by Ray Keating
News/Analysis
DisneyBizJournal.com
August 26, 2019
No matter which part of the Disney universe one might be interested in, there seemed to be something announced at D23 over the weekend to provide excitement. That speaks to the Walt Disney Company’s aggressiveness and confidence in what they’re doing, and the fact that they’re not shy about investing in their vision.
Consider developments in key areas.
Walt Disney World
The announcement that the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser will be much more than a themed hotel, but rather, as noted on the Disney Parks Blog, “a new, first-of-its-kind vacation experience where guests will check in for a two-night adventure aboard a glamorous starship.” Rather than guests being at a hotel, this promises to be more of a cruise – but on board a starcruiser. If done well, this promises to be a gamechanger for theme park hotels. Watch other theme parks, including those in the Disney family, follow suit with this kind of uniquely immersive experience.
Source: DisneyParksBlog.com
And EPCOT will be undergoing a dramatic transformation in coming years. As Disney puts it, the new experiences in EPCOT “will make the park more Disney, more family, more timeless and more relevant to the millions of guests who visit each year.” Among the changes coming, Future World will give way to new “neighborhoods – World Celebration, World Discovery and World Nature.
World Celebration will include Dreamers Point, identified as having “lush gardens, a wishing tree, an interactive new fountain and a new statue celebrating the legacy of the original dreamer, Walt Disney.”
As for World Discovery, it will feature the storytelling coaster Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, which will claim “the first reverse launch into space” that “rotates to focus on the action – wherever it may be.”
Source: DisneyParksBlog.com
Also, the expansion of Mission: Space will include the new restaurant, Space 220, that opens this coming winter. Its name comes from the fact that diners will be treated to views of Earth from 220 miles up.
And among the changes coming to World Showcase will be an attraction inspired by Mary Poppins joined with the United Kingdom pavilion. Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure opens in the France pavilion in the summer of 2020.
In addition, the Journey of Water, inspired by Moana, will arrive in the World of Nature.
In addition to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opening late this month in Hollywood Studios, and the aforementioned Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser, Hollywood Studios will be welcoming Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway in spring 2020.
And at the Magic Kingdom, TRON Lightcycle Run willsee “riders board a train of two-wheeled Lightcycles and experience the energy, lights and excitement of TRON’s high-tech universe.”
Disneyland
Among the announcements about the Disneyland included those related to Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure Park, including Worldwide Engineering Brigade housing the Spider-Man experience, which will be “the first Disney ride-through attraction to feature” Spidey; and the Pym Test Kitchen “using the latest innovations to grow and shrink food at this eatery.” Perhaps most intriguing, during phase two, Disney Parks Blog reported that Avengers Headquarters
“...will become the future entrance to a brand-new E-Ticket attraction where you will step on board a Quinjet and fly alongside the Avengers in an epic adventure to Wakanda and beyond! You will team up alongside the Avengers in a battle to save our world against one of the most powerful villains they have ever faced. Imagineers are hard at work conceiving an all-new innovative ride system to put you in the middle of this action.”
Source: DisneyParksBlog.com
Disney Cruise Line
Disney also announced the name of its fifth cruise ship – the Disney WISH – which will set sail in January 2022. The WISH joins two other new ships on the way.
Marvel Movies and More
As for Marvel Studios announcements at D23, they included Black Panther 2being released on May 6, 2022; and The Eternals coming on November 6, 2020. Also, three more shows were announced for the Disney+ streaming service – Ms. Marvel, Moon Knight, and She Hulk.
Star Wars
As for the Star Warsuniverse, D23 saw the release of a new trailer for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker and the first trailer for the Disney+ series The Mandalorian – and both, by the way, look awesome!
Source: DisneyParksBlog.com
For good measure, it was announced that new episodes of The Clone Wars will debut on Disney+ on February 20, 2020.
And there was more at D23. But again, what all of the news and fun tells us is that Disney is aggressively investing in its intertwined businesses, including theme parks, movies, streaming service, cruise line, and more.
Keep in mind what the New York Times reported in November:
“Each of Disney’s six theme park resorts around the world is undergoing major expansion, along with Disney Cruise Line. Michael Nathanson, a longtime media analyst, estimates that Disney will spend $24 billion on new attractions, hotels and ships over the next five years. That’s more than Disney paid for Pixar, Marvel and Lucasfilm combined.”
Disney has become the big kahuna in the world of entertainment. One of the dangers of being a big business is that innovation and creativity can falter. That’s not the case with Disney now or for the foreseeable future, given the enormous investments the company is making.
Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com, and author of the Pastor Stephen Grant novels. He can be contacted at raykeating@keatingreports.com.
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