Crazy Rumor Roundup for Walt Disney World
There are a few rumors floating around that involve Walt Disney World, namely the addition of characters to attractions in Magic Kingdom and Epcot. Additionally, there’s some buzz about the possibility of more Disney Vacation Club.
More characters and DVC, nothing earth-shattering about that, right? Well, these rumors are a bit different and more out there than what has become the norm with DVC additions and character infusions.
Normally, we don’t really report on rumors unless we have something to add in the form of commentary…and that we do (see below). Plus, there are a few of these, and the outlandishness coupled with credence these rumors seem to have from those in the know has us thinking these are worthy of discussion…
Briefly, here are the different rumors that are circulating:
Muppets in Liberty Square: A new Muppets-driven show featuring figures of the characters (led by Sam the Eagle) is in the process of being added to the exterior windows on the second floor of the Hall of Presidents and surrounding buildings. The characters would teach history to passers-by from the windows.
Guardians of the Galaxy…Everywhere…in Future World: This is a juicy one…the “main” rumor here has the Guardians of the Galaxy characters replacing Ellen’s Energy Adventure, either in the form of a gutted building or totally new structure. Variants of the rumor place the Guardians of the Galaxy characters in Mission: Space or Wonders of Life, instead. Details beyond that are totally unknown.
DVC to Caribbean Beach Resort: There’s an empty plot of land at Caribbean Beach Resort, and this rumor has that space being the next expansion for Disney Vacation Club.
Note: since there’s often ‘controversy’ about the original source of a rumor, for the rumors listed above, I’m linking to WDWThemeParks.com‘s various rumor pages as I feel they do a good job of documenting the timeline of each rumor and offering original source(s) attribution. It’s also a way for me to slyly pass the buck and avoid misattribution, since I haven’t followed these stories too closely.
Now, let’s turn to some analysis and commentary…
Commentary
Let me preface this by stating that I have absolutely zero inside information. My conjecture and analysis that follows is purely speculative and based entirely on my own opinions and/or grumpiness.
I’ll start here with the Muppets rumor. I absolutely love the Muppets–so must someone high up in Disney, as they keep getting chance after chance despite tepid audience response–and I am really hoping for an expanded Muppets Courtyard at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. I also think Sam the Eagle is great as the face of patriotism.
Still, this doesn’t sit entirely well with me. It would go against the grain in terms of the ton of Liberty Square’s tone, which is really the one land in Magic Kingdom that currently doesn’t have some caricatured (exterior) vibe. On the other hand, it could be a shot in the arm for an area that otherwise not much more than a waypoint for other destinations.
At the end of the day, I’m somewhere in the middle on this, and I think it probably depends upon the execution. It could be perfectly acceptable and a way to get guests to spend more time in Liberty Square (possibly luring some to Hall of Presidents), but it could end up being more misguided character infusion.
Next is Guardians of the Galaxy…somewhere…in Future World. The precise details don’t really matter, as my feelings remain the same regardless of where you were to put it in Future World. It doesn’t belong. I don’t care what storytelling contrivances are utilized. It doesn’t belong.
There was a time when Walt Disney World built and renovated attractions based upon the need of the location. Now, it seems the tail wags the dog, with a hot intellectual property being preordained as the next addition, and being shoehorned in wherever there’s an opening with a mandate to “just make it work!” It doesn’t even have to be a logical opening, just find an underperforming attraction, cram that IP into it, and figure out the details later.
This is incredibly sad, short-term thinking, the net result of which two decades from now will be that the other 3 parks will look more and more like Magic Kingdom. Outside of the concocted backstories that “explain” it all for us, you won’t be able to point to a theme for any park or land. They will all be hodgepodges of attractions placed haphazardly because what was hot at the moment dictated development, rather than any sort of long term creative vision.
The irony here is that the very film at the core of the rumor here is popular because it had that creative vision. The folks at Marvel took a risk on an outlandish movie with a talking tree, ornery raccoon, and Andy Dwyer as an action hero. That vision is lacking when it comes to building out the parks. The thing is, though, as Guardians of the Galaxy is beloved because it is awesome, so too would any theme park attraction be beloved if it is awesome. Characters can work–and work well–in the parks, but they aren’t necessary for excellence. What is necessary is building things that are awesome. What a profoundly simple concept.
Fans and casual guests have given–and will give–a lot of the character-infusion a pass, as each time there’s the upside of getting something new and it utilizing characters from a film they enjoy. Again, short term thinking. In the long term, do we really want four variations of the Magic Kingdom?
Beyond what we want, is that even good for long term business, or will even casual guests become burnt out by the thematic redundancy of the four parks? (Maybe three versions is fairer–Animal Kingdom would have a long way to go before losing its identity.) If we’re bargaining–that’s one of the stages of grief, right?–I’d even accept Disney’s Hollywood Studios as a “catch-all” park for IP if it means the other 3 parks can be thematically “pure.”
Finally, Disney Vacation Club at Caribbean Beach Resort. Honestly, if a rumor was floated of ‘Disney Vacation Club at _______ Resort’ I would tend to believe it. That resort even could be at Universal, and at this point and I might believe it. (Maybe.)
I suspect some degree of internal feasibility analysis has been performed for DVC at virtually every Walt Disney World resort. DVC is a business unit weighted heavily by the initial purchase, meaning that if there aren’t new resorts to sell, sales decline. This is contra to Disney’s ‘every quarter must be better than the last’ mantra. And, despite those purported ‘savings’ DVC advertises for guests, timeshare sales are a lucrative business.
Additionally, Disney Vacation Club has been faced with slowing sales for the last several years, a trend it has attempted to reverse by raising prices and crippling the resale market. Neither have worked. Instead, introducing DVC at the first Moderate Resort (and charging slightly less per point?) might do the trick. Mind you, it raises a whole host of long-term issues for DVC Members, but who cares about that if it fixes the short term sales ‘problem’? Right…?
Hopefully, Disney will stem those potential long-term issues by building a resort with rooms that are nicer than Caribbean Beach’s standard rooms, and also building a canal with boat transportation to Epcot–an addition that would be easier than you might think. Finally, it’d be nice if DVC also used the plot presently occupied by the Pirate Rooms at Caribbean Beach to build out additional amenities, such as a new pool and restaurants. Caribbean Beach barely has the infrastructure to support its current room inventory. If Disney handles this adeptly, this could actually turn out to be positive for Disney Vacation Club and current owners. (That’s a big “if.”)
At the end of the day, the craziest part of all this to me is that a decade ago, most of these rumors would be blown off, treated as prankster folly or Bluesky nonsense. However, much has changed since then (Frozen in World Showcase set a low bar!), and there is the distinct sense that “anything is possible,” especially as these rumors come from credible sources. In fairness, two of the rumors do have the possibility of panning out to be positive, even if there are pitfalls with even those. It’s the other, however, that has no upside and demonstrates how the glory days of EPCOT Center are the distant past.
If you don’t like the sounds of these rumors, call your senator write Disney and share your opinion. Basically, do whatever you can to let your voice be heard (although direct contact with Disney is better than getting worked into a lather online). Just because none of this is official yet doesn’t mean you can’t share your thoughts on potential or theoretical projects. Guest feedback does make a difference, and does shape decisions.
Planning a Walt Disney World trip? For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know!
For Walt Disney World news, tips, discount info, and free eBook downloads sign up for our free monthly newsletter.
If you enjoyed this post, we’d really appreciate it if you’d share it via social media. We put a lot of work into this site, and hope it’s useful to you. 🙂
Your Thoughts
Do you agree or disagree with our advice? Share any questions, tips, or additional thoughts you have in the comments!
During our last trip, I found Liberty Square to be the most pleasant space in the Magic Kingdom. Of course, that could be because it was least crowded. You could really hear the background music, and the theme wasn’t overwhelmed by too much energy. It just felt right. I’m not too upset about the Muppets possibly going there, as I love the Muppets. However, I agree that it feels weird.
I could write a book on my frustrations with what’s happened to Epcot in the past 20 years. I was upset by the Frozen replacement and wrote Disney about it. They even called me to get my input. Not that it mattered at all. I’m just sort of numb to the idea of more characters at Epcot. I’m not convinced this will happen with Guardians, but it wouldn’t shock me either. It’s really too bad.
Thanks for your thoughts, and for your whole website! While I have no comments about these particular rumors (although like you, I love the Muppets!) , I’m wondering if you have any opinion about a couple of other rumors; whether the Osborne Lights Show will return again this year and/or if the new Star Wars light show will be extended through the winter months. I’m planning a trip for my mom’s 75th birthday in December and it will be her first time at Disneyworld! Without either of those options, I can’t see much reason for keeping DHS on my to do list
I can see Guardians of the Galaxy (or something like it) working as an overarching “theme” for Future World. It wouldn’t even require any external changes.
Future World is desperately in need of a unifying vision. It had one originally, but then… the future it imagined became everyday reality, and the whole area started to look like a very dated version of “the future”, and the advancements they were touting were either obvious (32-bit computer graphics!) or even-more-blatant corporate advertising. (Insurance!)
However…. Future World’s 1980’s-esque version of “the future” more or less resembles the primary alien world in GotG. (Xandar?)
Re-theme the entire place with GotG, and (over time) add in as many Marvel characters as they’re eventually able to acquire the rights for,
The focus can still be “life on Earth”! But now, instead of a sorry 1980’s vision of what the world of 2002 might look like, guests would experience an “advanced alien culture” learning about Earth (oceans! agriculture! energy! Pixar movies!) and its technology, past/present – and providing views into Earth’s future.
That brings a unifying theme, and by introducing a sci-fi element, it should age a lot better than “DuPont Chemical Presents the World of 1999!”
This is pretty much exactly what I envisioned. I think the sci-fi elements and the character elements could mesh and basically do for adults what Nemo and kids does for kids. Yes, yes, and yes!!!
I think you’ve tapped into one of the biggest consequences of many of these changes and rumors: Redundancy. I don’t need four Magic Kingdoms in Disney World, especially when none of them will be as good at being the Magic Kingdom as the Magic Kingdom is. I think you’re right, people are gonna reach a burn out point with the redundancy.
At least, I hope so.
Ok, so, the Muppets rumor could easily go either way. I think that Muppets in period costumes with emphasis on Sam the Eagle could be cool in Liberty Square so, who knows.
As for Guardians in Epcot… *sigh*. Finding Nemo in the Seas pavilion makes sense. The three Caballeros in Mexico makes total sense. At first, I was really upset about the frozen ride replacing Maelstrom because Maelstrom shared something about Norse Mythology but, it occurs to me that, Frozen is VERY loosely based on the Snow Queen, which is also a classic Scandinavian story so… maybe we can let that slide too? But, Guardians in Future World. See, future world is supposed to be about: The Future. Its about innovation and encouraging kids to grow up to dream the future that they can then create. When you bring in a fantasy element, you take out the POSSIBILITY. When you have stuff like alien technology, you take away the idea that WE, as humans, can dream and create a future of astounding new innovation. It takes away the responsibility and the empowerment for guests to actually make, create, and imagine for ourselves. It used to be “If you can Dream it, you can Do it” but, this would take that away and just make it “you can dream anything, but none of it can really ever happen.” This depresses me.
Also, I question whether Coronado Springs would be introduced with artificially high points per night values right at first so that the overall value of points across all resorts will be diluted. Even if the rooms are nicer, it’s still not a deluxe resort so, introducing it with points values between moderate and deluxe levels and then later having to lower them to actual moderate levels means that all of the other resorts’ points/night might go up slightly. I might like to stay at Coronado Springs but, I’m suspicious about the execution of this.
I’m gonna say it… EPCOT is in trouble. They need to save it as a park in general. You want long term thinking, here it is…if EPCOT doesn’t evolve, it’s gonna die. That park is stale, it’s becoming irrelevant, and in many cases it’s slowly becoming offensive. Presenting countries via stereo typing and cliché doesn’t work anymore. And future world has been a mess of randomness for years. The attractions they do have are great nostalgia but for newer and younger guests they are corny and borring.
There definitely bright spots, illuminations, soarin, test track. But then it starts to fall off. I enjoy exploring and eating at the countries, but it isn’t very captivating. If I had a day I needed to cut, I would skip it.
They say “if it’s done right” most things will work… but right now wold showcase isn’t done right. Very little has changed in 20+ years. I’ve seen the movie in Canada, the Chinese army display, etc. It needs new life, it needs new energy, it needs to draw me back again. Food and drunk fest doesn’t do it…too busy, and waaaayyyy to many drunks.
I say give the front of EPCOT to the attractions, characters, IPs or whatever and freshen up world showcase. (How about a Deadpool attraction in the old captain eo theatre)
I agree with many of your points. EPCOT is pretty bad. TBH my wife and I don’t go that often. Every couple of years. I always thought EPCOT was to bee like a continuous World Fair. That is long gone. When we go, we spend the majority of our time in World Showcase “visiting” the countries. We watch some of the live shows (bring back the Fife & Drums :D), which is nice, and eating at different places for our trip.
As for Future World, there is not really any reason to spend any time there. Soaring and Mission Space are the two rides for us. We find Test trak boring and not really exciting. Jerky, yes. Exciting, no. It desperately needs a shot in the arm. they have so many IP’s, I don’t know why they don’t use Wall-E or something to speak to conservation/recycle, or Jungle Book (Kiplings book, not the movies) for life lessons (maybe this would be more for Animal kingdom). Maybe re-purpose some of the classics that might speak to the present and the future.
Going to the article, I’m a bit torn on the Muppets in Liberty Square. I also like the Muppets, but wonder how it would be implemented. I think of MK as Mickey’s domain and would rather see Mickey and friends (goofy, donald, etc) doing that. Maybe Muppets should stay in the Studios. Make them unique to there. Just like Star Wars should stay there as well. Mickey is Walt and Walt is Mickey and he can go anywhere he wants, but keep each of the parks unique.
I think WDW as a whole should have street performers. It makes it more special when something happens that you don’t expect. Like the Jamminators (i think). I know it wasn’t impromptu but it was something that just happens for us and say “oh, hey look at this!”
I think we can all agree here, no one is going to miss Ellen’s Energy Adventure. Though, having a 45 minute nap during a hot day in Orlando without having to take a bus back to the resort is a plus. Still, with proper updates and good effort, I could possibly get behind a Guardians of the Galaxy attraction. I would hate if it turned out like the Marvel/Launch Bay at Disneyland right now. While a nice way to enjoy some Marvel/Star Wars hype, it gives me a real conference exhibition feel with a few chances for people to play video games or take character photos. A more formidable attraction would be much more…interesting.
As long as they do not put Guardians of the Galaxy into The Tower of Terror, I don’t care where they put it. Just don’t touch the greatest theme park ride of all time. It should be able to stand the test of time as a Disney classic.
FutureWorld is so outdated and cliche, it desperately needs attention. Keep it based in reality with actual concerns and changes we earthlings face together. I’d love to see more about the Cosmos added, too. If it had some substantial meat, then a little fantasy thrown might not be as insulting to some.
I’m willing to give muppets over at Liberty Square a chance because it doesn’t seem like it’d be hard to remove if it doesn’t jive. It could also be a fun way to honor guests who serve/have served our country, and bring attention to the different patriotic holidays thru the year.
Caribbean Beach DVC? Interesting, especially with some of the amenities (like boat to Epcot) mentioned in these comments.
I really like the idea of the Muppets attraction in Liberty Square. I have your same concerns about the tone… but maybe it will pull it off?
I am not too pleased about the Guardians-in-Epcot rumour. It just doesn’t fit.
I know people might hate the thought of it – but the Guardians-revamp of Tower of Terror fits better than this!
It’s just a bizarre idea to me. And it’s not like Disney & Pixar don’t now have properties that *actually* fit with the ‘edutainment’ thing – Inside Out! An attraction based on Inside Out could make a really beautiful ride/attraction – that actually fits thematically in Epcot. I hope the Guardians rumour isn’t true. But… Frozen in Norway opened the doors, and more will follow I’m sure.
Disney senior management has been going in the wrong direction for a very long time now.
The Little Mermaid ride was a fizzle {lost opportunity}, and putting Star Wars Land behind
Frontierland would have Walt Disney turn over in his grave.
The need for additional countries in Epcot’s World Showcase has been screaming at management for decades now, and fallen on deaf ears.
I don’t threaten to stop going…I HAVE stopped going.
I have to agree that getting in touch with Disney personally is the best way to let them know what you’re thinking. I did this a few months ago for a non-rumors related subject (emailing about bed quality across the WDW resorts) and I actually had a castmember call me and talk to me for about ten minutes. When she signed off, she informed me that she was going to bring it up with her superiors. I was blown away with the attention that my little email received.
You complain and if any or all of these are true, will STILL go to the parks and buy their tickets and visit. Until lots of people stop going, there won’t be a change. It’s like someone buying a burger, claiming it’s awful, and buying another. It’s all about profit
For me, it’s like buying a burger, claiming the lettuce was stale, and still buying another because the burger was otherwise good.
By and large, I still like Walt Disney World’s product. Granted, I do go less now and instead visit Tokyo Disney Resort more because I prefer their product, but nevertheless, my “approval rating” for WDW would stand at 75% or higher.
If it ever drops to 49%, you’re right, I will stop going. Nostalgia isn’t that powerful for me.
Exactly what I was thinking. Just because some pieces of Disney may not work, or do not interest me, that doesn’t mean I’d abandon the whole thing.
Hey Tom, out of curiosity I’d like to know your thoughts if an inside out ride was ever proposed for the imagination pavilion. Would you view that as the same thing as guardians in the mission space pavilion? And if not what would make inside out justifiable but not guardians. Glad to hear you had a great time in Shanghai (and Hong Kong) !
I would not be pleased by Inside Out replacing Journey into Imagination (especially since that would mean the end of Figment), but at least that would be a logical fit for the pavilion without any storytelling contrivances (like those that will be necessary with Guardians of the Galaxy).
My strong preference would be for little to no Disney character representation in Epcot, but that ship sailed long ago. At this point, my aim would be “minimal,” and at least keeping Spaceship Earth and the rest of World Showcase character-free.
Inside Out would be perfect in the Wonders of Life building. (So help me, I’ll get an attraction for that place sooner or later)
They could show Figment (SPOILER) disappearing like Bing Bong.
Thanks Tom. Can always depend on you for a chuckle. Oh, you were serious. Sorry. But I love rumors, so thanks for that.
I’ve been waiting for years for the Wonders of Life building to reopen. Ellen and the dinosaurs is older and should be retired. Epcot, not MK, is the park that could use new life (Frozen not withstanding, since I feel it doesn’t really belong there, no matter what they say). There are a few seemingly empty buildings in Future World that could be put to good use too. (Where is an Imagineer when you need one?)
Perhaps they spend too much time worrying about where the next Vacation Club is going to be, when what they should be worried about is where their guests would like to be.
Barbara- DVC members are paying guests as well
Susan, they sure are. No offense intended, but Disney isn’t considering building more vacation club rooms because of their undying love for DVC members. They’re a corporation, a conglomerate. They build because they love a healthy bottom line. Hopefully, one that is larger than the last.
Energy consumption, today, is still relevant and important for us to move forward in the future. An upgrade to Ellen’s ride would not only keep the theme of Future Works intact (education and conservancy) but also provide a venue that makes the consequences of using energy unwisely clear to our next generation.
I think the Guardians of the Galaxy in EPCOT could work if done correctly. If it’s an “Explore the galaxy with the Guardians of the Galaxy” where perhaps you start on Earth and travel through the galaxy stopping at certain planets and nebulas, that would be cool. Incorporating muppets in Liberty Square not as a full attraction but as a way to bring kids in to American History could also be great. I loved Sam the Eagle as a kid, and I’m sure others would too. I understand that a lot of Disney enthusiasts want to keep EPCOT and other areas of Disney a certain way, due to nostalgia in large part, but I accept that Disney has to evolve. It should hold on to general orignal concepts, but the interpretation on the concepts will change with each generation.
Just my thoughts. Love your blog!
Yeah, that’s potentially workable, but with the rumor for Universe of Energy now looking like the more plausible one, that makes Mission: Space a redundant pavilion.
My expectation is that whatever happens with Guardians of the Galaxy, little is done to make it fit into the existing structure of Future World. I suspect it will just be added without trying to shoehorn it in, thematically.
I’d always heard that Universal’s long-term deal with Marvel meant that none of the Florida Disney parks could use Marvel characters in attractions. Is that not still the case? Wouldn’t that make the Guardians rumor (in Epcot, at least) a non-starter?
The contract covers “Avengers-family” characters (among many, many other details) and the Guardians of the Galaxy are not that–yet.
That is mostly the case, Dal, but for some reason the Guardians of the Galaxy have managed to wriggle around that agreement. Perhaps that’s because they were such an obscure group of characters before they were made into a movie. Heck, the characters people know from the movie aren’t even the original Guardians of the Galaxy which were introduced back in the late ’80s.
I couldn’t agree with you more, Tom! It is so sad to see what is happening to EPCOT. It has been my favorite park & I almost weep when I hear things like this, especially when they come true, I.e. Frozen Ever After! They are just slowly killing EPCOT.
I am a big Disney addict & I am sorry to say, but most of the changes that have happened at Disney World in the last few years have left a bitter taste. It even makes it hard for me to get excited about planning a trip there & I never thought I would utter those words.
Disney was famous for it’s theming of the parks & it seems like that just isn’t as important to the company anymore. It is always ride the latest craze. If I want to go to a park that just has rides based on all its movies, there is an alternative. I go to Disney for more than that! Come on Disney. Surely you can do better!
The idea of Muppets in Liberty Square is repugnant, and trivializes the uniqueness of America and the struggle for liberty by the Founding Fathers .
All the recent additions to Disney World that have taken it farther way from Walt’s vision have degraded it and made it less attractive in my eyes. I agree leave the intellectual-property attractions in Hollywood studios – that’s the appropriate place.
Marvel Comics – I don’t think so! All these rumors give the impression that the senior management of Disney really has no idea what product their customers expect them to deliver, and what their true assets are.
Just out of curiosity, how do you feel about 999 grim grinning ghosts in Liberty Square? Do they not trivialize “the uniqueness of America and the struggle for liberty by the Founding Fathers?”
no. Basically for reasons of aesthetics. The exterior of the Haunted Mansion which is visible from parts of Liberty Square is appropriate to the area and it is positioned in a corner of that area, with its own plot of land. Also, the ghosts are inside the attraction (ignore the interactive queue, I do) and not up in windows shouting at the passers-by who are just walking through Liberty Square.
Here’s the plan: Sneak a raccoon (or less likely, Andy Dwyer or a talking tree) into EPCOT. Have the raccoon attack a guest, ideally causing serious but not deadly injury. In the resulting hysteria, Disney will pull any references to raccoons out of the parks, including scrapping plans to put in a Guardians overlay. Hopefully this will carry over to DCA too, though it’s not promising as I was at DLR last week and saw several animatronic and two dimensional gators/crocs.
We just need to find a volunteer to be seriously injured by a raccoon (or a talking tree or Andy Dwyer), the only flaw in an otherwise brilliant plan.
There should be no shortage of volunteers to be bitten by Chris Pratt. In fact, if that were an attraction, it might have the longest line in the park! 😉
I completely agree, Tom. This “stick IPs anywhere” attitude is happening not just at WDW but everywhere. From Tokyo getting a Frozen ride to Star Wars Land IN Disneyland, it really doesn’t make much sense to me. I mean, name the last 4 original (non-IP tied) Disney rides to open? Roaring Rapids, Soarin Around the World, Mystic Manor, and Big Grizzly Mountain Runaway Mine Cars. The last one opened on 2012. Since the, 4 Cars Rides, 1 Ratatouille ride, 1 Little Mermaid Ride, a Snow White Ride, an Iron Man ride, multiple Star Wars overlays and (in the future) Avatar, Star Wars, and Toy Story themed Lands in 3 resorts. It really seems like this is the direction Disney is going and it really disappoint me.