Disney Rumors for July 2024
Disney news is about to kick into overdrive over the next six weeks.
On July 25th through July 28th, San Diego Comic-Con will return in its true form for the first time since 2019.
Photo: Marvel
Marvel will appear at Hall H again after an extended absence, and Disney movie news will drop throughout the weekend.
A few days later, the 2024 D23 Expo will begin. At that point, we’ll leave everything Disney has in store at its theme parks.
Obviously, we never know beforehand what Disney has planned, as even during the D23 event, people can get stories wrong.
For example, there was an infamous fake confirmation of a Brazil pavilion a few years ago.
Still, some stories are coalescing. So, in this month’s batch of Disney Rumors, let’s highlight some upcoming changes.
Starting with the Minor Stuff
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad recently closed for refurbishment.
Speculation quickly ensued that the Beyond Big Thunder Project was ready to begin.
While that statement may yet prove true, something different is happening on the roller coaster itself.
According to highly plausible rumors, Disney is capitalizing on the opening of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure to make some long-needed repairs.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad used to be one of Magic Kingdom’s most reliable rides, but it has struggled lately.
So, Disney will update some of the tech and add some track elements to improve uptime, none of which is sexy.
However, when the ride reopens, you WILL notice something new.
Magic Kingdom will add explosive elements at the end, akin to ones we’ve seen at Disneyland and other parks.
Photo: Disney
Allegedly, this version will be original and unique, though. Also, you should remember that this enhancement was previously planned.
Then, the pandemic forced budget cuts, with the explosive elements on this roller coaster being one of them.
Big Thunder Mounta
Now, we’re getting them, although it’s not really a game-changing kind of effect, in my opinion.
The other hot Magic Kingdom rumor involves the park getting a unique nighttime parade of its own.
Photo: Disneyland Paris
I’ve had lots of trouble confirming this one, but people who have proven accurate in the past describe it as a foregone conclusion.
Apparently, the stars have aligned in a way that makes sense for this project to advance, just as was true with Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.
Since the start of 2020, the opposite has been true at the parks, making this a welcome turn of events.
I’d expect an announcement at D23 since, for the most part, parades don’t take more than a year or so to prepare.
Frontierland Survives
Frontierland crowds
Here’s something I’m surprised to write. Roughly 18 months ago, I questioned the future of Frontierland.
With Disney placing Tiana’s Bayou Adventure in 1928, after the frontier era, questions arose about the fate of this themed land.
Rumors have abounded that Magic Kingdom may reclaim some of the waterways around Tom Sawyer Island as well.
Then, Disney recently closed Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade and announced a DVC Lounge would replace it.
At that point, Frontierland fans switched to DEFCON 1 while worrying whether they were about to lose the area.
Well, I guess I can assuage those fears as Disney has suggested that the DVC Lounge’s facing will feature a Frontierland look.
Park officials wouldn’t adopt that approach unless Frontierland were here for the foreseeable future.
Obviously, the facing of a building is easy and quick to repurpose. So, nothing is set in stone here, but that was still a surprise.
I had expected Disney to reveal the opening of a modified New Orleans Square at Magic Kingdom based on previous intel.
That Neighborhood would have been Tiana-focused, but I guess Disney has made its peace with the ride’s setting between decades too late for Frontierland.
We’ll see whether that philosophy holds over the next several years when the Big Thunder Mountain area expands in the back.
Other Disney World Updates
Encanto Sing along
Let’s start with the two that likely interest you the most.
Moana and Encanto are two of Disney’s hottest brands, and both have movie sequels underway.
When Disney hinted at blue-sky ideas for What Lies Beyond Big Thunder, one of them was an Encanto Casita magical house.
More recently, Imagineers had indicated that an Encanto experience was coming to the Tropical Americas.
Photo: Disney
Both statements may yet prove true, as Disney isn’t shying away from representation for its biggest brands.
To wit, a Moana boat ride may be coming to Magic Kingdom.
Photo: Disney
I say this despite the fact that Journey of Water | Inspired by Moana is less than a year old.
Disney will introduce a new Moana movie in less than five months, and it’s leaning heavily into the character/franchise.
Photo: Disney
So, another attraction makes perfect sense for all involved, and it SHOULD be a boat ride.
After all, that’s Moana’s whole thing. She’s an explorer who fearlessly searches for adventure.
Photo: Disney
Gee, where at Magic Kingdom should a character like that find a home? Maybe Adventureland?
Folks, there is some space in this area, and it’s not even the first time a Moana ride has been rumored here.
Photo: Disney
Remember the Moana/volcano roller coaster, which was also called Fire Mountain at one point?
Park officials understand that a Moana attraction fits perfectly here, and I’m starting to think this could happen.
Journey of Water – Inspired by Moana
Similarly, even if Disney does build Casita at the Magic Kingdom expansion rather than Animal Kingdom – still unclear on that – Encanto will appear at the latter park.
Specifically, Disney may announce a dark ride that either retells the story of Encanto or expands on those ideas.
More about Animal Kingdom
Credit: Disney
We will probably witness the most movement on Animal Kingdom and Magic Kingdom at D23.
That’s because work is already underway to build those experiences.
Credit: Disney
Also, Disney may have finally listened to me on a point that I’ve been making for years.
For all its splendor, Animal Kingdom suffers from a glaring omission.
Credit: Disney
This park is the most obvious place for some sort of ride based on The Lion King.
With the film currently celebrating its 30th anniversary and a prequel on the way, the timing is ideal to announce that ride.
Credit: Disney
I’ve been fooled before on this stuff, but I’m hearing that a Lion King ride is at least under consideration at Animal Kingdom.
That’s part of a longer negotiation unfolding behind the scenes as people debate the expansion.
Animal Kingdom Map
I come at these stories from a theme park attraction perspective, as that’s my training.
However, Animal Kingdom is a functional zoo that includes theme park elements.
So, I’m hearing that if Animal Kingdom expands, some folks want more animals added as well.
Frankly, that’s an exceptional idea if Disney times it with the park’s 30th anniversary in 2028.
Kilimanjaro Safaris
Alas, I suspect that parts of this project will wrap up by 2026. Ergo, I’m skeptical that the zoologists can operate that quickly.
Resettling a group of animals takes a substantial amount of work. A two-year timeline would be…challenging.
Honestly, folks, what I’ve discussed here only scratches the surface of what I’m told and what I’ve read/heard.
Disney has big plans for this expansion, and D23 appears likely to be a seminal event in theme park history.
So, stay tuned, everybody! It’s about to get exciting!
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