Boardwalk Times: Stories from the Seashore — The Four Major Walt Disney World Projects To Watch 👀
This month's newsletter includes four major Walt Disney World projects to watch, a look at Disney Q1, and a Captain America: Brave New World box office breakdown.
Welcome back to Boardwalk Times: Stories from the Seashore!
In this issue, we will be covering:
The Four Major Walt Disney World Projects To Watch 👀
Disney Q1: More Questions Than Answers❓
Captain America: Brave New World Box Office Breakdown 🍿💰
Podcast Plugs 🎙
Links of the Month 📰
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The Four Major Walt Disney World Projects To Watch 👀
Walt Disney World, after a lull of development during the pandemic era, is now charting a future full of major projects. The four projects you need to watch out for are major swings. All four projects are slated to begin construction this year.
Cars in Frontierland
A controversial decision to fill in the Rivers of America for the sake of capacity and to make the walkway and path to Villains Land easier. The disappointing aspect is that Disney sold the Magic Kingdom expansion as Beyond Big Thunder when, in reality, it has become Reimagine Frontierland. However, this project will be massive as two new Cars attractions will be coming to Frontierland.
Despite the divisive reaction from fans, Walt Disney Imagineering has crafted a new story from the Cars universe, and it looks like the new section of Frontierland will be inspired by the National Parks. Even though there are a lot of doubters, this project has the chance to surprise some people. The main Cars attraction will be a rally race attraction, which will likely be a new ride system.
Projected opening date: 2029?
Monstropolis
I want to remind everyone I haven’t even properly eulogized losing Muppet*Vision 3D yet. Maybe I’m just in denial. Trust me, I’ll eventually write a plethora of Muppet*Vision 3D articles.
The new Monsters, Inc. land will feature the long-awaited door coaster, which will utilize a suspended coaster ride system. That will be a first for Disney. The land will also feature the Harryhausen restaurant from the film. Both of those experiences will be major draws. Monstropolis will also feature a new show that will replace Muppet*Vision 3D, and allegedly, it won’t be Laugh Floor. I’m curious if Disney eventually pivots from that idea and tries to make something radically different in that space, just so it doesn’t face the inevitable comparisons to Muppet*Vision 3D.
I’m also betting PizzeRizzo becomes PizzaRoz. Don’t ask me why; it’s just a feeling. I also believe there will be an ice cream stand in the land called EYE SCREAM with Mike Wazowski theming. Once again, don’t ask me why. I have a gut feeling about it all.
I think the biggest factor for this new land will be if Walt Disney Imagineering can make it feel like Monsters, Inc. and not just a simple overlay of Grand Avenue/Muppets Courtyard. The work on the new land will begin this summer, which was earlier than expected. It’s also likely to be a quick turnaround as it is rumored to open in 2027.
Projected opening date: 2027
Tropical Americas (Pueblo Esperanza)
The first half of the land has started construction, and it’s moving quickly, with everything almost demolished. The second half of the land will start construction as soon as DINOSAUR and the last surrounding areas close. Disney is betting that Encanto and Indiana Jones will give a jolt to Animal Kingdom. The land seems to be taking an old-school approach of telling a unified story and mixing in multiple IPs. I’m expecting Pueblo Esperanza to be way more immersive than some are expecting. The carousel attraction may be a sleeper hit as well, as it incorporates an original story while utilizing Disney IP.
Encanto will be a draw even though the ride system hasn’t been officially confirmed. Those characters and the Casita will become instantly iconic, and I could see it being a draw for a long time. Indiana Jones will be a new story, but hopefully, Disney goes all out to make it as different as possible. I think Disney has to show out here because, as I mentioned before, you could’ve just had The Dino Institute exist in Pueblo Esperanza and create a whole new backstory. (Pueblo Ezperanza and Isla Nublar sound similar, right?)
The capacity added here will be nice for Animal Kingdom, a park that is far from finished, as the park could opt for more Avatar or potentially attractions based on The Lion King and Planet of the Apes in the near future.
Projected opening date: 2027
Villains Land
The massive land is rumored to be the same size as Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge with a similar budget and will allegedly feature an indoor dark ride and a roller coaster. This will be a historic project for Disney, and there will be a lot of pressure to get it right. Disney seems to be incorporating the Villains more into Walt Disney World as Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After will open at Hollywood Studios this summer. Our very own Kyle Silagyi looked at the history surrounding this long-rumored land and what it could mean for it now.
Disney will come up with a lot of lore surrounding Villains Land. It’s already been confirmed that a spell has sent us to a realm where all the Disney Villains reside. There is so much potential for this ambitious land, and it was a land that I think many believed would never actually happen.
Projected opening date: ??? Maybe 2030?
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Disney Q1: More Questions Than Answers❓
Disney’s Q1 earnings had some strong results, but overall, it was a muted call and Q&A session. Here are five questions we have about it.
What happened to the Bob Iger of old on these calls? Bob Iger no longer uses the earnings call to boast about his upcoming film and Disney+ slates or accidentally reveal cool details. He did shout out the success of Moana 2 and Mufasa: The Lion King. But he isn’t as cheery on the calls!
What is the plan for the upgraded Disney+ interface and content output? Disney hasn’t revealed a roadmap for Disney+ feature updates, and I think analysts and fans should be concerned about Disney+’s 2026 content slate. Unless they have major reveals planned, it may be lighter.
What else is Disney doing to prepare for Epic Universe? Disney downplays Epic Universe whenever it’s brought up. However, Disney may have to utilize different levers to bring guests to Walt Disney World for 2025 and 2026. Universal won’t be slowing down after Epic Universe, they have two other parks that will likely get major refreshes as well.
Why aren’t the Wall Street analysts asking about Epic Games? We know firsthand that Disney is ramping up its Epic Games collaboration. I’m baffled that Wall Street isn’t more impressed by Disney getting into gaming and the different revenue opportunities it may bring.
What’s the future of Disney+ as a platform? Disney CFO Hugh Johnston teased Disney+’s future as “the portal into all things Disney.” I’d love to know if Disney is updating Disney+’s overall strategy to extend beyond being a film/TV streaming platform.
Captain America: Brave New World Box Office Breakdown 🍿💰
Box Office for Captain America: Brave New World 🍿💰: Marvel Studios’ first film of 2025 got off to a strong start with $100M over the four-day Presidents Day weekend. Captain America: Brave New World didn’t crash out of the gate, and it seems like the marketing campaign centered around Captain America’s clash with Red Hulk worked.
Cap Opening Weekend 💰: The opening weekend worldwide made $192.4M. In the domestic second weekend, the film had a 68% drop to $28.3 million. That aligned with the drops from Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and Thor: Love and Thunder. Films that make $100M out of the gate usually have bigger drop-offs in week two unless you are Inside Out 2. Cap should’ve had a better hold. Yet I think there is a chance it could keep making money week to week. Captain America: Brave New World’s worldwide total is currently $293 million.
Cap’s Outlook 🍿: The worldwide total could continue to grow. Brave New World could end up in the $450 million to $500 million range. It could leg out even more and reach that Mufasa range of $600 million if it gets momentum in certain markets.
The film should have free range at the box office even if it continues to drop week to week. There isn’t another major film release until, ironically, Disney’s Snow White, and even then, that film isn’t guaranteed to bring in major business. Despite a frosty critical reception, if this Captain America film legs out a potential Captain America 5 will be in the cards as Anthony Mackie is a delight and the Captain America franchise is a strong brand for Marvel Studios. I guess we will see what happens.
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Podcast Plugs 🎙
Boardwalk Times Multiverse of Marvel discusses Captain America: Brave New World and Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man. (Spotify) (Apple)
This is the Waycast discussing the Skeleton Crew finale. (Spotify) (Apple)
The Lowdown on the Plus-up has two new episodes about the history of Dracula in theme parks. (Spotify) (Apple)
LINKS OF THE MONTH
— Disney made some changes to its DEI efforts. Some of it is a partial rebrand. The move also eliminates content warnings for titles like Dumbo and Peter Pan on Disney+. (Axios)
— REPORT: Disney Is Planning The Next Generation of Disney, Pixar, and Avatar Games. (Boardwalk Times)
— REPORT: Disney and Epic Games Begin Work On New Games and Entertainment Universe. (Boardwalk Times)
— A good profile on Captain America: Brave New World director Julius Onah. (Vanity Fair)
— A look at Disney’s New York headquarters. (Bloomberg)
— Jellyrolls is closing at Disney’s BoardWalk… Disney now has a lot of vacancies at BoardWalk, and I’m curious about what transformation Disney has planned. That’s a lot of prime real estate to work with. (Disney Tourist Blog)
— This article details the special Captain America: Brave New World 5D screening from Tide where attendees got a fully-loaded sensory experience. (Polygon)
— Daredevil is Born Again as stars preview their Marvel resurrection and Season 2 plans. (Entertainment Weekly)
— Boardwalk Times columnist Kyle Silagyi explores past Disney Villains-centric concepts for the Magic Kingdom and speculates about the forthcoming land. (Boardwalk Times)
— New York Times buried the lede with the typical Disney vs Universal headline when in reality they should’ve just led with “Universal has plans for Wicked attractions.” (The New York Times)
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