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Credit: Inside the MagicThe Walt Disney World Resort shakeup continues as the House of Mouse overhauls its flagship Disney theme parks in Orlando, Central Florida.
In the near future, Disney Experiences will officially fill in the iconic Rivers of America at Magic Kingdom. They will also retheme large areas of both Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom. It’s the year of change for the parks in the Sunshine State but it’s no secret that the redevelopment is causing some apprehension and anxiety with fans.
Between Destination D23 in late 2023 and last year’s D23 Expo in Anaheim, California, the Disney Experiences arm of The Walt Disney Company has announced myriad changes to the theme parks across the globe. As the jewel in the crown, there’s been a laser focus on the Walt Disney World Resort, especially considering Universal’s latest addition, Universal Epic Universe, is about to debut this May.
From the removal of the Grand Avenue as fans know it (goodbye, Muppets!) to the demolishing of DinoLand U.S.A., the changes are already causing discourse to stir. While some are praising Disney’s decision to move into the future (with projects like the first-of-its-kind Monsters, Inc. coaster), others are gobsmacked that the company would eradicate areas like the aforementioned Rivers of America in Magic Kingdom’s Frontierland.
The landscaping at Disney World’s number one park will bring Pixar’s Cars franchise to the area, while further afield–in the so-called “Beyond Big Thunder Mountain” concept–the Disney Villains will arrive. While the Frontierland development is yet to get truly going, one transformation is already well underway.
The eradication of DinoLand U.S.A. officially began in mid-January as Disney closed a number of rides and attractions, including TriceraTop Spin, to begin work on the Tropical Americas.
More would later close and be demolished and Walt Disney Imagineering would begin the Pueblo Esperanza project. As it stands, the signature DINOSAUR ride will remain open through the end of the year, with Disney confirming this will be the last time to ride before it goes “extinct.”
Disney’s Tropical Americas area will be themed with the Encanto and Indiana Jones franchises. Disney will bring Antonio Madrigal’s bedroom to life, while Indiana Jones will replace the current DINOSAUR location.
While some may have presumed this would see a similar attraction to Disneyland Resort’s Indiana Jones Adventure come to Florida, Disney confirmed this would be an entirely new ride and will not replicate any part of the West Coast version.
Disney expects to have the Tropical Americas area open by 2027 but there is no word yet on whether this will be in phases or whether the attractions will be part of the Lightning Lane offer at the park. In addition, Disney often utilizes a virtual queue for new attractions, but with that system now obsolete at the park, will they adopt new measures when they open to the public?
Animal Kingdom is the cheapest option for the Lightning Lane due to its amount of attractions, however, it will be interesting to see if that changes as more IP-driven rides become available.
At present, Disney’s Lightning Lane Single Pass for Animal Kingdom includes just Avatar Flight of Passage, while the Lightning Lane Multi Pass includes DINOSAUR, Expedition Everest–Legend of the Forbidden Mountain, Feathered Friends in Flight!, Festival of the Lion King, Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond!, Kali River Rapids, Kilimanjaro Safaris, and Naʻvi River Journey.
While the Lightning Lane Multi Pass offer is strong at first glance, there are only five rides available as the rest are performances. This list becomes further depleted at the end of this year with the “extinction” of DINOSAUR, meaning if Disney does not adjust the pricing for the Multi Pass–which currently ranges from $15-29–guests will be paying the same for fewer rides.
Of course, the shows are some of the most exciting parts of a Walt Disney World Resort vacation, but with these locations often holding a larger capacity of guests, it’s sometimes not needed to purchase Lightning Lane entry for things like Festival of the Lion King and Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond!
Likewise, guests purchasing the Lightning Lane Premier Pass, currently priced between $119-199, will also suffer from this loss, even with the addition of Avatar Flight of Passage in Pandora–The World of Avatar.
Based on previous attraction closures and the respective parks’ Lightning Lane prices, it does not seem like Disney will adjust pricing even with the loss of such a popular ride in the Animal Kingdom park. For example, Magic Kingdom is currently without Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Astro Orbiter and is still pricing its spring break Premier Pass at the record highest price: $449.
How do you feel about Disney not adjusting the price of its Lightning Lane passes when attractions are temporarily or permanently closed? Let Inside the Magic know in the comments down below!