Disney World is entering its villain era

11.08.2024 - 23:04 / insider.com / Josh Damaro

Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D'Amaro unveiled ambitious plans for Walt Disney World, including new attractions and in-park destinations.

D'Amaro presented the plans to the company's most ardent supporters on Saturday at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event in Anaheim, California. The expo, which comes every two years, is a coveted event for Disney enthusiasts, including cross-fandom franchises like "Star Wars" from Lucasfilm and "The Avengers" from Marvel Studios.

A-list celebrities often take the stage to promote upcoming projects, and Disney executives typically use the platform to unveil major announcements to delighted fans.

This weekend was no different.

"Disney Experiences is embarking on an accelerated path of ambitious growth and innovation," he said in a press release. "With so many great Disney stories to tell, we're excited to bring an unprecedented number of new projects to life in the near future."

D'Amaro discussed a wide-scale expansion at Walt Disney World in Central Florida. Magic Kingdom will become home to Villains Land, where guests will spend time with Disney's most notorious baddies.

The villain-centric land is a victory for Disney fans who've rallied behind the idea on Reddit and other forums for years.

Two attractions based on the "Cars" franchise will also arrive at Magic Kingdom: an off-road rally race and a family-friendly ride.

"As we develop the next generation of Disney Experiences, we're always looking for new ways to tell the stories people love," D'Amaro said. "We're thrilling Cars fans by building on this incredibly successful franchise and creating the next chapter in this story."

Magic Kingdom isn't the only Florida-based park undergoing renovations.

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The company is building a new land in Animal Kingdom called Tropical Americas, which includes a village in a rainforest called Pueblo Esperanza. Guests will be able to adventure with Indiana Jones in a Mayan temple.

A new "Encanto" attraction is joining the roster, too. It will be the first ride-through attraction for "Encanto" and will take place inside Casita.

Tropical Americas opens in 2027.

At Hollywood Studios, Pixar fans can explore a new land based on Monsters, Inc. Guests can tour the Laugh Factory in addition to an undisclosed attraction that will become the first suspended coaster at a Disney park.

Disney's theme parks are a big money-maker. But the company's announcement of its expansions came four days after executives acknowledged that the theme parks stumbled in the third quarter.

The Experiences division's revenue grew 2% year over year, but operating income declined by 3%. Disney's most recent earnings report blamed inflation, among other factors.

"We talked about the fact that the