Welcome to another edition of Tom’s Top 7, a continuing countdown of my favorite (and occasionally, least favorite) things at the Disney Parks around the globe. Why seven? STOP ASKING!
Anyway, the first two times we counted down, we visited the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival. I decided this week it might be time to stop talking about food and get to the real bread and butter of Walt Disney World – attractions. We live in a time of great uncertainty about the future of Walt Disney World. We are 5 short years away from the golden anniversary of the Vacation Kingdom of the World and Disney is already teasing us that they have some major announcements to make before then (as alluded to during the 45th anniversary ceremony at the Magic Kingdom earlier this month. See for yourself:
There is plenty on the table that hasn’t been announced yet, but here are my Top 7 rumored additions to Walt Disney World that we could be hearing about soon.
1. Guardians of the Galaxy at Epcot
I think you’ve probably heard enough about this one at this point, but if all goes according to plan, it seems that a Guardians of the Galaxy roller coaster will replace the Universe of Energy in Future World. I’m not going to waste much time on this one as I feel enough has already been said. You are going to notice a recurring theme and this list and that is that everything is tied to an intellectual property of the Disney Company. SURPRISE!
2. Wreck-It Ralph Racing Ride
Another one that seems almost definite at this point with Stitch’s Great Escape now operating seasonally, guests may be designing their own Sugar Rush race car and competing against each other in the first VR attraction in the parks since the Aladdin magic carpet ride experience jumped from Innoventions at Epcot to DisneyQuest in the 1990’s. Virtual reality has come a long way since then and is now becoming a theme park stable on rollercoasters, but has not been applied in an attraction quite like this yet.
3. Ratatouille in France at Epcot
Since the Ratatouille ride opened at Walt Disney Studios Paris, guests have speculated that it could make its way to the France pavilion at Epcot. The latest rumblings say it will not, but that doesn’t mean something else themed to Ratatouille couldn’t replace Impressions De France, right? ;)
4. Star Tours Scene for Rogue One – A Star Wars Story
This seemed like a forgone conclusion, but the rumblings on Rogue One being added to Star Tours have gone silent as of late. Walt Disney World running a holiday fireworks show rather than including Rogue One in Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular seems a bit odd, so maybe we won’t be seeing much Rogue One stuff in Florida. While Disneyland has replaced their Kylo Ren meet and greet with Darth Vader, we have still not announced any plans to even make that change.
5. TRON Lightcycle Power Run
One of Shanghai Disneyland’s top attractions, TRON Lightcycle Power Run still seems likely to land in Tomorrowland at the Magic Kingdom or in Future World at Epcot. Who doesn’t want this one to happen? It may not fit perfectly in Epcot, but it’s a pretty nifty concept that should interest most guests.
6. The New Magic Kingdom Fireworks Show
“Tale as old as time.” Wishes has been the main fireworks show at the Magic Kingdom since October 2003. In 13 years, fireworks shows and nighttime spectaculars have come a long way. Despite constant updates of the projection mapping system for Celebrate the Magic, we still haven’t seen much evidence that a new nighttime show for the park is currently in production. Fun fact: The Magic Kingdom is the only classic style Castle park that still doesn’t have a projection-heavy new age fireworks display. We can only hope that 2017 is the year Disney World finally pulls the plug on Wishes for something modern and grandiose.
7. (Yeah, Seven) Inside Out at Epcot
Since Inside Out was released in theaters, guests have been Armchair Imagineering ideas for the human emotions in Epcot, feeling they are a perfect fit as the park once boasted a pavilion about human health and even a show about the inside of a young boy’s mind in Cranium Command.
But where would such an attraction go? Well, we originally though it might inhabit the old Wonders of Life pavilion, but current rumors say otherwise. Some believe that Figment will lose his Epcot attraction so that the Inside Out gang could take over the Imagination pavilion. It’s not too far fetched considering there is an Imagination in everyone’s mind… oh, and Figment makes a cameo in Riley’s imagination the film…
Improbable, Yes. Impossible, No. – The Timekeeper
Everything you see above may never come to fruition, much like anything not yet formally announced by the Walt Disney Company, but at this point, these are 7 additions or changes that are highly likely for Walt Disney World in the not-so-distant future.
What do you think? Which of these new attractions would you be excited for? Which ones would make you sad? Let me know in the comments below.
I think all of those are possible. I would love to see a Ratatouille ride come to France. After what they did with Frozen in Norway, I think every country should have a small dark ride in their country based on Disney animated films that seemed to originate from there. But not at the expense of losing what those pavilions are all about. Dont take away, add.
Star Wars Land hasn’t opened yet and we have been hearing about 2 rides there. The Falcon and the Stormtrooper ride. That’s great but there better be more than just two rides there. And I hope they leave room for expansion. Again, I wouldn’t mind seeing a dark ride where we saw all of the Star Wars movies represented with advanced animatronics. Maybe see Luke being trained by Yoda on Dagobah, Luke and Vader fighting in the Emperor’s Throne Room. Or maybe something like Soarin but based on Star Wars. Seeing giant AT-AT’s up close on an IMAX screen would be great.
I think Ratouille will be too expensive as a sub ride in France. While it could be an E ticket ride in the Studios.
I think both Tron and GoftheG scream Universal Studios. Keep them away please. That said, i would like to see something more special in Epcot, or they could just rename it and change it to any other themepark.
Really?! Keep new, innovative rides away?! How about you just don’t ride them…
I don’t mind a Ratatouille presence in France. I think that if IP must be injected into EPCOT, it fits better in World Showcase. Future World should go back to inspiring visitors with excitement about the future, so while I’d like the idea of adding GotG to Hollywood Studios and Tron to Tomorrowland, I think they’re both misfits in EPCOT.
Speaking of making Future World about the future … why not go back to the Movies pavilion idea (the future of movies/movie technology). Since “Studios” will eventually be dropped from the Hollywood Studios moniker because the park no longer hosts any studio functions, it’s a great opportunity to bring that element back to its originally conceived home — Future World.
And, yeah, if Inside Out has a place in Future World, it really ought to herald the restoration of Wonders of Life.
I would like to see Guardians of the Galaxy in Future World at EPCOT! I don’t like Ellen’s Energy adventure!
I would like ALL of those things to come to WDW (well, I don’t really care much about Rogue One but that’s just an added scene anyway – no biggie), especially the Tron ride – it’ll save me a future trip to China.
I still don’t like the idea of Wreck it Ralph ride. VR headsets will make you sweat like hell.
Lose some wait then fatty.
Who called me fatty? You know its mean.
Lose some weight then fatty
I still expect Splash Mountain to turn into a Zootopia ride.
There can’t be a marvel ride east of the Mississippi River, when Disney bought marvel the deal with universal was no marvel based attractions east of the Mississippi River.
As we have gone over many times, Guardians of the Galaxy is not included in the contract, nor is Doctor Strange apparently.
I love the idea of GotG in place of the Energy building and I think Inside-Out would be a perfect fit in the Imagination building (swapping feelings for ideas) and of course Ratatouille would be nice behind France. EPCOT never has been what it was originally intended; so lets upgrade it to what it’s become – a World’s fair and an amusement park themed to future products, life styles and ideas. And I don’t care where Tron goes; we just need to get one.
Still looking forward to finally announcing the new nighttime lagoon show at Epcot. That show has been designed and in the can for a year now, just waiting for the executive office to turn the key.
Since it will involve draining portions of the lagoon for an extended period, we may have to wait until one of the new Studios projects is open, to avoid annoying guests even more.
“It may not fit perfectly in Epcot, but it’s a pretty nifty concept that should interest most guests.”
Yeah, but nothing fits perfectly in Epcot anymore, so very much a possibility,
I love your news site. I don’t want to lose the traditional Disney to make way for the new. Add the new without vgetting rid of old. Adding Frozen was fine, it didn’t replace a tradition. There is so much land there that they can add and still keep the old. I am talking about traditional movies and characters. They made WDW what it is today.
Wreck it Ralph VR ride could burn their eyes out.
Here’s a great way to mix the old with the new: Mystic Manor/Rattatouille Ride system and projections mixed with Figment and Dreamfinder in the Imagination pavilion. It’s a win win! Tom, start dropping that idea into your sources at WDI.