Right here’s one thing you don’t see daily: Walt Disney Imagineering is constructing a second House Mountain and concurrently demolishing the unique attraction. That is a part of a blockbuster ~$450 million reimagining of Tomorrowland and all-new (clearly) model of the enduring thrill trip at Tokyo Disneyland that’ll debut in 2027.
It is a mission we’ve been watching take form (actually) all yr lengthy. Nonetheless, I actually stopped in my tracks after I noticed the dual peaks of House Mountain, one rising and the opposite falling, from the Tokyo Disney Resort monorail this Christmas. Given how distinctive that is–and unlikely to occur at Walt Disney World or Disneyland in California–I felt compelled to share a fast have a look at the large mission.
Additionally, if this Tomorrowland reimagining isn’t in your radar…perhaps it must be. That’s true even should you’re solely a fan of Walt Disney World or Disneyland. That’s as a result of, as talked about in The Way forward for Tomorrowland at Magic Kingdom, this could possibly be a blueprint for what’s to return on the home parks. Not with the second House Mountain–that already sorta occurred by way of TRON Lightcycle Run–however with the general overhaul. Moreover or alternatively, it’s additionally attainable that Magic Kingdom will inherit TDR’s hand-me-downs, which is exactly what occurred the final time Tokyo undertook one of these mission ~5 years in the past.
In line with Oriental Land Firm, the proprietor and operator of Tokyo Disney Resort, the brand new Tomorrowland plaza will specific the connection between Earth and the universe, representing a picture of a future the place people are in concord with nature. Friends will have the ability to get pleasure from moments of relaxation and rest on this plaza the place numerous icons and different design components create a way of hope for the longer term.
This all-new House Mountain may even entail a reimagined plaza that may create a reimagined space of Tomorrowland. It’s anticipated to open in 2027 and price roughly 56 billion yen. Usually, that may be over $500 million USD; with the present energy of the greenback and weak spot of the yen, it’s closed to $450 million.
The brand new House Mountain will keep its authentic idea as an indoor curler coaster, however can have enhanced efficiency and immersive particular results that may give company much more thrills on this thrilling rocket trip. Extra on what that would imply when it comes to the trip system beneath.
One factor I respect about this, and all, OLC tasks is that it’s already fairly far alongside not lengthy after beginning. Oriental Land Co. held a conventional Shinto groundbreaking ceremony for the brand new House Mountain attraction and its surrounding space in Tomorrowland in Might 2023.
That’s over a yr in the past, however the authentic House Mountain didn’t shut till July 31, 2024. So it’s solely been just a few months of the mission taking place in earnest. Previous to the closing of the OG House Mountain, partitions went up within the previous bus car parking zone and development started on the brand new construction.
Throughout this Might and June, we noticed coaster monitor being put in inside the brand new House Mountain. Eagle-eyed curler coaster fanatics recognized one part as being drop monitor manufactured by Intamin, one of many ‘huge’ curler coaster producers that’s behind different Disney rides, together with Raging Spirits at Tokyo DisneySea, Indiana Jones et le Temple du Péril at Disneyland Paris, Incredicoaster at Disney California Journey, and RC Racer within the numerous Toy Story Lands exterior Walt Disney World.
That is noteworthy as a result of nearly everybody (together with us!) had speculated that the brand new House Mountain could be a twist on Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at EPCOT, utilizing the identical monitor and format however with (in all probability) a brand new theme and characters. Nonetheless, that trip was made by Vekoma, that means that House Mountain might be a very authentic and completely different idea. (We’d nonetheless anticipate it to be a family-friendly “story” coaster, since that’s more likely to enchantment to Japanese audiences greater than an intense thrill trip.)
Personally, I’m excited that the brand new House Mountain can be an authentic idea, however I’m additionally very stunned. Imagineering likes to pitch OLC on points of interest and areas which have lately opened in america. For instance, the Automobiles Land changing Rivers of America concept was initially drawn up for Tokyo Disneyland, however was rejected by OLC.
There are different, higher examples of this–however most pitches do get rejected. It nonetheless behooves Disney to try to get OLC to chew, as cloning ideas helps unfold prices over a number of parks and, on this case, helps stick a distinct firm with a part of Disney’s invoice for R&D and different bills.
Cosmic Rewind had an out-of-this-world funds, so it is sensible that Disney would’ve wished to promote OLC on the attraction. It additionally would’ve made sense for OLC to purchase. The depth of the OmniCoaster appears good for Japanese visitor sensibilities, and we noticed a larger-than-normal delegation from OLC and Walt Disney Points of interest Japan touring EPCOT again when Cosmic Rewind opened.
However alas, OLC selected to go together with an Intamin curler coaster as an alternative. That’s, assuming web sleuths are right–and that’s one thing for which I can not vouch. I examined the identical up-close monitor images they did and my solely conclusion was, “yep, that’s a curler coaster, alright.”
Anyway, let’s check out development and destruction of the rising and falling (for now) twin House Mountains at Tokyo Disneyland, beginning with a few large views from our room at Tokyo Hilton Bay for context. The mission website is on the far left aspect of the body, below the cranes (new House Mountain is left, previous is true):
We had an analogous room view over the summer time and you possibly can see the monitor being put in in new House Mountain on the time (once more, previous House Mountain was nonetheless operational then). I’d assume that’s completed at this level, and the mission is continuing just like TRON Lightcycle Run, with the constructing being constructed across the coaster.
If the tempo of this work is any indication, it has me questioning why this trip isn’t opening till 2027. That looks like a really conservative timeline for a coaster that appears prefer it could possibly be able to roll within the first half of 2026.
Right here’s a glance from the monorail loop, the place the dual peaks are most evident:
That is so cool to see. I’m struggling to consider different occasions when Disney has demolished and rebuilt the identical factor (roughly) on an adjoining parcel.
I’m additionally nonetheless considerably stunned that they’re rebuilding House Mountain versus utilizing the present construction as queue, pre-show and loading with an adjoining gravity constructing behind it. Sorta like what Walt Disney World did with Universe of Power and Cosmic Rewind.
I’m additionally stunned as a result of that is going to lead to a colossal entrance plaza for the brand new House Mountain. I shouldn’t be stunned because the idea artwork does present a swooping flyover walkway resulting in the brand new attraction and a number of other planters in entrance of that, however I assume I underestimated their scale. This must be a stunning plaza house…properly, when it’s not overflowing with individuals ready ~240 minutes for the brand new trip!
Right here’s a view from inside Tokyo Disneyland, the place the second House Mountain vanishes aside from just a few spots on the far aspect of the park (too dangerous the treehouse nonetheless isn’t open):
Usually, Tokyo Disneyland is nice about concealing development or demolition with scrims. Nonetheless, there’s no hiding this. House Mountain looms giant over Tomorrowland, and a big wall across the total factor simply isn’t sensible. Tremendous by me, as once more, I believe it’s superior to see the previous trip torn down and the brand new one rise.
Though I uncared for to get images, it’s additionally price mentioning–for the sake of these visiting within the subsequent yr or so–that the trail on the appropriate aspect of this picture that results in Monsters Trip & Go Search and World Bazaar is commonly closed. You possibly can form of make out the pull-down door in the course of that hall.
Alongside this House Mountain rebuild, Tokyo Disneyland can also be changing its Buzz Lightyear’s Astro Blasters attraction with a Wreck-It Ralph trip. That’s on the appropriate aspect of the principle hall above, reverse Sew Encounter (which also needs to get replaced).
Tokyo Disneyland has a intelligent set-up right here with every mission website walled off, after which a separate set of partitions that block that hall itself. I assume that is to provide Imagineers and development employees simpler entry to the Astro Blasters website from backstage, permitting them to take away or set up props, set items, and so on. with out ready till the park is closed. There have been occasions all through our go to when these walkways had been closed. Different occasions, they had been open.
Finally, it’ll be fascinating to observe the brand new House Mountain proceed to rise, and the previous one to fall. OLC strikes quick, so that you realistically in all probability don’t have for much longer to see the dual peaks like this–I’d estimate this sight can be passed by February or March, earlier than peaking in early January. (I really feel like I’m forecasting fall colours or sakura!)
I’m additionally trying ahead to experiencing the brand new attraction and seeing the way it differs from the previous House Mountain, Cosmic Rewind, and different family-friendly curler coasters that Imagineering has created. Identical goes for the brand new entrance, and general overhaul to Tomorrowland at Tokyo Disneyland.
My hope is that this ‘New Tomorrowland’ maintains the present entrance spires, that are timeless, and transitions from the clear mid-century fashionable traces right into a extra natural design by House Mountain. My expectation is that it’ll be extra of a wholesale overhaul, with the complete land given a recent model that matches the biomimicry of the all-new House Mountain and its surrounding plaza.
Actually, if that’s what occurs, we gained’t complain. Positive, we’ll be saddened by the lack of the monoliths and Tony Solaroni, if both happen. Nonetheless, we acknowledge {that a} distinct visible identification is vital, and can be completely satisfied Tokyo Disneyland is getting one thing distinctive and custom-designed for this explicit park. Tasks like this are serving to to distance Tokyo Disneyland from its “Bizarro Magic Kingdom” moniker and provides the park its personal distinct identification. That ought to additional solidify its place because the second-best Disney theme park on the planet, proper behind its next-door neighbor, Tokyo DisneySea.
Planning a visit to Tokyo Disney Resort? For complete recommendation, the perfect place to start out is our Tokyo Disneyland & DisneySea Journey Planning Information! For extra specifics, our TDR Lodge Rankings & Critiques web page covers lodging. Our Restaurant Critiques element the place to dine & snack. To economize on tickets or decide which sort to purchase, learn our Ideas for Saving Cash submit. Our What to Pack for Disney submit takes a novel have a look at intelligent objects to take. Venturing elsewhere in Japan? Seek the advice of our Final Information to Kyoto, Japan and Metropolis Information to Tokyo, Japan.
YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you consider this twin peaks of House Mountain as the brand new one rises and the previous one falls? Would you prefer to see one thing related at Disneyland or Walt Disney World, or are you happy with the stateside Tomorrowland types? Should you’ve been to Tokyo Disneyland, did you discover similarities to previous variations of Tomorrowland from Florida and California? Agree or disagree with our assessments? Any questions? Share your ideas within the feedback!
