'Beyond Big Thunder Mountain' Blue Sky concept revealed for Magic Kingdom

Sep 11, 2022 in "Magic Kingdom"

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Beyond Big Thunder Mountain Blue Sky concept art

Posted: Sunday September 11, 2022 3:07pm ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

In the final moments of the Disney Parks D23 panel, Chairman Josh D'Amaro revealed plans for a new "Beyond Big Thunder Mountain" Blue Sky concept.

Disney Parks, Experiences and Products Chairman Josh D'Amaro at D23 Expo

The new land, behind Big Thunder Mountain at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom, would include Disney animation IPs including Coco, Encanto and villains.

Here is a look at the art.

Beyond Big Thunder Mountain Blue Sky concept art

"Blue Sky" concepts refer to projects that are being considered with preliminary design ideas, but have not reached the stage of being green-lit for actual construction. Disney has a long history of Blue Sky concepts that have never made it to reality, so it remains unclear if the "Beyond Big Thunder Mountain" project will proceed, and what may be included in a final version. What is clear though, is that Magic Kingdom needs additional capacity, and Disney looks to be marking the area behind Big Thunder Mountain as the next expansion pad.

Beyond Big Thunder Mountain Blue Sky concept art

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UniversalIsMid986 hours ago

NEW IP’s that haven’t appeared in the parks yet Excellent..

DCLcruiser2 days ago

They use grotesque physical comedy like an episode of The Ren & Stimpy Show. It's terrible.

Bill Cipher3 days ago

Maybe a hot take but I'm of the mind that Walt would absolutely adore the Paul Rudish Mickey shorts. He was a cartoonist through and through, and Mickey was "assigned to the purposes of laughter." The Rudish shorts are the funniest the character has been in decades and the project most similar to Walt's shorts since their inception. It had been so long since the icon of the company felt like an actual mischievous character instead of some sanitized corporate mascot. Disney TVA is the most overlooked sector of the company by a longshot, and the creatives there are truly talented and capable of producing some really compelling projects. Especially compared to the dumpster fire of the various film studios' string of box office bombs.

SilentWindODoom3 days ago

I wonder if the success or failure of the continuation of the Descendants series this summer will play into how they present the land or even how strongly they go for it. I still see them pushing the IP at Halloween, but dunno how strong it is among their portfolio.

Bocabear3 days ago

Ominous, but then oddly friendly and humorous.... Look at what the walk around Wicked Queen is doing in Disneyland... She is hysterical... THAT is how you do the Disney Villains!

DCLcruiser3 days ago

+1. Don't forget how many Villain's-point-of-view movies have come out. Villain's land can be ominous, but friendly, in a medieval sort of way.

Bocabear3 days ago

and with current RGBW technology you can have blue light without it being BLUE light...the colors don't have to be super intense and eye-numbing... There is a lot to be said for subtle lighting.... lol

TheRealSkull3 days ago

100% agree with you right here! You are not alone in thinking that. They haven't done a terrible job, but it could be better.

wedenterprises3 days ago

I was a lighting designer in my previous career. I understand their pros and cons. They can be very dominating over the surface colour. I find their use generally overbearing in brightness and oversaturated in color, boring in their wash and lack of shadows, and very hard on the eyes. Part of the reason for this is in their application. Disney loves to use them as floodlights and/or use them as if they're painting a surface. The trees at TBA are practically glowing blue and purple like Avatar. It's super unnatural. The result, at least in outdoor applications, is you end up with the attractions I replied to which all look the same to me. Blasted with purple and blue glowing light. Maybe I'm alone but I think Disney takes away from the magic of the "place" often purely due to their use (or mis-use of LEDs). Maybe part of my disdain is just the colors they use. lol. Not everything warrants color being blasted at it. I'm not saying LED=bad. But I know poor lighting when I see it, as I'm sure you do too.

Bocabear3 days ago

For so long people were just so impressed RGBW LED Lights could do full spectrum...causing them to use "rainbow" on everything... I am glad the newness has worn off and designers are using them in more restrained ways.... They are an amazing component to work with...

Rhinocerous3 days ago

Can confirm. I once lit a screening of a popular television show involving dragons. The walls roiled in shades of red, yellow and orange. It looked pretty great, if I am permitted to say so.

Rich Brownn4 days ago

At one time, that was to be the home of World Showcase (the parking and entrance to WDW would have been the Future World Theme Center located all the way down by 192 and connected by elevated rail and people movers)

TheRealSkull4 days ago

Funny enough, LEDs don't have to be limited to just the cool colors = blues, greens, purples. You can do so much beyond those with LEDs. I know this, as I am a lighting designer for theatrical shows.