Projects that are being considered (Note: some may never occur)

Night Kingdom / Boutique park for theme park #5. Some online sources claim Disney is investigating a ‘boutique' park, meaning very high entrance fees ($250 or more per person), very limited maximum attendance, and personalized attention. SeaWorld has a boutique park in the form of Discovery Cove, the dolphin encounter. This rumor has been seen before for Discovery Island, the former mini-zoo in Bay Lake that now sits empty. One idea had been to use this island for a pirate-themed park. The newest ideas claim that land north of Animal Kingdom (and south or west of the TTC and MK) could be used for this. That makes sense, given the recent construction of Western Way at great expense, so far for nothing. Western Way will feed into Flamingo Crossings, but if a park were located here the road would make even more sense. One possible idea for a theme floated has been "Night Kingdom", to appeal to adventure and outdoors-oriented patrons, with such experiences as close animal encounters and zip lines. This rumor calls for the Adventurer's Club to close at Downtown Disney and a similar facility open up elsewhere to be the entry point for Night Kingdom.

Vacant Dixie Stampede to be used for High School Musical dinner show. Possibly speculation, this note that the recently-closed Dixie Stampede building might be used to house an off-site (but nearby) dinner theater for HSM.

FastPass possibly going premium. Disney has filed a patent for FastPass technology on cell phones that implies people staying at Disney hotels could receive priority use of the FastPass system, perhaps even making reservations a day in advance.

NEW! Little Mermaid Ride in Fantasyland. The space formerly occupied by the submarine attraction is large enough to house a duplicate of the mega-dark-ride coming to DCA. This ten-minute ride will be closer to Haunted Mansion than Snow White's Scary Adventures in theme, execution, and immersiveness. Expect some Audio-Animatronics and up to the minute special (and digital) effects. Possibly deserving of the E-Ticket status.

Space Mountain to get new effects. Rumored changes to the attraction during the 2009 rehab (which starts in January 2009 and lasts an astonishing fourteen months) include a new loading zone (with security gates) and a new star field effect. Other reports call for even more dramatic re-theming. Rumors persist that a sound system will be added to the new rockets, and it seems certain the new rockets will feature side-by-side seating. Although the track is to be replaced entirely, the track layout is rumored to stay the same.

E-ticket for MK's 40th Anniversary. In 2011, when MK turns 40, a new e-ticket may be in the offing, but details and concepts are still highly speculative (ideas include old favorites, like Fire Mountain).

SpectroMagic replaced for 40th Anniversary. Long-range planning suggests SpectroMagic may leave in 2011, possibly for Hong Kong Disneyland. There is a possibility the MK may get instead TDL's Electrical Parade, Dreamlights.

Wicked Wench ship to be renamed. The ship attacking the fort in Pirates of the Caribbean still bears its original name Wicked Wench, but only because rights could not be obtained for the 'Black Pearl'. That seems to be resolved and a name change imminent.

Tomorrowland restaurant to replace dormant Skyway building. One report calls for the Skyway building and the large quad area, sometimes used for temporary stages, to be used for a futuristic eatery; think of the Pan Galactic place in TDL.

Adventureland Veranda restaurant to reopen as Tortuga. The long-dormant eatery will be re-opened with a pirate theme (hence the name Tortuga). Timeline unknown.

Adventureland make over to Pirates. One idea being considered is to transform all of Adventureland to Pirates, which could mean a new tiki room show (that would be universally welcome!) and the replacing of the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse with a pirate ship play area. One report even calls for a new outdoor roller coaster.

Jungle Cruise enhancements. An upcoming movie based on the Jungle Cruise may be behind a rumored close in 2008 to add enhancements.

Tinker Bell meet and greet. An early report said the unused Fantasyland skyway station is being considered for a meet and greet location with Tinker Bell, to correspond with the company's "Fairies" push that is meant to replace the "Princesses" initiative. This report claimed the walk up to the station is meant to "shrink" visitors down to pixie size. It now seems likely that the character tent in Mickey's Toontown Fair will be the real location.

Russian pavilion. One online report claims that a long-ago vision for a pavilion dedicated to Russia could again be on the drawing boards for the intermediate/long term future.

Nestle sponsorship discontinued. Nestle may soon drop its sponsorship of the Land pavilion. This would be consistent with parent company Carnation's departure from sponsorship of Disney parks reported previously.

Imagination Pavilion. Permits filed recently suggest the upstairs area of the Imagination post show may be receiving a facelift.

Thrill ride at Tokyo pavilion. This long-delayed project may have new life again. Some online reports call for a new concept (not the bullet trains, or Matterhorn-style Mt. Fuji), and claim Joe Rohde has been involved.

Test Track upgrades. In late 2008 (or early 2009), Test Track will be used to experiment with version 3.0 of the technology, which is needed for DCA's Radiator Springs ride. Some of the ride system upgrades may stick around for Orlando, too.

Canada Raft Ride. Some early rumors are pointing to a Kali-style raft ride for Canada, a concept long considered but possibly gaining new traction now.

NEW! Ratatouille Restaurant. One report online mentions the possibility that Ratatouille may move into DHS. Would this be part of Pixar Place and thus a new facility? I hope so. If not, an obvious candidate for location would be the Studio Catering Company (sometimes known as Flatbread Grill) by the soon to be gone tram tour. Or they could take over an existing table service location; if so, my guess would be Mama Melrose.

Pepe's churros has finally given way to a themed cart!

Lights Motors Action re-theme to Cars. One online rumor points to an extension of Pixar Place all the way to the back of the park by re-theming Lights Motors Action to Lightning McQueen and his gang.

Great Movie Ride changes. One online report is calling for several changes in 2008/2009: Star Wars was one idea floated to replace the Alien scene. Also, Tarzan may be on the chopping block, as well as the bank robbery and gas-fueled explosion.

Jack Skellington Halloween Party. Disney's Hollywood Studios is being considered for its own Halloween party to appeal to a more adult audience than Mickey's Not So Scary party at the Magic Kingdom.

Australia. Inside sources are mum, but there is a large amount of land cleared in DAK, as visible on recent Google satellite maps. Could this be Australia? Long rumored, but if it comes, it should hopefully also provide a walking path out to Conservation Station.

Virgin Megastore closing. Some rumors point to an Apple store replacing the Virgin Megastore. A new rumor postulates that ESPN Zone may move into the space if Virgin leaves.

Recently implemented at WDW:

UPDATED! Toy Story Midway Mania opens. This ride is interactive, like Buzz Lightyear, and uses a technology to make it look like your weapon fires "through" the screen, an effect you can see in Innoventions' Where's the Fire exhibit. It's a ton more fun than this description may sound, and it's incredibly addicting.

NEW! Monorails return to classic coloring. The radiant pastel stickers from the Year of a Million Dreams have been removed from the monorails, which no longer look like they ran over a multicolored jazz singer and streaked his remains across the front of the car.

NEW! Concourse Steakhouse closes. The restaurant shuffle at the Contemporary hotel will result in a new table service location on the bottom floor, and a new fast food location on the fourth floor (where the new Tower will have a connecting walkway, hence the need for counter service up here).

Fuel for Thought is gone from Test Track – Perhaps it's time for an electric car?

NEW! Meet and Greet for Cars moves across DHS. The boys from Radiator Springs have a home opposite the entrance to the Backlot Tour.

Radiator Springs is now just behind the HISTA playset.

NEW! Meet and Greet for Monsters Inc moves to the warehouse zone at the exit of Backlot Tour. This move suggests that Pixar Place will have its boundaries stretch all the way out to the Big City set eventually, once the tram tour goes away.

NEW! Stroller prices vault upward. Prices shot up for rental strollers to $18/day for a single stroller, and $31/day for a double stroller.

NEW! Dining Prices raised across WDW. Prices went up in November, but were raised again in March.

NEW! Don't Waste It opens at Innoventions. This exhibit, sponsored by Waste Management, includes a full-sized garbage truck.

Block Party Bash at DHS. The high-energy show from DCA made its soft-open debut on March 9, and it's just as kinetic and high-energy as ever.

Velcro and Waste Management open (separate) exhibits at Innoventions. The Velcro exhibit features a very corny live-interaction (and audience participation) game show. The Waste Management exhibit allows children to push around a garbage truck and do small games, like sort trash or move a crane via a video game.

Spaceship Earth post-show additions. The Bibbidi-Boppidi boutiques have started offering makeovers to Hanna Montana, the teen starlet. The cost is $110.

Hanna Montana makeovers. The Bibbidi-Boppidi boutiques have started offering makeovers to Hanna Montana, the teen starlet. The cost is $110.

Rock ‘n Roll Beach Club closed at Pleasure Island. Joining the stages on the West End, this club closed to re-imagine Pleasure Island and its offerings. Recent store additions of "Curl" and "Rawlings" imply the trend will continue away from entertainment and clubs, and toward shopping.

Playhouse Disney new shows. Bear in the Big Blue House, Stanley, JoJo's Circus, and the Book of Pooh was replaced by Little Einsteins and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.

Fantasia shop opened. The collection of kiosks and stands in the Grand Canyon Concourse of the Contemporary hotel has been united into a discrete shop named Fantasia.

Mission Space upload terminals removed. The post-show of Mission: Space has always included a version of the gem-repairing-spaceship game that could be waged online, even for visitors right here in the park. Those terminals were removed. I guess the online capability never really caught on?

DHS Meet and Greets shuffle. The Monsters Inc. meet and greet area, opposite the ABC Commissary, was shut down and a new one installed in the vacant warehouse space just after the post-show for the Backlot Tour. The new area is well-themed, with a Boo-door backdrop and cordoned-off areas for a queue. Meanwhile, Mater and Lightning McQueen began welcoming visitors up near the Coke bottle mister at the entrance to Backlot Tour, right up against the Toy Story Mania construction wall. One assumes that location is temporary until the construction walls come down.

Norway smoking area carved out of a planter. The smoking area at Norway, near the now-vacant Viking ship, used to simply clog up a side walkway. This quick refurb carved a large semicircle out of the planter, creating space for the smokers and leaving the walkway to the bathrooms more clear.

French Fry cart construction. There is construction behind the French fry cart, up into the hillside. Is another smoking area being built?

Colored waterfall at Space Mountain. The former Skyway building in Tomorrowland has long contained a waterfall, often in varying degrees of decrepitude. Recently, not only was the flow of water restored, but colored spotlights were added to create a rainbow effect in the water at night time.

Signage at DHS changing. Signs came down early all across the Disney-MGM Studios, which changed names on January 9 to "Disney's Hollywood Studios."

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© 2008 Kevin Yee