Villains Land Official Name, Attractions Revealed for Magic Kingdom

It looks like Kronk isn’t going to pull the lever at Walt Disney World’s new villains land.

Or should I say Villains Land, the official name Disney announced for Magic Kingdom’s massive expansion during the Disney Experiences Showcase over the weekend.

The name may not be especially imaginative, but the land itself looks like it will be. Disney shared new details about the foreboding area coming to the backside of Frontierland. Interestingly, those plans don’t jibe with a report we covered earlier this year.

We’ll get to that in a moment. But first, let’s have Caroline May, a WDI Executive Creative Director, set the scene:

“Villains Land … allows us to expand the park’s storytelling in a way that feels both fresh and true to its legacy and fairytale roots. We have an incredibly talented and passionate team working behind the scenes every day to make sure this land captures the power, magic, and mischievous (and sometimes humorous) spirit of the Disney Villains.”

May and Bruce Vaughn, WDI’s President and Chief Creative Officer, shared how Imagineers plan to accomplish that. And what they revealed Saturday doesn’t align with what TheWrap’s Drew Taylor reported in February.

Taylor wrote that Imagineers had been sent back to the drawing board to come up with something bigger and bolder for the land. They were also reportedly told to broaden its appeal, including attractions for children of all ages.

At the time, three ride concepts were in play: a Maleficent-themed boat ride, an Emperor’s New Groove family coaster, and a flat spinner themed to The Little Mermaid’s Ursula.

Something appears to have changed since then. The first two concepts aren’t happening. And we’re not sure about the third.

Maleficent’s coaster

Maleficent was always going to be the land’s headliner, but instead of a boat ride, she’s getting an attraction that matches the concept art Disney shared more than two years ago: a roller coaster. Imagineers are promising elements they’ve never attempted before. We have no idea what that means, but they have our attention.

Here’s how Disney describes the action:

“The first [ride] is an exhilarating coaster experience, where you will come face-to-face with the Mistress of All Evil herself, Maleficent. You’ll race through enchanted briar surrounding her frightening mountaintop fortress – if you’re feeling brave enough to answer her invitation.”

Concept art shows vehicles without shoulder harnesses, leading us to believe Maleficent’s coaster won’t include inversions. Sure, coasters like Universal’s VelociCoaster go upside down with only lap restraints, but I doubt Disney wants its first Villains-themed land to offer thrills that prevent a large chunk of its audience from even entering the queue.

Instead, I’d expect something closer to the thrill level of Expedition Everest or Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind.

A dark ride in the Mirror Realm

The land’s second confirmed attraction is a dark ride featuring “a whole array of your favorite Disney Villains.” That group of baddies will be hosted by the Magic Mirror in the catacombs beneath the Evil Queen’s palace. The ride vehicle is themed to a boat. Think Peter Pan’s Never Land Adventure at Tokyo DisneySea.

As an aside, I have to believe Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After at Hollywood Studios has a limited shelf life. Would Disney really want two Magic Mirror-centered Villains attractions at Walt Disney World? I have my doubts. And if Disney eventually shutters Unfairly, we have ideas. They all involve the Muppets.

Back to Villains Land.

The Magic Mirror will conjure some of Disney’s worst characters, including:

• Cruella de Vil (101 Dalmatians)
• Jafar (Aladdin)
• Dr. Facilier (The Princess and the Frog)
• Scar (The Lion King)
• Ursula (The Little Mermaid)

Imagineers will bring them to life using special effects and physical set pieces.

This attraction effectively replaces what TheWrap said would be a family coaster themed to The Emperor’s New Groove, specifically Yzma’s laboratory and its famous lever. Remember my opening line? It took me a while, but I eventually got there.

Kronk pulling the lever is tailor-made for a coaster. Maybe Disney finds a home for that gag somewhere down the road. But it sounds like it won’t be happening at Magic Kingdom.

A family-friendly ride?

Disney didn’t announce a third attraction, but I wouldn’t be surprised if something like that Ursula spinner is still in the works. The company said Villains Land will feature “two major attractions.” That qualifier leaves some wiggle room.

And if Disney does want the land to appeal to children of all ages, a tame flat ride might be exactly what its youngest guests need.

Disney’s D23 announcements don’t necessarily mean TheWrap got it wrong. Theme park projects spend years in development, and ideas come and go long before the concrete starts pouring.

If anything, it may have given us a glimpse into how much Villains Land has evolved in just a few months. Or maybe someone was fed a bill of goods. No matter, I’m glad Disney is willing to keep pulling levers until it finds the right one.

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