Now’s one of the best time (sing it with me) for Walt Disney World to reimagine Tomorrowland, and there’s motive to consider updates may lastly be on the horizon beginning in 2026. There are a number of points of interest which might be nicely previous their prime, and different tasks Imagineering is at present engaged on in Magic Kingdom and past counsel that they’re laying the muse for redevelopment of Tomorrowland.
This isn’t a brand new drawback neither is it distinctive to Walt Disney World. The Tomorrowland drawback is well-documented, and we really really feel just a little responsible about advocating for an overhaul of Tomorrowland at Walt Disney World at the same time as Disneyland’s model clearly wants it extra. However who is aware of, perhaps these development partitions which have been up for over 5 years across the entrance in Disneyland will lastly bear fruit someday earlier than 2055.
This isn’t to say Magic Kingdom’s imaginative and prescient of the long run is the envy of theme park followers the world over. There’s a motive why our checklist of the Prime 10 Trip Reimaginings Wanted at Walt Disney World is dominated by Tomorrowland points of interest. The distinction is that this submit is not a want checklist. Slightly, it seems that Walt Disney Imagineering is on the precipice of fixing Tomorrowland in Magic Kingdom. Or not less than enhancing it significantly. So the titular query actually is extra about questioning whether or not the celebrities have aligned and the time has lastly come…
After we first mentioned this chance of an overhaul, it appeared that Imagineering was teeing up a change of Tomorrowland as a part of the 10-year plan within the early 2030s as soon as the present 5-year plan involving Vehicles and Villains Land is completed. For the explanations mentioned under, it appeared possible that these and different tasks would facilitate a Tomorrowland overhaul.
Now it’s trying more and more doubtless that Imagineering takes a piecemeal strategy, and can begin to reimagine Tomorrowland earlier than then, with smaller-scale off-year tasks undertaken to offer friends a motive to go to between now and the 2030s when the Magic Kingdom growth is lastly completed.
With that in thoughts, right here’s a listing of Tomorrowland tasks that might introduced on the 2025 Vacation spot D23 or 2026 D23 Expo…
Sew’s Nice Reentrance
Disney’s live-action “Lilo & Sew” remake is driving a field workplace wave to $772 million in worldwide ticket gross sales, rating because the second-biggest Hollywood launch of 2025 via solely its first three weekends. And Sew is displaying robust legs, placing it on a trajectory to turn into the 12 months’s top-earning film and first $1 billion launch earlier than the month is over.
Explaining the robust efficiency for “Lilo & Sew” and its probability of breaking the billion-dollar barrier is its phrase of mouth and an distinctive response from moviegoers. The movie holds a 93% viewers rating on Rotten Tomatoes and an “A” CinemaScore. Sew has a multi-generational fanbase, seeing a resurgence with youthful generations and endurance with millennials.
That is one other instance of the ability of Sew, one in all Disney’s most beloved characters and largest manufacturers in line with the corporate. Past the enjoyable advertising and marketing marketing campaign, Disney has been touting the recognition of Sew and the standard of the animated movie from 2002 that has created an actual fandom–and is probably going already taking a look at methods to construct on this ASAP, simply as they did again in 2002. As a result of the explanations for the remake’s reputation would additionally clarify why an attraction reboot would succeed.
Enter Sew’s Nice Reentrance, which could possibly be one other 2026 undertaking introduced on the upcoming Vacation spot D23. Now for one thing controversial: Sew’s Nice Escape was underrated. This isn’t me enjoying revisionist historical past, solely lacking points of interest as soon as they’re extinct. I felt Sew’s Nice Escape was underrated even throughout its existence.
Underrated is a relative time period. So this isn’t to say that Sew’s Nice Escape was good (it positively wasn’t!), however that it was not as unhealthy as some followers made it out to be. Many referred to as it the worst attraction in Walt Disney World, which was just too harsh. Like so many followers my age who grew up on Walt Disney World, I had a tough time forgiving Sew’s Nice Escape for its unique sin of changing the far superior Alien Encounter. However I however thought there have been nuggets of excellent concepts in Sew’s Nice Escape, and “good bones” on the attraction.
Sew’s Nice Escape had a stable pre-show set-up and the Audio Animatronics determine of the character was among the finest created by Walt Disney Imagineering. It’s nonetheless fairly incredible, and alone may come near carrying a present. Greater than the rest, the issue is the writing, and Sew’s Nice Escape being a product of its time. It tried to be edgy and angsty, and that got here throughout as crude and cynical. It was off-putting.
It was nearly as if the present writers had by no means seen “Lilo & Sew,” or perhaps watched solely the primary ~half-hour and stated “we get the concept.” Sew’s attraction is that he’s a lovable misfit with an enormous coronary heart, and whereas his hijinks are a part of the attraction, it’s his hotter facet that resonates. The excellent news is that the most affordable factor to repair in an attraction that doesn’t “work” is its script.
Imagineering may write circles across the outdated Sew’s Nice Escape, and inject recent life into this attraction in an analogous option to what was carried out with Nation Bear Musical Jamboree and the Little Mermaid – A Musical Journey. Whereas an entirely new attraction on this house can be optimum, a fast reimagining using present property is essentially the most environment friendly possibility.
Sew’s Nice Escape 2.0 wouldn’t be a world-class attraction, however it may not less than understand a few of its potential and be high quality noon filler. It’s definitely higher than the established order of utilizing this house as a storage and break room. Walt Disney World wants some “singles and doubles” earlier than all the huge growth comes on-line, and this might be an enormous win on that entrance–respiratory new life into present house and restoring misplaced capability to Magic Kingdom. And it may theoretically debut in 2026 even when introduced at Vacation spot D23!
Area Mountain
There are rumors that Area Mountain is subsequent up for a observe alternative in 2026 after Huge Thunder Mountain Railroad reopens. To be clear, I’ve not heard these rumors from any credible sources. However with the Buzz Lightyear’s Area Ranger Spin reimagining now official, it’s totally believable that Area Mountain could possibly be subsequent up in a phased overhaul of Tomorrowland.
Magic Kingdom has a number of medium-term tasks to be achieved earlier than 2030. Re-tracking of Area Mountain could possibly be amongst them. The explanations for this needs to be fairly simple to anybody who has ridden Area Mountain within the final decade or two.
Area Mountain was as soon as slated for a complete overhaul in 2009, however that as an alternative ended up being a multi-month undertaking that concerned TLC however was principally beauty and thematic in nature. Over 15 years later, it’s secure to imagine the experience wants a re-tracking extra now than it does then. From what I perceive, curler coasters don’t age like wine.
Personally, I’m nonetheless skeptical that Area Mountain will likely be subsequent up in 2026. However I do suppose a re-tracking is inevitable in some unspecified time in the future within the subsequent decade, and it’ll happen versus a demolition and rebuild a la Tokyo Disneyland. There merely isn’t sufficient house backstage for that, and it’s arduous to fathom Walt Disney World eager to spend that amount of cash.
It actually turns into a query of when, not if, and making this a fully-fledged reimagining–versus only a re-tracking–to tie into a much bigger image Tomorrowland overhaul is sensible. When paired with the aforementioned Sew’s Nice Escape and Buzz under, this could possibly be for a trifecta of Tomorrowland bulletins on the 2025 Vacation spot D23.
Buzz Lightyear’s Area Ranger Spin
This one has already been formally introduced, so technically, we’ll hear new particulars about this undertaking on the 2025 Vacation spot D23, which will likely be held mere weeks after the experience closes for its prolonged overhaul. (See Buzz Lightyear’s Area Ranger Spin will shut for reimagining beginning in Fall 2025 and reopen someday in 2026.)
What we all know to date is that Imagineers are taking the bones of Buzz Lightyear’s Area Ranger Spin and modernizing the attraction with improved gameplay, new handheld blasters, up to date experience automobiles, and a wide range of enhancements together with a brand new present scene and Audio Animatronics character.
I like the concept of this attraction as a shooter experience that makes use of bodily present scenes to make it participating for friends who need to benefit from the attraction passively. A few of the staging, props, and Audio Animatronics are actually cool. The interactivity is enjoyable, and Walt Disney World may use extra points of interest like this. These updates will breathe new life into Buzz Lightyear’s Area Ranger Spin, probably making it one of the best incarnation of the ‘blasters’ experience on the earth.
When beforehand discussing a possible reimagining to this attraction, we identified that Tokyo Disneyland closed its newer, higher, and meticulously-maintained model of Astro Blasters. A few of its property could possibly be shipped to Walt Disney World and reused–there’s doubtless a treasure trove of props and figures that might improve the Magic Kingdom model.
Tomorrowland Speedway
Disney introduced a brand new Vehicles space in Magic Kingdom that can substitute the Rivers of America, leading to everlasting closures of Tom Sawyer Island and the Liberty Sq. Riverboat. This nonetheless might sound unrelated to Tomorrowland. It’s not.
There are a few pretty main connections. The Piston Peak space will characteristic two rides, each of which (shockingly) deal with Vehicles. One is a rally race that places friends behind the wheel (type of) in a car that simulates the thrill of driving on various terrain.
We’ve referred to as this Tomorrowland Speedway on steroids–consider it as iterating on that attraction in a considerably comparable option to what Avatar Flight of Passage does with Soarin. The distinction is that each of these points of interest are newer, extra standard, and in several parks. There was no want for one to switch the opposite.
In contrast, Tomorrowland Speedway sits on a big and precious plot of actual property in a park that Disney would very very like to develop with out constructing past the berm. Releasing up that house can be vastly useful, permitting for growth of Tomorrowland or Fantasyland.
This may be just like how the closure of the Grand Circuit Raceway at Tokyo Disneyland paved the best way for Enchanted Story of Magnificence and the Beast, The Comfortable Trip with Baymax, and extra. There’s not sufficient room for all of that attributable to TRON, however there’s sufficient house for a consequential attraction.
Monsters, Inc. Chortle Flooring
Disney has additionally introduced the Monsters, Inc. Doorways Coaster and Monstropolis lastly coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. As well as that coaster, there will even be a brand new present in Monstro Theater, which is proven within the idea artwork as taking on the house that previously housed MuppetVision 3D.
With that, the Monsters, Inc. Chortle Flooring in Tomorrowland turns into redundant. It’s not fully clear whether or not Chortle Flooring goes to be relocated to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, however we doubt it. Even within the absence of this Monstropolis growth, Chortle Flooring is displaying its age and would most likely be due for alternative within the subsequent 5 years.
Regardless, Walt Disney World doesn’t want two separate Monsters, Inc. reveals in two separate parks. Monstropolis is one other medium-term transfer on the board that frees up house in an overhaul of Tomorrowland.
Carousel of Progress & PeopleMover
Inside the previous couple of years, Carousel of Progress and the TTA PeopleMover acquired minor updates to freshen them up. These weren’t blockbuster adjustments, however have been incremental upgrades that have been additionally clearly ardour tasks that demonstrated there are Imagineers engaged on to enhance Tomorrowland who “get it” and care.
Personally, I’ve blended emotions about extra bold updates to each Carousel of Progress and the PeopleMover. If another person made this checklist, each could be on the prime of it. And I’m not suggesting that they don’t have room for enchancment–they completely do! I’d like to see new vignettes alongside the TTA, and I personally wouldn’t thoughts a ‘new’ model of Carousel of Progress that presents the attraction as a historic presentation of how the long run was envisioned within the final century, versus the idiot’s errand of attempting to maintain in present.
On the identical time, I even have a “watch out what you want for” voice in the back of my head, questioning if it’s higher that Disney leaves each nicely sufficient alone at this level. There isn’t as a lot draw back threat to the PeopleMover, however I worry a fully-funded Carousel of Progress overhaul may essentially alter the attraction, giving it a useless IP integration to spice issues up (just like the deserted Spaceship Earth: Our Shared Story). Perhaps this is the place Sew really finally ends up, with the mischief-maker added to that ‘ohana. He wouldn’t be so loveable if that occurred.
Tomorrowland ’55
Tomorrowland not has a definite visible identification. There are remnants of the Area Age prospers and Googie structure of the unique Tomorrowland within the core buildings, a few of which have been introduced again to the fore throughout current streamlining. There’s nonetheless a melange of Streamline Moderne, Manufacturing unit Pomo and industrial design, which is what’s being peeled again. There’s additionally a hodgepodge of assorted different stuff because of additions and partial removals.
There’s additionally TRON Lightcycle Energy Run with its swooping natural design and biomimicry options. This type of structure is in contrast to something at present present in Magic Kingdom’s Tomorrowland, which is sensible on condition that the experience was cloned from Shanghai Disneyland, the place it matches alongside that park’s distinctive Tomorrowland and metropolis itself. Walt Disney World is just not going to make the remainder of Tomorrowland resemble TRON, so there’s at all times going to be a level of discord. That’s completely tremendous.
The perfect case state of affairs might be additional stripping away the hodgepodge to disclose the mid-century or streamline type beneath and including new thematic components paying homage to Googie or Area Age design. That’s not the identical because the natural design of TRON Lightcycle Energy Run, however each share ultramodern bloodlines.
Personally, I believe that might work. Googie is tough to outline, however I believe it’s not less than adjoining to each the swooping traces of the PeopleMover observe and the cover of TRON Lightcycle Run. Issues just like the Palms of Tomorrow are most likely post-modern, but additionally can coexist peacefully alongside the biomimicry of TRON. There are kernels of concepts and thematic components that may exist in concord, and there’s nothing fallacious with mixing kinds–not like all futuristic cities have a singular architectural identification.
I additionally wouldn’t thoughts Walt Disney World totally leaning into nostalgia and restoring the unique entrance to Tomorrowland. There’s a motive that is the one factor Tokyo Disneyland isn’t touching in its Tomorrowland, and why Disneyland introduced a reimagined entrance that evokes this look. As a result of it holds up.
My private want checklist apart, all eyes needs to be on what occurs in the course of the Buzz Lightyear’s Area Ranger Spin reimagining. The attraction will nearly definitely get a brand new facade and marquee–the prevailing exterior appears to be like prefer it was thrown up as a part of an in a single day overlay, Spirit Halloween type. It was a product of the time and Imagineering may accomplish that a lot better right now, which might additional enhance the look of Tomorrowland. I don’t doubt it’ll be higher, I’m extra interested by what type it’ll be in. As a result of that can doubtless set the tone for the tasks to return, and we’ll see comparable kinds used on inevitable tasks across the Avenue of the Planets.
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Your Ideas
What do you concentrate on Tomorrowland at Magic Kingdom? Assume the land will likely be overhauled within the 2030s given the long run redundancy of Tomorrowland Speedway and Monsters Chortle Flooring? Or do you suppose we may get a Tomorrowland trifecta in 2026 with Area Mountain and Sew’s Nice Escape becoming a member of the Buzz Lightyear’s Area Ranger Spin reimagining? Do you agree or disagree with my evaluation? Any questions we will help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even whenever you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!