Now that the Spring Break travel season is in full swing, it’s time once again to take a look at some of the big projects Disney has in the works for the next five years.
For our spring 2019 update, we take more than a dozen new experiences coming to Epcot, we get final opening details for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge (well, most of it anyways), plus information on the three new nighttime spectaculars coming to the resort in the next three years.
1. Rivers of Light: We Are One
Image: Disney
Status: Confirmed
Opening in: May 27, 2019
2. The NBA Experience (Disney Springs)
Status: Confirmed
Opening in: August 12, 2019
Disney confirmed this year that the NBA Experience will open this summer on August 12, 2019, just before the opening of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. When guests enter the NBA Experience, they will feel as if they’re walking through the players’ tunnel at an NBA or WNBA arena and will then be able to check out a variety of experiences themed to the world of basketball.
A ticket to NBA Experience will be all-inclusive, and will allow guests to access every activity inside this entertainment complex. In addition to being able to experience whatever they want, whenever they want, guests will also be able to return to favorite areas and experience them over and over again if they wish. Some of the options will include:
- A slam dunk challenge, where guests can change the height of a standard 10-foot hoop to as low as seven feet to perform their own superstar moves – captured by burst photography.
- An activity that tests shooting skills with spots on a court that light up as guests move from one location to another attempting to sink as many shots as possible in 15 seconds.
- A way for guests to see how they stack up to some of the world’s best basketball players by measuring their vertical leap, wingspan, shooting and dribbling.
- Personalization for various activities with guests’ names and associating the activity with their favorite NBA or WNBA teams.
- Real-time technology to aggregate statistics of NBA and WNBA games and players for continuous updates, while leaderboards will track top NBA Experience performers throughout each day.
3. Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run (Disney’s Hollywood Studios)
Image: Disney
Status: Confirmed
Opening in: August 29, 2019
The first confirmed ride for the forthcoming Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is a flight simulator ride that allows guests to “take the controls of one of the most recognizable ships in the galaxy, the Millennium Falcon, on a customized secret mission”.
Interestingly, guests who experience this attraction won’t just be tagging along for a ride (like they currently do on Star Tours) but will actually be piloting the Millennium Falcon themselves! Guests will be able to turn, bank and even fire weapons in this simulation-style experience.
Image: Disney
When guests enter the attraction they will be able to climb into one of seven pods that seat six riders each. Each pod will be able to rotate 360 degrees, and there will be a LOT of interactive elements all around riders that will affect the experience. According to one of the attraction’s creative directors, there will be 200 buttons, knobs and switches on the inside of the cockpit, each with a specific function.
Image: Disney
And interestingly, many of these interactive elements will be specific to different “jobs” riders will have on the ride, similar to the format for Mission: Space. So, for instance, gunners in the center will have weapons controls while engineers in the back will have buttons and levers related to keeping the ship flying.
And guests will definitely want to do well with their jobs, as those who bring back their bounty and fly the ship expertly without a lot of damage will be able to earn extra Galactic Credits, which will change the way characters in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge interact with them. Conversely, guests who lose the bounty or damage the ship will end up owing money, which will also produce different interactions with characters.
This all sounds really exciting, but it looks like there will be one big issue with this attraction when it opens: wait times are going to be crazy. With seven pods that seat 6 each, you’re looking at an attraction that can only handle 42 guests per ride cycle, which is very low for an attraction that will undoubtedly be extremely popular when it opens next year. And making matters potentially even worse, Millenium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run will be the ONLY ride that opens with Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, as Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance will open at some, unspecified, later date.
Because of the massive interest that will undoubtedly accompany this attraction, Disney has announced that they will not be offering FastPass+ reservations for this attraction when it opens, and we don’t expect this to change very much while this attraction is the only one open in this part of the park.
4. Oga’s Cantina (Disney’s Hollywood Studios)
Image: Disney
Status: Confirmed
Opening in: August 29, 2019
Oga’s Cantina will be the local watering hole on Black Spire Outpost, and will have both choices for kids and libations for adults. Interestingly, musical entertainment in this establishment will be provided by RX-24, who Star Tours fans may recall as the former StarSpeeder 3000 pilot droid prior to the “Adventures Continue” reimagining of this attraction.
Inside the Cantina guests can enjoy exotic sounding drinks like the Bespin Fizz, Bloody Rancor, Dagobah Slug Slinger, Fuzzy Tauntaun, Jedi Mind Trick, Jet Juice, The Outer Rim, Spriran Caf, T-16 Skyhopper, and Yub Nub, and non-alcohol drinks Black Spire Brew, Blue Bantha, Carbon Freeze, Cliff Dweller, Hyperdrive Punch It!, Jabba Juice, Moogan Tea, and Tarine Tea. You can read more about the menu in this out-of-this-world eatery here.
5. Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo
Image: Disney
Status: Confirmed
Opening in: August 29, 2019
The main restaurant in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge will be Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo, which is a counter service restaurant run by Chef Strono “Cookie” Tuggs, a chef who used to work for Maz Kanata. This restaurant occupies space that was previously used as storage, and features a highly-themed indoor dining room as well as a shaded outside eating area as well. Here’s the menu for this new restaurant:
- Braised Shaak Roast, featuring beef pot roast with cavatelli pasta, kale, and mushrooms
- Fried Endorian Tip-Yip, a fried chicken dish with roasted vegetable mash and herb gravy
- Oven-roasted Tip Yip, featuring roasted chicken with mixed greens, roasted vegetables, quinoa, and pumpkin seeds with a green curry ranch dressing
- Smoked Kaadu Ribs, featuring smoked country pork ribs with blueberry corn muffin and cabbage slaw
- Oven-roasted Burra Fish, featuring Dijon-crusted fish with mixed greens, roasted vegetables, quinoa, and pumpkin seeds with a creamy green curry ranch dressing
- Yobshrimp Noodle Salad, a marinated noodle salad with chilled shrimp
- Felucian Garden Spread, a kefta “meatball” dish with herb hummus and tomato-cucumber relish with pita bread
- Ithorian Garden Loaf, a plant-based “meatloaf” dish served with roasted vegetable mash, seasonal vegetables, and mushroom sauce
6. Epcot Forever (Epcot)
Image: Disney
Status: Confirmed
Opening in: October 1, 2019
Though it was previously announced that IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth was set to end its 20-year run this fall, we now know that this iconic Disney nighttime spectacular will officially close on September 30 2019. And then directly after the end of this show, Epcot Forever will debut on October 1st, 2019, Here’s the official description of this new show:
Epcot Forever is a celebration of what Epcot has been and what Epcot is going to become. Music is the star of the show, and we use songs going back to the very beginnings of Epcot to music in the park today – from attractions, spectaculars and other shows – and put them into a fireworks spectacular on the lagoon every night. Guests are going to hear music they know and love but in a whole new way.
7. Disney Skyliner (Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios)
Image: Disney
Status: Confirmed
Opening in: Fall 2019
Walt Disney World‘s new gondolas project, officially named Disney Skyliner, will connect Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, Disney’s Pop Century Resort, and the new DVC property, Disney’s Riviera Resort through a series of elevated, closed-cabin gondolas. According to official documents, it looks like there will be six individual loading and unloading stations for the gondola system, one at each destination.
The various Disney Skyliner cabs will also feature favorite Disney characters, including the fab five as well as the hitchhiking ghosts. Construction has been moving along quickly at the resort, with work on stations at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Epcot able to be easily seen from guest areas. Disney recently confirmed that this new transportation option will take flight at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in the fall. You can read more about Disney’s plans for this new system here.
8. The Odyssey “Experience Center” (Epcot)
Status: Confirmed
Opening in: Fall 2019
There are a LOT of changes coming to Epcot over the next five years, and to help guests keep track of everything happening there will be a new semi-permanent “Experience Center” opening in the former Odyssey restaurant later this year that will showcase the upcoming changes to Epcot.
This reimagined preview space will feature engaging and interactive exhibits that showcase the relentless innovation, energy and excitement driving the future of Epcot, and will be open for the next few years while all of the following ambitious projects are in development
9. Future World Space restaurant (Epcot)
Image: Disney
Status: Confirmed
Opening in: Fall 2019
Though we weren’t totally surprised last year by the confirmations of the Guardians of the Galaxy and Ratatouille attractions, one announcement that we did not see coming was that of a new space-themed restaurant in Future World. No name or location details were provided, but Disney did specify that this establishment would have special “windows” that simulate views of the galaxy as diners “travel high above the earth” during their meal.
Construction on this upcoming restaurant, which will is being built in a newly developed area between Mission: Space and Test Track, is moving quickly, and Disney has confirmed that guests will be able to dine here before the end of the year.
10. Takumi-Tei (Epcot)
Image: Disney
Status: Confirmed
Opening in: Fall 2019
Back in 2018 Disney confirmed that an all-new table service restaurant would be coming to the Japan Pavilion in the World Showcase sometime in the near future. This new location will offer guests a signature dining experience inspired by the natural beauty of Japan.The setting will draw from both nature and takumi, which means “artisan” in Japanese, and the relationship between Japanese craftsmanship and the natural world will be evident throughout the space. Once completed, the restaurant will add to the rich tapestry of authentic cultural experiences available to guests in World Showcase.
This new restaurant will be operated by Mitsukoshi USA, which is a name you probably recognize as the operator behind the merchandise, restaurants (Teppan Edo and Tokyo Dining), and kiosks that are already in the Japan Pavilion. Construction on this dining establishment is almost completed, and guests will be able to eat at Takumi-Tei before the end of the year!
11. Awesome Planet (Epcot)
Image: Disney
Status: Confirmed
Opening in: Fall 2019
Earlier this year Disney announced Awesome Planet, a brand new original film especially designed for Epcot, that will be coming to the Harvest Theater at the Land pavilion later this year. Here is the official description of this upcoming new film:
An on-screen exploration of the realm we call home, showcases the spectacular beauty, diversity and dynamic story of our earth with all the grandeur guests have come to expect.
With spectacular nature photography, immersive in-theater effects, and space sequences created by none other than Industrial Light & Magic (which provided the cinematic foundation for the Star Wars franchise), “Awesome Planet” will stir Epcot guests and deliver an environmental message that will resonate far beyond its final scenes.
Of course, this description is fairly general and vague, but the concept behind this new film still sounds really interesting and the ecologically-friendly message in Awesome Planet is definitely something that will align with the overall theme of the Land Pavilion, but will hopefully feel more up-to-date than its Lion King-themed predecessor. We’re also excited about the prospect of the Harvest Theater being upgraded to facilitate the special effects detailed above in the description of the new show.
12. Unnamed film in Canada Pavilion (Epcot)
Status: Confirmed
Opening in: TBA 2019
The current O Canada circle-vision attraction’s days are numbered as it has been confirmed that a brand new O Canada film will be coming to Epcot’s Canada Pavilion sometime in the near future, though no timeline has been provided for this upcoming change, but we’d expect this new film to debut sometime later this year.
13. Unnamed film in China Pavilion (Epcot)
Image: Disney
Status: Confirmed
Opening in: TBA 2019
The current Reflections of China circle-vision attraction’s days are also numbered as it has been confirmed that a brand new film will be coming to Epcot’s China Pavilion sometime in the near future. Though this was initially announced in 2017, we haven’t heard much about this development. However, Disney Parks and Resorts chairman Bob Chapek has confirmed that this new attraction is still in development, so hopefully we’ll learn more soon!
14. Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway (Disney’s Hollywood Studios)
Image: Disney
Status: Confirmed
Opening in: Spring 2020
Though Mickey Mouse has appeared in several rides over the years (including the now-closed Great Movie Ride), it looks like Disney is finally giving its most famous character the chance to star in his own ride, along with Minnie Mouse and some of his other pals. However, instead of being based on some of the classic Mickey Mouse cartoons, the new Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway attraction (which is being constructed inside the building that formerly housed the Great Movie Ride) will be directly inspired by the Mickey Shorts that are shown on the Disney Channel (and have their own channel at Disney resorts). As you might expect, the people who produce the shorts at Disney Television Animation are partnering with Disney Parks and Resorts to help bring the attraction to life.
The actual setup of the attraction is pretty standard, as it will allow guests to literally step “through” a movie screen and join Mickey and his friends on a fun adventure where you’re the star of your own Mickey short and anything can happen. This zany out-of-control adventure will feature surprising twists and turns, dazzling visual effects and mind-boggling transformations that happen before your very eyes, including a forest instantly being transformed into a cityscape, which you can check out here.
Image: Disney
Though this attraction sounds a bit like your standard screen-based affair so far, Disney is promising that this ride will be more than just a screen-based dark ride. Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway will make extensive use of new enhanced screen technology that Disney is calling 2 1/2D. Though we’re not entirely sure what this really means, Disney said that the normally 2D world of Disney animation will pop in new ways inside this attraction, but interestingly, without the need for 3D glasses.
Though Disney previously confirmed in 2018 that this attraction would open with Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in 2019, the project has hit some delays, and is now set to open in Spring 2020.
15. Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance (Disney’s Hollywood Studios)
Status: Confirmed
Opening in: TBA 2020
While the Millennium Falcon ride will use new technology to deliver a thrilling experience the likes of which hasn’t been seen before at a Disney park, the new Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance ride will be a more traditional dark ride experience, and will be using some amazing technology to bring the world of the First Order to life
According to the several sources, this attraction will have a whopping total of 305 animatronic figures and droids, almost a third of which are expected to be Stormtroopers. In addition, hat this attraction will have 18 different show scenes that involve 5 different ride systems, making it one of the most (if not the most) technically advanced rides at a Disney park ever.
The entire Star Wars: Ride of the Resistance experience is said to be a half hour long, with three pre-show segments happening before the ride itself, which is said to be less than ten minutes long.
And while this all sounds super exciting, one thing that Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance doesn’t have is an opening date, as Disney has delayed this attraction, saying that it will open as part of a second phase of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, opening at some later date, likely next year (potentially coinciding with the opening of Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway?)
16. Roundup Rodeo BBQ
Image: Disney
Status: Confirmed
Opening in: TBA 2020
One of the most puzzling aspects of Toy Story Land that many guests noted when this land opened (other than its lack of shade) was the absence of a restaurant beyond the Woody’s Lunch Box snack stop. However, it looks like Disney will be remedying this issue soon by introducing a brand-new table-service restaurant in this location. However, if you were hoping that the fan-favorite in-film Pizza Planet restaurant would be coming to Toy Story Land, sadly, you’d be mistaken.
Instead, this new restaurant will be themed to resemble a new “rodeo” play area assembled with cardboard boxes cut and taped together, this new location will feature multiple dining rooms and plenty of familiar toy characters that have been brought together to create a fun, colorful mashup-atmosphere that only a child could create. This immersive restaurant will surround guests with a kaleidoscope of toys, games, and playsets that will certainly please fans of the long-running Toy Story franchise. This new dining location will be built in the front of Toy Story Land, near the giant Woody Toy Story Land entrance sign.
17. Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure (Epcot)
Image: Disney
Status: Confirmed
Opening in: TBA 2020
It has been confirmed that a Ratatouille-themed 3-D dark ride, largely the same as the one at Disneyland Paris, will be coming to Epcot in 2020. This attraction, which uses trackless technology to “shrink” guests down to the size of a rat, will be placed in an expansion pad next to the France Pavilion. You can check out a full video of the Disneyland Paris version of this attraction here.
While Ratatouille hasn’t exactly had the cultural relevance that other Pixar films like Toy Story or Up have had in the past decade, this addition does make sense in the context of the France pavilion, and will be the first new ride constructed in the World Showcase since the 1988 addition of Maelstrom.
18. Crêperie hybrid restaurant (Epcot)
Image: Disney
Status: Confirmed
Opening in: TBA 2020
The most recently-announced addition to the France pavilion is a brand new unamed hybrid quick/table service restaurant that will feature the cuisine of celebrity chef Jérôme Bocuse, the mastermind behind the pavilion’s Chefs de France brasserie and its celebration of gourmet cuisine, Monsieur Paul. This new location will feature a menu inspired by the Brittany region of France, and will have savory crepes called galettes and sweet crepes. And though the France pavilion already has plenty of places to eat (this will be the fifth dining location in this pavilion), this new hybrid restaurant should be a nice addition to the lineup with a simple menu with familiar options.
No opening date for this new location has been announced, but considering this new location will be a part of the France expansion, we’re guessing that it will likely open in 2020, alongside the afroementioned Ratatouille attraction.
19. Unnamed Beauty and the Beast Singalong (Epcot)
Image: Disney
Status: Confirmed
Opening in: TBA 2020
A new Beauty and the Beast sing-along attraction is coming to Epcot’s France pavilion, and will play in the theater that is currently home to “Impressions de France.” This new show will play in addition to the French film, and is being created by Don Hahn, producer of the animated and live-action “Beauty and the Beast” film. No timeline has been provided about when this new show might debut, but we’d imagine we are probably looking at an opening sometime next year.
20. A Celebration of Disney Music (Epcot)
Image: Disney
Status: Confirmed
Opening in: 2020
Though Epcot Forever will run in 2019, in 2020, a new permanent nighttime spectacular will debut. Called “A Celebration of Disney Music,” this new nighttime entertainment offering will show how Disney music inspires people around the globe, and will feature large floating set pieces, custom-built LED panels, kites with special effects, choreographed moving fountains, lights, pyrotechnics, and lasers. Confirmed Disney IPs that will be featured in this new production include Coco, Hercules, and Moana.Moving forward, this will be the permanent replacement for IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth, and the infrastructure for this show is under construction as we speak.
21. Untitled Cirque du Soleil show based on Disney movies (Disney Springs)
Image: Disney
Status: Confirmed
Opening in: TBA
Cirque du Soleil’s La Nouba at Disney Springs closed forever at the end of 2017, but just before it did, Disney confirmed that a new Cirque du Soleil production was being developed for this theater. But this time, this all-new show will have a uniquely Disney flair, and be unlike anything else either Disney or Cirque du Soleil have produced in the past.
According to a press release from Disney, this new show will be based around some of Disney’s most iconic films “draw [ing] its inspiration from Disney’s heritage of animation,” and will “celebrate Disney’s legacy of storytelling in Cirque du Soleil’s signature way, with a tribute to the one-of a kind craftsmanship that makes Disney so extraordinary.”
Image: Cirque du Soleil
Though it hasn’t been confirmed officially, inside sources have said that this show has run into some issues with development. In an effort to put this large space to work though, it has been suggested that while Disney and Cirque du Soleil figure out what to do with this new show some of the touring Cirque productions could stop by Disney Springs for a number of limited engagements.
22. Tron Lightcycle Power Run (Magic Kingdom)
Image: Disney
Status: Confirmed
Opening in: 2021
Though it has been rumored for a few months, we finally got confirmation at the 2017 edition of the D23 Expo that Disney is indeed bringing a duplicate of Shanghai Disneyland’s Tron Lightcycle Power Run attraction to Tomorrowland at the Magic Kingdom. This attraction, which allows guests to board a train of two-wheeled Lightcycles and go on a high-speed adventure through Tron’s high-tech universe, has been one of the most popular attractions at Shanghai Disneyland, and certainly is a sensible addition to the Magic Kingdom that should help draw thrill seekers and sci-fi fans to this park. You can check out a ride through of the version in Shanghai (which is supposed to be virtually identical to the upcoming Magic Kingdom version) here
However, in an interesting twist, it looks like rumors that predicted the destruction of the Tomorrowland Speedway to make way for this attraction were premature, as concept art shows Tron Lightcycle Power Run being built in an unused area next to Space Mountain, with a re-worked (and possibly re-routed) Tomorrowland Speedway in the foreground. Interestingly, it looks like changes may also be in store for some of the Magic Kingdom’s transportation options as well.
Image: Disney
Though preliminary work on the Tron Roller Coaster has been going on for almost a year now, it looks like construction is really going to be ramping up in the new year as Disney prepares to get this attraction for its 2021 debut. The project recently went vertical, as you can see in the video below:
As a result of all the construction in this area, the Walt Disney World Railroad is now closed for an indefinite amount of time to accomodate work in Tomorrowland, and potentially alter the track of this attraction as well. Though nothing has been specifically confirmed, concept art released last year seems to indicate that some substantial changes could be coming to the railroad that will alter the track to make way for the new Tron roller coaster
23. Untitled Guardians of the Galaxy Future World ride (Epcot)
Image: Disney
Status: Confirmed
Opening in: 2021
A Guardians of the Galaxy-inspired attraction will be added to Future World sometime in the next few years. Though this might seem like a strange addition to this part of Epcot considering the Guardians of the Galaxy film franchise is supposed to take place in the present day, Disney has said that this franchise makes for a good addition to Epcot’s Future World because it gives guests the chance to experience the excitement and adventure offered by space travel.
This attraction will be an indoor roller coaster that will repurpose much of the original Universe of Energy building, as well as a giant new structure that is currently under construction behind this area, that will be big enough to house FOUR Spaceship Earth structures. You can check out the massive foundation pour for this new structure below:
Though construction is well underway behind the Universe of Energy building, it looks like it will be a really long time before anyone flies to space with the Guarduans of the Galaxy.
Image: Disney
Disney has developed a new ride system for this attraction that will feature elevated roller coaster trains that conceal track underneath, and can also move independently, spinning around to face screens or setpieces, similar to the roller coaster trains used by Universal’s Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts attraction. You can see the prototype for the new ride vehicles above.
24. “Play” Pavilion (Epcot)
Image: Disney
Status: Confirmed
Opening in: 2021
After more than a decade being used as a Festival Center, it looks like the Wonders of Life pavilion is finally being turned into attraction space once again, and is being re-designed and re-branded as Future World’s new “Play” pavilion (we’re not quite sure if this is the official name or not). This updated space will be designed to look like an innovative indoor city that’ll come to life with interactive experiences, including ones that will include Disney characters. Though no specific IPs or attractions have been confirmed for this new pavilion, the concept art above features Mickey Mouse, as well as characters from Inside Out, Zootopia, the Aristocats, Sleeping Beauty, Peter Pan and Frozen, which is certainly exciting for Disney character fans!
Though no specific opening date was given for this area, Disney did confirm that this new pavilion will open just in time for the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World Resort in 2021. Zach Riddley, portfolio executive, Walt Disney Imagineering had this to say about this new “Play” pavilion:
“This innovative, new pavilion is beyond anything we’ve ever created and is completely unique to Epcot. Built on the power of play, it introduces an immersive and interactive ‘city’ where you can explore, create, and interact with some of your favorite Disney characters. This is an experience worthy of our bold vision for Epcot – and another signature element of our transformation.”
So there it is…Disney’s slate of new additions for the next few years. What are you most excited about?
