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Will We See a New Tomorrowland?

Walt Disney World: Indirect clues may lead to a redone WDW Tomorrowland!

From Skipper Adam
Posted February 3, 2012 at 10:41 AM
I'm not one to fall into believing most random unfounded rumors when it comes to theme park expansion/ refurbs, but hear me out. I think Tomorrowland in the Magic Kingdom might have a major face lift coming.

The first thing I noticed was that in preparation for the 50th, pretty much every building has had the exterior redone in the park except for anything in Tomorrowland. Why fix up what may be changed?

My second clue was that the new Sorcerers game in the park is in every land but Tomorrowland. Again, why spend the money to make additions to buildings that will change?

Last clue would be the new costumes, which will take almost two years to come out. The new costumes match nothing in the land, seriously nothing.

I don't think that Fantasyland will be the only land that really gets spiffed up for the 50th. Between the completion of the New Fantasyland and 2021, we will see some big changes to the land.

I would like to make it clear that there is no evidence, no proof and no insider info to support this. But I still believe this may be happening.


Comments in chronological order. Most recent at the bottom. Scroll down to respond.

From Skipper Adam
Posted February 3, 2012 at 10:19 AM
I'm probably making something out of nothing.

From Skipper Adam
Posted February 3, 2012 at 10:37 AM
I'm sure this has been mentioned before, but Disney cannot put Marvel in their parks in Florida. Even so, Marvel doesn't belong in Tomorrowland. The only parts I agree to are getting rid of the Speedway and having a Tron ride.

From Mike Gallagher
Posted February 3, 2012 at 10:37 AM
2021? That's nine years away. Let's cool the jets a little. According to the Mayans, there'll be nobody on this board..or anywhere else for that matter...to care.

From Carrie Hood
Posted February 3, 2012 at 10:39 AM
It's possible Skipper, I know rumors have been flying in every direction about a massive Epcot refurbishment before the 50th hits. I wouldn't rule out Tomorrowland completely, it's been years since it got the newest version and it could probably due with a facelift to keep 'current' to the ideas of the future.

From Skipper Adam
Posted February 3, 2012 at 11:08 AM
Dom, your understanding is incorrect.

From Skipper Adam
Posted February 3, 2012 at 1:28 PM
http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2009-09-02/business/0909010106_1_marvel-entertainment-walt-disney-marvel-attractions

This article highlights the basic stipulations. It has been spoken many times on this site that Disney cannot use the Marvel characters in the parks, but I guess you have selective vision.

From TH Creative
Posted February 3, 2012 at 1:50 PM
Ahhhhhh ...

From Mike Gallagher
Posted February 3, 2012 at 6:37 PM
I love how Dom says it's "his understanding" then when someone corroborates it he demands a source.

*EDIT*..Sorry, Dom. That swipe at you was a mistake, and I apologize to you.. I mis-read Adam's "incorrect" as "correct" and thought he was agreeing with you. My mistake and my bad. Carry on.

From Rob Viala
Posted February 3, 2012 at 3:39 PM
I am just happy he restrained himself from suggesting a Family Guy attraction in Tomorrow Land or suggesting it become Nintendo land either. Sorry but seeing the same thing posted by the same person over and over again gets rather annoying.

From David L.
Posted February 3, 2012 at 4:40 PM
+1 to Skipper Adam.

Dominik, the issue of Marvel in WDW has been well known for quite a while. If by WDW's 50th Disney CAN put in a Marvel ride, then bring one on! I think something like an Ironman simulator and exhibits would be nice. I don't know where the Star Tours idea came from, but no. Guest would just claim that there was a duplicate(Dumbo anyone?). A tron ride would be nice, but Radiator Springs Racers? in Magic Kingdom? in Tomorrowland? That makes no sense what so ever.

Skipper A, This makes sense to an extent, but I doubt it will be the size of the Fantasyland Makeover.

From Rob Viala
Posted February 4, 2012 at 9:24 AM
Dom, unless they can offer an experience that differs from the Universal Marvel attractions why would they do it. It does not make sense for them to bring in the Marvel Brand in Orlando. If they were to bring in that brand to their parks they would do so internationally well before they did so domestically.

From Amy Smith
Posted February 4, 2012 at 1:09 PM
Dom, Captain America is a meet and greet character and Iron Man is represented inside the Spiderman ride (not sure how picky you want to get here).

From Orrin Carstarphen
Posted February 4, 2012 at 7:37 PM
I don't see Disney using Marvel in Florida until Universal decides it no longer wants to utilize the Marvel brand in its parks. However with the infuse of cash from WWoHP I do believe that AFTER the expansion of that brand is finished Universal will rebrand Super Hero Island as well as the comics section.

From Andrew Mooney
Posted February 5, 2012 at 3:34 AM
Apart from Marvel, Disney have several other Sci-Fi movies in development or just about to launch. HoverCar which is being dubbed as "The next Harry Potter" and John Carter of Mars spring to mind. Not to mention TRON and the oft rumoured Discworld series being turned into a movie.

I don't know how many of you listen to Jim Hill but in one of his podcasts he mentioned that Disney Entertainment were considering building a John Carter show in Tomorrowland - if the movie is a success. HoverCar could take over the speedway by turning into a Test Track/Radiator Springs Racer which could be quite interesting.

On the topic of Marvel, thinking logically it's MK's 50th in 2021. Thats 9 years away. I'm fairly sure WDI have some great concepts for a Marvel inclusion into the parks and are waiting for either Legal or Finance to grab the right off of Universal. That could be seven years away with a possible attraction being built in the remaining two years before the parks 50th.

Disney have some great IP that can fill Tomorrowland, so hopefully you're right Skipper Adam that we see a complete redo of this lacking land.

From Tim Hillman
Posted February 6, 2012 at 11:11 AM
Comments and questions.

Marvel Superhero Island is the second most popular island in IOA. Why in the world would Universal want to retheme it? Can anybody think of a franchise that would be more popular? (and Dom, don't even think about it.....)

Tomorrowland needs a makeover - badly.

Andrew, are you saying that Disney owns the rights to the Discworld series?

From Andrew Mooney
Posted February 6, 2012 at 11:37 AM
Tim, I'm not certain that Disney own the Discworld Series rights, however a film based around Mort is heavily rumoured. BlueSkyDisney who have a good reputation , have partially confirmed that there is a movie in the works: http://blueskydisney.blogspot.com/2010/10/animated-progress.html

From Tim Odom
Posted February 7, 2012 at 9:54 AM
The reason why WDW will not (for the forseeable future) have pretty much any Marvel characters is due to the contract that was previously stated, but the wording is very specific. Not only are the characters that Universal uses out of reach for Disney (aka, Spidey, Hulk, Storm, and Dr. Doom) along with the costumed characters they have walking about, but the families these characters belong to. In other words, due to having both Hulk and Captain America, and since both are members of the Avengers family, Iron Man is out. Since they have Dr. Doom, the Fantastic Four are out.

Basically, unless you want them to do a ride on a lesser known character, pretty much every Marvel character is covered by that. I wish I could find the source for this (I remember someone posting a link to the contract from the SEC, but damned if I could find it) but it was in there.

From Carrie Hood
Posted February 7, 2012 at 1:18 PM
Wait. Wait. Wait.

Disney got their hands on the rights to Pratchett?!
And their NOT giving it to Pixar?!


...Stop the planet, I want off.

From Skipper Adam
Posted February 7, 2012 at 2:16 PM
There might be a new ride or two, but I really just expect a new look for the existing things. Certain rides like Stitch can't radically change because the foundation is shaped to the round theaters and has stairs and the tunnels in and around them.

From Orrin Carstarphen
Posted February 7, 2012 at 4:19 PM
They really need to bring back Alien Encounter.

From Skipper Adam
Posted February 8, 2012 at 2:31 PM
I agree, Alien Encounter is sorely needed.

From Tim Hillman
Posted February 8, 2012 at 3:05 PM
"Alien Encounter is sorely needed."

Sounds like something Capt Kirk would post in the Personal Ads after a long dry spell on the Enterprise.

From steve lee
Posted February 8, 2012 at 7:21 PM
Tim O: "Basically, unless you want them to do a ride on a lesser known character, pretty much every Marvel character is covered by that."

Disney can open a bitchin' Power Pack ride! Maybe someone can dust off ROM while they're at it, with a great dark ride featuring Squirrel Girl and the other Great Lakes Avengers.

Tim H: that Kirk line...I lol'd

From Skipper Adam
Posted February 9, 2012 at 1:56 PM
I walked into that Kirk line...

From Amanda Reeves
Posted February 9, 2012 at 8:34 AM
I really hope they do change something their, they need to get stitch out of there and think of some new ideas, if Disney is buying marvel then they defiantly need to do some marvel based rides.
I'm really looking forward to hearing more about this.

From Skipper Adam
Posted February 9, 2012 at 9:44 AM
Yes, clearly we read the discussion before we comment, don't we.

From Tim Odom
Posted February 9, 2012 at 11:10 AM
Steve L. - Actually, I think Power Pack might be in the Avengers or Fantastic Four families. They don't really have a good definition of 'family' there. Squirrel Girl, for all the awesome that would be with her, is kinda sorta an Avenger, so no go. Bascially, everyone has been an Avenger at some point, or been an enemy of the Avengers.

Personally, I would kill for a Squirrel Girl Defeats Everyone ride, that would be awesome.

From steve lee
Posted February 9, 2012 at 7:05 PM
So you're saying there's still hope for ROM?

From Tim Odom
Posted February 10, 2012 at 1:57 PM
Hmmm, ROM.... Unless they put all of the outer space people in the Fantastic Four family, he might be available! That's it, Disney will make a ROM ride, and it will be the best ROM ride ever (cause, really, no one know who the heck ROM is...)

From Tim Odom
Posted March 13, 2012 at 12:58 PM
The Screamscape article mentions Marvel as a possibility for Disneyland, which makes sense. Since it is nigh impossible for Disney to use nearly any Marvel character in WDW without buying out their contract with Universal (which, if the mouse were to want to do that, I think Universal would ask for an absolute ransom.)

Should Tomorrowland be revamped? Sure, why not. I would like to see DAK get the love it needs before anything else though. I think a DAK revamp/addition is far more likely than Tomorrowland getting a revamp, regardless of the status of Avatar.

From Dominick D
Posted March 16, 2012 at 2:12 PM
Well, Screamscape says Bob Iger wants Marvel at all Disney resorts, only problem is Universal has the theme park rights. It's pretty much garunteed that Disney won't be letting Universal renew the next contract.

From Anthony Weilhamer
Posted March 16, 2012 at 4:24 PM
The contract is up in 9 years...

From Mike Gallagher
Posted March 16, 2012 at 4:35 PM
^ And Iger will be long gone (unless he's running Universal by then!)

From Dominick D
Posted March 16, 2012 at 8:09 PM
By that time John Lasseter would be C.E.O.

From Dan Babbitt
Posted March 18, 2012 at 11:26 AM
Lasseter will not run Disney. Igor has already picked his successors in Tom Staggs, Rich Ross, and possibly Dick Cook.

I think Lassestor likes what hes doing right now and having hands in every pot!

From Dan Babbitt
Posted March 18, 2012 at 11:29 AM
What about Tron 2 and the the Tron Animated Series. They can do a lot with them!

From Mike Gallagher
Posted March 18, 2012 at 11:59 AM
Dan said "Igor..."

Typo of the week!

Ee-gor or Eye-gor? Perhaps we can help him with that hump.

From James Trexen
Posted March 18, 2012 at 1:39 PM
What hump? ;)

From Rob Pastor
Posted March 18, 2012 at 5:29 PM
Igor (Marty Feldman) in the magnificent comedy "Young Frankenstein". Am I correct Mike?

From Mike Gallagher
Posted March 18, 2012 at 4:11 PM
You are indeeed correct, Rob..except for the spelling of the late, great, Mr. FeldmAn.

And James, nice. I was gonna include that, but didn't want to be TOO obvious. We were just talking about this classic movie at work on Friday...

From Dominick D
Posted March 22, 2012 at 11:39 AM
Marvel's appearence in a Disney park is getting closer. Monorail Red is being wrapped to The Avengers (like the Tron-o-rail was). Hopefully this can be a sign of a Marvel ride.

From Mike Gallagher
Posted March 22, 2012 at 12:00 PM
Dom, it's called an advertisement. Like what I call the "gum train" on El Toro.

Don't get your hopes up.

From Andrew Mooney
Posted March 22, 2012 at 12:34 PM
Dom said: "Marvel's appearence in a Disney park is getting closer. Monorail Red is being wrapped to The Avengers (like the Tron-o-rail was)"

Doesn't that statement contradict itself? TRON had a monorail cover but no ride to go alongside it. Like Mike said, the wrapping will be for the movie advertisement only. Don't be expecting a ride to come out - in WDW at least - soon.

But, I'm interested in this Avengers monorail. Do you have any links or pictures Dom? I'd love to see Ironman flying along the sides of the vehicle.

From Dominick D
Posted March 22, 2012 at 12:33 PM
I know Mike. :P

From Skipper Adam
Posted March 22, 2012 at 1:55 PM
It's kinda cool, the skins. IMO I think the monorails would look more modern and less 90'sish if the body was a solid color rather than white with a stripe. Both the orange and blue of the Tronorail looked really nice.

From Skipper Adam
Posted March 30, 2012 at 9:15 AM
http://thedisneyblog.com/2012/03/30/joe-rhode-interview-on-avatar-and-animal-kingdom/

Joe Rhode said there will be a new tomorrowland!!!! However I will admit this answer about the new Tomorrowland isn't on the official Disney blog.

From Dominick D
Posted March 30, 2012 at 9:00 AM
Various Websites are reporting a D-Ticket Walle omnimover ride and an E ticket Tron coaster for both MK and DL. It's gonna be epic!

From Skipper Adam
Posted March 30, 2012 at 10:14 AM
Those are real possibilities. IMO, when I first got to WDW saw saw Fantasyland and Tomorrowland after going to Disneyland, I found them kinda lame, visually. But now that Fantasyland is wrapping up its makeover, I would not be surprised if Tomorrowland gets it's update, and this all makes sense for the reasons I listed at the beginning.

From Tim Odom
Posted March 30, 2012 at 11:15 AM
Hoping Tomorrowland does get some much needed love. But, and I can pretty much gaurentee this, it will not have one ounce of Marvel in it unless Disney decides to pay Universal a metric ton of money. And this time, I actually have proof! Behold, the Universal/Marvel contract.

http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1262449/000119312510008732/dex1057.htm

(I feel proud of myself for finding this, like I am doing a victory lap!)

Basically, as far as I can see, the gist is Universal owns all rights to the characters they use AND their families (so no Fantastic Four and no Avengers.) From what I can see, there is no length for the contract, and I have always heard the contract goes on indefinitely. The only recourse for Disney getting the rights back would be if Universal let the Marvel attractions fall into disrepair OR if they spend a lot of money to buy them back from Universal. And, let's face it, Universal would ask for a ton of cash.

Also, about the Avengers monorail, apparently it will be limited to just the resort tracks, and not the EPCOT line (since that one goes into the park, presummably a violation of the contract.) Don't take Aveng-o-rail as proof positive that Marvel is coming to Disney.

So, Disney can advertise the movie The Avengers all they want, it's their movie. But, they can't do more than that until they resolve this contract. Which, given the probable cost, they will likely never do.

So, lets see a refresh of Tomorrowland, it does need it. But, if you expect Iron Man to be apart of that, well...

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