Now could be the most effective time (sing it with me) for Walt Disney World to reimagine Tomorrowland, and there’s cause to consider updates would possibly lastly be on the horizon beginning in 2026. There are a number of sights which might be effectively previous their prime, and different initiatives Imagineering is at present engaged on in Magic Kingdom and past counsel that they’re laying the muse for redevelopment of Tomorrowland.
This isn’t a brand new downside neither is it distinctive to Walt Disney World. The Tomorrowland downside is well-documented, and we really really feel somewhat responsible about advocating for an overhaul of Tomorrowland at Walt Disney World whilst Disneyland’s model clearly wants it extra. However who is aware of, perhaps these development partitions which were up for over 5 years across the entrance in Disneyland will lastly bear fruit someday earlier than 2055.
This isn’t to say Magic Kingdom’s imaginative and prescient of the long run is the envy of theme park followers the world over. There’s a cause why our record of the Prime 10 Trip Reimaginings Wanted at Walt Disney World is dominated by Tomorrowland sights. The distinction is that this submit is now not a want record. Somewhat, it seems that Walt Disney Imagineering is on the precipice of fixing Tomorrowland in Magic Kingdom. Or not less than enhancing it significantly. So the titular query actually is extra about questioning whether or not the celebrities have aligned and the time has lastly come…
After we first mentioned this risk of an overhaul, it appeared that Imagineering was teeing up a metamorphosis of Tomorrowland as a part of the 10-year plan within the early 2030s as soon as the present 5-year plan involving Automobiles and Villains Land is completed. For the explanations mentioned under, it appeared possible that these and different initiatives would facilitate a Tomorrowland overhaul.
Now it’s trying more and more doubtless that Imagineering takes a piecemeal strategy, and can begin to reimagine Tomorrowland earlier than then, with smaller-scale off-year initiatives undertaken to provide friends a cause to go to between now and the 2030s when the Magic Kingdom growth is lastly completed.
With that in thoughts, right here’s an inventory of Tomorrowland initiatives that would introduced on the 2025 Vacation spot D23 or 2026 D23 Expo…
Sew’s Nice Reentrance
Disney’s live-action “Lilo & Sew” remake is using a field workplace wave to $772 million in worldwide ticket gross sales, rating because the second-biggest Hollywood launch of 2025 by means of solely its first three weekends. And Sew is displaying sturdy legs, placing it on a trajectory to turn into the yr’s top-earning film and first $1 billion launch earlier than the month is over.
Explaining the sturdy efficiency for “Lilo & Sew” and its probability of breaking the billion-dollar barrier is its phrase of mouth and an distinctive response from moviegoers. The movie holds a 93% viewers rating on Rotten Tomatoes and an “A” CinemaScore. Sew has a multi-generational fanbase, seeing a resurgence with youthful generations and endurance with millennials.
That is one other instance of the facility of Sew, certainly one of Disney’s most beloved characters and largest manufacturers in accordance with the corporate. Past the enjoyable advertising and marketing marketing campaign, Disney has been touting the recognition of Sew and the standard of the animated movie from 2002 that has created an actual fandom–and is probably going already methods to construct on this ASAP, simply as they did again in 2002. As a result of the explanations for the remake’s recognition would additionally clarify why an attraction reboot would succeed.
Enter Sew’s Nice Reentrance, which may very well be one other 2026 undertaking introduced on the upcoming Vacation spot D23. Now for one thing controversial: Sew’s Nice Escape was underrated. This isn’t me taking part in revisionist historical past, solely lacking sights as soon as they’re extinct. I felt Sew’s Nice Escape was underrated even throughout its existence.
Underrated is a relative time period. So this isn’t to say that Sew’s Nice Escape was good (it positively wasn’t!), however that it was not as unhealthy as some followers made it out to be. Many referred to as it the worst attraction in Walt Disney World, which was just too harsh. Like so many followers my age who grew up on Walt Disney World, I had a tough time forgiving Sew’s Nice Escape for its authentic sin of changing the far superior Alien Encounter. However I however thought there have been nuggets of fine concepts in Sew’s Nice Escape, and “good bones” on the attraction.
Sew’s Nice Escape had a strong pre-show set-up and the Audio Animatronics determine of the character was the most effective created by Walt Disney Imagineering. It’s nonetheless fairly improbable, and alone might come near carrying a present. Greater than anything, the issue is the writing, and Sew’s Nice Escape being a product of its time. It tried to be edgy and angsty, and that got here throughout as crude and cynical. It was off-putting.
It was nearly as if the present writers had by no means seen “Lilo & Sew,” or perhaps watched solely the primary ~half-hour and mentioned “we get the thought.” Sew’s enchantment is that he’s a lovable misfit with an enormous coronary heart, and whereas his hijinks are a part of the enchantment, it’s his hotter aspect that resonates. The excellent news is that the most cost effective factor to repair in an attraction that doesn’t “work” is its script.
Imagineering might write circles across the outdated Sew’s Nice Escape, and inject recent life into this attraction in an analogous strategy to what was carried out with Nation Bear Musical Jamboree and the Little Mermaid – A Musical Journey. Whereas an entirely new attraction on this area could be optimum, a fast reimagining using present belongings is essentially the most environment friendly possibility.
Sew’s Nice Escape 2.0 wouldn’t be a world-class attraction, nevertheless it might not less than notice a few of its potential and be high quality noon filler. It’s definitely higher than the established order of utilizing this area as a storage and break room. Walt Disney World wants some “singles and doubles” earlier than the entire massive growth comes on-line, and this is able to be an enormous win on that entrance–respiration new life into present area and restoring misplaced capability to Magic Kingdom. And it might theoretically debut in 2026 even when introduced at Vacation spot D23!
House Mountain
There are rumors that House Mountain is subsequent up for a observe substitute in 2026 after Massive Thunder Mountain Railroad reopens. To be clear, I’ve not heard these rumors from any credible sources. However with the Buzz Lightyear’s House Ranger Spin reimagining now official, it’s totally believable that House Mountain may very well be subsequent up in a phased overhaul of Tomorrowland.
Magic Kingdom has a number of medium-term initiatives to be achieved earlier than 2030. Re-tracking of House Mountain may very well be amongst them. The explanations for this needs to be fairly simple to anybody who has ridden House Mountain within the final decade or two.
House Mountain was as soon as slated for a complete overhaul in 2009, however that as a substitute ended up being a multi-month undertaking that concerned TLC however was largely beauty and thematic in nature. Over 15 years later, it’s secure to imagine the trip wants a re-tracking extra now than it does then. From what I perceive, curler coasters don’t age like wine.
Personally, I’m nonetheless skeptical that House Mountain can be subsequent up in 2026. However I do suppose a re-tracking is inevitable in some unspecified time in the future within the subsequent decade, and it’ll happen versus a demolition and rebuild a la Tokyo Disneyland. There merely isn’t sufficient area backstage for that, and it’s exhausting to fathom Walt Disney World desirous to spend that sum of money.
It actually turns into a query of when, not if, and making this a fully-fledged reimagining–versus only a re-tracking–to tie into a much bigger image Tomorrowland overhaul is smart. When paired with the aforementioned Sew’s Nice Escape and Buzz under, this may very well be for a trifecta of Tomorrowland bulletins on the 2025 Vacation spot D23.
Buzz Lightyear’s House Ranger Spin
This one has already been formally introduced, so technically, we’ll hear new particulars about this undertaking on the 2025 Vacation spot D23, which can be held mere weeks after the trip closes for its prolonged overhaul. (See Buzz Lightyear’s House Ranger Spin will shut for reimagining beginning in Fall 2025 and reopen someday in 2026.)
What we all know to this point is that Imagineers are taking the bones of Buzz Lightyear’s House Ranger Spin and modernizing the attraction with improved gameplay, new handheld blasters, up to date trip autos, and quite a lot of enhancements together with a brand new present scene and Audio Animatronics character.
I like the thought of this attraction as a shooter trip that makes use of bodily present scenes to make it participating for friends who need to benefit from the attraction passively. A few of the staging, props, and Audio Animatronics are actually cool. The interactivity is enjoyable, and Walt Disney World might use extra sights like this. These updates will breathe new life into Buzz Lightyear’s House Ranger Spin, probably making it the most effective incarnation of the ‘blasters’ trip on the earth.
When beforehand discussing a possible reimagining to this attraction, we identified that Tokyo Disneyland closed its newer, higher, and meticulously-maintained model of Astro Blasters. A few of its belongings may very well be shipped to Walt Disney World and reused–there’s doubtless a treasure trove of props and figures that would improve the Magic Kingdom model.
Tomorrowland Speedway
Disney introduced a brand new Automobiles space in Magic Kingdom that may exchange the Rivers of America, leading to everlasting closures of Tom Sawyer Island and the Liberty Sq. Riverboat. This nonetheless might sound unrelated to Tomorrowland. It’s not.
There are a few pretty main connections. The Piston Peak space will function two rides, each of which (shockingly) concentrate on Automobiles. One is a rally race that places friends behind the wheel (form of) in a car that simulates the thrill of driving on numerous terrain.
We’ve referred to as this Tomorrowland Speedway on steroids–consider it as iterating on that attraction in a considerably related strategy to what Avatar Flight of Passage does with Soarin. The distinction is that each of these sights are newer, extra fashionable, and in numerous parks. There was no need for one to interchange the opposite.
In contrast, Tomorrowland Speedway sits on a big and invaluable plot of actual property in a park that Disney would very very similar to to develop with out constructing past the berm. Releasing up that area could be massively useful, permitting for growth of Tomorrowland or Fantasyland.
This could be much like how the closure of the Grand Circuit Raceway at Tokyo Disneyland paved the best way for Enchanted Story of Magnificence and the Beast, The Completely happy Trip with Baymax, and extra. There’s not sufficient room for all of that on account of TRON, however there’s sufficient area for a consequential attraction.
Monsters, Inc. Snigger Flooring
Disney has additionally introduced the Monsters, Inc. Doorways Coaster and Monstropolis lastly coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. As well as that coaster, there will even be a brand new present in Monstro Theater, which is proven within the idea artwork as taking on the area that previously housed MuppetVision 3D.
With that, the Monsters, Inc. Snigger Flooring in Tomorrowland turns into redundant. It’s not fully clear whether or not Snigger Flooring goes to be relocated to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, however we doubt it. Even within the absence of this Monstropolis growth, Snigger Flooring is displaying its age and would most likely be due for substitute within the subsequent 5 years.
Regardless, Walt Disney World doesn’t want two separate Monsters, Inc. reveals in two separate parks. Monstropolis is one other medium-term transfer on the board that frees up area in an overhaul of Tomorrowland.
Carousel of Progress & PeopleMover
Inside the previous few years, Carousel of Progress and the TTA PeopleMover acquired minor updates to freshen them up. These weren’t blockbuster modifications, however have been incremental upgrades that have been additionally clearly ardour initiatives that demonstrated there are Imagineers engaged on to enhance Tomorrowland who “get it” and care.
Personally, I’ve combined emotions about extra formidable updates to each Carousel of Progress and the PeopleMover. If another person made this record, each is likely to be on the prime of it. And I’m not suggesting that they don’t have room for enchancment–they completely do! I’d like to see new vignettes alongside the TTA, and I personally wouldn’t thoughts a ‘new’ model of Carousel of Progress that presents the attraction as a historic presentation of how the long run was envisioned within the final century, versus the idiot’s errand of attempting to maintain in present.
On the similar time, I even have a “watch out what you would like for” voice in the back of my head, questioning if it’s higher that Disney leaves each effectively sufficient alone at this level. There isn’t as a lot draw back danger to the PeopleMover, however I worry a fully-funded Carousel of Progress overhaul might essentially alter the attraction, giving it a unnecessary IP integration to spice issues up (much like the deserted Spaceship Earth: Our Shared Story). Possibly this is the place Sew really finally ends up, with the mischief-maker added to that ‘ohana. He wouldn’t be so loveable if that occurred.
Tomorrowland ’55
Tomorrowland now not has a definite visible identification. There are remnants of the House Age prospers and Googie structure of the unique Tomorrowland within the core buildings, a few of which have been introduced again to the fore throughout latest streamlining. There’s nonetheless a melange of Streamline Moderne, Manufacturing unit Pomo and industrial design, which is what’s being peeled again. There’s additionally a hodgepodge of varied different stuff because of additions and partial removals.
There’s additionally TRON Lightcycle Energy Run with its swooping natural design and biomimicry options. This model of structure is not like something at present present in Magic Kingdom’s Tomorrowland, which is smart provided that the trip was cloned from Shanghai Disneyland, the place it suits alongside that park’s distinctive Tomorrowland and metropolis itself. Walt Disney World isn’t going to make the remainder of Tomorrowland resemble TRON, so there’s at all times going to be a level of discord. That’s completely advantageous.
The very best case situation might be additional stripping away the hodgepodge to disclose the mid-century or streamline model beneath and including new thematic parts harking back to Googie or House Age design. That’s not the identical because the natural design of TRON Lightcycle Energy Run, however each share ultramodern bloodlines.
Personally, I believe that might work. Googie is troublesome to outline, however I believe it’s not less than adjoining to each the swooping strains of the PeopleMover observe and the cover of TRON Lightcycle Run. Issues just like the Palms of Tomorrow are most likely post-modern, but in addition can coexist peacefully alongside the biomimicry of TRON. There are kernels of concepts and thematic parts that may exist in concord, and there’s nothing unsuitable with mixing kinds–not like all futuristic cities have a singular architectural identification.
I additionally wouldn’t thoughts Walt Disney World totally leaning into nostalgia and restoring the unique entrance to Tomorrowland. There’s a cause that is the one factor Tokyo Disneyland isn’t touching in its Tomorrowland, and why Disneyland introduced a reimagined entrance that evokes this look. As a result of it holds up.
My private want record apart, all eyes needs to be on what occurs in the course of the Buzz Lightyear’s House Ranger Spin reimagining. The attraction will nearly definitely get a brand new facade and marquee–the prevailing exterior appears to be like prefer it was thrown up as a part of an in a single day overlay, Spirit Halloween model. It was a product of the time and Imagineering might accomplish that significantly better at this time, which might additional enhance the look of Tomorrowland. I don’t doubt it’ll be higher, I’m extra inquisitive about what model it’ll be in. As a result of that may doubtless set the tone for the initiatives to come back, and we’ll see related kinds used on inevitable initiatives across the Avenue of the Planets.
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Your Ideas
What do you consider Tomorrowland at Magic Kingdom? Suppose the land can be overhauled within the 2030s given the long run redundancy of Tomorrowland Speedway and Monsters Snigger Flooring? Or do you suppose we might get a Tomorrowland trifecta in 2026 with House Mountain and Sew’s Nice Escape becoming a member of the Buzz Lightyear’s House Ranger Spin reimagining? Do you agree or disagree with my evaluation? Any questions we may help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even whenever you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!
