Is Tomorrowland’s Future at Risk Amid Disneyland’s Massive Expansions?

by

Last year, Disney revealed its intention to invest around $60 billion over the next ten years, with a large chunk earmarked for a new fleet of cruise ships and an impressive portion allocated for enhancing Disney Parks. Already, these investments are becoming evident at Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort.

Simultaneously, Disney World is set to undertake three significant renovation projects. Earlier this month, we received confirmation that the initial stage of DisneylandForward, a substantial resort expansion, will commence later in the year. This development undoubtedly excites any enthusiast about the future. Nevertheless, it’s safe to assume that updates desperately needed on both coasts might be several years off.

Disney World And Disneyland Resorts Are Focused On The Future

At present, construction barriers are in place at Disney’s Hollywood Studios (DHS) and Disney’s Animal Kingdom (DAK), as each park is undergoing major transformations across entire lands. Specifically, DHS is set to replace the Muppet Courtyard with a Monsters, Inc. themed area. Conversely, DAK is bidding farewell to Dinoland U.S.A., making way for a Tropical Americas land that will incorporate attractions inspired by both “Encanto” and Indiana Jones.

Currently, Disneyland Resort is planning significant changes. This includes overhauling the entire entryway, transforming a large portion of Disney California’s Hollywood Land into an Avatar land, and adding a new Coco ride to Pixar Pier. These alterations are just the tip of the iceberg, as both Disneyland Park and DCA are also slated for extensive expansion. Once completed, Disneyland Resort might be unrecognizable from its current state.

Everything looks fantastic! I’m just as eager as anyone else to explore the fresh Disney World attractions, the revamped Downtown Disney at Disneyland, and all the other exciting additions yet to come. The upcoming decade promises to be a treasure trove of delights, but it’s somewhat ironic that the future appears so radiant, given that the land initially dedicated to the future might need to wait quite a while for its own refresh.

Tomorrowland Needs Help At Both Disneyland And Magic Kingdom

It appears quite improbable that substantial resources will be allocated towards modernizing any of the traditional castle parks, apart from what’s already planned for Magic Kingdom, which can be disheartening as Tomorrowland could benefit from some attention. The Magic Kingdom’s iteration is becoming noticeably outdated, and Disneyland in particular requires more substantial assistance.

Tomorrowland, whether it’s in Disney parks or elsewhere, has consistently faced an uphill battle when it comes to staying current. The reason being, tomorrow eventually becomes today, and what was once considered futuristic starts to look outdated. This is the predicament both Tomorrowlands find themselves in; a large number of their attractions are now decades old, and aside from the new Tron: Lightcycle Run at Magic Kingdom, they no longer evoke a sense of the future that feels fresh and modern.

It’s important for a “Tomorrow”-themed land not to appear dated or reminiscent of the past. While adding new attractions can help, a significant overhaul in design is needed to give Tomorrowland a fresher and more contemporary look. This could involve updating the overall aesthetic to reflect a vision of the future that resonates with us today, or perhaps creating a timeless design that maintains its appeal for longer periods.

For years, there’s been chatter about potential renovations to Tomorrowland at Disneyland, yet these plans seem to constantly be delayed. At one time, whispers circulated about an update for Space Mountain inspired by Pixar’s “Lightyear”. If “Lightyear” had been successful, it might have sparked the implementation of this concept, but unfortunately, the movie didn’t perform well, so no action was taken.

It appears that a significant renovation project on another key land at Magic Kingdom is scheduled to last for several years, possibly including the Piston Peak Frontierland overhaul and the upcoming Villains Land expansion. This suggests that major developments in this park might pause until these projects are completed, which could take anywhere from five to more years.

At Disneyland, things seem to be holding steady for now without significant interior renovations planned in the existing park. However, the expansion of the entire Disneyland Resort promises substantial changes that will demand attention, making it likely that DisneylandForward’s 10-year plan could keep them busy. In simpler terms, this means it might take another decade before Disneyland is able to make major updates to Tomorrowland. So, is it possible we’ll have to wait another ten years for Tomorrowland to receive significant upgrades?

Could The Fantastic Four Save Tomorrowland?

It’s quite plausible that Tomorrowland at Disneyland could undergo its long-awaited renovation sooner than expected. While the DisneylandForward project primarily seems to be about expansion, there’s no rule against incorporating an update for Tomorrowland as well. If the resort deems it necessary to invest, it might do so, possibly even this summer.

In about a month, we’ll witness the debut of “Fantastic Four: First Steps”. A few months ago, I proposed an idea: since it’s common for Marvel Cinematic Universe films to introduce characters at Disneyland Resort, instead of having the Fantastic Four join Avengers Campus, perhaps they should be introduced in Tomorrowland. The film’s futuristic-retro style draws from similar inspirations as Tomorrowland, making them a harmonious pair.

Just moments after I penned that down, it was revealed that the Fantastic Four will make their debut in Tomorrowland at Disneyland on July 25, coinciding with the movie’s release. If these characters prove popular and if, unlike the recent film ‘Lightyear’, ‘Fantastic Four’ turns out to be a box office success (which appears likely), it may lead to updates of Tomorrowland being included in the existing plans.

Tomorrowland is in need of assistance, and the work needs to be completed promptly. If we don’t update the entire park to feel fresh and invigorating, the overall experience will suffer, even with all the upcoming enhancements. I sincerely hope that Disney has set aside some of their $60 billion for Tomorrowland renovations, and I eagerly anticipate seeing those improvements sooner rather than later.

Read More

2025-06-27 03:38