Though it seems likely that many long-term Disney projects will be significantly delayed or perhaps even cancelled altogether due to the extended theme park closure (now in effect until at least April 30) due to the COVID-19 Coronavirus outbreak, there will also be some significant short term changes to Disney Parks as well. Because construction across both Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort is shut down, here are some of the Disney projects that were previously slated to be complete this year that will now see delays in the short term. Assuming that Disney Parks are able to reopen in June, here’s when we might actually get to see some of these new projects
1. Avengers Campus
Original opening date: July 17, 2020
Likely delayed until: Fall 2020
Though the Marvel-themed Avengers Campus was supposed to open this summer along with the new WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure ride, with work completely halted three months before its grand opening, we’ll likely have to wait a little longer before experiencing this new area at Disney California Adventure. However, as long as we end up seeing a summer reopening at this park, we’d guess this new land will up and running this fall, as work on the interior of the Spider-Man ride was basically complete back in February, with mostly facade work being done around this new area.
As for the rest of the land, unfortunately we don’t know how “done” the various eateries and character meet and greet areas are yet, but with the new Spider-Man ride being the main draw for Avengers Campus, we can see Disneyland Resort perhaps doing a phased opening if the restaurants and meet and greet areas are not open yet. Guests will understandably be hesitant to flock back to Disney parks even when they do open, so Disney will likely be in a hurry to get guests in to this new area as soon as possible, and we’d imagine that unless Disney parks stay closed past June 1, this new land (or at least most of it) will be open before years’ end.
2. Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
Original opening date: Summer 2020
Likely delayed until: Fall 2020
Epcot is in a similar situation as Disney California Adventure, as the interior of the new Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure ride is basically done according to reports, and was all set to open in an expanded France pavilion in Summer 2020. And though work on the area around the ride as well as the crepe restaurant that was set to open alongside the ride still needs to be finished, this is another project that will likely be prioritized once Walt Disney World reopens, so that guests can look forward to something “new” at the resort.
3. Harmonius
Original opening date: Spring 2020
Likely delayed until: Early 2021
Late last year it was confirmed for the first time that Harmonious would be making its debut at Epcot sometime in spring 2020, with work progressing quickly around Epcot’s World Showcase Lagoon on infrastructure for this show. And though Disney never made a formal announcement about an official opening date, it will of course miss its original spring opening target. And while we could see this new nighttime show potentially fast-tracked to late 2020 like Avengers Campus and the France Expansion, this may be one project Disney doesn’t necessarily want to rush, especially if the resort begins using social distancing measures. Crowding a bunch of people around a lagoon to watch a new show would seem ill-advised on the heels of a global pandemic, which is why we would guess that this is one attraction that will be pushed to early next year at the soonest.
4. Wondrous China (Epcot)
Image: Disney
Original opening date: TBA 2020
Likely delayed until: Early 2021
A brand new film named Wondrous China be coming to Epcot’s China Pavilion sometime in the near future. Presented in a new seamless digital 360 degree format, the movie will include new scenes, music and locations. And though this film was supposed to debut sometime in 2020, we’d imagine that, much like with Harmonious, opening an attraction where people crowd together in a single area wouldn’t be the best idea in the near future, which is why we’ll probably see this new film-based attraction open some time next year.
5. Cirque du Soleil: Drawn to Life (Disney Springs)
Image: Disney
Original opening date: March 20, 2020
Likely delayed until: TBA, possibly cancelled forever
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. Based around some of Disney’s most iconic films, this new show will “draw 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.”
This new show was supposed to begin preview performances on March 20th, but the show was suspended and postponed indefinitely. And instead of retaining performers, Cirque du Soleil has laid off 95% of its workforce, and has said that it may pursue bankruptcy filing, according to Forbes, which seems to make the idea of re-hiring workers and putting this show back on, an unfortunately distant possibility.
