Walt Disney World is rumored to quickly begin building on Villains Land, the Magic Kingdom enlargement ‘past Massive Thunder’ that can substitute a portion of the Rivers of America. This particulars the event in regards to the undertaking, sheds new gentle on what the ‘darkish kingdom’ land will entail, together with what nonetheless stands in the way in which of this rumor changing into actuality.
Let’s begin with that final level, as there’s nonetheless one main hurdle for Walt Disney Imagineering to clear earlier than work can start on Villains Land or Automobiles Land in Magic Kingdom. As you may recall from final weekend’s submit, Indiana Jones & Encanto Enlargement at Animal Kingdom Clears Ultimate Florida Allow Hurdle, the largest obstacle to those initiatives starting in earnest–and the one permits that aren’t mainly rubber stamped–are these from the South Florida Water Administration District (SFWMD).
The SFWMD allow encompassing this undertaking is the “407 Basin Stormwater Modifications” undertaking–also referred to as changing the Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island for Automobiles and Villains lands in Magic Kingdom. Walt Disney World filed its newest response to the SFWMD’s request for added info on that undertaking again in late December, and remains to be awaiting last phrase from SFWMD.
On the time, followers had been stunned that Imagineering was nonetheless continuing full steam forward on that, as there have been “rumors” of the undertaking being deserted. For our half, we had by no means heard these. In the event you want additional reinforcing that Disney plans to proceed with the Rivers of America substitute, this mid-February 2025 replace also needs to operate as that.
There’s been forwards and backwards between Disney and the SFWMD on the Rivers of America substitute undertaking, which is unsurprising given the dimensions and scope of the work. There was a little bit of this with Tropical Americas, and that’s principally a reimagining that Disney felt was grandfathered in to current functions. The 407 Basin Stormwater modifications proposal is far more formidable and, impactful to stormwater displacement (SFWMD’s main concern).
The wanting the back-and-forth is that Disney filed its first allow with SFWMD again in August, and the district responded with a Request for Extra Data (RAI) that sought adjustments, clarifications and different solutions or modifications to the plan. After getting an extension on the RAI deadline, Walt Disney World offered an intensive packet of knowledge on December 19, 2024, which included a 23-page letter together with numerous extra pages of maps, plans, appendices, and updates to previously-filed paperwork.
In the event you’re actually interested by all of this, head to the SFWMD ePermitting web page and enter “407 Basin Stormwater Modifications” because the undertaking title within the search. From there, try the RAI Data drop-down. There’s a bunch of stuff there, together with the aforementioned 23-page letter, in addition to the unique proposal. The underside line, although, is that that is the place issues at present stand–the Rivers of America substitute undertaking is in allow purgatory, with Disney in a holding sample till the district points approval or hits the ball again in Disney’s courtroom with one more RAI.
It wouldn’t be in the least stunning if there’s extra forwards and backwards on the Magic Kingdom enlargement undertaking between Florida and Disney. In studying all the SFWMD correspondence on varied initiatives over time, the larger scale and scope of the 407 Basin Stormwater Modifications is straight away apparent, as is SFWMD’s larger scrutiny of the MK proposal. Since we’ve been protecting Walt Disney World, that is the largest undertaking we’ve seen. Positively from a stormwater displacement perspective, however most likely interval.
This isn’t to say we predict the Rivers of America substitute allow will likely be denied (we don’t!), however we additionally wouldn’t be stunned if the subsequent step isn’t a last approval. That may not come till later this spring. The very best case situation, if the appliance course of follows related timelines to Tropical Americas, it will be accredited in late February or early March 2025.
In contrast to with Dino-Rama, which closed previous to this allow being issued, nothing can occur on the Automobiles and Villains initiatives till there’s approval from SFWMD. The undertaking is in growth limbo till then. Based mostly on at this time’s new growth, it will appear that Walt Disney Imagineering is anticipating approval earlier than early March 2025. There’s a great probability they know one thing we all know, as we’d assume there’s an open line of communication between Disney and SFWMD past what the official file displays.
Orlando actual property skilled Ken Pozek uncovered a projected on a building bidding website titled “Disney Magic Kingdom Enlargement – Villains Land.” Work will begin on this undertaking March 1, 2025 in line with the web page.
If Pozek’s title sounds vaguely acquainted to longtime Walt Disney World followers, that’s most likely as a result of he’s the one who first uncovered plans to construct an In-Park Lodge at EPCOT’s Entrance. Just a few years in the past, he shared the shock discover of a list for “EPCOT Future World Lodge” within the planning schematics stage of design with a $50 to $75 million undertaking valuation.
The overview confirmed Walt Disney Parks & Resorts listed as proprietor, with Imagineering and Gensler as architects. This was first printed in 2018, then republished in 2021, with one other rumor resurfacing in 2023. As might be apparent, there’s no lodge on the entrance entrance to EPCOT (but?), which is exactly why we’re submitting this Villains Land undertaking underneath rumor, even when it seems to be stronger than that (possibly rumor/leak is extra correct?).
Clearly past the scope of this submit, however I’m pretty assured we’ll see in-park lodges at EPCOT and Magic Kingdom inside the subsequent 15 years. Or a minimum of one of many two. Walt Disney World isn’t achieved constructing resorts, and there’s prime actual property in each areas–or will likely be, as soon as ‘past Massive Thunder’ progresses additional.
Again to the subject at hand, Pozek revealed particulars in regards to the Villains Land bidding on YouTube:
That is primarily based on building bid info Mr. Pozek found on Dodge Information & Analytics, an trade website that tracks the development trade and permits bidding on initiatives by contractors. It doesn’t have a public-facing portal, so we’ve got no manner of verifying the veracity of what he’s presenting.
The bid web page notes that the development website for Villains Land will cowl 14 acres, which is predicted to be simply the Villains Land–not the mixed Automobiles and Villains Lands. For context, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is the very same measurement and Magic Kingdom as an entire is 107 acres.
If Villains Land alone is 14 acres–and we positive hope it’s–that most likely means the darkish experience present constructing (or one thing important) finally ends up being constructed past the berm/outdoors the Walt Disney World Railroad tracks. As beforehand mentioned, we count on intensive downtime for the practice but once more on account of this undertaking.
The aforementioned SFWMD allow encompasses a a lot bigger space, 300 acres in complete. Nevertheless, the overwhelming majority of that’s wholly unrelated to the development itself, because it additionally covers the place the displaced water from the Rivers of America will go. (Simply underscoring how a lot bigger-picture of a allow that’s.)
The development bidding platform lists an estimated price range of $25 to $50 million. This is able to solely cowl preliminary website prep work, like clearing the land and infill. Building of the rides, eating places and retail will likely be a lot, a lot extra. Whereas Disney hasn’t launched any numbers (and doubtless received’t anytime quickly), I’d absolutely count on this land to price round $2 billion.
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge reportedly eclipsed $1 billion, and that was with defrayed growth prices throughout the coasts and earlier than inflation and labor prices made costs soar. Plus, nothing Imagineering does is affordable–they will barely ‘develop’ new signage for lower than $25 million. Slight exaggeration, however the level is that this undertaking scope very clearly doesn’t cowl something substantive.
Frankly, $50 million looks like it’s on the low finish only for website prep, which will likely be intensive for the ‘past Massive Thunder’ initiatives. I’m guessing there are extra bids like this that we haven’t seen but for the laydown yards, infill of Rivers of America, Automobiles Land prep, and so on–and that these alone will put this undertaking above $100 million earlier than something is even constructed.
Getting again to the meat of the Villains Land building bid, the proposal lists the land as containing a curler coaster and an indoor experience.
This traces up with what Disney beforehand introduced again at D23 Expo. Throughout that presentation, Parks Chairman Josh D’Amaro stated that Villains Land will likely be dwelling to 2 main points of interest, eating, and purchasing on an extremely twisted grand scale.
In accordance with Disney, the probabilities are limitless for the tales that may be informed — and guests to the darkish and thorny land needs to be ready for no matter chaos may come their manner. The brand new land will embody all of your nightmares.
D’Amaro additional declared that “preparation is already underway” at Magic Kingdom for Villains Land.
As we identified on the time, “preparation” is a obscure and nebulous time period. Technically, preparations are already underway for me to have a huge T-Rex fossil. By that, I imply I take into consideration dinosaur fossils whereas within the bathe, however since I’m neither a paleontologist nor a billionaire, it will appear my preparations are pretty hole and superficial.
In equity, D’Amaro did say extra just lately that Imagineering could be breaking floor on Villains Land “very, very quickly.” That was again on the D23 Brazil occasion in November. Frankly, it’s arduous to know what to imagine of Disney’s claims, as they’ve made quite a lot of statements about earth shifting, preparations being underway, and so on. The surest signal is after we really see shovels within the soil. Or on this case, shovels filling soil into the Rivers of America.
The underside line is that Villains Land seems to be on the precipice of shifting ahead, with energetic building beginning quickly.
March 1, 2025 might be the goal date. I wouldn’t sit on pins and needles ready for a groundbreaking ceremony or picture on that particular date. It might occur then, a pair weeks later, or someday in between. If allow approval occurs subsequent week, possibly Villains Land breaks floor late this month!
The purpose isn’t that particular date, it’s that Disney is getting the ball rolling on this, anticipating approval from SFWMD very quickly, and commencing building virtually instantly thereafter. Which means that that is not going to be a kind of initiatives Disney drags its ft on for months or years–even when it does take a very long time from groundbreaking to opening.
From a sensible, guest-facing perspective, we’d nonetheless count on minimal impacts for a minimum of the subsequent a number of months. This work goes to essentially begin outdoors the prevailing boundaries of Magic Kingdom and work its manner in.
Even as soon as it will get to the purpose that the waterfront space of the Rivers of America in Frontierland might be impacted, it’s totally attainable that Disney will use coffer dams and different methods to protect the aesthetics. Hopefully, it received’t appear like the above picture till someday in 2026.
That is going to be a protracted and concerned undertaking, and doubtless entail one other phased closure. What we’ve beforehand mentioned in When Will Rivers of America & Tom Sawyer Island Shut at Magic Kingdom? probably stays correct.
This shouldn’t be a shock. As mentioned in our newest version of Walt Disney World’s 5-12 months Building Plan, Villains Land might be the final undertaking to open of these which were introduced, and we’d estimate it’ll debut in 2030–one 12 months after Automobiles Land.
Clearly, the aforementioned website prep work needs to be achieved lengthy earlier than then–hopefully by the primary half of 2026 for essentially the most half, tying a minimum of partly to the Massive Thunder Mountain Railroad refurbishment undertaking. It needs to be an thrilling undertaking to look at take form (properly, not over the subsequent couple of years except you’re a giant fan of dirt-moving), and we’ll hold you posted about all the Villains Land rumors and official information!
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Your Ideas
Ideas on the Walt Disney Imagineering doubtlessly beginning land clearing and website prep for Villains Land on March 1, 2025? Anticipate that that is simply an estimate, or does Disney already know SFWMD is approving its 407 Basin undertaking allow within the subsequent couple weeks? Hoping that there’s nonetheless an opportunity of fixing the plans if Florida doesn’t approve? Excited or underwhelmed by the plan to switch Rivers of America with Automobiles land? Or, are you in wait and see mode with this? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Any questions we may also help you reply? Listening to your suggestions—even while you disagree with us—is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!
