Villains Land at Magic Kingdom

[Viator]

I’m going to bring up the last time Drew Taylor did a specific theme park rumor article on The Wrap, it was with USH and Super Nintendo World apparently getting a “Donkey Kong Country” expansion down the line.

Could it be accurate? Maybe. But I don’t buy it.

 

[MikeyMcFly97]

Maleficent coaster is now an Emperor's New Groove coaster? Awesome!
The coaster is being toned down to a family coaster vs high thrill? Oof.

Magic Kingdom does not need another Slinky/Seven Dwarfs level coaster, so I really hope it's at least on par with Space Mountain's intensity.

Agreed. Neeeeeeds to be thrill.

 

[Jake S]

Listen, if your definition of "high thrill" is Magic Kingdom's Space Mountain ... I think you'll be fine with what they end up releasing. As for the rest of the report... let's wait and see what they actually announce. I find it hard to believe that they're going to go from no permanent presence for what's ultimately a millennial cult classic (Emperor's New Groove, I am part of the cult) to the centerpiece of one of their biggest expansions at their biggest theme park.

 

[PerceptiveCoot]

An Emperor's New Groove coaster Yzma coaster with Patrick Warburton reprising his role is a great idea, I don't know what to tell you guys.

The Ursula flat ride strikes me as some PR guy seeding false rumors that seem plausible but are inaccurate. We know they did try to make an Ursula spinner at one point, but has anyone who has seen that concept art knows, the concept for the ride is incredibly stupid.

Honestly, if this rumor is true, the most exciting implication may be that D'Amaro is a closet millennial, and we'll actually get rides for the Disney Renaissance properties for once.

 

[SeventyOne]

This report (the accuracy of which is debatable) actually makes me kind of concerned.

I know THE EMPEROR'S NEW GROOVE has a loyal following... but that movie would be way, way down my list for the kind of atmosphere I'm hoping to see from this land.

I find it hard to believe that they're going to go from no permanent presence for what's ultimately a millennial cult classic (Emperor's New Groove, I am part of the cult) to the centerpiece of one of their biggest expansions at their biggest theme park.

It's a fine movie -- and I fully expected a "pull the lever" scene somewhere in the main ride. But it doesn't deserve its own coaster over Maleficent.

 

[UniversalRBLX]

That article (and all the Disney fan sites) seem to be regurgitating the same rumors and concept previously considered.

Very broad comments on what might be featured.

The number of insiders reporting accurate information (and sites) has dwindled over the years. We didn't even hear about the Monsters Inc Coaster/Land or Cars being unique.. not a copy of DCA.

 

[Jake S]

The number of insiders reporting accurate information (and sites) has dwindled over the years. We didn't even hear about the Monsters Inc Coaster/Land or Cars being unique.. not a copy of DCA.

Yeah, that's a good point. Disney is running a much tighter ship than it was in the past ... except for the times it wants things to get leaky, of course.

 

[PerceptiveCoot]

It's a fine movie -- and I fully expected a "pull the lever" scene somewhere in the main ride.

The article also appears to imply that the coaster will mostly be outdoors (i.e it won't qualify for a Lightning Lane Single Pass), which, in my opinion, is thematically incorrect.

Also, having read the full Wrap article now, I don't think intentionally looking to the past for attraction concepts is inherently a good idea, especially if the intention is to give forum psychos like us (and no one else) member berries. Presumably that's (if this is true!) how you get someone pitching an Emperor's New Groove Coaster in the year of our lord 2026.

The number of insiders reporting accurate information (and sites) has dwindled over the years. We didn't even hear about the Monsters Inc Coaster/Land or Cars being unique.. not a copy of DCA.

For the longest time, some people were certain that the Magic Kingdom expansion would be Cars and some kind of Coco Flight of Passage.

 

[Jake S]

Presumably that's (if this is true!) how you get someone pitching an Emperor's New Groove Coaster in the year of our lord 2026.

I assume that's also how we got the Monster's Inc. Door Coaster, so I suppose it's not all bad.

 

[Cup_Of_Coffee]

Emperors New Groove, wow less iconic than some other films, while brilliant, is PERFECT for a THEME PARK ride. Just like how HTTYD isn’t the most popular franchise they could have chosen, but it is an outstanding theme park land. I like that choice for inspiration.

 

[mccgavin]

Don't get me wrong, I love The Emperor's New Groove, but I'm not sure if this is the best fit. Presumably, it would be a coaster themed as a coaster like it was in the film, just outdoors. I'm not sure if that is the best move for the visual identity of the land that many are hoping for.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

Anyone who ever thought an attraction with a 52 or 54 inch height requirement would come to MK doesn’t understand Disneys business model.

You literally said you wanted the coaster to be a vekoma tilt track coaster.

 

[Brian G.]

I'm the Universal guy, so you're more than welcome to doubt it - but my two cents? This feels more like a classic game of Telephone. Something probably got lost in translation.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

I think Berk comparisons are for the walk around entertainment and layout and not “more family friendly” fwiw.

 

[DarkMetroid567]

I think Berk comparisons are for the walk around entertainment and layout and not “more family friendly” fwiw.

Yeah, I don’t see how it can make sense otherwise. Berk is an incredibly gentle/friendly land, even by Universal standards. But from a design perspective it’s also one of the best theme park lands of all-time!

 

[SkiBum]

While I enjoyed "The Emperor's New Groove", I can't believe that they would use Yzma as a major villain. Dr. Facillier would be a great choice for a coaster-based villain, as well as Scar or Jafar. A Maleficent boat ride could be awesome, though. A third ride being a spinner is ridiculous with the park already having two running. Honestly, the Intamin’s “Dynamic Motion Stage" would have been a great choice although they would need to scale it up for capacity. However, I doubt that they would listen to me. I recognize that this is all unconfirmed but just my own musings.

 

[PerceptiveCoot]

I'm the Universal guy, so you're more than welcome to doubt it - but my two cents? This feels more like a classic game of Telephone. Something probably got lost in translation.

I'm manifesting a Peru pavilion with authentic cui cui.

 

[Mad Dog]

I'm just happy to get a full fledged Villains land. All I ask for is attractions that are lots of Fun, high capacity, and not so over engineered that they break down a lot. The rest is icing on the cake.

 

[UniversalRBLX]

I'm the Universal guy, so you're more than welcome to doubt it - but my two cents? This feels more like a classic game of Telephone. Something probably got lost in translation.

100%

I firmly believe these articles seem to be a Chat GPT summary of the WDWMagic forums on Villains Land over the years. All these "major" news outlets know nothing of the parks and what they are working on. All these Disney sites are just regurgitating this information for clicks. Disney has a great relationship with most news outlets... so for them to have something like this released without their knowledge would be unprecedented.

The land is not, or ever was, designed to be like Dark Universe, it's just a "darker" version of Fantasyland that isn't scary... just twisted. Star Wars Land.. but not taking it's self seriously if that makes sense. Villains have always been utilized in the parks as clumsy or chaotic, but never truly horrifying.

Disney is in the process of getting contractors confirmed and securing contracts.... so this could also be Disney allowing this information to be thrown out there during this process to muddy the waters. With more and more non-Disney folks being brought in, leaks become more of a possibility.

---------
On another note, Emperor's New Groove would be a similar scenario to Tron. An IP that has little traction with very small merchandise opportunities... but fits perfectly well for a theme park attraction.

 

[Jake S]

with very small merchandise opportunities

tell that to the guy who had to wait in a long-ass line to get a Cusco Poison Sipper at disneyland.

it was me. i'm the guy.