Disney FINALLY Moving Forward With Magic Kingdom Expansion

A day after Disney CEO Bob Iger and the Walt Disney Company won their proxy battle against activist investor Nelson Peltz, and Iger was underwhelming with his response to how Walt Disney World was preparing for Universal Orlando’s opening of Epic Universe; rumors leaked out about significant expansion plans at the Magic Kingdom.

Related: ‘Absolutely Horrible’ Disney Fans Furious Over Iger’s Response To Epic Universe

Disney insider Scott Gustin reported that the Walt Disney Company is in the process of filing permits to begin work on expanding the Magic Kingdom. The water permits will be filed “in the coming weeks” for a project that Disney Imagineering is calling “Beyond Big Thunder Mountain.”

This project first emerged last September at the D23 Expo. Chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products Josh D’Amaro and Disney’s Chief Creative Officer and Co-lead of Walt Disney Imagineering Bruce Vaughn teased what they called the “largest Magic Kingdom expansion” ever.

The duo teased an expansion coming to Magic Kingdom, calling it the “biggest thing we’ve done at Magic Kingdom.” The duo compared this new project to Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge in Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Pandora: The World of Avatar in Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

NEW: Walt Disney World is currently in the process of filing permits for development work behind Magic Kingdom that will prepare the area for a future expansion expected to be the largest expansion in the park’s history. pic.twitter.com/nGmn78ZkH7

— Scott Gustin (@ScottGustin) April 4, 2024

Related: Disney Announces “Largest” Magic Kingdom Expansion Ever

The Disney park expansion will occur in Frontierland, just beyond the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Beyond the location, very little is known about the Magic Kingdom expansion project. However, Disney fans had some thoughts on a possible project.

Villains Land Coming Soon?

At last year’s D23 Expo, D’Amaro teased the possibility of a Villains Land replacing DinoLand USA in Animal Kingdom. Still, fans were slightly put off once they heard about the placement. Villains don’t fit with the ascetic of Animal Kingdom. But it could fit right in with Fantasy Land at Magic Kingdom.

Earlier this year, Imagineer Chris Beatty told Entertainment Weekly at the opening of Tron: Lightcycle/Run that Disney took note of the applause that a possible Villains Land received at last year’s D23 and that they were working on something that fans would enjoy.

But based on the crowd’s reaction to the announcement and online reaction, a Villain’s Land is all fans want.

Other Possibilities?

Are there other possibilities for this Magic Kingdom expansion? Possibly. Is there an attraction that will satisfy Walt Disney World Resort fans? Maybe.

Perhaps Disney Imagineers are considering an Avengers Campus like Disney California Adventure. Or even a Cars Land. But that, again, would just be borrowing from Disneyland Resort rather than creating something new.

This will be the first expansion of the Magic Kingdom since the new Fantasyland opening in 2012. However, Disney World did open Tron Lightcycle/Run in 2023.

Along with the news of a new South/Central American theme land, the replacement of Dinosaur with Indiana Jones Adventures at Dinsey’s Animal Kingdom, and the updating of Test Track at EPCOT, Disney is working on bringing something new to all theme parks. Now, all we need is news about Hollywood Studios.

What do you think Disney will build in its Magic Kingdom expansion? Let us know in the comments.