Disney News, Discussion & an Element of Fun - 2025 Edition

[0FF TO NEVERLAND]

MK's Frontierland wasn't about cowboys and Indians anyway
I also think national parks is a neat idea. Could have done without the Cars IP in there but I understand that's the world we live in now in themed entertainment. At least the the Ranger J. Autobahn Woodlore character looks cute.

I do however love the wild west vibe it had. That part of Magic Kingdom always felt so MK to me. I guess cause I grew up with it. It is one of those areas where you really felt you transformed somewhere else. I was in Awe as a kid

 

[Obi-J Kenobi]

MK's Frontierland wasn't about cowboys and Indians anyway

I am going to miss this moment on the Liberty Belle.



Thank goodness Disney has an Inclusion Key to remind guests and shareholders while Disney erases the Native American village from its existence in MK. Maybe Pocahontas and Meeo animatronics can wave at us when we race by in our Cars?

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

I am going to miss this moment on the Liberty Belle.

View attachment 971066

Thank goodness Disney has an Inclusion Key to remind guests and shareholders while Disney erases the Native American village from its existence in MK. Maybe Pocahontas and Meeo animatronics can wave at us when we race by in our Cars?

An idyllic Native American village in the distance, viewed by few guests, devoid of the difficult history that would have surrounded it, and for which Native peoples were not consulted to discuss appropriate representation is not inclusivity. I am glad this part, at least, is going away. You do it right or you don´t do it at all.

 

[Sir Pellinore]

They’re actually listening to us, regarding the water/river! This could work. Still, cars do not belong in Frontierland, so I hope the ride is rethemed to a Humphrey the Bear one after Iger leaves.

This is not going to change after Iger leaves. They are going to start construction already this summer. Lots of design work, animatronic work, prop work, etc will have been done by the time he leaves, gotta get used to it or maybe just avoid that part of the park. That ship has sailed!

Also, it may not even have been Iger who asked the Imagineers to make this new attraction Cars themed. Maybe it was some internal research that pointed to it... maybe some Imagineer had the idea and execs liked it. I think for some fans Iger is just an easy target because he is the CEO, but we dont really know his level of involvement in each specific project in the largest media company in the world...

 

[0FF TO NEVERLAND]

An idyllic Native American village in the distance, viewed by few guests, devoid of the difficult history that would have surrounded it, and for which Native peoples were not consulted to discuss appropriate representation is not inclusivity. I am glad this part, at least, is going away. You do it right or you don´t do it at all.

When I was a Kid, it was scenes like that that made me interested in the culture and to learn about it.

Removing them, or them never being there in the first place, would have made me really never look into or care about the culture to begin with.

 

[mcjaco]

Can they soften the blow by announcing Test Track opening soon after? Please?

I keep being told by people in the "know" that it should be open late July. Fingers crossed, as I leave July 30th for my visit.

 

[Brian Noble]

Thank goodness Disney has an Inclusion Key to remind guests and shareholders while Disney erases the Native American village from its existence in MK.

I don't think these words mean what you think they mean.

At least, they very much do not to me.

 

[kylenne]

I've been visiting WDW since I was 2yrs old, so Disney has been a part of my entire life. I have ridden the Liberty Belle countless times and explored Tom Sawyer Island from top to bottom. For more than 10yrs, I rarely do either anymore. I guess I'm in the minority, but I think it's time for a change. I'll reserve judgment on what Disney is planning until it's completed, but I do welcome something new. My family/friends sadly just don't care about these attractions anymore. I'm a die hard Disney fan who is sad about some changes (looking at you MuppetVision 3D), but in this regard, I'm cautiously optimistic...

This is exactly where I’m at on it. We just got back home last night and after doing what I assumed would be my farewell ride on the Liberty Belle this past Thursday tbh I really can’t say I’ll miss any of it. As background and atmosphere sure, but as actual attractions? Not really. But I also felt that way about the Great Movie Ride, which is similarly heretical a view. Sometimes people have the nostalgia goggles on a bit too tightly imo. (I’m never getting over Muppetvision either though. I cried all the way through our last viewing.)

I’m back down solo 7/2-7/6, and I’m going to be honest, I’m not sure I’ll be going out of my way to hit it up one last time before heading back to MCO. If only because the vlogger set is probably going to be annoying and insufferable.

I think it’s a minority opinion among fan forums because there’s nostalgia tied to the Liberty Belle/RoA/TSI. Those memories will never fade although it will not be experienced at the Magic Kingdom anymore.

I always liked the boat just never had any kind of nostalgia for this stuff but even as a kid I hated TSI and found the “cowboys and Indians” schtick of Frontierland in general weird and a bit offputting. My only real concern with this plan was losing the kinetic energy of the river walk and the boat, and if we’re still keeping the former I feel a lot better about it. Still not wild about the specific IP, but the national park angle is one I really like and think could be executed in a way that works well.

I view it as Magic Kingdom now will add something unique that further differentiates it from the other Castle Parks. Majority of the others will still have a riverboat and possible river/island to explore, while Magic Kingdom will have something different in its stead and become less of a clone of Disneyland as it was when it was built.

For me, that untouchable attraction in MK is the Carousel of Progress. It absolutely has seen better days and could use a lot of love, but it’s the only one in MK that Walt had a direct hand in and isn’t some copy of what was done at Disneyland before.

ITA with all of this.

 

[AquaDame]

I view it as Magic Kingdom now will add something unique that further differentiates it from the other Castle Parks. Majority of the others will still have a riverboat and possible river/island to explore, while Magic Kingdom will have something different in its stead and become less of a clone of Disneyland as it was when it was built.

MK is already has two lands DL doesn't for uniqueness. All of Liberty Square & New Fantasyland, plus it got to keep the People Mover and Country Bear. I'm closer to DL anyway so I was able to grieve and move on... now I'm excited to see what we get for moving forward. I'm a little sad we skipped MK now on our last trip in May, but we made good choices with our time and it is what it is.

 

[Gary Stocker]

I keep being told by people in the "know" that it should be open late July. Fingers crossed, as I leave July 30th for my visit.

Hope you're right...I leave August 2. Virtual queue perhaps? Vloggermania..

 

[Elijah Abrams]

I am going to miss this moment on the Liberty Belle.

View attachment 971066

Thank goodness Disney has an Inclusion Key to remind guests and shareholders while Disney erases the Native American village from its existence in MK. Maybe Pocahontas and Meeo animatronics can wave at us when we race by in our Cars?

I thought Disney was getting rid of their DEI initiatives (thus removing the Inclusion Key) because of you-know-who?

 

[Naomeri]

I thought Disney was getting rid of their DEI initiatives (thus removing the Inclusion Key) because of you-know-who?

I think they mostly just renamed them or something, and just don't publicize them

 

[Suger Mag]

I think they mostly just renamed them or something, and just don't publicize them

that is what a lot of entities are doing. My college renamed all their DEI positions and departments in Jan 2025 as a preventative measure

 

[Obi-J Kenobi]

I thought Disney was getting rid of their DEI initiatives (thus removing the Inclusion Key) because of you-know-who?

Not sure and I don't see mention of removing the 5th key from its website.

https://inclusion.twdc.com/

 

[Obi-J Kenobi]

I don't think these words mean what you think they mean.

At least, they very much do not to me.

My DTS explained it to me. No worries there.

 

[cellomom]

WDW Passholders
Instagram

Character meet and greet coming to Germany Pavilion 6/9-7/31



edit

V.I.PASSHOLDER Summer Days Character Greeting​

Passholders—add a little extra magic to your summer when you meet a beloved Disney pal.

Get ready for a fun surprise! A popular Disney Character will be at Der Teddybar in the Germany Pavilion. They’ll be hanging out from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM from June 9 through July 31, 2025. Don’t miss your chance to stop by for a hug and a photo.

Due to possible high demand, please arrive early to have an opportunity to join the queue.

Important Information

• To enter EPCOT, Passholders must have valid admission and a theme park reservation for EPCOT on the same date. Or you can enter EPCOT without a reservation on a good-to-go day or after 2:00 PM. Theme park reservations are limited and subject to availability, and reservation requirements are subject to change. Applicable blockout dates apply.
• Subject to availability on a first-come, first-served basis.
• All offerings, dates, hours of operation and locations are subject to availability, change, closure or cancellation without notice.
• Offer valid for Walt Disney World Resort Passholders. Each Passholder must present their valid Annual Pass card or linked MagicBand, MagicBand+, or Disney MagicMobile pass and a valid photo ID to be eligible to participate in the Character greeting. Learn how to link your Annual Pass to your MyDisney account.

 

[HyperspaceMountainPilot]

WDW Passholders
Instagram

Character meet and greet coming to Germany Pavilion 6/9-7/31
View attachment 971316
View attachment 971317

edit

V.I.PASSHOLDER Summer Days Character Greeting​

Passholders—add a little extra magic to your summer when you meet a beloved Disney pal.

Get ready for a fun surprise! A popular Disney Character will be at Der Teddybar in the Germany Pavilion. They’ll be hanging out from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM from June 9 through July 31, 2025. Don’t miss your chance to stop by for a hug and a photo.

Due to possible high demand, please arrive early to have an opportunity to join the queue.

Important Information

• To enter EPCOT, Passholders must have valid admission and a theme park reservation for EPCOT on the same date. Or you can enter EPCOT without a reservation on a good-to-go day or after 2:00 PM. Theme park reservations are limited and subject to availability, and reservation requirements are subject to change. Applicable blockout dates apply.
• Subject to availability on a first-come, first-served basis.
• All offerings, dates, hours of operation and locations are subject to availability, change, closure or cancellation without notice.
• Offer valid for Walt Disney World Resort Passholders. Each Passholder must present their valid Annual Pass card or linked MagicBand, MagicBand+, or Disney MagicMobile pass and a valid photo ID to be eligible to participate in the Character greeting. Learn how to link your Annual Pass to your MyDisney account.

Bummed we are going to miss Duffy by a few days.

 

[HokieRaven5]

https://disneyparksblog.com/dlr/future-expansion-plans-for-disneyland-resort/

New parking lot area for Disneyland, location for Coco, and Avatar in Disney California Adventure.

Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue! will close early 2026

 

[fatmanatee]

Bit of a surprise on this one.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1930799269151121813

On the other hand, Coco ride not replacing anything?

https://twitter.com/x/status/1930798826048131222

 

[Smugpugmug]

Thank God Avatar is not replacing Grizzly Peak like previously speculated on social media. That area is one of my favorite lands in the entire park in terms of theming and it would've been AWFUL if that became an Avatar land.

Sad to see Monster's Inc go but at least I'll see it one more time when I go to DL later this year.