⚡
Quick Take
One of Disney’s big announcements at D23 was a new addition to Orlando’s Magic Kingdom.Villains Land will be about the same size as Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.The new area will include two rides (as of now) and plenty of shopping, dining and exploration opportunities.
This year’s D23 was full of surprises, from reveals from Marvel to updates about the Disney Parks. One of these exciting announcements was that the Magic Kingdom in Orlando is unveiling a new area called Villains Land.
Disney
The whole ordeal hopes to blend the old with the new. Because other areas of the park have “land” in the name, the creators of the new installation wanted it to fit in. Additionally, the new realm will feature classic villains in a brand-new and still fresh way.
Each area of the park has some kind of story behind it that characters and attendees play along with. Villains Land will be designed to resemble a forest. In the center lies a corrupted wishing well full of evil magic that has spilled over and affected the surrounding forest. It is a powerful place, and the park’s villains all intend to claim it for themselves.
The area was reported to be similar in size to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, which spans about 14 acres. Villains Land will feature the forest, the well, and plenty of evil lairs. The Imagineers announced a Maleficent Coaster, which will take riders through Maleficent’s twisted briar and around her castle lair. They also revealed that there will be a Mirror Realm dark ride, a format that has become a Disney fan favorite, hosted by the Magic Mirror.
Disney
So far, this seems to be taking a lot of inspiration from Sleeping Beauty. However, the concept art for the Villains ride includes Ursula, Scar, Dr. Facilier, Jafar, and Cruella de Vil.
The Imagineers responsible for the Villains realm said in a panel that they took a character-driven stance while designing the area. They drew from the villains’ stories first, but got creative examining their artistry and style.
The new area has no set opening date.
Ella R. Dunn writes about movies, TV, games, comics, and all things nerdy for Nerdist.