There is A LOT to look forward to in the coming years for the Disney parks!
Magic Kingdom is expanding!
At D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event we got so many announcements about what will be coming to Disney parks around the world. In particular, Magic Kingdom is getting some love with two new lands. However, there is something we are already not looking forward to.
During the Disney Experiences Panel at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, Disney announced that Magic Kingdom will be getting a huge expansion! First, a new Cars Land will be making its way to Magic Kingdom with two new attractions. This addition will be replacing Tom Sawyer Island. Construction on this new area is expected to begin in early 2025.
©Disney
As well, Magic Kingdom will also be getting a VILLAINS LAND! Yep, an entire area of Magic Kingdom is going to be dedicated to the villains of Disney stories. The Villains Land will also be adding two major attractions to Magic Kingdom, as well as shopping and dining. Disney has stated that they will be “pushing creative boundaries to dark and mysterious levels to bring this new, first-of-its-kind land to life.” Disney has not announced a timeline yet for the new Villains Land, but they did reveal it will be located “beyond Big Thunder Mountain.”
Villains Land Concept Art ©Disney
While we are excited about these new expansions and additions to Magic Kingdom, there is one thing we are less than excited about. Walls. Construction walls. And LOTS of them. The Magic Kingdom expansion promises a lot of new things coming to the park, but that also means that these new things need to be built.
Construction Walls at Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
And while we appreciate that Disney tries to hide as much of the construction as they can with walls, they are definitely not the prettiest thing to look at. We were ecstatic when the EPCOT transformation was finally completed in June and all the construction walls came down. We no longer had to take detours around walls to get where we wanted, we could just walk straight there! We also felt relieved when the walls came down around Tiana’s Bayou Adventure in Magic Kingdom.
Construction Walls
Now with these announcements about the Magic Kingdom expansion, we will be welcoming walls into a new park. We aren’t sure yet how obstructive they will be yet, but there is no doubt that there will be walls going up at some point. However, in the end, hopefully, all the walls will be worth it when we get to walk through and experience new two lands in Magic Kingdom.
Walls, Walls, Walls
While we wait for construction to begin on these new lands, there is still so much to enjoy at Magic Kingdom! Make sure you check out our video that covers the 25 things you should always do in Magic Kingdom:
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I thought this article would be about getting rid of the Liberty Belle Riverboat. Sad to see it go and Rivers of America. That’s kind of a peaceful place near the water. Will be missed.
Construction walls are nothing compared to filling in the Rivers of America and getting rid of the riverboat. Those are such big mistakes in my opinion. I think if Cars had to be added to the MK it should have been beyond Thunder Mountain instead replacing such a nice part of the park.
Yes, you’re so right. Walls are the only thing troubling about this news. Not the total dissolution of Frontierland, or the idea that cars will now be racing on the edge of Liberty Square. You nailed it – walls!
Don’t you think when there is so much construction going on, Disney should lower the price of admission? High prices to be inconvenienced and rides and attractions that have been shut down.
That’s the only thing you hate about it? You don’t care about losing the beautiful RoA and how the theming for Frontierland will be ruined? And all the sites from Liberty Square will be ruined? That doesn’t bother you?!
I’m excited about this update and glad to see at least part of my earlier prediction came true. But WHY does Disney insist on adding the updates and only include couple of rides?!? It Especially annoying in Magic Kingdom, where every land had multiple rides. Even Sorrowland has several attractions open, even counting all the empty real estate. (I’m the next big surprise announcement in a couple of years is fixing Tomorrowland and removing the dead or empty elements that make it seem like dying roadside attraction. I’m secretly hoping the two new Cars rides with quietly replace Tomorrowland Speedway and that land can be put to better use.
It will be remembered as a peaceful piece of the American dream. Westward ho and manifest destiny were the mantra of the day. Enjoy the moment while you can. Ni wonder if the boat will be repurposed somewhere else within the Disney empire….?
The CARS land could replace the noxious autobahn in Tomorrowland with electric vehicles in the vein of that film. And then the Mark Twain Riverboat, Tom Sawyer’s Island and the Rivers can remain. After all, there’s ACREA AND ACRES of space without DESTROYING Walt’s legacy by dumping original park features. Those things go back to the invention of Disneyland and I seriously doubt Walt would be happy.
What’s next??? MAIN STREET “re-done” in the style of Star Wars!! Walt would DEFINITELY rise from his rest and come back.
I’m so scared that all the whining about Tom Sawyer’s island ( which me and my 4 kids went to 1 time and never again) is going to cause Disney to panic and not move forward with these new lands. And then the same people that want to protect everything forever complain because imagineering is dead. And Disney isn’t creative anymore