Credit: DisneyA recent report suggests that Disney is changing its theme park plans.
Disney is making heavy investments in its theme parks right now. At Walt Disney World Resort, Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom are all set to receive brand-new lands and attractions in the coming years.
Over on the West Coast, Disneyland Resort is also receiving new attractions at Disney California Adventure Park, including a Coco (2017) boat ride, two new attractions in Avengers Campus, and an area inspired by James Cameron’s Avatar franchise.
However, a recent report has suggested that Disney is having doubts about these expansion plans. The Wrap claimed that Disney is reconsidering its Avatar land, with former Disney Imagineer Jim Shull suggesting Zootopia as a likely replacement.
In turn, Disney could relocate the planned attraction elsewhere – such as Disney’s Animal Kingdom, a rumored third park for Tokyo Disney Resort known as DisneySky, or Shanghai Disneyland’s long-awaited second park.
Disney Ditches Plans for Second EPCOT
Rumors surrounding a second park at Shanghai Disneyland have also intensified in recent months.
A plot has long been reserved for a second gate at Shanghai Disneyland. Some rumors suggest the park could resemble a Shanghai version of EPCOT, an idea that former Walt Disney Imagineering (WDI) president Bob Weis has reportedly acknowledged in the past.
Oh le beau leak qui nous vient tout droit de Shanghai Disneyland ! pic.twitter.com/v6VxdlPlL6
— zobyeg (@zobyeg) March 26, 2026
Unconfirmed concept art for the project – known internally as Project Atlas – featured a structure similar to Spaceship Earth. Unlike the Florida theme park, the concept art lacked World Showcase. It was also unclear whether it would feature equivalents of iconic EPCOT attractions, such as Test Track or Soarin. Notably, Shanghai Disneyland already features a version of the latter known as Soaring Over the Horizon in its Adventure Isle area.
But as per The Wrap, Disney has abandoned plans for Shanghai’s second gate to take the form of “an EPCOT-of-the-east-type science and technology park.” Instead, it plans to theme the park to “Disney adventures.” These “adventures” could include Avatar.
In recent years, Disney has increasingly leaned on the term “adventure” as a broad umbrella that allows the company to incorporate a wide range of popular IP. In March, Walt Disney Studios Park rebranded as Disney Adventure World, dropping its behind-the-scenes Hollywood theme in favor of a looser concept that gives Disney far more flexibility in what it adds next.
Earlier this month, former Disney Imagineer Tony Baxter criticized Disney’s use of the word “adventure” during a talk at the Walt Disney Family Museum. Multiple attractions worldwide use the term, including Indiana Jones Adventure (a ride that Baxter ironically helped develop), Web Slingers: A Spider-Man Adventure, The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Undersea Adventure, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, and Star Tours – The Adventures Continue.
Disney Legend Tony Baxter had some hot takes at the Walt Disney Family Museum yesterday:
*He hates using the word “Adventure” in experience names
*He does not like Buzz Lightyear attraction, but is hopeful that the recent refurbishment addresses what he views as its faults (He is a big fan of Toy Story Mania)
*The most recent WOW moment he had at a theme park was entering the Ministry of Magic at Epic Universe
*Splash Mountain is the attraction he wishes they would bring back the most
Disney Legend Tony Baxter had some hot takes at the Walt Disney Family Museum yesterday:
*He hates using the word "Adventure" in experience names
*He does not like Buzz Lightyear attraction, but is hopeful that the recent refurbishment addresses what he views as its faults (He is… pic.twitter.com/eV6uxUsYMA— LaughingPlace.com (@laughingplace) April 5, 2026
Whatever theme Shanghai Disneyland’s second park ultimately takes, it appears increasingly likely that the project will move forward.
Earlier this year, it emerged that the land for Shanghai Disneyland’s second park had been hit by a planning adjustment. This changed its designation to commercial services, parking lots, and transportation hubs, which some took as an early indication that the resort is in the early stages of developing its second theme park.
June 16 marks the park’s 10th anniversary, providing an ideal opening for Disney to announce a second gate.
What theme would you like to see for Shanghai Disneyland’s second gate?