Disney Unveils Exciting Magic Kingdom Expansion as Part of Multibillion-Dollar Investment

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, known as the “wildest ride in the wilderness,” is located at one end of Disney World's Magic Kingdom park, which is the most popular theme park globally.

However, visitors to the park can anticipate seeing more than just updates or a new theme for the iconic ride. In the future, there are plans for something even more ambitious to be added to the park in Central Florida.

Michael Hundgen, Walt Disney World site portfolio executive, announced during a special media event that the upcoming expansion at Magic Kingdom will be the largest one yet. The expansion is expected to be similar in size to Star Wars Galaxy's Edge, spanning approximately 14 acres.

Hundgen shared that a dedicated Disney team is currently conducting research trips and working on the concept design for this expansive new area.

Hundgen did not say what themes or stories would exist there – or when this project would be completed.

Disney’s 10-year investment plan

Disney has announced a $60 billion investment for its parks, cruises, and experiences over the next decade, with the Magic Kingdom expansion being one part of this plan.

On Tuesday, Disney provided a sneak peek of projects at Walt Disney Imagineering to media outlets, including CNN. The showcase included new technology in the research and development phase.

Disney CEO Bob Iger, who came back to his position in November 2022, mentioned on Tuesday that he was impressed by the profits the company had made over the 15 years before his return. He emphasized the importance of investing in areas that give high returns.

Bob Iger and Josh D'Amaro at Walt Disney Imagineering

Bob Iger and Josh D'Amaro at Walt Disney Imagineering

Courtesy Disney

Iger mentioned that the company has a general idea of upcoming projects, but he believes it would be impractical to spend all $60 billion at once. This is because they cannot predict which content will be a major success in the future.

For instance, they are unsure about the next big hit like "Frozen", so Iger recommends that the company keeps its options open for future development.

Universal Orlando Resort is getting ready to open their third theme park, Epic Universe, in 2025. However, there has been criticism surrounding Disney's lack of information about their future plans.

At a virtual Disney shareholder meeting on Wednesday, a preselected question was asked about the preparations for 2025 at Walt Disney World.

In response, Iger reassured shareholders that Disney has been aware of Universal's plans for over a decade and has a strategic method for deploying capital to meet all its needs.

Over the past decade, Disney's Florida resort has introduced new lands and attractions. CEO Iger mentioned that by spacing out these major launches, they were able to maximize the commercial and operational benefits over time, instead of all at once.

However, while Disney's projects are expansions of existing theme parks, Universal's upcoming project, owned by Comcast, will be a completely new theme park.

Iger mentioned that a recent legal agreement between Disney and Florida will allow for a substantial investment in the Florida parks, describing it as a positive outcome for both parties.

There is a potential new attraction in the works for Disneyland.

During the shareholder’s meeting, Iger revealed a new sketch of a section inspired by the “Avatar” movies, which he referred to as a potential addition to the original Disneyland resort in California.

However, any expansion of the theme park area would require approval from the city of Anaheim due to zoning regulations.

The decision to rezone existing Disney property into more theme park space, a project dubbed “Disneyland Forward,” will come before the Anaheim City Council in coming weeks.

Creating the Force

The patented technology called “HoloTile” was demonstrated on Tuesday.

The patented technology called “HoloTile” was demonstrated on Tuesday.

Mike Pucher, a member of Walt Disney Imagineering, shared that CEO Iger announced a $60 billion investment plan. The majority, 70%, will go towards creating new attractions to enhance Disney's theme parks and cruise ships. The remaining 30% will be allocated to technology and maintenance to support these expansions.

Imagineers showcased a new patented technology called “HoloTile” to reporters on Tuesday. While it has not yet been assigned to a specific theme park project, the Imagineers demonstrated how users can move objects like a box or a chair with a simple wave of the hand, reminiscent of Darth Vader using the Force.

The innovative HoloTile was invented by Imagineer Lanny Smoot, who was recently honored with an induction into the National Inventors Hall of Fame. This technology allows multiple small tiles to be assembled to create a floor that enables individuals to walk in any direction or distance without ever stepping off the tiled area.

Smoot explained that there are rays of light or pools of light that bounce off his legs and tell the floor where he is. He also mentioned that multiple people can walk on this special floor in any direction without bumping into each other. Additionally, if someone were to run at full speed on this floor, they would never run off the tiles. The HoloTile technology could be utilized in a virtual reality setting to enable movement. You can click here to see a demonstration of how it works.

Smoot said this took years of work: “As one of my friends says, ‘long fuse, big bang.’”

‘Star Wars’ BD-X droids

Research and development teams demonstrated “Star Wars” BD-X droids at an event on Tuesday.

Research and development teams demonstrated “Star Wars” BD-X droids at an event on Tuesday.

Mike Pucher/Walt Disney Imagineering

Research and development teams also demonstrated “Star Wars” BD-X droids, which are “puppeted” by engineers using what look like video game controllers.

The droids that were previously tested at Disneyland's Star Wars Galaxy's Edge last October will be returning for a limited time starting on April 5.

These droids go beyond your typical robots by utilizing "reinforcement learning" to create the impressive illusion of interacting with humans. They are equipped with advanced movements that allow them to balance themselves when encountering uneven surfaces or obstacles.

Figures for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure

One day, while walking along one cubicle wall in the Imagineering machine shop, a quote caught my eye. It said: “Progress has little to do with speed, but more to do with direction” - author unknown.

From their humble beginnings as basic robots with pre-recorded speech and sounds, like those in Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room in 1963, Disney's Audio-Animatronics have evolved into sophisticated figures capable of fluid movements and lifelike human expressions.

Figures for Tiana's Bayou Adventure were on view during the media tour.

Figures for Tiana's Bayou Adventure were on view during the media tour.

Christian Thompson/Disneyland Resort

During the media tour, Disney revealed the finished figures for Tiana's Bayou Adventure, a new ride set to replace Splash Mountain at both the California and Florida resorts. The opening date for this exciting new attraction has yet to be announced.

Inspired by the movie "The Princess and the Frog," guests can expect to see the characters from the film waving, talking, and singing as they journey along a log flume during the ride.

This advanced level of Audio-Animatronics technology has only been showcased in Disney's theme parks outside of the United States.

Stella Reese Chase, daughter of the famous New Orleans chef and TV personality Leah Chase, was asked to visit California to witness these lifelike figures. A team from Disney had previously visited her hometown to ensure the authenticity of this attraction.

Chase was in awe as she watched Princess Tiana wave and talk in 3D for the first time. She exclaimed, "I'm just amazed, you know. What can I say? I've never seen anything like it. This is really a wild experience."

Charita Carter, the executive creative producer at Walt Disney Imagineering, has been involved in the project since its beginning around four years ago.

It can take up to six years for Disney to bring a new concept to life as a finished attraction. Carter had the opportunity to ride the attraction she helped create, from the very beginning.

When asked if it met her expectations, Carter responded, "Yes, it's all coming together really well. There are so many amazing things happening, and I'm very happy with how it turned out."

Editor's P/S:

The recent announcements regarding Disney's significant investment in its parks, including the upcoming expansion at Magic Kingdom, are exciting news for fans and visitors alike. The prospect of a new area spanning 14 acres, comparable to Star Wars Galaxy's Edge, holds immense potential for immersive experiences and storytelling. The lack of specific details regarding the theme and concept creates anticipation and speculation, leaving room for endless possibilities.

Additionally, the technological advancements showcased by Walt Disney Imagineering, such as the patented "HoloTile" and interactive "Star Wars" BD-X droids, demonstrate the company's commitment to innovation and enhancing the guest experience. These technologies have the potential to revolutionize theme park attractions, creating more dynamic and engaging environments. The introduction of advanced Audio-Animatronics figures for Tiana's Bayou Adventure is also a testament to Disney's dedication to authenticity and bringing beloved characters to life in a captivating way.