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When Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Iger announced that the company planned on spending $60 billion over the next decade, Disney fans were over the moon. X (formerly Twitter) and chat rooms were filled with possibilities, including the fan-favorite Villains Land at Disney’s Magic Kingdom.
Then, a few weeks later, at the Destination D23 Expo, Chairman of Disney Parks, Products, and Experiences Josh D’Amaro announced that significant changes were coming to Disney’s Animal Kingdom with the closure of DinoLand and a new Encanto-themed land and the possibility of Indiana Jones taking over Dinosaur.
Villains overtaking the Magic Kingdom? Credit: Disney
Then D’Amaro teased the “largest” expansion in the history of Magic Kingdom, and Disney fans believed this was it. There would finally be some progress on those long-awaited projects.
But that was then, and this is now. Disney Fans in the United States looked around and saw expansion projects at Disney Parks around the globe, but no concrete announcements were coming for Walt Disney World. Last year saw the opening of the World of Frozen at Hong Kong Disneyland and Zootopia Land in Shanghai Disneyland.
And still, there is nothing but hope for Walt Disney World. Even Disneyland is starting to get concrete plans with its Disneyland Forward project, which has teased attractions based on Black Panther, Coco, and Tangled.
NEW: Disney CFO Hugh Johnston says the company plans to invest $60 billion in parks and experiences over the next 10 years – and 70% of that investment is "earmarked" for increasing capacity. pic.twitter.com/QCYJLcuyol
— Scott Gustin (@ScottGustin) February 7, 2024
Then came this week’s earnings call with investors. Bob Iger had several announcements, including Taylor Swift coming to Disney Plus, a new gaming partnership, Moana 2, and Percy Jackson season 2. But fans of the Walt Disney World Resort got very little.
Disney CFO Hugh Johnston once again announced that Disney plans on spending $60 billion over the next decade but offered no specifics. Johnston did say that 70 percent of that investment would be earmarked for increasing capacity.
And that set Disney World fans over the edge. Tired of hearing nothing but “blue sky” projects that might be coming to Disney World, fans took to X to vent their frustration with Disney management and the lack of concrete plans for Disney World.
They keep saying this $60 billion, but have not even announced anything. TRON took way too long, even with the pandemic. Universal was able to start an entire theme park project in the same time. How are they expected to build $40 billion in 10 years?
With Universal Orlando opening its third theme park, Epic Universe, next year, fans were hoping for the announcement of a fifth Disney Park, but nothing came. Or even an expansion of a land, like Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
Iger said annually they will open experiences that increase capacity at the parks, which is spurious. Tiana is existing capacity. Everything after that will take years to build and hasn't started. Most projects in the works are replacements to existing attractions, not net-adds.
— Brayden (@SirBrayden) February 10, 2024
After so many recent failures from Disney, some fans are on their last leg, and only hope is keeping them attached to Disney.
I’ll believe Disney’s going to invest at Walt Disney World only once they oil the Magic Carpets ride which has been screeching at guests for years. This company is not run by serious people and I refuse to entertain their delusions. They’re victims of past successes, little more.
So, every frustrated Disney fan must wait for that announcement to come. And for the Iger’s sake and the sanity of Disney fans everywhere, it better be something big with a concrete timeline.
What would you like to see as a part of a Disney World expansion? Let us know in the comments.
