Disney Rumors for September 2024

Why didn’t Disney announce any new hotels at the 2024 D23 Expo?

What’s happening at Magic Kingdom other than the things we already know?

Is Muppets Courtyard safe? And what’s the deal with this Monstropolis roller coaster?

We’ve got plenty to cover in the latest batch of Disney Rumors.

Reflecting on Reflections

If you had asked me the week before the D23 Parks Panel about the rumors I was most confident would come true, I had two answers.

One was that The Lion King would finally receive a theme park ride after 30 years of an inexplicable absence.

I would have only been half-right about that one, as Disney did announce the attraction, just not in America.

The other was that Disney would announce at least one and possibly two new official Disney resorts.

I expected one or both to reside in the Magic Kingdom area, and I said as much here.

My confidence stemmed from the fact that I’d actually read some of the filings and seen some of the blueprints for these proposals.

So, I knew the project existed. Also, I’m acutely aware that one of Disney’s priorities during its expansion phase is adding more inventory.

In other words, Disney wants to sell more hotel rooms because that’s where it makes a lot of its money.

Right now, Disney hotel rooms regularly reach or surpass 90 percent occupancy rates.

Disney needs more rooms, and everyone involved with park operations understands this fact.

Remarkably, during the D23 Expo, Disney didn’t mention anything about new hotels.

So, I’m the idiot here who missed on his two sure things. But the hotel construction is still happening, I swear!

There’s a Paper Trail

Disney recently filed even more paperwork for Project S. Even Orlando news stations have noticed it.

The filing lets builders add the electronics and utilities needed for a Disney hotel. They wouldn’t do that unless it were happening.

At this point, we still don’t know whether this addition will be an expansion to Disney’s Wilderness Lodge or the return of Reflections – A Disney Lakeside Lodge.

Over the past 18 months, Disney has filed permits that extend their length through 2028, which keeps Reflections on the table.

The electrical filings are for roads near Wilderness Lodge, indicating that another hotel expansion is possible as well.

If you’re unfamiliar with the resort, it added a new section called Copper Creek Villas & Cabins in 2017.

This filing raises the possibility of something else along those lines, probably a Disney Vacation Club (DVC) expansion.

Of course, regular guests can use these DVC rooms as well. So, it’s really just more hotel inventory.

Should Disney choose to do something dramatic here, it could expand Wilderness Lodge AND build Reflections.

In the days leading up to D23, that’s what I was hearing the most. That’s why I was shocked when Disney didn’t say anything.

Perhaps we’re too early in the process? Or maybe management still hasn’t settled on the One True Plan?

Anyway, I fully expect movement on this project over the next 12 months.

Once the Island Tower expansion opens at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, DVC will need something new to sell.

That’s why the wheels are in motion for this expansion in the Wilderness Lodge portion of Magic Kingdom.

Even now, the demand for hotel rooms close to Magic Kingdom remains the highest. So, Disney really needs this.

What’s Happening at Magic Kingdom?

I’ll be brief here, as I’m planning an article soon that fully details the future version of Magic Kingdom.

Currently, park officials perceive Magic Kingdom as close to full capacity.

From Disney’s perspective, it could pack more guests into the park, but the tourists would express frustration.

Then, Disney’s precious audience survey scores would drop, which is a non-starter for management.

So, Disney will change some of the fundamentals at Magic Kingdom in what will be one of the most divisive expansions ever.

Well, that’ll be true at first, but the overwhelming majority of people will get over it quickly, as was the case with Maelstrom.

When fans get new things that are clearly superior, they don’t worry as much about what’s been lost. It’s basic human nature.

Disney recently dropped the bombshell that it’ll pave over Rivers of America and remove Tom Sawyer Island.

Folks, I don’t think they’re stopping there. From what I’m hearing, Disney is doing the same math I’ve mentioned here.

Right now, plans exist to change Tomorrowland Speedway to an electric car ride experience.

However, the popularity of this attraction remains non-existent in a world where kids can play better car simulators on their phones.

Thus, Disney might finally give up the ghost with Tomorrowland Speedway and reclaim this space.

The thought process is that while Magic Kingdom is already under massive construction anyway, Disney might as well get it over with.

This one could go either way. So, if you hear that electric cars are coming to Tomorrowland, Disney has erred on the side of history.

Right now, I’m operating under the assumption that Tomorrowland Speedway is a coin flip to survive, though.

The Muppets Courtyard Debate

The big story coming from D23 was Josh D’Amaro making a business decision regarding Monsters Courtyard.

In the days leading up to the event, park officials believed that Muppets Courtyard was in its dying breath.

However, during the parks panel, D’Amaro chose total positivity. Thus, he didn’t announce the closure of Rivers of America.

For the same reason, the Chairman of Disney Experiences announced Monstropolis, the Monsters, Inc. themed land.

What D’Amaro decided not to state was a location. We’ve likely narrowed it down to three locations, although Disney is full of surprises lately.

One of those locales is Muppets Courtyard. Some Disney insiders believe Disney has reconsidered, while others think it’s a done deal.

Recently, what I’ve heard is that Disney might add a new Muppets area elsewhere if it chooses to re-theme Muppets Courtyard.

I…don’t understand the point of that. What’s wrong with the current location?

If you’re going to build something new, why would you re-theme one place but then move its content elsewhere?

The common sense decision is that Disney will keep Muppets Courtyard and put Monstropolis elsewhere.

I’ll just level with you that based on what I’ve heard, it’s a coin flip whether common sense wins, though.

As for Monstropolis, the big news is the upcoming roller coaster based on the door chase at the end of Monsters, Inc.

The plans I’ve seen over the years – and there have been a LOT of them – call for a hanging roller coaster design.

I describe it as a ski lift coaster because your legs dangle during the ride experience.

Ninja, one of my favorite rides at Cedar Point, has this design, although Disney’s ride cart prototype more closely models Dragonflier at Dollywood.

Remember that these plans could change, but that’s what I’ve seen.

Final Thoughts

This is a fertile time for Disney Rumors, as there are TONS of reports I’m filtering through at the moment.

Some of them are credible, while others don’t pass the laugh test. I’m cycling through them and comparing sources.

Disney seems to be doing that thing right now where executives tell three people something different.

Then, they track which story leaks and where to ferret out the snitches. So, that’s adding a bit of overhead.

Then, we have the financial element where Disney must pay for all these projects, which isn’t easy with Wall Street watching everything.

Still, I can say with complete sincerity that this is the most excitement I’ve tracked within the community since Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.

There’s a hope and a belief that Disney is about to elevate the theme park experience over the next few years.

You can and should get excited, my friends! After years in hibernation, Walt Disney Imagineering is about to be unleashed!

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