Marathon Weekend 2026

[fatmanatee]

There is no ride anywhere that I ride as regularly as Space Mountain and think, every time, “there’s no way this can be safe.” It feels like they are waiting for a car derailment, casualty event to occur before modernizing.

Wouldn’t say it’s a rumor but Scott Gustin recently speculated that they might do a similar refurb that they’re currently working on for BTMM. Not exactly what I want but would make a lot of sense, could also add new enhancements.

 

[Herding_Cats]

SAFD: leave Tiki Room alone! They did a refresh in the late 90s with Iago and Zazu and it was so over the top annoying. *shudder*. Thank goodness the tiki gods spoke with that fire and Disney changed it back.

It's funny that you mention this specific version, because it's the *only* one that I can remember.

 

[jmasgat]

SAFD: Space Mountain

(I want the Tokyo overhaul and that thing is JANKY)

I finally stopped riding Space. Not willing to risk my cervical discs anymore. It’s the first ride at WDW I’ve ever just walked away from.

 

[PrincessV]

SAFD: Older Gen-X-er here, on the verge of needing smelling salts.

FOR THE LOVE OF WALT, LEAVE THE TIKI ROOM ALONE!!!!!! And also the treehouse. And most of Carousel - they can update the final scene some more, but that’s it. Speedway has never quite belonged in T-land, but I’d weirdly hate to see it go: all-electric seems like a compromise. Space is fine: it doesn’t need anything, and for goodness sake no IP there! Monsters Inc can go if they’ll replace it with a Dreamflight-esque Omnimover.

IDK what they’re doing to SE, but I hope it returns mostly to its former glory at the end. If they could get rid of MS and bring back Horizons, I’d legit bawl with joy.

Get off my lawn.

 

[nancipants]

I echo a lot of thoughts here, especially regarding Speedway as I currently have a 5yo boy who insists on riding every time we go. I would also say Buzz, but it’s already announced for a refurb. Same with the Launch Bay area at Studios.

My biggest wishes are to completely overhaul the Imagination pavilion. Fix/restore/redo Figment, and redo the theatre so they can move Muppet Vision there.

They also either need to knock down or redo the Wonders of Life pavilion already!

 

[Barca33Runner]

I’ll also add my personal take about the area specifically mentioned in the question. I have no real problem with Tom Sawyer Island and Liberty Bell being removed; but, you know, *bleep* Cars.

I know in times like this I’m supposed to realize not everything is meant for me… but they could add literally any other IP and it would be better than Cars. Specifically, give enough room for the new Villains area to be a fully realized and fledged out Land rather than a crammed in, two attraction traffic jam.

Ugh, I’m sure it will be fine and eat some crowd that would otherwise be inhabiting areas I actually have interest in; that said, if I had the option to change/refurbish/reimagine any attraction at WDW it would be to completely cancel the plans for Cars East and change them to literally anything else.

 

[lookingforsunshine]

hi I am still alive nice to see y’all

I’ll try to choose diff answers for SAFD:
1. The Beauty and the Beast stage show could be a lot better. I said what I said.
2. The Land Pavilion. Love the rides and everything (maybe LWTL could be a little more explicit about climate change) but just the area you walk around could be so much cooler. With that said I don’t want them to refurb it because I don’t want construction there lol.

 

[DianaMB333]

SAFD: One more vote for Speedway and overall Tomorrowland (which not longer reflects how a “tomorrow” could feel like..:

Similar thoughts for the Imagination pavilion, it shouldn’t be that hard to tape same video with recent characters..

I had forgotten about Mission Space .. perhaps worth a mention

While Dinosaur area in AK will be transformed, I still believe that some sort of Dinosaur / playground is needed..

 

[matt and beth]

SAFD: So many wonderful memories at all the rides and shows. There’s a few that are so old and slightly boring that we pass on when visiting parks now. They were great for a couple of visits but that’s about it.

1. Carousel of Progress - The family refuses to go on this ride. Flat out loud “NO!”

2. Country Bears - Almost have to drag them in but you get an “At least there’s air conditioning”

3. Spaceship Earth - Only allowed every three years or so. They’d rather ride Figment which, ahem, says something.

4. Peter Pan - We will skip this because of the lines and it’s kinda, no actually really, outdated. Basically just some black lighting on cardboard sets. Also happens to be the most inefficient ride at MK for getting guests in and out.

AK is marked safe
HS is marked safe

 

[The Expert]

Please please do something with Tomorrowland Speedway. It stinks to high heaven!

Yes! Sell a sponsorship and make the cars EV with a cute retro future design.

Are they planning on doing anything with the building that was used for Stitch?

If you've seen the new Fantastic Four, it's ready made to update with that IP. The robot hosts the pre-show and teleportation demo, then we do something with Silver Surfer/Galactus in the main room.

overall Tomorrowland (which not longer reflects how a “tomorrow” could feel like..:

I've said for years they need to just go all in on the retro future design through that whole land, ala Fantastic Four/Meet the Robinsons/Incredibles. If you give it that feel, it doesn't really need to be updated and doesn't become dated in a negative way. And do the same with the final scene of CoP while you're at it.

 

[Barca33Runner]

Fantastic Four are part of the IP that’s locked from Disney as part of whatever their agreement is with Universal Studios Orlando. Cafe 4 in Islands of Adventure is themed around them and Dr. Doom’s Fearfall is based off their main villain. So they are yet another Disneyland only piece of the Marvel Universe.

 

[nancipants]

Yes! Sell a sponsorship and make the cars EV with a cute retro future design.


If you've seen the new Fantastic Four, it's ready made to update with that IP. The robot hosts the pre-show and teleportation demo, then we do something with Silver Surfer/Galactus in the main room.


I've said for years they need to just go all in on the retro future design through that whole land, ala Fantastic Four/Meet the Robinsons/Incredibles. If you give it that feel, it doesn't really need to be updated and doesn't become dated in a negative way. And do the same with the final scene of CoP while you're at it.

Alas, they can’t use Fantastic Four in Tomorrowland, which is a crime because IMO they should redo ALL of Tomorrowland with that aesthetic.

 

[mmm_texas]

SAFD:
Are they planning on doing anything with the building that was used for Stitch?

I know I'm in the minority here, but I really enjoyed the ExtraTERRORestrial experience....

 

[nancipants]

I know I'm in the minority here, but I really enjoyed the ExtraTERRORestrial experience....

NO

 

[Disney at Heart]

SAFD: I ride and do everything. I even ride Mission Space, climb the Treehouse, and watch the Country Bears! I enjoy it all, but like some more than others. Improvements? I do wish 1) that Tomorrowland Speedway was updated to get rid of the heat and smell of the cars, 2) that Space Mountain was a little smoother, 3) that Figment still had Dreamfinder, 4) that they would do something with the old Stitch, Odyssey, and Wonders of Life buildings, 5) that they could fix the “disco yeti,” 6) that Muppet Vision could make a return, and 7) that they’d change the hokey female lounge singer music at Baseline Taphouse. Regardless, it’s all got its own charm with a bit of nostalgia for me!

 

[The Expert]

Alas, they can’t use Fantastic Four in Tomorrowland, which is a crime because IMO they should redo ALL of Tomorrowland with that aesthetic.

That's really too bad -- I hadn't realized. BUT they could 100% do it in the same feel and call it Meet the Robinsons.

I know I'm in the minority here, but I really enjoyed the ExtraTERRORestrial experience....

I LOVED that attraction! But I also understand why many people did not. There's an expectation from Disney (ie Haunted Mansion) what level of "scary" is to be expected, even if they play things up. That's actually why we liked it, because they were willing to push that line, but not everyone who rode it got the message before they were stuck on it!

 

[marty3d]

I know I'm in the minority here, but I really enjoyed the ExtraTERRORestrial experience....

Me too! I thought it was so incredibly well done. I know why it didn't fit (maybe would have worked better at DHS) but I still miss it to this day. (FYI - my 4yo loved it too the one time we did it before it with him before it closed)

SAFD: Yes - My #1 change would be to replace the Speedway cars with EVs! It should be so easy to do I don't know why it hasn't been done yet. Only reason I can think of is they might need more cars because it's going non-stop and the EVs will need to be charged (or use an electrified track and avoid batteries all together)

There's so much construction going on in MK, DHS and AK that I'd hate for them to take anything down in any of those parks for an extended period (see BTMRR) until the work is completed. I know this is incredibly wishful thinking but I would like them to take into account MW and ensure there's a way to run the Marathon/ Half Marathon through the new Villains land. (and while they are at it - let's go through Galaxy's edge during the full. Having run through GE once on each coast I feel like it's such a missed opportunity.

And I'll throw in a vote as well for a Meet the Robinsons/ FF style re-theming of Tomorrowland.

 

[*DisneyDreamer]

SAFD: I’m definitely in the camp of Tomorrowland Speedway needs a major redo or to be replaced entirely. I also wouldn’t be upset to see Space Mountain get refurbed. I love the ride, but the ride vehicles and smoothness at Disneyland is so much better.

On another note, anyone think we might get a medal reveal for this weekend soon? I went back to last year and it was right around early August, a few weeks after they did Wine and Dine. So it could be anytime!

 

[Herding_Cats]

SAFD: I’m definitely in the camp of Tomorrowland Speedway needs a major redo or to be replaced entirely. I also wouldn’t be upset to see Space Mountain get refurbed. I love the ride, but the ride vehicles and smoothness at Disneyland is so much better.

On another note, anyone think we might get a medal reveal for this weekend soon? I went back to last year and it was right around early August, a few weeks after they did Wine and Dine. So it could be anytime!

oh my gosh medals weren't even on my radar yet! Look like it was the 19th last year...

 

[Mr_Incr3dible]

SAFD:
Oooooh man. Get ready for the pitchforks for the people who want to keep everything Walt was part of.

<raises hand...>

I agree about Tiki Room. Even if they just did a good refresh on it. If they can do it for Country Bears, why not Tiki room?

Magic Carpets. How many lever up/down rides do we need?

Seriously. Or at least squirt more water at the riders...

Tomorrowland Speedway. How is this not at least electric at this point?

This! This would be perfect for induction power (like the Wedway) and artificial engine noise. Gearhead me likes the IC engines, but all those little engines generating fumes gets to be a bit much. Go electric and maybe add a couple of mph to the speed of the cars.

Are they planning on doing anything with the building that was used for Stitch?

Seriously. How are they wasting scarce real estate. Bring back Stitch's escape. (And I'm old enough to have experienced it as an adult as the Aliens experience. That was intense.)

Mission Space. I don't think that needs an explanation.

Mission Space is way cool, and I loved it up until about ten years ago, but getting-older me doesn't care for it so much any more.

I'm going to miss Rockin' Roller Coaster with Aerosmith tunes going.

Childhood me would love to see the 20,000 Leagues return, but in a way less cheezy form. It looked so cool on TV when WW of Disney came on, and was so disappointing in person when I finally visited WDW as a teen.

I hate the idea to tearing down the Swiss Family Robinson tree house. I loved the movie as a child and loved the idea of living in a giant tree. Speaking of which, I hate that Tough to be a Bug went away. Ditto for Primeval Whirl. That was a fun little coaster.