'Avatar,' 'Coco' attractions are coming to Disneyland — and other big news from D23

[LKing]

Wait what? They had one of those over at DCA?

They had one of what?
A food court? https://yesterland.com/hollywooddine.html
Carousel of Progress? https://www.yesterland.com/progress.html

 

[OlliePop27]

I agree - I do not believe they are removing anything at DCA to build new rides (except maybe Monsters Inc.). The whole premise of this global expansion is to ADD capacity. Executives are on the record saying they need to expand and add capacity by growing the parks, not repurposing existing attractions. Removing rides and then replacing them with something else doesn't help accomplish this.

The only ride potentially on the chopping block is Monsters Inc. There is FAR more space in this area than people realize. There's multiple empty soundstages and the empty Hyperion. The hypothesis is that DCA will expand north into the current bus loop. The bus loop will be moved east to the new entry area east of Harbor. To me, this makes Hollywoodland the most likely area for Avatar. I will be sad to see Monsters Inc. go, so I wish they could somehow preserve it (unlikely I know).

As for Coco, I have no idea where that could go without moving across DL Drive. I did not see an expansion pad in Pixar Pier. It wouldn't make sense to me for Little Mermaid to be removed. It's a popular high-capacity ride that's less than 20 years old. Is it perfect? No, but it's a great FAMILY FRIENDLY ride. DCA needs MORE family friendly things to do, not less - especially if Monsters Inc. is potentially being removed. Think about it - how many no height requirement rides are at DCA? Not many especially in comparison to DL.

 

[OlliePop27]

I just wanted to add an image to overview the area. Look at how much wasted space is in Hollywoodland (red lines). All but Monsters. Inc. in the middle is empty. Phillarmagic, as much as I love the show, plays to mostly empty crowds all day. The yellow area is open space if the buses are moved. The blue area on the right is where the new parking garage is likely to go, along with bus loop and security. There will be some kind of bridge over Harbor in the blue area shown, just north of Tropicana. Exactly how this looks, I don't know and they will need to maintain some separation between DL and DCA so people can walk in from the east side to the Esplanade. They will also incorporate some kind of access for people staying on Harbor and to get to restaurants on Harbor.

 

[dina444444]

They had one of what?
A food court? https://yesterland.com/hollywooddine.html
Carousel of Progress? https://www.yesterland.com/progress.html

The carousel of progress building is currently used by Disney imagination campus in addition to hosting the darth Vader m&g and the dvc lounge.
Stage 17 is event space and I believe stage 12 is as well.

 

[LKing]

The carousel of progress building is currently used by Disney imagination campus in addition to hosting the darth Vader m&g and the dvc lounge.
Stage 17 is event space and I believe stage 12 is as well.

Yeah, but that is just temporary filler. It is a huge space. Plus, aren't they moving Imagination Campus to DCA?

 

[OlliePop27]

Yeah, but that is just temporary filler. It is a huge space. Plus, aren't they moving Imagination Campus to DCA?

You are correct, I believe Imagination Campus is using COP building PLUS space in the Animation Building in DCA. Space used for events and money making endeavors should not be discounted, but I agree with you that this is filler. Disney will make far more money by adding capacity to the park, allowing more people to be in the park at any given time buying food and merch, and enticing people to actually visit in the first place given the soft recent attendance.

 

[twitch]

Does anyone know the the path Little Mermaid takes under the ground?

I think Little Mermaid is entirely contained within (and under) the show building. I'd be really surprised to learn that it extended under the Challenge Trail.

 

[twitch]

I just wanted to add an image to overview the area. Look at how much wasted space is in Hollywoodland (red lines). All but Monsters. Inc. in the middle is empty. Phillarmagic, as much as I love the show, plays to mostly empty crowds all day. The yellow area is open space if the buses are moved. The blue area on the right is where the new parking garage is likely to go, along with bus loop and security. There will be some kind of bridge over Harbor in the blue area shown, just north of Tropicana. Exactly how this looks, I don't know and they will need to maintain some separation between DL and DCA so people can walk in from the east side to the Esplanade. They will also incorporate some kind of access for people staying on Harbor and to get to restaurants on Harbor.
View attachment 885318

Philarmagic is also in that red area that you've circled. I realize that many consider it a cheap placeholder to use that space, but I always walk out having enjoyed the way that the music and animation weave from one story to the next.

 

[ClaraOswald]

Agree totally. Disneyland knows where the new attractions will go. I honestly do not think existing attractions will be removed. The Avengers campus will be added to the existing backstage/parking lot that is adjacent to the existing campus. I think the Coco ride will be next to Little Mermaid and all that area where Corn Dog Castle and Seaside Souvenirs will be gone. I also think you might see the DCA attractions like the Avatar Pandora go where Paradise Grill and Boardwalk Pizza is located. There is a lot of space in DCA that can be used. The Coco ride could go where the Hyperion and Stage 12 is as well.

They definitely know. I think they wanted to keep the energy of the show up so they'd announce things and then have musical numbers and then move onto the next thing. I definitely think DCA will be losing at least a few things.

I don't feel for the size of the Avatar are, the existing areas you describe are big enough. Only Grizzly River Run and Redwood Challenge are big enough. I would love to be wrong.

I'll honestly be surprised if Avatar doesn't go into that area. Pleasantly surprised though! I don't want to lose that area.

Why touch a area that already has rides when you have a new blank canvas with Disneyland forward. I see no way they put avatar land into DCA as it is now. Retheming grizzly area effects the expensive hotel overlooking it

I assumed since they never mentioned "Disneyland Forward", that means none of the stuff they mentioned will be going in that section. I could be wrong, of course.

Yeah sight lines are the biggest impediment. I can’t visualize how that would be. On the other hand, locating it there gives the highest paying hotel and DVC guests an exclusive entrance to Disneyland resort’s newest (at least for a while) land.

I own at VGC and this would NOT be a good thing to me. I don't want to walk from a beautiful Arts and Craft style hotel into the Avatar stuff. Yuck. Walking into the current space the way it is is absolutely perfect. It's the exact correct "vibe." Avatar would kill that vibe.

It's exciting to hear of the new Avatar land, Coco ride and especially the Walt Disney animatronic. But, my kids and I are disappointed that the Avatar ride will not be the same type of ride as Flight of Passage at Walt Disney World's Animal Kingdom. That is an epic ride experience that was a top family favorite and we were really looking forward to having that same experience at Disneyland. The idea of a "boat ride" feels like a let down when compared to riding a skimwing. I'm not seeing how a boat ride is "going to be a dynamic, intense and emotional experience on a grand scale that we know our guests will love." But, I hope I am proven wrong when I experience it for myself for the first time.

If it's like Shanghai Pirates, I think it will be good. I'm glad it will be a boat ride because DCA is lacking in family-friendly rides.

Is the boat ride the only thing planned for the Avatar area? No other rides? No shops? Just the one ride? So it's not exactly a proper land then, right?

 

[mdmost]

I'll say this, I feel a whole lot better with what they may do at CA than what they're about to do at Magic Kingdom with this Cars Land destruction of Rivers of America. If DLR ever follows suit, I'm done going to the parks. You don't have to jam every section of the parks with IP. It's okay to just have slow rides and areas people can decompress. It's one of the things I love best about DLR. Those small areas where you can just take a moment or escape the crowds. I hope CA doesn't lose that. I love that wooded walk from Soarin to Little Mermaid.

 

[dina444444]

They definitely know. I think they wanted to keep the energy of the show up so they'd announce things and then have musical numbers and then move onto the next thing. I definitely think DCA will be losing at least a few things.



I'll honestly be surprised if Avatar doesn't go into that area. Pleasantly surprised though! I don't want to lose that area.



I assumed since they never mentioned "Disneyland Forward", that means none of the stuff they mentioned will be going in that section. I could be wrong, of course.



I own at VGC and this would NOT be a good thing to me. I don't want to walk from a beautiful Arts and Craft style hotel into the Avatar stuff. Yuck. Walking into the current space the way it is is absolutely perfect. It's the exact correct "vibe." Avatar would kill that vibe.



If it's like Shanghai Pirates, I think it will be good. I'm glad it will be a boat ride because DCA is lacking in family-friendly rides.

Is the boat ride the only thing planned for the Avatar area? No other rides? No shops? Just the one ride? So it's not exactly a proper land then, right?

I believe shopping and dinning are also planned.

 

[ClaraOswald]

I believe shopping and dinning are also planned.

With just 1 attraction? How very California Adventure 1.0 of them.

 

[dina444444]

With just 1 attraction? How very California Adventure 1.0 of them.

If it’s the Shanghai style pirates it’s going to be a huge ride

 

[OlliePop27]

I'll say this, I feel a whole lot better with what they may do at CA than what they're about to do at Magic Kingdom with this Cars Land destruction of Rivers of America. If DLR ever follows suit, I'm done going to the parks. You don't have to jam every section of the parks with IP. It's okay to just have slow rides and areas people can decompress. It's one of the things I love best about DLR. Those small areas where you can just take a moment or escape the crowds. I hope CA doesn't lose that. I love that wooded walk from Soarin to Little Mermaid.

Never say never, but I find it unlikely the ROA goes away at DL anytime in the near future. Tom Sawyer's Island, possibly they do something. But they always face a lot more resistance at DL to significant changes with classic attractions.

As long as Kim Irvine is the Imagineer in charge of Disneyland, the so called caretaker, I also do not see the ROA being replaced. Depending on who replaces her in the future, that could be a sign. Is it a longtime Disneylander like Kim or someone else?

 

[irlandaise]

The yellow area is open space if the buses are moved. The blue area on the right is where the new parking garage is likely to go, along with bus loop and security.

Has Disney actually said that they plan to move the shuttle bus dropoff area to the new parking structure? That would not go over well with guests to make everyone walk all the way from that parking area to the Esplanade. And I don't know whether a tram could negotiate a bridge over Harbor.

 

[StarlitNight05]

Never say never, but I find it unlikely the ROA goes away at DL anytime in the near future. Tom Sawyer's Island, possibly they do something. But they always face a lot more resistance at DL to significant changes with classic attractions.

Agreed. And luckily for us, Tom Sawyer's Island is the main staging area for Fantasmic so at least they wouldn't be able to completely revamp it (I'd think).

 

[irlandaise]

I assumed since they never mentioned "Disneyland Forward", that means none of the stuff they mentioned will be going in that section. I could be wrong, of course.

I had the same thought. What they announced this weekend sounded like plans only for the existing DCA footprint. Besides, DisneylandForward is a longterm future project and D'Amaro said they have plans for these attractions ready to implement.

 

[OlliePop27]

Has Disney actually said that they plan to move the shuttle bus dropoff area to the new parking structure? That would not go over well with guests to make everyone walk all the way from that parking area to the Esplanade. And I don't know whether a tram could negotiate a bridge over Harbor.

Disney's first attempt at this back in the 2017-2018 timeframe did include detailed plans moving the bus loop. Not so much detail this time around. No one knows until they do it. Even if Disney has plans in house, they could always change!

You have valid points about distance to park entrance. I have not heard anything about the transportation from the new garage. This is the same company that made everyone walk from Mickey & Friends to the Esplanade for several months after Covid...

 

[irlandaise]

You have valid points about distance to park entrance. I have not heard anything about the transportation from the new garage. This is the same company that made everyone walk from Mickey & Friends to the Esplanade for 2 years after Covid...

Ugh, right. I haven't been to DLR yet since the pandemic closure, but now that you mention it, I remember reading comments about the tram not operating for a long time.

 

[dina444444]

Disney's first attempt at this back in the 2017-2018 timeframe did include detailed plans moving the bus loop. Not so much detail this time around. No one knows until they do it. Even if Disney has plans in house, they could always change!

You have valid points about distance to park entrance. I have not heard anything about the transportation from the new garage. This is the same company that made everyone walk from Mickey & Friends to the Esplanade for 2 years after Covid...

Not to get technical but it was only for 10 months ok r the parks reopened.

I think we will likely know more about where this stuff is going by year end and we will get more details on Disneyland forward then to. I don’t see them being able to build both of these areas in the existing park boundaries and we already know that the avengers extension is going in the wdi parking lot.