News, Details and Insights from Construction Projects at Disneyland and Walt Disney World

In recent weeks there have been a large number of details released not just for Walt Disney World but for Disneyland as well. While previous podcasts have been reminiscing all things Muppets the end of MuppetVision 3D and taking a look at Adventureland at Disneyland, there have been considerable announcements, hints and insights that have occurred. And we want to cover them all! From Disneyland we’ll look at Avatar and Coco at Disney California Adventure, as well as a new park entry. Then we’ll head over to Walt Disney World to look at Disney’s Starlight Parade logistics, Test Track Re-Imagined, Tropical America Developments and even the new Monstropolis at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. It’s a busy podcast for this week, so hang on as we have so much to share!

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Disneyland

Let’s cover the following news!

Pandora: The Way of Water

• It’s finally been confirmed that Avatar is coming to The Hollywood backlot section.
• This means that Monster’s Inc. dark ride attraction Expect some of these characters to perhaps show up in Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
• PhilarMagic is staying but other areas of the backlot will be removed for the Avatar Land like Stage 17, Studio Catering Co. and Backlot stage. However, Mickey’s PhilarMagic will be staying with its entrance off of Hollywood Land, suggesting that The Hollywood Land street will stay in tact. That’s important because it is part of the parade route. This backlot section will close in early 2016
• The land will probably not go any further south than the outward monorail beam.
• It’s important to understand that the boat ride is not like Na’vi River Journey. Rather it will be more like Pirates of the Caribbean, Battle of the Sunken Treasure with large IMAX like projections as well as themed out forests and animatronics
• I believe the DCA can keep its name if they manage to create a science/research or travel tour “beam me up Scotty” transport center off Hollywood Boulevard that then would be a transition back into the streets of Hollywood. Think portal where you don’t see anything until you enter it. Sounds crazy but think about what they did with The Hollywood Tower Hotel. That way you could keep the California in DCA.

Entrance & Esplanade

• The big news is a parking structure that will be 6,000 new parking spaces off of Disney Way. Ramps will come directly off of I-5 Santa Ana Freeway into this lot.
• It’s been noted that the new lot will have drop off and pickup for shuttles and ride shares, probably removing the Harbor Boulevard entry.
• Security for all of these individuals coming over will be in that area before the proceed toward Harbor Boulevard.
• The Carousel Inn will be removed so as to accommodate the ramp over to the esplanade. That was acquired in 2015.
• Those coming and going from that area will go over a ramp that extends will above not only Harbor Boulevard but the monorail beam as well. That means a fairly significant movement up and down, which will be slow in ascent and descent, but it will mean you will need to go up at least four stories as I see it. That said, the beam may stay at that height as you enter the parking structure.
• Again, monorail beams do not appear to be changing.
• On the far left is what will likely be the Avatar show building.
• The section that held Toy Story Parking Lot pick up and drop off will also be taken out to accommodate the show building.
• Those coming up the Harbor Boulevard in either direction on the West side will be able to go directly to ward a new security entrance that butts up against the return monorail beam.
• It’s a lot of walking, but to walk to Paradise Pier or the DVC tower at DL hotel is actually longer (unless you took a monorail). Still, a people mover would have been nice.
• There is an architectural style that is a little reminiscent of what they are trying to achieve at Downtown Disney. It’s a mid-century modern look that is punctuated by the traditional 1960s style Disneyland sign in the front.

Coco Boat Ride

• Disney announced that the location for the Coco boat ride would be built near Paradise Gardens Park and Pixar Pier, in areas that are predominantly backstage to guests.
• My original guess was that it would be on the opposite side of Paradise Gardens Park and would take out Goofy Sky School. My feeling is this was a much uglier corner of the park.
• Also, its a parade step off point which is confusing.
• Either way, this does allow it to be a part of Paradise Gardens Park and take advantage the Boardwalk Pizza, utilizing it for Mexican Food specialties
• They also announced that it would start construction in the Fall.
• I always thought that this would be more comparable to Na’vi River Journey
• The Rocking Boat from MACK rides is boat like roller coaster that could make this really quite a cool experience. This link talks about it being a great choice for a new boat ride in Epic Universe themed to the Creature from the Black Lagoon.

It will be Just a quick note that land has already been cleared for additions to Marvel Campus.

Walt Disney World

Disney Starlight Parade

During the last week, Disney outlined the operational game plan for the new Disney Starlight Parade

• Parade starts on July 20th. No word about unannounced practices.
• Parade will happen at 9:00 pm beginning on Main Street
• Parade will again appear at 11:00 pm starting from Frontierland. It appears that the park will close at this hour as well, though that may change.
• Parade of course will not be happening during Halloween and Christmas party nights.
• The 9:00 pm will be your best bet to see the parade on Town Square and get out of Dodge before the exiting chaos begins. Following behind the parade may also allow you the ability to move further up Main Street for the 10 pm fireworks.
• Annual Passholders must make a reservation to enter Magic Kingdom on any day regardless of their arrival time. They may enter after 2 pm without a reservation, but I wouldn’t recommend it in the first few months.

Reimagined Test Track

Here’s what little we know:

• This attraction opens officially on July 22nd, 2025
• Cast Member previews will be underway shortly. Hoping that AP previews begin as early as July 11th, but they have not been announced.
• The attraction is sponsored by GM instead of just Chevrolet
• They have said that they will reach back to the original World of Motion as inspiration for this attraction. Will that include “It’s Fun to Be Free”? That’s a song with music by Buddy Baker and lyrics buy Xavier “X” Atencio.
• The queue is going to have six different exhibits where each rooms celebrates different vehicles and the people who created them. They focus on how vehicles have come to evolve.
• There is no change of the track. The look of the cars are different
• There is a new musical score for the attraction.
• The scenes on the ride seem like they will be more immersive than previous version of this attraction. They will be focusing on onboard technology, customization, and personalization. We know two of the scenes:
  • The use of 29,000 light nodes to represent LiDAR technology. LiDAR stands for Light Detection And Ranging, and uses light and laser technology bouncing off of objects to represent how the car is always seeing the environment around itself. This seems to be one of the straight away sections of track.
  • In the curved passageway the pleasure of driving representing a scenic drive through the Pacific Northwest. A canopy of tree utilizing cedar, maple, oak and spruce are all around you. Probably there will be some scent attached to this.

Tropical Americas at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

• Disney has announced that the Boneyard will close September 2nd, 2025, much earlier than Dinosaur and Restaurantasourus
• A new play land is being promised for Tropical Americas
• We spoke of Indiana Jones last week in our discussion of Adventureland at Disneyland
• There is a slight difference in the layout of the attraction in that in Indiana Jones Adventure the vehicles go down a small cul-de-sac known as the mummy chamber before going on to the bug room. In Dinosaur you have your initial carnosaurus meet ‘n’ greet as it were.
• Everything has been removed from the previous DinoRama area.
• Encanto shows three show buildings in one. The first is more of an indoor queue. The second is more a loading/unloading zone with probably the initial portions of the home. The third opens up into probably what will be like Battle of the Sunken Treasure like size projections, or at least like the storm sequence in Mystic Manor.
• There is also a section that opens up behind the major retail area, but I’m not sure what that is all about.
• The great news is that they have confirmed a new themed play area for kids visiting Pueblo Esperanza. This may likely go in the area formerly known as the Cretaceous Trail.

Monsters Inc.

• The new image is cropped in at the front, so we really don’t see Grand Avenue in the newer image. The Monstropolis gateway arch leading off of Grand Avenue is also missing, but if Grand Avenue is a part of Monstropolis, shouldn’t the gate be further up say toward the intersection with Commissary Lane?
• The ridiculous eye fountain that took the place of the Miss Piggy fountain is just a big fountain now. Still, better than the eye concept.
• The old marquee at the entrance to the old MuppetVision 3D read “Monstro”. Now it reads “Glob”.
• A covered patio area next to MuppetVision 3D which was in the first rendering of this new land is now removed, probably for efficiency purposes.
• I expect that the old additional queue space behind the theater will be remodeled and retimed.
• Architectural touches now suggest less teeth/claws on the bathroom wall, and now looking more like it did when it was Gonzo’s Royal Flush
• Likewise, the clock tower is more emphasized in the new graphic with monster teeth/claws look.
• The former Mama Melrose now Harryhausens restaurant with its chopsticks holding an eyeball still looks in tact.
• Studio 1 shop is still being removed.
• Compact looking Monster Inc. cars shown up front have been removed from the newer image but have been replaced by other cars near the factory.
• The big change is that the factory still looking very much the same as in the first image has been pushed back further giving more of a courtyard in front and areas on the side for extended queuing.
• There was a building that seemingly connected the street from Harryhausen’s to the factory. With the factory moved further back this is no longer connecting to the factory. This may be more of a facade, but it also may be something of a gift shop. We also don’t know the fate of the PizzarRizzo eatery, but the thought is that it will remain food & beverage.
• By the way, wouldn’t it be interesting if the door coaster not only went around doors but through them and into other locations like the Himalayas or elsewhere?
• With that part of the Cast Member parking has been removed and partitioned for this project, making the park actually bigger in the end.
• By the way, Disney has confirmed that Muppets Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster will be coming in 2026.

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What’s Next?

We have so very much ahead of us in the next weeks to come. We’ll first bid adieu to The Rivers of America, Tom Sawyer Island and the heritage of Frontierland at Magic Kingdom. Maybe we’ll also see Hall of Presidents open around the 3rd or 4th. We’ll have a chance to check out the new Test Track and we’re hoping to cover the Disney Starlight Parade before heading over to Disneyland for the 70th anniversary and for Walt Disney–A Magical Life. So make sure you are subscribe to this podcast so you can gain all the Disney Insights we have to share.

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