What’s the Future of Disney Experiences?
For several years, I breathlessly reported on the opening of Space 220.
The owner and operator of Space 220, The Patina Restaurant Group, helped me out by repeatedly delaying the project.
Past a certain point, Space 220 became the Disney equivalent of Duke Nukem Forever and Chinese Democracy as a punchline.
Those two projects famously required many more years than expected to finish.


Space 220
The difference is that when Duke Nukem Forever and Chinese Democracy came out, they left zero impact on pop culture.
Conversely, Space 220 made a dazzling first impression and remains a spectacle to this day.


Space 220 – Elevator
In a way, that restaurant reflects the next phase of theme park entertainment, as does a new sports bar unrelated to Disney.
So, let’s talk about the future of Disney experiences.
About Space 220


Entrance – Space 220
We’ll discuss three seemingly divergent topics today as I meander toward the final point. There’s connective tissue, though.
For starters, you should know about Space 220, a restaurant I first reviewed in 2022.
By this point, the place had been open for more than a year, which was sort of the point.
I wanted to verify whether Space 220 was still as remarkable once the early feeding frenzy had slowed.


Photo: Disney
Sure enough, I found the backdrop mesmerizing, as I’d expected.
I’m someone who adores immersive entertainment in all its forms and quickly identified the potential of Space 220.


Space 220
By creating an entire digital wall of images, this EPCOT restaurant crafted a gripping illusion.
Upon entering the “Stellarvator,” I immediately bought into the conceit that I had exited the Earth’s atmosphere.
Once I saw the view of outer space from the restaurant, I was hooked.
Space 220 elevates the premise of Soarin’ Around the World by making the view permanent, almost casual.
Outer space is merely a part of the scenery, although it’s undeniably the BEST part.
The experience fully engrosses me and makes me feel fully comfortable in the environment. In short, it makes me believe.
About Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
You may not have ever thought about this, but Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway employs similar technology.
Once again, Disney turns entire walls into storytelling elements.


(Matt Stroshane/Disney Parks)
There are differences in the implementation, but the concept is functionally similar in each room.
Disney creates a story by displaying full-sized images on walls.


(Matt Stroshane, photographer)
These “cartoons” are so realistic that you’ll believe you’re in the Wild West, a manufacturing facility, or a river near a waterfall.
These sequences aren’t the only effects on the ride, as the ballroom scene uses more conventional technology.


(Kent Phillips, photographer)
The Daisy Duck Audio-Animatronic and a trackless ride cart do the heavy lifting here. So, that part isn’t applicable.
However, the more kinetic parts of Runaway Railway, such as the waterfall plunge and Mickey Mouse’s narrow escape, involve digital images.
These visuals encompass you and overwhelm your entire line of sight. So, you feel as if you’ve entered the cartoon.
That level of immersion wouldn’t be possible without the full-room digital displays. Why do they matter? Hold that thought…
About Cosm


Photo: Pexel.com
Have you heard about Cosm yet? I wouldn’t blame you if you haven’t, as it’s extremely niche right now.
Cosm is a sports bar with only two locations in the United States so far.


Cosm
Two more are coming “soon,” which is to say by 2027. Apparently, these sports bars take a looooong time to build.
So, unless you live in Los Angeles or Dallas or have visited there recently, you’re unlikely to know much about Cosm.
Here’s a CBS This Morning video that should help you conceptualize its genius:
That’s former ESPN anchor Dana Jacobson giddily relaying details of her first Cosm experience.
This is someone who has spent the last 20 years watching games from the sidelines, thanks to the power of her press pass.
When this individual indicates that it’s just as good as being at the game, well, that means something.


Cosm
Presuming that you, a Disney fan, watched the video, you should have noticed something else.
The Cosm setup looks familiar, doesn’t it? Remember how I mentioned Soarin’ earlier and Space 220 riffing off that?


Cosm
Well, Cosm has just borrowed/stolen that concept for its sports bar.
This sports bar consists of a ginormous floor-to-ceiling curved digital display like the one at Space 220.
The structure is much more like Soarin’ in nature, though. Guests can sit on multiple floors and watch the game.
You’ll notice there are no bad seats here, with guests securing booths for an average of $33 each.


Cosm
In exchange, they can watch a live sports event thousands of miles away, yet their view is equivalent to courtside.
As Jacobson indicates, it’s even better in some instances. That’s the power of the augmented reality perspective.
The Future of Disney Entertainment
Disney first had this idea many computer generations ago, yet Soarin’ utilizes an IMAX screen differently.
That’s a concession to the fact that the idea was far ahead of what technology allowed at the time, much like the creation of Space Mountain.


Soarin’ Over California
Runaway Railway is closer to this premise, but its implementation is different from Cosm’s.
In a way, the Las Vegas Sphere is an iterative version of the same premise, just on a grander scale.
Someone created a modern version of Spaceship Earth but turned the interior into a house of digital mirrors rather than a ride.
All these concepts are either directly Disney or heavily influenced by Imagineering technology.
Now, we’re in the phases where we tag back to Disney to see what the company can do with these new technological advances.
I’m excited by the possibilities, but let’s start small. Have you ever missed Cirque du Soleil Drawn to Life while at home?


Photo: Disney
Cosm has a corporate licensing agreement with Cirque du Soleil. It could feasibly screen Drawn to Life at some point.
Of course, the challenge for Cosm is determining which sports events to exhibit on a given day.
You can imagine the difficulty of picking during a sports equinox.
Here’s the thing, though. Cosm faces licensing challenges every step of the way since it’s a new, rising company.


ESPN Club
Do you know what Cosm should be? A Disney entity. Specifically, this should be the new ESPN Club. It’s a natural fit.
Disney at Home


Photo: Washington Post
Disney already has those relationships, and people trust the brand more.
Cosm’s most recent funding places it at around $1 billion in value. Disney just threw more than that to Epic Games.


Photo: skillastics.com
This seems like a good time to mention that Cosm live broadcasts utilize Unreal Engine.
So, Disney could easily vertically integrate all these technologies under one umbrella.


Photo: Playbuzz.com
How does that help you? It’s your salvation as a Disney fan at the simplest level.
Disney could build a Cosm in every major metropolitan area, bringing the company’s entertainment to your town.


Photo: simplemost.com
In the process, you could watch live sports and Disney entertainment without traveling to the parks.
Since Disney has indicated that eight times as many people who want to visit the parks as actually do so, that’s a win.


Photo:Ivan Marc / Shutterstock.com
Disney plants a flag in every major market, dramatically expanding its revenue.
Disney at the Parks
I recognize that this is a long shot, though. ESPN Zone previously tried this very idea and failed mightily.
For that matter, Disney closed ESPN Club at Disney’s BoardWalk in favor of The Cake Bake Shop, a decision our staff loves.
So, Disney may prefer to add something more tangible at the parks rather than casting a wide net for its loyal fans everywhere.
Presuming that’s true, the future looks a lot like a combination of Space 220 and Cosm.


Cosm
Since consumers have proven that they reject virtual reality headsets, even Apple ones, the future remains on big screens.
Now, this raises questions about visuals, especially viewing angles.
My wife idly wondered how Cosm handled issues like the leaning Eiffel Tower at Soarin’, which is an excellent question.
Still, digital display walls are coming to Disney rides soon. I say this with confidence because I know about Disney productions.
Several television series and movies, especially Marvel and Star Wars ones, employ similar tech.
Actors work against digital projections on walls to enhance their performances while reducing Disney’s post-production costs.


Photo: Disney
At the parks, digital projections on walls could allow you to engage with wall-sized characters or even entire buildings.
Disney could stick a Sleeping Beauty Castle on any wall. Costs for this technology are already dropping at a progressive rate.


Photo: DVC Shop
Not coincidentally, CES 2025 featured several such displays, many of which are already seen at concerts and awards ceremonies.
These are the future tech innovations coming to Disney as an organic part of the $60 billion expansion.
You’re going to see these. It’s a question of when, not if.
So, Disney’s future will be displayed on many digitized big screens.
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Feature Photo: Cosm