Incredible Disney Rumors for July 2022
Tokyo Disneyland hints at a possible future Tomorrowland at Magic Kingdom. Meanwhile, Tomorrowland at Disneyland may bring back the past. We may need a TARDIS for the latest batch of Disney rumors.
Will Disney Re-theme Space Mountain?
Okay, let’s talk about the question that’s been on many people’s minds since late April.
Three months ago, Tokyo Disneyland confirmed that it would close Space Mountain forever. The extinction date will arrive in 2024.
However, that’s only part of the story. Space Mountain will then rise like a phoenix from its own ashes in 2027.
Yes, Tokyo Disneyland officials have decided to tear down the current Space Mountain…and I mean the whole thing! They’re gonna demolish the entire ride building.
Then, once the old Space Mountain has given up the ghost, Imagineers will start all over again. They’ll build a new, much more modern Space Mountain.
This new, visually resplendent building will tower over Tomorrowland, redefining the landscape for a new generation of Disney fans.
You can read all the details on the Disney Parks Blog. That artist’s rendering of Space Mountain 2027 is spectacular, isn’t it?
Naturally, this change at Tokyo Disneyland has led to speculation about the American theme parks, specifically Magic Kingdom.
Some fans naturally wonder whether Disney will similarly perform a complete teardown of Space Mountain and then build it anew.
Based on what I’m hearing and my only understanding of current park plans, that’s unlikely to happen.
Tokyo Disneyland is making this move to reinvigorate its Tomorrowland. Magic Kingdom has already taken that step.
Do you remember how the Walt Disney World Railroad has remained closed for nearly four years?
Yeah, Disney did that so that it could reinvent Magic Kingdom at Tomorrowland.
A few months from now, Tron Lightcycle Power Run will open. When it does, that attraction will dominate the skyline.
Since that attraction resides close to Space Mountain, I’m dubious that Disney will perform a teardown. It appears superfluous.
Disney May Re-Theme More Rides
However, Space Mountain represents only one re-theming option for Disney. Others exist as well.
I’m not explicitly referencing Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, the upcoming second act for Splash Mountain.
Disney will change that ride for different reasons than what’s happening with Space Mountain.
Still, park officials are moving away from historical philosophies. The idea of re-theming a classic like Splash Mountain or Splash Mountain would have proved impossible a decade ago.
Disney has recently moved away from its practice of treating all iconic attractions as untouchable.
That updated behavior comes with fascinating ramifications for a few attractions.
You may remember that Disney firmly denied a rumor about Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room in 2019.
Some speculated Disney would re-theme that experience, with an announcement occurring at the 2019 D23 Expo.
Disney went so far as to eviscerate a rumormonger on the official Parks Blog, an action that remains unprecedented.
The ferocity of the denial caused some to wonder whether Disney was mad about leaks more than anything else.
Now, more leaks have occurred, many of them describing potential 2022 D23 Expo announcements.
I treat all of them as wild speculation right now, but one point has proven undeniable.
Disney’s current leadership doesn’t care about protecting its sacred history inasmuch as prepping the parks for the future.
As such, some recognizable but flawed attractions could be in jeopardy.
I don’t think Disney would touch Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress, but I’m less sure about Country Bear Jamboree or Tomorrowland Speedway.
Similarly, park officials have at least considered the correction of past mistakes. Let’s talk about one famous example…
Let’s Talk about that Disneyland Rumor
As I said, I’m not giving any rumors credence right now. We should always view the time before a D23 event as silly season.
Last year, wild rumors arose in the days leading up to the Walt Disney World D23 event. Then, Disney’s announcements were decidedly ho-hum.
The same thing could happen here, although Disney possesses more incentive to act boldly now.
Universal’s Epic Universe construction is well underway, with the park possibly opening sections in 2024 or 2025 at the latest.
While I don’t view Universal Studios as any sort of threat to Disney, at least not for at least a decade, others do. And they’ve indicated Disney should build some new rides.
In fact, one credible source suggested that Disney should build two new attractions per Walt Disney World theme park!
I would argue that Disney should just go ahead and build a new park if it’s willing to do that. But that’s beside the point.
Park officials are definitely contemplating unlikely options, and everything remains on the table.
Also, we should acknowledge Disney’s current proclivities. Cheaper is better because the company is carrying more debt than usual.
So, the preferred choices are the ones that cost the least. And one rumor suggests a doozy of a comeback that also wouldn’t cost much.
Will the PeopleMover Return?
Disneyland Resort could feasibly bring back the PeopleMover. This beloved attraction opened in 1967, albeit with a tinge of sadness.
Walt Disney had deemed the PeopleMover the transportation of the future, alongside the monorail.
Tragically, he didn’t live long enough to watch guests ride the PeopleMover at Disneyland. Millions did, though.
However, Disney wanted to reinvigorate Tomorrowland during the mid-1990s (sound familiar?) and chose to close this ride.
In the PeopleMover’s place, Disney built Rocket Rods. I’m one of a small number of guests who rode those, and, well, they were a TERRIBLE idea.
Rocket Rods closed after two years, but the ride jeopardized the structural integrity of Tomorrowland before that. Seriously, this ride was a debacle.
The worst part was that Disney killed a beloved attraction for one that failed utterly.
Since 2001, the tracks for Rocket Rods/the PeopleMover have tormented Disneyland guests. We know what used to be there, and it hurts.
Now, some are speculating that the wildly unlikely will occur. Disney could feasibly restore the former PeopleMover. After all, the structure remains in place.
Honestly, I view this as unlikely because of what happened with Rocket Rods. Its weight caused safety concerns at the park.
Unless Imagineers have come up with an airtight solution for fixing this, the PeopleMover’s return isn’t realistic.
However, let’s allow for the possibility for the moment. What are the positives of a triumphant comeback?
Disney earns massive positive PR. Also, the conversion shouldn’t cost much money. And that second thing is what drives Disney’s decisions at the moment.
For this reason, I cannot rule out the PeopleMover’s return, even though I don’t buy the rumor at all.
What I will say is that I fervently believe Disney will shake things up at the 2022 D23 Expo. Expect some chaos!
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Feature Photo: Disney