Credit: DisneyDisney’s Villains Land has had a rocky history, as proven by a recent report.
At D23 in 2024, Disney confirmed plans for a long-rumored addition to its theme parks: Villains Land. Disney Experiences Chairman – soon to become CEO – Josh D’Amaro revealed that it would provide “a fearless new vision for what a Disney experience can be, incorporating attractions inspired by some of Disney’s most iconic antagonists.
Nearly two years later, Disney has not confirmed who those antagonists will be. While we know that the land will be located within Magic Kingdom, it’s unclear when it will open or how many attractions guests will be able to experience.
Disney Replaces Planned Villains Land With Pixar
Whatever we get, here’s hoping that the land meets a better fate than the version previously planned for Disneyland Resort.
According to The Wrap, Walt Disney Imagineering previously developed a Villains Land for Disney California Adventure Park. While it initially planned to replace Paradise Pier with a villainous area, it later decided to stick closer to its original concept and instead turned the land into Pixar Pier, which opened in 2018.
The planned land would have pushed California Screamin’ into full Disney Villains territory, with the coaster receiving an aggressive visual overhaul tied to some of Disney’s most iconic antagonists. The scream tunnels were designed to become a massive Jafar snake inspired by Aladdin (1992), while the inverted loop was reworked into a giant version of Captain Hook’s hook from Peter Pan (1953).
Elsewhere on Paradise Pier, a Dumbo-style spinner themed to Ursula from The Little Mermaid (1989) was slated for the coaster’s western helix. That concept would have occupied the footprint now home to Inside Out: Emotional Whirlwind.
Today, guests instead experience Pixar Pier as a bright, character-driven land anchored by Pixar’s most recognizable films. The former Paradise Pier was reimagined around attractions such as Incredicoaster, which overlays the original California Screamin’ with The Incredibles (2004) theming, alongside family-friendly offerings like Jessie’s Critter Carousel (which opened in 2019), Toy Story Mania!, and the iconic Pixar Pal-A-Round. Together, they give the land a lighter, more kinetic tone than earlier concepts once envisioned for the space.
Dining plays just as big a role in defining the area’s identity. Pixar Pier is home to Lamplight Lounge, a sit-down restaurant themed around Pixar artists and storytelling, as well as quick-service favorites like Jack-Jack Cookie Num Nums and Señor Buzz Churros. The result is a cohesive Pixar-forward destination that prioritizes broad appeal, colorful visuals, and familiar characters over the darker Villains concepts that once hovered over the pier.
What Can We Expect From Magic Kingdom’s Version of Villains Land?
Notably, some of Disneyland’s Villains Land concepts have been carried over to Magic Kingdom.
The Ursula spinning ride, originally developed for Disney California Adventure, would have found new life in the Magic Kingdom under revised plans for Villains Land. The attraction, inspired by The Little Mermaid (1989), was folded into a broader rethink of the area, according to The Wrap.
Poor Ursula is nearly in line for a ride in different Disney Parks but the green light never comes. Maybe this time it will happen in #Villainsland #DisneyVillains
Poor Ursula is nearly in line for a ride in different Disney Parks but the green light never comes. Maybe this time it will happen in #Villainsland #DisneyVillains pic.twitter.com/GJMMjlJ8ao
— Jim Shull (@JimShull) February 26, 2026
From there, the lineup expanded into a more family-friendly mix of attractions after D’Amaro allegedly challenged Imagineers to think bigger. Updated concepts reportedly included a Maleficent-themed indoor water ride inspired by Sleeping Beauty (1959), a lighter coaster centered on Yzma and Kronk from The Emperor’s New Groove (2000), and a Hades-themed dinner show drawing from Hercules (1997).
That approach marked a notable shift from earlier, darker concepts. Initial plans had called for a Maleficent-themed thrill coaster and a Madam Medusa restaurant based on The Rescuers (1977), positioning Villains Land as a more overtly sinister corner of the park.
Fans Slam New Vision For Disney Villains Land
Not everybody is thrilled by the prospect of a more family-friendly Villains Land, or by what many consider lackluster ride concepts.
“When fans vent their frustrations about Villains land, it’s not solely because they want something scarier,” wrote one X, formerly Twitter, user. “I think what they are wanting (in part) is a land that unifies the villains with a common story/goal, and a revolutionary dark ride that showcases the best of Disney tech.”
“Sorry but an Emperor’s New Groove coaster in Villains land sounds lame,” said one user.
Sorry but an Emperor’s New Groove coaster in Villains land sounds lame 🤷♂️ pic.twitter.com/uJZP434ITP
— Jake’s Springtime Surprise 🌸 (@jakefozio) February 26, 2026
However, some aren’t totally surprised by the leaked plans.
“People freaking out about possible attractions coming to Villains Land shouldn’t surprise me, but here we are,” one X user said. “I don’t know why so many people were expecting a wildly scary and thrilling land. Magic Kingdom is the most visited family-friendly theme park on earth. They were never going to give you Monsters Unchained type thrills.”
Others have also pointed out that fans have wanted Villains Land for so long that they will never be satisfied with any addition.
“I think we’ve officially reached the point with Villains Land where the hype will be unable to meet expectations,” one said. “The fact that even non theme park related news outlets are reporting on and dissecting all of this now just shows how mainstream and how big the audience for this is.”
Are you excited for Villains Land?