Boardwalk Times: Stories from the Seashore — 25 Disney Predictions for 2025 👀 📈📉
This month's newsletter will include 25 Disney Predictions for 2025, thoughts on the Disney Experiences shake-up, and insights on Most Anticipated Disney Films of 2025: Voted By Our Fans.
Welcome back to Boardwalk Times: Stories from the Seashore!
In this issue, we will be covering:
25 Disney Predictions for 2025 👀 📈📉
Disney Experiences Shake-Up 🎢 🛳️
Most Anticipated Disney Films of 2025: Voted By The Fans 🍿
Podcast Plugs 🎙
Links of the Month 📰
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25 Disney Predictions for 2025 👀 📈📉
Here we go it’s time to give 25 Disney predictions for 2025 ranging from Disney’s overall business, the film studios, Disney Parks, and beyond.
Disney paints a clearer picture of its AI efforts
I think we will see Disney articulate its AI efforts at Walt Disney Studios and Walt Disney Imagineering in 2025. Artificial Intelligence is currently all the buzz and Disney will surely want to let people — mostly Wall Street — know their strategy. A prediction within a prediction is that I think Disney will use its AI task force to stop some of these bots from copying Disney’s notable IP.
Disney’s Epic Games Universe gets a release time frame
Disney’s investment in Epic Games will continue to bring us new Fortnite integrations but what about the entire Disney Epic Games Universe? I’m expecting both parties to reveal a release time frame for the ambitious project.
Dana Walden licenses the rights to the Tony Awards starting in 2027 so Disney can be the official EGOT home on certain years
Dana Walden will continue to make moves on the TV side. She was able to get The Grammys and now I believe she will go after the Tony Awards. Disney securing the Tony Awards means that in some years Disney would air the Emmys, Grammys, Oscars, and Tonys. It would be an EGOT year for Disney!
Disneyland Paris updates when they have to build that third park by
2036 is going to be here before you know it, and that’s the year that Disneyland Paris technically has to build their third park by. I could see Disneyland Paris extending the third park mandate to 2046 or maybe they get bullish and decide to do a third park to compete against Universal’s upcoming European ventures in England and possibly Spain.
Disney explores creating a social platform
This one is an out there prediction but I could see Disney exploring creating a squeaky-clean social platform for its fans. An extension of Disney+/D23 but digital. Meta, TikTok, and Twitter are all facing various challenges from users and governments alike. Disney may just decide they can connect directly to their fans.
Disney’s dealings with China are examined
I wouldn’t be able to tell you the specifics but with China constantly in the news I feel like there will be a situation with Disney/China later this year. Just from looking at all the TikTok drama I could see something happening.
James Gorman and the Succession Committee slim the Succession race down to 2-3 names
I see Gorman going with two internal candidates and possibly an outsider in a three-way bakeoff. I think succession heats up this year because 2026 is right around the corner.
Disney makes a play for Sesame Street distribution
To me, this would be a YOLO Disney move. However I feel like without theme parks and consumer products deals in place, Disney may not license Sesame Street. Although Disney could just produce a Muppet Family Christmas throughout their deal which saw The Muppets, Sesame Street, and other Jim Henson characters unite.
Disney D23 announces a secondary major event in 2025 in a non-Disney Parks market
Maybe another D23 Brazil? Maybe a D23 over in Europe? Maybe a D23 in Singapore?
Disney gives the official timeline for most of its D23 2024 projects
I’m expecting Destination D23 2025 to give us an updated timeline for all projects at the Disney Parks and Disney Cruise Line.
Disney finally announces a proper Inside Out attraction
A no-brainer right here. Disney would be foolish not to build Inside Out attractions at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland.
Disney finally announces a proper Moana attraction
Another no-brainer and it feels like it’s bound to happen.
Disney details its Muppet*Vision 3D preservation plans
Disney finally gives details on how they are going to preserve Muppet*Vision 3D. Will it be a new building or will it be as simple as Disney+?
Disney reveals the names for majority of the upcoming Cruise Ships
Disney Enchantment, Disney Explorer, and Disney Believe are on the clock. Who knows? Will they keep coming up with Disney typical names?
Disney makes the Disney Store return with select brick-and-mortar locations
This is my biggest bet is that Disney will bring back the Disney Store with an experiential retail twist in select, sought-after locations.
Universal announces they are replacing The Simpsons, which leads to Disney slowly integrating The Simpsons into the parks
Universal has The Simpsons until 2028 but I could see that deal ending early. I could also see Disney negotiating some amendments with Universal regarding Marvel character usage as well at Walt Disney World. The question remains how much longer will Universal want The Simpsons and Marvel in their parks?
Disney partners with Roku on more projects
Disney will partner with Roku on more projects throughout the year. Roku is a unique business as it essentially acts as the operating software for most TVs and streaming. Disney and Roku will likely come up with more marketing integrations.
Disney explores creating a FAST streamer
Disney could explore a free ad-supported streaming service with content that isn’t being fully utilized on Disney+. In an ideal world, this is where Disney could put all the “write-off” TV shows (Big Shot, Willow) and films (The One and Only Ivan, Togo), legally I don’t know if they could but it would be great to watch some of those projects again.
Disney determines the future of Storyliving by Disney
Will Disney continue on with Storyliving by Disney after Cotino and Asteria? Is this a business model worth pursuing? I think Disney will make some decisions this year on it as Cotino opens.
Lucasfilm reconfigures its film and Disney+ slate
Ahead of Star Wars Celebration, I’m expecting Lucasfilm to reconfigure its film and Disney+ slate. After The Mandalorian and Grogu, Lucasfilm will prioritize Shawn Levy’s Star Wars film, Daisy Ridley’s New Jedi Order film will receive a new creative team, Dave Filoni’s Star Wars film will move forward, and James Mangold’s Dawn of the Jedi will also move forward. My bet for the Star Wars TV side is a new animation series set in the New Republic, a second season of Skeleton Crew (bold I know), a third season of Ahsoka, and two wildcard projects like Doctor Aphra and a potential Old Republic series.
Disney announces a two-season renewal for Percy Jackson and the Olympians
Percy Jackson and the Olympians was the number one Disney+ series in 2024.
Disney should strike while the iron is hot and order a third and fourth season.
Disney gives updates on the new Pirates of the Caribbean films
Disney is bound to update everyone on Pirates this year. We have two films in development and we could end up getting casting news on both. Maybe the Margot Robbie version will finally get going and we will find out casting for the other one.
Disney updates Disney+ with new features
Disney CTO Adam Smith and his team will roll out new features for Disney+. I’m personally hoping we see Disney+ embrace a more personal approach where subscribers can share “playlists” with friends and at the end of the year get their own “Disney+ Wrapped.” Yes, I want Disney+ to copy the Spotify model. I also want Disney to expand its 24/7 Streams feature with more looping channels.
Disney builds out a bigger 20th Century Studios slate for future years
Disney will build out a bigger 20th Century Studios slate in future years featuring more Apes, Alien, and star-driven and director-driven films. I’d also expect Disney to resurrect other 20th Century Studios IP that hasn’t been used by Disney yet *cough cough* Independence Day *cough cough*.
Early development on Shanghai Disney Resort’s second park begins
I think we could see the early stages of Shanghai Disney Resort’s second park begin this year as well. We will have to see as they update us on the Spider-Man attraction. I could see this being a story to follow though.
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Disney Experiences Shake-Up 🎢 🛳️
Ken Potrock’s new role (President, Major Events Integration) is still a bit puzzling. I don’t feel like this is the type of role you give someone who is next in line to run Disney Experiences. However it does reveal Disney has an agenda for making itself a part of these cultural events (Super Bowl, Olympics, America’s 250th birthday).
I’m also speculating that Potrock’s new role will encompass Disney’s efforts to help rebuild communities in LA after the fires. Disney CEO Bob Iger seems adamant about using all of Disney’s resources to help California from helping with temporary schools to Imagineering designing new communities.
Thomas Mazloum is working his way up. The former President of Signature Experiences featuring Disney Cruise Line is now President of Disneyland. Would the next stop be Walt Disney World? I think that depends on current Walt Disney World President Jeff Vahle. Yet it’s clear Thomas Mazloum is a contender for Chairman of Disney Experiences when D’Amaro either becomes CEO or COO or leaves the company.
Will Joe Schott’s new gig (President of Signature Experiences) eventually be a bigger role than President of Disneyland? Disney Cruise Line will soon have 13 ships and will be a bigger division than anyone ever expected. Not to mention Wall Street analysts expect Disney Cruise Line eventually to make more money than ESPN in a few years. Throw in all the other assets that Signature Experiences manages and I’m betting this will become a sought-after, coveted role more so than it already is.
Most Anticipated Disney Films of 2025: Voted By The Fans 🍿
The findings from our first Boardwalk Times in-depth research survey were fascinating. Some quick hits on the results.
Marvel remains king: Three of the top five most anticipated films from Disney this year are Marvel Studios releases. Our fans don’t buy into the “fatigue” narrative at all. The most anticipated Disney film is actually a Marvel film as well.
Elio and Snow White make up some ground: Snow White was dead last in the voting for a good portion of the time, then it surged to 10th place after some new footage was shown. Elio on the other hand is an original film going up against sequels and strong franchises and it held its own. For a while, it was in 6th place before landing in 7th.
Lilo & Stitch may be massive: I think we are all underestimating the nostalgia and excitement for Lilo & Stitch. The film finished in 6th place but was only 5% away from being the 5th most-anticipated Disney film of the year. From Disney+ original to a potential summer crowdpleaser.
Non-Disney films like Superman and Wicked: For Good lead the way for other studios: We also polled our fans on what non-Disney films they wanted to see and James Gunn’s Superman and Wicked: For Good led by a sizeable margin.
Read the full survey results and analysis.
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Podcast Plugs 🎙
Boardwalk Times Multiverse of Marvel celebrates 100 episodes with Giovanni Delgadillo, John Ross Bradford, Savannah Sanders, and Thomas Carter Rochester. (Spotify) (Apple)
This is the Waycast is covering Skeleton Crew. (Spotify) (Apple)
The Lowdown on the Plus-up has a new episode with Ken Bruce, author of Before the Birds Sang Words, which chronicles the development and history of Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room. (Spotify) (Apple)
LINKS OF THE MONTH
— Kim Irvine of WDI addresses the AI art used in the Haunted Mansion gift shop and other changes made to Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion. (LA Times)
— How Pixar Chief Pete Docter Turned Animation ‘Inside Out’ (IndieWire)
— Anthony Mackie Is Captain America Now. How About That? (Esquire)
— Dark Universe, the ‘Monsters’ IP, and Universal’s Uniquely Auspicious Opportunity. (Boardwalk Times)
— Muppet*Vision 3D will close on June 7. Expect many articles from Boardwalk Times in the coming months about this. (Boardwalk Times)
— The 2025 Disney+ Preview (Boardwalk Times)
— Disney’s 2024 Box Office Breakdown (Boardwalk Times)
— Best of Boardwalk 2024 (Boardwalk Times)
— Goosebumps: The Vanishing Is Endlessly Entertaining (Boardwalk Times)
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