Star Wars hotel, Avengers Campus, are top priorities for Disney to finish

Before the coronavirus struck Disney had a laundry list of projects to get finished, some were supposed be open by now. Once the pandemic struck a financial freefall took place as business shut down around the world.

Now, Disney has almost all of its theme parks reopened at capacity limits and work is moving ahead with many of those project. Christine McCarthy, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Walt Disney Co. briefly discussed construction priorities during the Bank of America Virtual Media, Communications & Entertainment Conference on Thursday.

The capital expenditure for fiscal year 2020 was lowered to roughly $1.2 billion. When asked about the next three years and plans for new rides and attractions, McCarthy said the company has prioritized investment spending.

“Things that were, I call it, in flight, but they were in construction, some of those we continue to put to finish out even during this period, but the ones that we’re really focused on are things like the Star Wars hotel that we’ve discussed publicly that will be in Walt Disney World. That’s a priority.

“Completion of the Avengers Campus in Disneyland, as well as Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, which is also – it’s a priority project for Disneyland. There’s one in Florida that recently opened just before COVID hit, and it’s been very, very well received,” she said.

While these are big priorities, we also see that work is continuing on the entrance to Epcot and some other attractions. We have also seen others taken off the board, including a proposed attraction based on Mary Poppins in Epcot’s world showcase. Added to the list is the re-theming of Splash Mountain at both Disneyland and Disney World to “The Princess and the Frog.”

Here’s a look at the major construction projects on the list:

DISNEYLAND RESORT

DISNEYLAND

Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway. This new ride will come to Mickey’s Toontown now in 2023. A version of this ride opened at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Disney World earlier this year. The action takes place at the El CapiToon theater at Disneyland, where Mickey and Minnie are premiering their newest short, “Perfect Picnic.”

Splash Mountain: This re-imagining will change over the theming to “The Princess and The Frog.” The ride picks up the story after the final kiss and guests join Princess Tiana and Louis on a musical adventure – featuring music from the film – as they prepare for their first-ever Mardi Gras performance. This project was announced in June.

Disney California Adventure

Avengers Campus : Construction continues on the campus that occupies what was the former Bug’s Land and will feature Spider-Man and the Avengers, including members of the Guardians of the Galaxy, Captain America, Doctor Strange, Black Widow, Thor, Loki, Black Panther and Iron Man. Hiring is already taking place for many of the character actors. The campus includes:

• WEB (the Worldwide Engineering Brigade): This will be the first Disney ride-through attraction featuring Spider-Man. During an open house at WEB, the aspiring inventors are excited to invite you for a test drive of their latest invention: the “Web Slinger” vehicle, which allows you to sling webs just like Spider-Man. There will also be a Spider-Man audio-animatronic swinging from the buildings.
• Pym Test Kitchen Restaurant: Just as Ant-Man and The Wasp use “Pym Particles” to grow and shrink just about anything, Pym Technologies uses the latest innovations to grow and shrink food at this eatery.
• Doctor Strange Show: Doctor Strange hosts a mystic arts show that will use special effects and projections to simulate the Sanctum Sanctorum. 
• Avengers Headquarters: The building will become the future entrance to a brand-new E-Ticket attraction where you will step onboard a Quinjet and fly alongside the Avengers in an epic adventure to Wakanda and beyond. You team up alongside the Avengers in a battle to save our world.

WALT DISNEY WORLD RESORT

EPCOT

New Epcot Main Entrance.  The new bag check and tram area now complete and a new fountain is under construction in front of Spaceship Earth. The Leave A Legacy photos that were removed from the front of the park are to be relocated to the front of the park.

The interior of the park will now be divided into four neighborhoods. The World Showcase will celebrate the culture, cuisine and architecture from around the world. The current Future World will be divided into World Nature, World Discovery and World Celebration. We will go over the changes expected in each neighborhood below.

HarmonioUS. Work continues on the construction of infrastructure for this new nighttime show celebrating how the music of Disney inspires people the world over.

WORLD SHOWCASE

Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure. Work has continued and looks from the exterior as if the expansion of the France Pavilion is almost complete.  The attraction is based on the popular Disneyland Paris ride. It is a 4D experience you are shrunk down to the size of Remy when he and his friends are cooking up a delicious meal, but are discovered by Chef Skinner, who chases you through the sights, sounds, and smells of Gusteau’s famous Parisian restaurant. There will also be a new crêperie restaurant.

Disney’s DuckTales World Showcase Adventure. Using the Play Disney Parks mobile app, guests take a trip around World Showcase discovering exotic destinations, exciting mysteries, and maybe even a few thieves, villains and supernatural guardians of ancient artifacts. Guests will join Scrooge McDuck, Donald, nephews Huey, Dewey and Louie, Launchpad and Webby in search of priceless treasure. This will be the next iteration of a popular interactive scavenger hunt around World Showcase.

Mary Poppins attraction. This has been taken off lists. The first attraction inspired by Mary Poppins in Cherry Tree Lane was the only thing mentioned by Disney.

WORLD CELEBRATION

Spaceship Earth refurbishment. This has been placed on hold for now. The refurbishment was designed to bring new scenes reflecting the universal nature of the human experience, a new guide and all new narration.

Dreamers Point. This has been placed on hold.  The area will feature breathtaking views, lush gardens, a wishing tree, an interactive new fountain and a new statue celebrating the legacy of the original dreamer, Walt Disney.

Festival Pavilion. This has been placed on hold.  A new three-level pavilion will be the home base for Epcot’s signature festivals, providing a view of World Showcase and an ideal spot to witness the park’s nighttime spectacular.

WORLD DISCOVERY

Space 220. Work continues on this new space-themed restaurant that will open in Epcot between  Mission: Space and Test Track. The restaurant will be operated by the Patina Restaurant Group, which operates several other restaurants at  Disney World including Tutto Italia and Via Napoli at Epcot and Morimoto Asia at Disney Springs. The restaurant will feel as if it is on a space station and you will have a view from space at every window. It is called 220 because the views from space are supposed to give you views of the Earth from 220 miles up.

The Play! Pavilion. Originally scheduled to open in 2021 work is taking place on the exterior of the building. It is unknown if work is taking place inside. The project could be slowed down for a while. The new pavilion takes over the current Wonder of Life location in Epcot and include first-of-their-kind experiences devoted to playful fun, inviting guests into an innovative, interactive city bursting with games and hands-on activities. Friends and family will interact with favorite Disney characters.

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. This family-friendly attraction will feature a never-before-seen storytelling coaster that rotates to focus on the action. It will feature the first reverse launch into space. Work continues and it was originally scheduled to reopen in 2021.

WORLD NATURE

Journey of Water, Inspired by “Moana.” The reinvention of Epcot will include this first-ever experience inspired by the Walt Disney Animation Studios hit film that will let guests interact with magical, living water in a beautiful and inspiring setting.

DISNEY’S HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS

Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser.  Work is going full tilt on this new Star Wars hotel that will act like a cruise ship with guests checking in for a two-night adventure. Once onboard the Starship Halcyon, guests will interact with characters and become active participants in stories that unfold around them on their galactic journey. One cool tidbit: both children and adults will have the opportunity to face off against a training remote while wielding a lightsaber like Luke Skywalker did as he was learning to use The Force.

Roundup Rodeo BBQ Restaurant. Work continues on this new restaurant coming to Toy Story Land. The restaurant will be located in the area just right of the large Woody as you enter Toy Story Land. The restaurant will feature toys, games and playset and is geared to continue the concept of the fully-immersive experience.

MAGIC KINGDOM

Tron Lightcycle Power Run. This new coaster was also scheduled to open in 2021. Work continues on this a well. Guest will ride a light cycle and take a ride through the Grid. A version of this exists at Shanghai Disneyland.

Splash Mountain: This re-imagining will change over the theming to “The Princess and The Frog.” The ride picks up the story after the final kiss and guests join Princess Tiana and Louis on a musical adventure – featuring music from the film – as they prepare for their first-ever Mardi Gras performance. This project was announced in June.