Disney World (DIS) is moving over to the dark side with an upcoming addition to its long list of attractions.
Its Magic Kingdom park is about to get a taste of evil with the construction of a new Villains Land, which is set to kick off in 2025, and is expected to be completed by 2029.
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Josh D’Amaro, chair of Disney’s theme parks, has just revealed over the weekend at D23 Brazil that the attraction will be inspired by 13 villainous characters that debuted in popular Disney movies.
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"Their evil ambitions give us endless possibilities to tell new stories,” said D'Amaro at the event. “This new land will be home to the villains you know and loathe.”
Those characters include: the Queen of Hearts (from “Alice in Wonderland”); Jafar from (“Aladdin”); Lady Tremaine (“Cinderella”); Yzma (“The Emperor's New Groove”); Cruella de Vil (“101 Dalmatians”); Captain Hook (“Peter Pan”); Gaston (“Beauty and the Beast”); Mother Gothel (“Tangled”); Ursula (“The Little Mermaid”); Hades (“Hercules”); Chernabog (“Fantasia”); and both versions of the Evil Queen (“Snow White and the Seven Dwarves”) and Maleficent (“Sleeping Beauty”).
D'Amaro also stated that the characters will be featured in a twisted new storyline that guests can experience at the upcoming attraction.
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"In our story, a mysterious spell has been cast, summoning villains from every realm," said D'Amaro. "In this land, heroes don't come to save the day — and there may not be a happily ever after!"
Disney World’s Villains Land was first announced at a D23 event back in August where it was defined by D'Amaro as “twisted and broken” land.
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The theme park’s plan to create a Villains Land comes after its top rival, Universal Studios in Orlando, announced its new Dark Universe world at its Epic Universe park in June. Dark Universe will feature rides and attractions that are inspired by classic Universal monsters such as Frankenstein, Dracula, the Mummy, and the Wolf Man; it is set to open in 2025.
In addition to Villians Land, Disney World also recently announced plans to open two new attractions based off of Disney’s “Cars” movie franchise, which are set to open next year. It is also planning to debut a new Adventures of Indiana Jones attraction in 2027 at its Animal Kingdom park.
Disney's U.S. theme parks face lower demand
Disney World’s ambitious expansion plans come after Disney revealed in its second-quarter earnings report for 2024 that it faced a softening in demand at its U.S. theme parks.
While the company’s revenue at its U.S. theme parks increased by 3% year-over-year during the quarter, its operating income (how much a company makes after expenses) in the sector decreased by 6%, compared to the same time period last year.
“While we are actively monitoring attendance and guest spending and aggressively managing our cost base, we expect Q4 Experiences segment operating income to decline by mid-single digits versus the prior year,“ said Disney in the report.
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The decline in demand comes after Disney implemented a major price hike in late 2023 where Disneyland and Disney World tickets increased by between $5 and $65, depending on the ticket.
Just last month, both theme parks once again announced price increases for tickets and annual passes. Tickets at Disneyland increased by up to $12, depending on the ticket, and Magic Key Passes for the park rose by between $100 and $125, depending on the pass type.
For Disney World, tickets for days in November and December that are in high demand next year increased by $10 to $15. Annual passes at the resort also rose by $30 to $100, depending on the type of pass.
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