The purpose of this thread is to track rumors that are posted on this board and other various places on the Disney interwebs. My hope is this thread will help us look where rumors came from and when and if they became true. This first post will be updated to reflect rumors. I am also open to suggestions on how to improve this thread.
This thread will be color coded.
Dates come from
http://www.wdwthemeparks.com
Green- Rumor that became true
Red- Dead rumor
Blue- New rumor or Rumor updated
Rumors
Magic Kingdom
Wreck it Ralph attraction in Stitch's Great Escape - August 1st, 2016
Stitch will change to a new Wreck it Ralph based attraction. Magic Feather (WDWMagic), and Martin Smith (WDWMagic).
Update- Theme is still up in the air. Possibly Wreck it Ralph but might be something else unnamed at this time.
Tomorrowland rename
CarouselOf on Twitter is reporting Tomorrowland will be renamed to Discoveryland.
Tomorrowland renovation/expansion?
Martin Smith and Magicfeather on WDWMagic have stated that plans are in place for Tomorrowland renovations and a possible expansion. However the full plan has not been approved yet.
a. Stitch to be replaced
b. Tomorrowland Speedway- updates, reduction, and replacements are on the table
c. Carousel of Progress final scene update
March 2017 - from MagicFeather and Martin and others - Tomorrowland is getting some love, TRON will be in TL in some form, prior to 50th. One rumor is Tron Coaster in Speedway(Jim Hill), but that has been shot down by Martin and MagicFeather. More likely is some other revamp for the Speedway. It could be a new ride.
May 2017 - Spirit(WDW1974) from WDWMagic has said no Tron coaster however something could very well happen in the Speedway land.
50th anniversary plans
March 2017- Spirit(WDW1974) and others have noted that WDW will get 50 enhancements for the 50th anniversary, includes refurbs, plussing, new attractions and more. Unclear if it includes things like Star Wars land, and resort changes.
May 2017- Spirit(WDW1974) at WDWMagic says the 50th budget needs to be approved by this fall in order for the bigger items to have time to get done.
Tomorrowland Re-Imagining per CarouselOf on Twitter April 2017
• Carousel of Progress Refurb
• 3 or 4 new attractions
• A TRON RIDE (Not the coaster)
• New Area Lighting
• New Background Music
Enchanted Tiki Room to Close? WDW1974 (WDWMagic) April 15th, 2017
Due to guest satisfaction and low foot traffic Disney is apparently looking to close the Enchanted Tiki Room for either something new or an overlay such as the Stitch version in Tokyo.
Moana in Adventureland?
April 18th, 2017 - Jim Hill is reporting due to a recent height balloon test in Adventureland that Disney is considering an old concept Fire Mountain with a Moana theme.
Epcot
New Illuminations at Epcot going away from Millennium theme - August 29th, 2016
Martin Smith (WDWMagic). Drones possibly part of the new show.
Guardians of the Galaxy at Epcot (Started as Guardians at ToT in DHS) - March 19th, 2016
WDWNT and "Disneyhead'71" (WDWMagic) "WDW1974" (WDWMagic), Martin Smith (WDWMagic).
Ride would go where Universe of Energy is. Building gutted but reused.
March 20, 2017- ride construction timeline has been pushed back
May 2017- Martin at WDWMagic.com - the delays are both technical as well as competing choices. Evidently UoE has a couple of scenarios for change - one being the GotG roller coaster.
May 2017 - UoE is getting replaced - with a roller coaster, current building will be used for fully themed queue, while new attached building will house the roller coaster. Original IP was GotG, but that may have changed, but the roller coaster seems a go
Mission Space update and fix up - June 29th, 2016
Martin Smith (WDWMagic), "aaronml" (WDWMagic)
Ratatouille in Epcot by the WDW 50th anniversary
Jim Hill, Martin Smith (wdwmagic), "Magic feather" (wdwmagic)
October 17th, 2016
UPDATE: Jan. 2017- Martin says Beauty and the Beast is also on the table.
UPDATE: Feb. 2017- Ratatouille is going in
UPDATE: March 2017- Done in 2019/20 range- per Martin and MagicFeather at WDWMagic.com due to Bob Iger and Chapek wanting this - BatB is still an option, but timeline is driver now.
UPDATE: Per three posters at WDWMagic.com - Ratatouille in France by 2020. Pushed up due to delay on GoTG in UoE.
May 2017 - Spirit(WDW1974) says this will happen.
Epcot to see major changes to the park, in the next 5-8 years.
a. Leave a Legacy stones to be removed
b. Total aesthetic re-do and replacement for Innoventions. MouseGear to change into a new store.
"Expect new names, severe internal modelling and new cosmetic exteriors. New store in the Mousegear space. Room for Starbucks to get bigger.
A modest expansion to the north west and possibly one to the north east. North west to gain an "expo" feel (not Stark) and Electric Umbrella space consolidated although the kitchen should stay the same, albeit remodeled."
c. Something in Universe of Energy, likely Guardians.
d. Wonders of Life possibly getting something but not immediate.
e. Mission: Space to get updated or enhancements
f. Updates to The Seas pavilion
g. Refreshes and changes to The Land Pavilion
h. No changes for now to Imagination
i. More attractions (IP based) in World Showcase
j. New version of Illuminations/new nighttime spectacular
k. New Country in World Showcase - New country to WD by 50th celebration - Spain is the option credit to Jim Hill. Others such as MagicFeather and Martin on WDWMagic say Spain is not the front runner.
Martin Smith (wdwmagic)
UPDATE: April 2017
Green light for Ratatouille - plan is for France theater to remain, but film may or may not be same of change or be gone - 2020
Coco in Mexico is in planning stages and could be ready by 2020 as well - not fully green lit pending movie release
GotG in UoE is still a go, but pushed out for 2021 for the 50th anniversary plans
One pavilion to be added by 2020 - expectation is Brazil - still not green lit
Mission: Space is already confirmed and stated for this year for upgrades - story changes
New entrance update (removal of tombstones) and spine work to not be completed until 50th timings
UK Pavillion Attraction
March 2017 - MagicFeather and Martin at WDWMagic say there is an attraction coming to the UK pavilion in World Showcase, but theme is still TBD, and development and plan no where near as far as France.
April 17th, 2017 - "Marni1971" (WDWMagic), is reporting that one of the themes of the possible UK attraction is Mary Poppins.
May 2017 - Spirit(WDW1974) from WDWMagic, this is in the works with Ratatouille.
Hollywood Studios
Great Movie Ride changes into Mickey Mouse attraction come 2018 using trackless ride system- Aug. 2nd, 2016
Martin recently said that this ride is still happening but don't expect an announcement soon.
"TheVisionarySoul" (WDWMagic), "Lee" (WDWMagic), Martin Smith (WDWMagic)
March 2017, plans are on hold
March 27th, 2017 - "Marni1971" (WDWMagic), is reporting GMR will close early fall and then the Mickey ride will open fall 2019.
April 19th, 2017 - "MansionButler84" (WDWMagic) is reporting GMR will close between August 14th and September 5th, 2017.
May 2017 - Spirit(WDW1974) says this is still happening and moving forward.
Star Wars Land
March 26th, 2017 - "MansionButler84" (WDWMagic) is reporting that Star Wars Land will open May 2019 at Disney's Hollywood Studios, and could open as early as late 2018 at Disneyland.
April 19th, 2017 - Bloomberg shared some info about SWL, the land will feature an exotic marketplace where you can buy items from all over the galaxy, the cantina will be served by alien characters, and the battle attraction will feature components from episode 8 and 9.
Park name change
Disney's Hollywood Studios will change names to something that better fits the new theme. Possibly Hollywood Adventure. "WDW1974" (WDWMagic), and various other sources.
March 29th, 2017 - "TheVisionarySoul" is reporting the following names as possibilities for DHS.
- Disney Hollywood
- Disney's Hollywood
- Disney Hollywoodland
- Disney's Hollywoodland
- Disney Hollywood Adventure
- Disney's Hollywood Adventure
Guardians of the Galaxy Meet and Greet
April 18th, 2017 - "J.D." (WDWMagic) is reporting Starlord and Baby Groot will be meeting inside One Man's Dream by May 5th, 2017.
Rey coming to DHS?
April 18th, 2017 - A casting call has been put out for Rey for Walt Disney World.
Animal Kingdom
Rivers of Light ending? - March 2017 - Jim Hill said that come Summer 2020 Rivers of Light will go away for a new show using Disney character (specifically the new CG Lion King).
Animal Kingdom Expansion
May 2017- Martin at WDWMagic.com has hinted at another addition happening to AK within the next decade. This potentially could be an expansion of a new ride, or a redo of the Dinoland area. Nothing has been locked.
Other (Resorts, DVC, MISC.)
DVC at Caribbean Beach- August 23rd, 2014
4-5 floor tower with DVC lounge on top with views of illuminations at night. The boat connection to Epcot for this has been canned according to Martin Smith (wdwmagic)
Jim Hill, "WDW1974” (wdwmagic)
August 23rd, 2014
UPDATE: Jan. 18th, 2017 - Permits filed for an expansion of the resort
UPDATE: Disney confirms new dining, retail, and services (Feb. 16 2017)
Gondola from Epcot, CBR, Pop/AoA, and DHS - Feb. 2017
Permits discovered by @DanBoris and others at WDWMagic lead us to believe that a new Gondola style transportation system is in the works that will be complete in 2019. Martin Smith, and WDW1974 from WDWMagic have also said this is the case.
April 18th, 2017 - Sandra Pedicini from the Orlando Sentinel had an email exchange with the Reedy Creek Improvement district confirming the Gondola project. Stations linking DHS, Epcot, AoA/Pop, and CBR. Each gondola will hold 10 guests.
Potential transportation between Animal Kingdom and Animal Kingdom Lodge - Feb. 2017
Martin Smith says plans are in the works for additional transportation between this resort and park. What exactly it is, is unknown however it is not a Gondola.
Potential Star Wars boutique resort
WDWMagic user WDW1974 mentions Disney is building a Star Wars boutique resort.
WDWNT is surveying guests about this potential, (4/18/17)
BREAKING: Disney Creating Star Wars “Starshi...
Potential tower at the Contemporary
April 18th, 2017 - Len Testa said a rumor is floating around that Disney will construct a suite only tower where current convention space is.
Club 33 at Walt Disney World
April 13th, 2017 - Walt Disney World has set up an email service for a Club 33 at the resort in each of the 4 parks. Possible locations are Adventureland, American Adventure pavilion, and Dinoland right now.
