Things are about to go into overdrive at Magic Kingdom says Disney Parks Chairman Josh D'Amaro

Sep 09, 2023 in "Magic Kingdom"

Forum Forums Tweet Share Tweet Share

Gallery / 4 Photos
Beyond Big Thunder Mountain Blue Sky concept art

Posted: Saturday September 9, 2023 10:54am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Bruce Vaughn, Chief Creative Officer at Walt Disney Imagineering, joined parks Chairman Josh D'Amaro for a special "Blue Sky" look at what's coming to the Walt Disney World.

Destination D23

According to Bruce, future expansion plans for Magic Kingdom in Florida are the largest ever for the park.

Imagineers are looking to tell stories "Beyond Big Thunder Mountain" similar in scale to lands like Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge and Pandora – The World of Avatar – adding new attractions, restaurants, shows, and more.

When announced in 2022, the proposed new land behind Big Thunder Mountain at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom would include experiences based on Disney animation stories including Coco, Encanto and villains.

Beyond Big Thunder Mountain Blue Sky concept art

Vaughn said, "last year, you said we're looking to tell stories beyond Big Thunder Mountain which is still true. I mean, there's a lot of room to play with around there. And we're looking at the possibility of adding new attractions, restaurants, shows, you dream it we're thinking about it. And like I said, the ideas are looking really great."

Beyond Big Thunder Mountain Blue Sky concept art

D'Amaro responded to Vaughn's comments, "There's still a long way to go. But I just want all of our fans to know that we are about to go into overdrive at the Magic Kingdom. And I am looking forward to spending more time with your team as we keep refining these ideas to create something really special that every single person in here is going to love."

Beyond Big Thunder Mountain Blue Sky concept art

Discuss on the Forums

Get Walt Disney World News Delivered to Your Inbox

lazyboy97o5 hours ago

You can design a building to have fireworks launched off of its roof so being near a launch site can be handled.

Chef idea Mickey`=5 hours ago

We all know that The area there would been perfect for Arrendale. Fantasyland Expansion is alright but a better E ticket or Land with beautiful night atmosphere would truly transform this Park, not saying it's not good, this part of fantasyland is kind of dark.

Starship8248 hours ago

That area is extremely close to the fireworks launching site so that also makes it seem very unlikely. From the videos of the Tokyo beauty and the beast ride that I have seen, it looks incredible and I would love it in Walt Disney World, but I just don't see any way they could make it work at least in Magic Kingdom.

doctornick10 hours ago

If they really wanted to add the BatB ride to MK, I think it would be easier to remove Gaston’s and/or the gift shop and use that area as the queue and then have the ride show building be on the far side of the utilidoor access road.

rd80511 hours ago

They aren't going to just start moving rides - while in theory it makes sense, as if we were playing Roller Coaster Tycoon; however in real life, it's too much spending for the sanctity of "theming." **The obvious exception could be a flat spinner, like Aladdin's carpets, but a major dark ride (and still a relatively newer one), that has a well developed queue just wouldn't happen.

Chef idea Mickey`=23 hours ago

not if they tore down and moved Voyage of The Little Mermaid. Then the whole area would be a Beauty and the Beast Land. You might as well rip that tiny castle while your at it!*****

Bocabear1 day ago

Sadly it seems like the restaurant took up all the space for a show building with the utilidoor entrances right there...I would rather have a better version of the Tokyo BATB ride that the restaurant... but change it up to be a little more than spinning to music....

IanDLBZF1 day ago

And, while we're at it, clone the CBMJ from WDW for Tokyo.

The Chatbox Ghost1 day ago

Pooh’s Hunny Hunt would be a great replacement for the Pooh ride we have now, as nostalgic as it is to me. Also if we’re being technical, take the CBJ from Tokyo and put it back in Critter Country in DL, lmao

ednamodedarling2 days ago

Idk … going on the beauty and the beast ride in Magic Kingdom & then being able to dine at Be Our Guest after sounds pretty magical to me ✨

lazyboy97o2 days ago

It’s really just Hong Kong Disneyland that had the big batch of exclusive attractions because of its specific circumstances.

celluloid2 days ago

I can understand that critique, but the detail, effects and atmosphere and everything in there is astounding. It has sing along moments as a focus which is different but has an incredibly low height requirement and pleases most. Is Slinky Dog really better?

Magicart872 days ago

While not an exact clone, my dream attraction would be Tokyo's 20,000 Leagues with a little Monster's Inc Ride and Seek tech thrown in so the "crew" of the submersible can pilot, periscope and explore the the ocean bottom with a searchlight that triggers effects. The ride could be a tame exploration or an adventurous encounter with a giant sea squid.

Brer Panther2 days ago

Monsters Inc. Ride and Go Seek. Bring it to Hollywood Studios. The animatronics are great, but most of the ride is just spinning around in giant empty rooms to songs from the movie (the "Something There" scene should've just been one that we drift by, not a five-minute thing). It's not nearly as good as it could have been.