The Most Incredible Disney Rumors for June 2021
The Walt Disney Company just announced a November D-23 event at Walt Disney World.
Presumably, we’ll learn a great deal more about the upcoming plans for Disney parks then.
For now, we’ve got our ears to the ground about potential changes in place at your favorite parks.
Here are the more exciting Disney rumors for June of 2021!
Disney’s Commitment to IPs
One of the most common arguments among Disney loyalists involved intellectual property (IP).
Some fans understand that Walt Disney anchored his entire theme park, Disneyland, on IPs from his film and television library.
Others feel strongly that Uncle Walt believed in storytelling first and foremost, while some Disney executives have lost their way.
Image: Walt Disney Family Museum
The latter individuals have grown too committed to Disney IPs at the expense of creativity and originality.
I legitimately appreciate both sides of this argument, as I love when Imagineers come up with brilliant concepts like Twilight Zone Tower of Terror.
Yes, that’s an IP, but it’s one from CBS, not Disney. Similarly, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith celebrates hard rock in a fitting way.
However, I also recognize that Disney runs as a business, and it needs revenue to survive.
Nobody who has visited Artist Point’s character meal could argue the drawing power of IPs.
The old restaurant almost always had reservations available because it lacked popularity.
Storybook Dining at Artist Point with Snow White proved one of the toughest Advanced Dining Reservations to book at Walt Disney World.
Simply by adding the Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs characters, Artist Point went from ignored to in-demand.
Credit: Disney
Moana and The Incredibles
We’re witnessing the same approach play out at two monorail resorts right now.
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort closed its standard hotel rooms for re-theming. They’ll return soon with Moana as the centerpiece.
If you’ve ever followed Moana’s streaming ratings on Disney+, you understand the why of it.
Moana frequently places at the top of catalog movie titles on streaming services. In layperson’s terms, that means it’s the most “older” movie.
Yes, Moana even bests Frozen and Frozen II and Avengers: Endgame regularly, a staggering feat.
Source: Marvel.com
Based on this information, you can understand why Disney has married Moana to the Polynesian.
After all, they’d previously done the same thing with Lilo & Stitch…and to great success.
(Kent Phillips, photographer)
Now, the Parks Blog has revealed what was an open secret for Disney insiders. Disney’s Contemporary Resort will re-theme some of its rooms.
These lucky few hotel rooms will feature The Incredibles as the centerpiece. Early pictures show Edna Mode’s face on the pillows!
The next time you stay at one of these hotel rooms, you’ll notice aspects of Jack-Jack Parr, Frozone, and Ms. Mode in the décor and design.
As a reminder, The Incredibles 2 remains the highest-grossing Pixar movie ever! So, you can understand why Disney has committed to this hotel re-theming.
How Far Will Disney Go?
However, a question exists about how far Disney will take the concept. At the Contemporary, speculation had centered on The Wave… of American Flavors.
Some believed this restaurant would turn into The Incredibles Steakhouse. Disney appeared to confirm those beliefs with its announcement of new theming.
Image Credit: Disney
The restaurant will close permanently in a matter of weeks. Once Disney reopens the space, it’ll possess a new theme.
Will that be The Incredibles, though? Another new rumor suggests that Disney might open something akin to Steakhouse 55 instead.
That steakhouse has grown immensely popular at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa over the years.
Photo: Disney
Which should Disney add to the Contemporary, an elegant steakhouse befitting the iconic resort or a family-friendly IP-based steakhouse?
I don’t believe that either answer is wrong here. I happen to love The Wave, as demonstrated by this recent review.
Photo: Disney
Still, I know from past experience that it’s the place to go when I want a Table Service meal but don’t have a reservation.
In other words, it’s unpopular with the masses, a thought I find tragic but irrefutable.
A high-class steakhouse would undoubtedly fit the bill as a way to crystallize the upscale nature of the resort.
Even so, I strongly suspect that The Incredibles Steakhouse would do better because it would appeal to children, too.
(Disney)
Kids don’t want to go to steakhouses as a rule, but one with The Incredibles would possess massive appeal.
Here’s the tricky calculation for Disney: how much higher would revenue per table be for a less crowded but more expensive adult restaurant?
That decision borders on Peter Luger Steak House vs. Chuck E Cheese. You get more customers with the latter, but per-table profit on the former is massive.
When Disney debates IP, these are the internal conversations they have.
What’s Next with Disney IP?
We already know some confirmed projects coming to Walt Disney World soon.
Photo: ZiggyknowsDisney.com
The PLAY! pavilion will feature many beloved Disney characters such as Nick and Judy from Zootopia, the cast of Ralph Breaks the Internet, and Edna Mode.
This entire pavilion will cycle Disney characters in and out depending on what’s hot at the time.
Meanwhile, EPCOT will also introduce Journey of Water, a water feature based on scenes from Moana.
Disney already turned the Norway pavilion, a state-sponsored section, into a Frozen-centric locale at the World Showcase.
I’m still hearing complaints from disgruntled Maelstrom fans about that choice, and it’s been more than five years!
Park officials had also announced another United Kingdom pavilion attraction based on Mary Poppins, although its fate is unclear.
Rumors suggest that Disney will add a Tomorrowland attraction based on Wreck-It Ralph in roughly three years.
I hear that one remains on the back burner and may stay in limbo for a while yet.
Still, you’ll notice a commonality with all previous and potential additions. They’re all tethered to Disney IP.
I haven’t even mentioned the most extreme example yet, Disney California Adventure (DCA).
That park struggled for more than a decade before it opened the Cars Land expansion.
Since then, Disney has split other parts of DCA into Pixar Pier and Avengers Campus.
If you’ve heard anything about Avengers Campus thus far, you know that it’s mobbed.
The idea even works overseas. At Disneyland Paris, Disney’s Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel has garnered acclaim for its stylish re-theming.
In short, Disney has experienced the most significant recent success with its IPs. So, most Disney rumors involve the company’s various brands.
Credit: Disney
How do you feel about Disney’s reliance on IP? I know it’s a challenging subject for many.
Feature Image Rights: Disney
