is coming, but two potential countries are rumored for the spot.
The first and seemingly the frontrunner is Brazil, who has a significant impact on Walt Disney World due to the large number of tourists who arrive from Brazil on a year upon year basis. As far as attractions go, Brazil could have some sort of boat ride, but who knows what it would be based upon, if anything at all.
The second rumor is Spain. This would be an interesting choice and would tie into the future Disney Animation film Gigantic, which is set in Spain. The pavilion would most likely include a Gigantic attraction of some sort. Disney is apparently very optimistic on Gigantic being a huge success, so getting an attraction started in a new pavilion before the film opens seems like a good idea.
We'll have to wait and see if either of these two rumored new pavilions comes to pass, but the fact that there is a decent chance we'll be getting a new World Showcase Pavilion is very exciting.
1. Wizarding World of Harry Potter Phase Three
The first and seemingly the frontrunner is Brazil, who has a significant impact on Walt Disney World due to the large number of tourists who arrive from Brazil on a year upon year basis. As far as attractions go, Brazil could have some sort of boat ride, but who knows what it would be based upon, if anything at all.
The second rumor is Spain. This would be an interesting choice and would tie into the future Disney Animation film Gigantic, which is set in Spain. The pavilion would most likely include a Gigantic attraction of some sort. Disney is apparently very optimistic on Gigantic being a huge success, so getting an attraction started in a new pavilion before the film opens seems like a good idea.
We'll have to wait and see if either of these two rumored new pavilions comes to pass, but the fact that there is a decent chance we'll be getting a new World Showcase Pavilion is very exciting.
1. Wizarding World of Harry Potter Phase Three
Anytime there is a rumor about another Potter expansion, everyone listens. Wizarding World of Harry Potter has changed how theme parks today operate by creating the most immersive worlds ever realized. Universal already has two Potter sections in Orlando with Hogsmede and Diagon Alley, but with so much of the Harry Potter Universe yet to be explored, there are always options for expansions. As of now, there are two possibilities for what this third expansion would include and both are pretty solid.
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them Expansion
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them Expansion
Fantastic Beasts is Warner Bros latest venture into the Wizarding World and a way to keep the franchise going despite Harry's journey being complete (that is unless they want to make a movie version of Cursed Child). The adventures of Newt Scamander were made into a popular film in 2016 and there are multiple sequels planned for the future. The film dived into a subject that American Potter fans have always wondered: What is the Wizarding World in America like? JK Rawling answered this with IIvermorny, the American counterpart to Hogwarts, which is featured in the film. Since Fantastic Beasts is the next big franchise in the Wizarding World, it makes sense for Universal to go ahead and plan for a new area to be based on the new series. What this would entail is anyone's guess. There were rumors circulating that it could involve a dark ride with interactive wands, but we'll talk about that later on.
Ministry of Magic Expansion
Ministry of Magic Expansion
This has been a rumor for a while now (I wrote about it back in 2014), but recent evidence might point to this being an actual thing. Universal has made several patents lately that both could lead to an interesting (or multiple) attractions for Harry Potter and both would be thematically well at home at the Ministry of Magic. The first is for a moving theater system where sections of the theater can move and reassemble into different shapes and patterns.
This seems perfect for a classroom of sorts, but could also tie into the Ministry. The second is for a room that travels alongside a ride vehicle and breaks away.
Many seem to think this could tie into the Floo Network, which is a popular mode of transportation in the Wizarding World and is used frequently in the films to travel to the Ministry of Magic. Take what you will from all of this information, but Universal is clearly exploring multiple options for what the future holds for the Wizarding World.
As far as locations go, the two that seem to be the most likely would require the closing of some fairly popular attractions at either of the Universal Parks. At Studios, the rumor is for Fear Factor Live to close and Men In Black: Alien Attack to be retrofitted for the interactive wand dark ride. With MIB basically on an island between Springfield and Diagon Alley, you have to wonder how much longer that attraction has in this world, which is a shame because that is still the best shooting ride of any theme park I have been to.
The second, which seems the most likely at the moment, is replacing Dragon Challenge at Islands of Adventure. Dragon Challenge is an opening day attraction at IOA when it opened as Dueling Dragons. Since then, it is no longer allowed to duel and was awkwardly retrofitted to fit in with the rest of Hogsmeade in 2010. It also does kinda break the atmosphere of the land by seeing a giant metal roller coaster when walking through Hogsmeade. The removal of Dragon Challenge would create a pretty sizable amount of space for a new expansion and seems like the ideal candidate for the location of Phase 3. With Nintendo Land on the horizon and Fast and the Furious: Supercharged set to open next year at USF, it might be a little while before Universal pulls the trigger on a third expansion but it's a sure thing that they are already tossing around ideas and are probably already planning the next chapter in their gold mine themed areas.
That's it for the latest batch of rumors. I hope you enjoyed reading them!
Written by Chris Coburn
Sources: WDWMagic, Wikipedia
That's it for the latest batch of rumors. I hope you enjoyed reading them!
Written by Chris Coburn
Sources: WDWMagic, Wikipedia