Disney Tries to Convince Fans of the Disney Value
Disney fans have grown a bit wary over the years of big promises met with even higher prices. Disney now tries to convince fans of the promise of the future.
Are Disney Parks Still Magical?
Epic Universe opened earlier this summer, and many felt that Epic Universe would cause Universal Studios to become the premier vacation destination of Central Florida.
Still, the Walt Disney Company actually sees this as a benefit for Walt Disney World. Back in April 2024, Disney's CEO, Bob Iger, shared that "Disney has been aware of Universal's plans for more than a decade."
He followed this by saying what Walt Disney World has added to the parks over the past decade. Now Walt Disney World details what the next decade will look like.
Decade of Growth at Disney World
Walt Disney World has changed quite a bit over the past decade. Today, Disney shares a detailed timeline of growth. Starting in 2016, EPCOT added Frozen Ever After, and there was the Disney Springs transformation and expansion.
In 2017, Magic Kingdom debuted Happily Ever After fireworks, Disney's Animal Kingdom opened Pandora- The World of Avatar (Flight of Passage and Navi River Journey), and Miss Adventure Falls at Typhoon Lagoon.
Toy Story Land opened in 2018 with Slinky Dog Dash and Alien's Swirling Saucers. 2019 was a big year with the opening of the Gran Destino Tower, Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge (Millennium Falcon: Smuggler's Run and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance), the opening of Disney's Riviera Resort, and the Disney Skyliner opened.
2020 marked the opening of Mickey & Minnie's Rounway Railway and several shows (Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along, Awesome Planet, Feathered Friends in Flight!, and Canada Far and Wide). In 2021, Remy's Ratatouille Adventure opened in EPCOT, and Drawn to Life opened at Disney Springs.
EPCOT got a big thrill ride with the opening of Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind in 2022. In 2023, Tron Lightcycle/Run opened at the Magic Kingdom, and EPCOT debuted the Journey of Water (inspired by Moana) and Luminous the Symphony of Us.
In 2024, Tiana's Bayou Adventure opened at Magic Kingdom (replacing Splash Mountain), the reimagining of the Country Bear Musical Jamboree, and the Cabins at Disney's Fort Wilderness opened along with the Island Tower at Disney's Polynesian Resort.
This year, 2025, two new shows were added to Disney's Hollywood Studios with "The Little Mermaid- A Musical Adventure" and "Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After." Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away nighttime parade debuted at the Magic Kingdom. While at EPCOT, Test Track was reimagined.
Disney shares that, along with these additions, they added nearly 30 new dining locations and over 20 new entertainment offerings.
Walt Disney World Expansion Plans
The Walt Disney Company shares that even more growth is planned for the next decade. "Disney Experiences is nearly doubling its capital expenditures over the next 10 years to roughly $80 billion, including investing in expanding and enhancing domestic and international parks and cruise line capacity."
The Walt Disney Company plans to double its capital expendiures to roughly $80 billion over next 10 years
These investments will include new growth projects underway at Walt Disney World, including Tropical Americas and "Zootopia Better Zoogether" at Disney's Animal Kingdom. At Magic Kingdom, Disney Pixar Cars inspired area and Villains Land.
Coming to Disney's Hollywood Studios, a new Monsters Inc. inspired land, the Magic of Disney Animation, and the reimagining of Rock 'n' Roller Coaster starring the Muppets.
More additions are coming to the Resort as well, with the completion of Disney Lakeshore Lodge and the addition of Level99 at Disney Springs.
What do you think of these plans for growth? Do you think Disney is trying to regain its fan following? Share your thoughts with us and share this news with your Disney pals.
