That got me thinking. I was able to curate our trips to theme parks and steer my brother clear of high-thrill attractions because I know them so well. Since others may not have that knowledge, I’ve decided to share my expertise and help those who might be in the same situation with a series of ride guides. Many attractions are hidden away, often tucked inside show buildings, so it can be hard to determine what’s in store and whether those who fall on the ride wimp spectrum would be able to handle them. I’ll try to demystify the rides and identify which ones to probably avoid and which ones to consider giving a go. I’ll even assign a rating for each attraction using a 10-point thrill scale, where 0 refers to ones that would be of virtually no concern to the wimpish, and 10 designates ones that would challenge even the most hardened ride warriors. Let’s kick off the ride guides by focusing on the original theme park, Disneyland.

It may be called “The Happiest Place on Earth,” but ride wimps see danger lurking just beyond Main Street U.S.A. When it first opened in 1955, Disneyland didn’t really feature anything that would have given wimps pause. Through the years, however, Walt’s original park has assembled a collection of rides that gets pulses racing. Mind you, there is nothing that comes close to some of the thrill-tastic coasters found at other parks, but those who want to keep things relatively tame would definitely want to steer clear of Disneyland’s more aggressive offerings.

Rides to (probably) avoid at Disneyland

We’ll start with the four rides that form Disneyland’s mighty “mountain range.” You will likely want to remain at the base camps for all of them. There is one more attraction at the classic park that would likely be too adventurous for you.

● Matterhorn Bobsleds: With its relatively slow speed (likely less than 30 mph) and lack of huge drops or inversions, Disneyland’s first roller coaster, which debuted in 1959 (and was the first in the world to feature tubular steel tracks), is not really all that thrilling. It is jarringly rough and not an especially comfortable ride, however. That, and the fact that it is a roller coaster (regardless of its comparatively low thrill profile) means you’ll want to consider foregoing it. Thrill rating: 4.25

● Tiana’s Bayou Adventure: There is more or less only one thrilling element throughout the entire log flume ride that was formerly known as Splash Mountain, but it’s a doozy. The vehicles take a 52.5-foot plunge at about 40 mph. It’s over in a matter of seconds, but the anticipation of the drop, let alone the drop itself, would probably be enough to drive you bonkers. It’s a shame, because the rest of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure–which is packed with animatronic characters, a rousing soundtrack, and a compelling story–is delightful. Thrill rating: 4.75

Space Mountain: Originally opened in 1977, the coaster is one of Disney’s most iconic rides. You may be surprised to learn that Space Mountain chugs along at a relatively poky speed of about 30 mph. (Consider that some coasters flirt with and even exceed 100 mph.) But the indoor attraction keeps passengers in the dark, and that makes the ride seem all the more terrifying. Thrill rating: 5

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Big Thunder Mountain Railroad: At 28 mph, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is even slower than Space Mountain. And like Matterhorn Bobsleds and Space Mountain, it has no big drops or inversions. But with three lift hills, it’s a fairly long ride. The sheer length alone may make wimps recoil in horror. Thrill rating: 4.5

Indiana Jones Adventure: It’s not a roller coaster, but the attraction’s “Enhanced Motion Vehicles” are zippy and feature a fair amount of jostling. In addition, much of the action takes place in the dark, and there are plenty of in-your-face effects including hissing snakes, whooshing darts, and a giant rolling ball that threatens to squash passengers. Thrill rating: 4.25

Rides to (possibly) give a try at Disneyland

Chip ‘n’ Dale’s GADGETcoaster: Yes, it’s a roller coaster. But with a height of 28 inches and a top speed of 22 mph, this is a very gentle ride. It barely qualifies as a “junior” coaster and is really more of a “kiddie” coaster. Plus, the whole thing is over in 44 seconds. If you’ve never been on a coaster, or haven’t ridden one in a while, Chip ‘n’ Dale’s GADGETcoaster could be a good test for you. It could perhaps be a gateway to bigger coaster thrills, depending on how you tolerate it. Thrill rating: 2.75

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The Haunted Mansion: Despite its scary-sounding name, the Haunted Mansion is really more silly than frightening. Young children may freak out at the somewhat dark scenes and imagery, but adults should do fine. As one of Disney’s all-time great rides, you really wouldn’t want to miss it. Thrill rating: 2.5 (for the scares, not the physical ride experience, which is quite tame)

Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run: One of the featured rides at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Smuggler’s Run is a motion simulator. It pretends to blast passengers off into space, but its ride vehicles never really move more than a few inches in any direction. Unlike most other simulator attractions, Smuggler’s Run is interactive, and all passengers have assigned roles (pilots, gunners, and engineers–although they will likely be changed when the attraction is updated this May with a new mission featuring The Mandalorian and Grogu). You might find the task that you are asked to perform to be distracting enough to make you forget about the minor thrills. Thrill rating: 3.25

Pirates of the Caribbean: It is dark, a bit disquieting, and (spoiler alert!) includes a couple of fairly mild flume drops, but you should do just fine. This is another gotta-ride Disney classic. So, go ride it. Thrill rating: 2.75 (for the drops)

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Star Tours: One of the original motion simulator attractions, Star Tours was given a makeover in 2011 and now features a random sequence generator. You never know where in the Star Wars universe you might be heading. If you are okay with Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run (see above), you should be okay with Star Tours. Thrill rating: 3.25

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance: Perhaps the most sophisticated attraction in the world, Rise of the Resistance uses multiple ride systems (including trackless vehicles) and unfolds over a generous 17 minutes. You will experience some thrills, but they are relatively mild. The attraction’s finale takes place aboard an escape pod. In the interest of transparency (warning: I’m about to reveal a big spoiler), the pod blasts off and suddenly drops, Tower of Terror style. But (and it’s a major but), the drop is very short and should not cause any conniption fits among the wimpish. Thrill rating: 3.75

All the other attractions and things to do at Disneyland

What’s great about Disneyland for wimps is that even if you eliminated all of the attractions above, there is still plenty to do at The Happiest Place on Earth. You should be perfectly fine aboard the park’s many other rides such as Peter Pan’s Flight, Jungle Cruise, Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters, and the attraction that leads the pack in the theme park wimps’ hall of fame, it’s a small world. Then there are the shows, parades, nighttime spectaculars, character experiences, and the sheer joy that the park engenders.

Are you or someone you know a ride wimp? If so, is it helpful to have a thrill ratings and a ride guide? What other parks should I include in my series of ride guides?

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4.75 (out of 5)

The Tower of Terror is a classic Disney theme park attraction. Combining a thrilling freefall ride, dazzling effects, and an inspired and fiendishly clever storyline based on the seminal “The Twilight Zone” television series, Disney Imagineers have created a ride that, like a select few E-Ticket attractions, is so much greater than the sum of its parts.

For those old enough to remember the original "The Twilight Zone" show (or those young’uns savvy enough to seek it out more recently), merely the sound of Rod Serling’s voice intoning, "You have now crossed over into...the Twilight Zone," is enough to give you a bad case of the shivers. A master storyteller, Serling created black and white mini-dramas that, through subtle plot twists and deft presentation, were deeply spine-tingling and engaging.

The Tower of Terror reproduces the Zone zeitgeist and invokes the same sense of off-kilter foreboding as the show. Instead of passively watching a television program, however, guests become active participants in a “lost episode.”

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Okay, let’s pivot to Disney, which has bold plans to invest $60 billion into its parks and experiences over the next few years. However, many of the company’s most anticipated projects, such as a new Villains Land at the Magic Kingdom and a new Avatar-themed experience at the Disneyland Resort, are still a ways off. There are plenty of new things planned for the coming year at Walt Disney World and Disneyland, but they are largely incremental changes, such as updates to existing attractions. Let’s take a look at what’s in store at the Mouse’s U.S. parks.

In case you haven’t noticed, the USA will be celebrating its 250th anniversary in 2026. Never one to pass up a Yankee doodle dandy opportunity to honor the nation, both Disney California Adventure and Epcot will take guests Soarin’ Across America in tandem with the country’s festivities. Set to debut in the summer, the new flight pattern will replace Soarin’ Around the World, which has been presented at the parks for about ten years. Disney says the itinerary will include urban landscapes, national monuments, coastal scenes, and more to capture the country’s purple mountain majesties. After the company pioneered the concept of the flying theater with the innovative “Soarin’ Over California” in 2001, copycat attractions, such as Wings Over Washington, have proliferated. Soarin’ Across America will represent Disney’s third iteration of Soarin’.

Folks visiting Epcot will also be able to see new figures of Anna, Elsa, and Kristoff in the park’s Frozen Ever After next year. When it opened in 2016, the attraction boasted Disney’s first all electric animatronics. While they are remarkably fluid, they feature unsettling rear-projected faces. The somewhat creepy effect is used in other attractions, including Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry at Epic Universe. Thankfully, the new figures will be modeled after the characters at World of Frozen in Hong Kong Disneyland, which use traditional animatronics to animate the faces instead of projections.

As I previously reported, Disney announced that the furry friends of fandom would replace the bad boys of Boston at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Starting next summer, guests will be able to take a ride on Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets (instead of Aerosmith). They will still make their way into the studio of G-Force Records. But since his uncle purchased it, Scooter is now running the record label, and the Electric Mayhem is its featured artist. As was the case with Steven Tyler and the lads, the Muppet band and its fans need to hightail it across Los Angeles to get to a concert, so everybody piles into a tricked-out stretch limousine that’s actually a magnetically launched Vekoma coaster. Instead of “Love in an Elevator” and other tunes from the Aerosmith catalog, riders will hear classic rock tunes covered by Dr. Teeth and the gang as they hit 57 mph and encounter three inversions.

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Also at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, cadets will be able to go on a new adventure aboard Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run. And get this: The long-suffering “engineers” who were relegated to pushing buttons for no apparent reason in the rear of the cockpit will now be able to communicate with Grogu and choose to send the crew to either Coruscant or a Death Star in orbit around Endor. The updated attraction will launch Memorial Day weekend at both of the Galaxy’s Edge lands in Disney World and Disneyland to tie in with the debut of the latest Star Wars saga, “The Mandalorian and Grogu.” A reimagined The Magic of Disney Animation will open at the Studios park next year as well.

Over at the Magic Kingdom, passengers on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad will be able to ooh and aah at colorful phosphorescent lights of Rainbow Caverns when they experience the rootin’ tootin’ ride next year. The new scenic elements recall the Rainbow Caverns Mine Train at Disneyland, which occupied the spot on which the California park’s Big Thunder Mountain Railroad now sits. The classic attraction also inspired Calico Mine Ride at Knott’s Berry Farm, which still sends guests into its multi-hued caverns.

In Tomorrowland, guests on Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin will get to zap Emperor Zurg aboard new ride vehicles that will include monitors and new blasters outfitted with haptic feedback, colored beams, and sound. Along with “Z” targets that will respond when hit, the upgrades will provide an improved gameplay experience.

Might you be heading to Disney World or Disneyland next year? Of the new projects that will debut in 2026, what are you most anticipating?

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In the early days of Disneyland and Disney World, guests paid a nominal fee to enter the parks and then purchased individual tickets for the rides and attractions. The parks also offered books of tickets which bundled them together at a discount price. Disney graded its rides from “A” through “E” and offered corresponding tickets.

Those labeled “A” rides, such as the Fire Engine that traveled up and down Main Street U.S.A., were the lowest-tier and least expensive attractions. They were originally priced at 10 cents. Moving up the alphabet, the attractions were increasingly popular, sophisticated, and cost more to ride. An “E” ticket, which allowed admission to rides such as the Matterhorn Bobsleds and Pirates of the Caribbean, were the most coveted. When visitors used their ticket books, they would ration the “E” tickets carefully. First introduced in 1959, an E Ticket was valued at 50 cents (and admission to the park cost $4.50 for adults).

By the early 1980s, Disney phased out the use of individual tickets and instituted a pay-one-price policy with a jacked-up admission fee that included unlimited rides. Even though the tickets themselves are long gone, the term, “E Ticket,” endures. And it’s not confined to Disney parks. Any marquee attraction that aspires to theme park greatness, such as Epic Universe’s Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment or Danse Macabre at Efteling theme park in the Netherlands could be considered an E-Ticket ride.

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In addition to referring to the creme-de-la-creme of Disney attractions and park rides in general, “E Ticket” can also be used to describe anything that is considered to be among the best (or biggest, most exciting, etc.) of its kind. It’s a stand-in for descriptors such as “elite,” “headliner,” or as we are fond of saying in Massachusetts, “wicked awesome.”

By the way, nearly all amusement parks and theme parks used tickets up until the 1980s. Some would offer a pay-one-price option, but a pay-per-ride ticket system was the predominant business model. Unlike Disneyland and Disney World, many parks offered free admission and had an open-gate policy. Instead of using alphabet-coded tickets, most parks would vary the number of tickets it required to board its rides. Patrons might have to fork over one ticket for a low-profile kiddie ride, for example. It might take three tickets for a more thrilling flat ride, however, and five tickets to score a seat on a park’s signature roller coaster (its version of an E-Ticket ride).

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There are still a handful of parks that use a pay-per-ride ticket system. They are mostly traditional amusement parks such as Knoebels in Pennsylvania and the seaside park, Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk in California. Those and other pay-per-ride parks do not typically charge admission to enter. In general, carnivals and fairs still use a pay-per-ride system as well.

In some ways, the ticket system could be considered more equitable for visitors who only want to get on a few attractions. Parents or grandparents, for example, may want to take their children or grandchildren to enjoy a park’s rides, but have no intention of boarding any themselves. Then again, the pay-one-price model allows ride warriors to cram in as many rides, E-Ticket or otherwise, as they can over the course of a day. For them, the elimination of tickets means they don’t have to keep reaching for their wallets, and they can get great value by paying once at the gate.

Interestingly, E Tickets have come full circle in a way. In addition to charging to get into its parks (and, as park fans know, it costs considerably more than the 1959 price of $4.50 these days), Disney now offers Lightning Lane Single Passes to reserve times on its most popular attractions, such as Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at Epcot. It’s not required, but without the optional pass, standby lines for the crazy-popular rides can swell to two hours or more. And like park admission, the prices for Lightning Lane Single Passes are significantly higher than the original E Tickets.

Have you ever visited a park that uses individual ride tickets? Would you prefer individual ride tickets to a pay-one-price model?

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4.5 (out of 5)

It’s the perfect marriage of a ride concept to a story. What better way to immerse guests in the beloved world of Pixar’s film, Cars, than to plop them into revved-up vehicles, drive them into Radiator Springs to meet the talking-autos gang, and pit them against another carload of guests for a thrilling race-to-the-finish finale? In the hallowed tradition of Disney’s E-Ticket rides, Radiator Springs Racers delivers a grand-scale, gee-whiz, you-gotta-try-this-to-believe-it experience.

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But Disney has announced that The Magic of Disney Animation will be returning in 2026. It will be located in the Animation Courtyard building at Disney’s Hollywood Studios that currently houses Star Wars: Launch Bay. Instead of a show and a tour, however, the reimagined attraction will be a multi-faceted experience that sounds as if it will be similar to the Animation Academy at Disney California Adventure.

According to Disney, the attraction will take inspiration from Once Upon A Studio, the delightful short in which the toons in the cels and drawings that line the walls of the Roy E. Disney Animation Building in California come to life after the humans skedaddle. The facade of the attraction will be designed to resemble the actual animation headquarters, right down to the oversized Mickey Mouse’s blue sorcerer’s that will adorn the building’s entrance. (The “Fantasia” prop was long a staple at the Studios, taking up a prominent spot in front of the Chinese Theater.)

Guests will be able to participate in a variety of activities, including the opportunity to sketch some of Disney’s classic characters alongside an instructor. There will also be a “Drawn to Wonderland” play area that will invite kiddos to climb structures, experiment with musical instruments, and explore sets fashioned after “Alice in Wonderland” concept art created by Disney Legend Mary Blair. In addition to her work on animated films, Blair’s highly distinctive style can be found in park projects ranging from “it’s a small world” to the towering mural which the monorail passes in the Contemporary Resort’s Grand Canyon Concourse in Disney World. As you might imagine, characters will be on hand to greet folks as well in The Magic of Disney Animation.

Disney will redub the Animation Courtyard as The Walt Disney Studios and make some aesthetic changes using its Burbank studio lot for reference. “The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure,” which opened in May, will continue to welcome guests during construction of the area as will the Walt Disney Presents gallery exhibit. The Disney Jr. show, which is geared to little kids, will close in September and offer a new version of the presentation when it reopens alongside The Magic of Disney Animation next year.

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In other Disney World news, the third iteration of Test Track opened at Epcot on July 22. It ditches the new age-y, vaguely “Tron”-like look of the most recent version for one that’s more rooted in the present day, albeit with plenty of high tech bells and whistles. Just before embarking on the outdoor speed loop that has always been the E-Ticket attraction’s hallmark, guests encounter a cool-looking scene projected onto an encompassing dome that depicts what transportation might look like in the future.

At the Magic Kingdom, the new Disney Starlight nighttime parade debuted in July. While it can be traced back to the classic Main Street Electrical Parade, its floats are outfitted with highly sophisticated LED lights reminiscent of Paint the Night. Among its highlights is an ode to “Peter Pan” set in London, complete with a shimmering Big Ben.

What would you like to see at a new take on The Magic of Disney Animation? Did you experience the original animation show and tour at Disney-MGM Studios?

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4.25 (out of 5)

A landmark in interactive theme park attractions, Toy Story Mania takes ultra-flashy video game technology, embellishes it with 3-D graphics (yep, riders wear dorky 3D glasses), presents a game play experience that appeals to everyone from toddlers to the most experienced gamers, and wraps it all together using the engaging characters from the Toy Story films. The result is a giddy and highly addictive attraction that has nearly maniacal guests hell-bent on beating their ride-mates—and jumping back in line to trounce them again and again.

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The grand dame is decked out for the party, although the embellishments are relatively understated. (No garish pink cake overlay for the castle or 25-story Sorcerer Mickey wand at this gala.) There are tasteful “Celebrate Happy” displays around the park–including a stylish 70 “brooch” mounted above the drawbridge on Sleeping Beauty Castle–as well as throughout the entire Disneyland Resort.

“Decor plays a huge part in celebrations connecting our past,” says David Caranci, manager, creative development at Walt Disney Imagineering. “We don't live in the past, but we honor the past.”

Speaking of honoring the past, the “it’s a small world” facade is the backdrop for Tapestry of Happiness. Developed for the anniversary, the nighttime projection show pays homage to Disneyland with visual odes to park mainstays such as the Main Street Electrical Parade, the railroad, and classic attractions, including the adored Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride. At five minutes, the presentation is on the short side, but it’s packed with colorful scenes that really pop across the building’s wide expanse. Befitting the “it’s a small world” locale, the show’s designers took inspiration from Disney artist Mary Blair, whose modern art style informs the attraction’s distinctive look. There are no pyrotechnics to accompany the media, although there are synchronized lights and a zippy soundtrack that features the event’s “Celebrate Happy” theme song performed by the Jonas Brothers. Archival audio from Walt Disney (the actual man, not the company he founded) punctuate some of the scenes, including his inspirational remark, “We’re just getting started.” By the way, the landmark “it’s a small world” recently welcomed doll facsimiles of Miguel and Dante, from the Pixar film “Coco,” to the attraction’s ensemble.

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Another after-dark treat, Paint the Night, returns for the celebration. The parade features floats festooned with some 1.5 million LED lights. Themed to Disney and Pixar films that span many eras, the captivating procession showcases the lighting technology and the creativity and artistry that it inspires. Among the highlights is a massive Mack the Truck from Cars. His trailer sports a matrix of lights arranged in a three-dimensional grid that convey both movement and depth. Filled with wow moments, the final float is especially impressive. It presents an illuminated Mickey and his colorfully lit fab four buddies aboard a vehicle adorned with a trippy, psychedelic Mobius strip. Originally created for the park’s 60th anniversary, it’s great to have Paint the Night rolling down Disneyland’s streets again. It is a worthy, modern-day successor to the Main Street Electrical Parade.

Another returning nighttime presentation, Wondrous Journeys, fills Disneyland with grand-scale spectacle. The kiss-goodnight show, which includes fireworks exploding over Sleeping Beauty Castle melded with projections onto the castle and the buildings that line Main Street, U.S.A. is a tribute to Disney’s legendary animation studios. Originally designed for the Disney100 celebration, which debuted at Disneyland in early 2023, it pays homage to all of the company’s feature films, including “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” “Bambi,” “Encanto” and “Big Hero 6.” It is a satisfying tour-de-force that stirs emotions forged by our connections to the beloved source material. The projections can also be viewed on the “it’s a small world” facade and at the Rivers of America. The fireworks component is only available on select nights.

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During the day, guests can see characters such as Genie, Pinnochio, Merida and some of her Disney princess pals, and others march down Main Street U.S.A. as part of the The Celebrate Happy Cavalcade. The teddy bear duo, Duffy and ShellieMay, lead the procession. Despite their Cape Cod origins, this Massachusetts native is only vaguely aware of the characters, which are especially popular in Disney’s Asian parks. (Although based on the crowd reaction, the stateside fan base for Duffy and ShellieMay is apparently growing.) “Cavalcades,” or mini-parades, debuted during the pandemic as a way for guests to see the characters from a safe distance. They seem to be sticking around, however. As the name implies, the perky procession is over before the party barely gets started.

The 70th celebration is in full swing, but the most anticipated experience–at least for me–won’t be available until July 17, 2025, the actual day of Disneyland’s 70th anniversary. That’s when Walt Disney – A Magical Life will debut at the Main Street Opera House. It will showcase the man who started it all and will feature a visit from Walt via Audio-Animatronics technology. While I understand that the notion of a robotic Walt Disney may be unsettling to some, I’m mighty intrigued by the concept and can’t wait to check it out. Along with the new show, there will be an exhibit about Audio-Animatronics as well as artifacts from Disneyland’s early years in the Opera House’s lobby. Also, a short film will be offered at the Main Street Cinema that will shine a spotlight on Disney’s legendary songwriting duo, the Sherman Brothers.

What Disneyland anniversary feature are you most looking forward to experiencing? Were you able to see Wondrous Journeys or Paint the Night when it first opened?

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And yet, if I’m really pushed, I will reveal that one park does, in fact, hold a special place for me: Disneyland. There are many reasons. As a young boy, I sat rapt in front of our family’s television on Sunday evenings to watch Walt Disney extol the virtues of his beloved park. I longed to visit the magical, faraway place and finally got the chance as a pre-teen to walk down Main Street U.S.A. That experience is etched in my memory and helped stoke my love for parks. It also was a seminal event that eventually led me to pursue this peculiar job.

Others may try to take credit, but Disneyland truly established the template for the modern-day theme park. (Fun fact: When it opened in 1955, the term “theme park” was not part of the lexicon; that came later as a way to distinguish Walt’s bold, new take on the amusement industry.) While much has changed through the years at Disneyland, there is still a palpable connection to the past with many original touches to be found. Because it is the only park that Walt had the chance to personally experience, his spirit seems especially present there. Compared to Disney’s other castle parks, its smaller scale makes it more intimate, charming, and approachable.

So it was a great joy to be there when the grande dame kicked off her 70th anniversary celebration last week. I’m pleased to report that Disneyland is as wonderful as ever and that its certain je ne sais quoi remains intact. It looks sharp with special anniversary decor sprinkled throughout the resort. While Disneyland Park is blowing out 70 birthday candles, younger sibling Disney California Adventure is joining the party as well with both parks offering new and returning shows, parades, and other experiences. For this article, let’s focus on the festivities at DCA. In a future missive, I’ll share the 70 soiree happenings I checked out at the birthday gal’s park.

One of the highlights of the celebration is “World of Color Happiness!,” an all-new iteration of the nighttime fountain and water screen projection extravaganza at DCA. The show reflects the “Celebrate Happy” theme of the 70th celebration, which acknowledges the famous line intoned by Walt Disney as part of his speech on Disneyland’s opening day: “To all who come to this happy place, welcome.” Before the official show begins, there is an uproarious safety spiel delivered by The Muppets. The nearly five-minute introduction is filled with the troupe’s trademark anarchy and silliness, including stern rejoinders from Sam Eagle and no-nonsense Joe the Legal Weasel that, of course, are duly ignored. Hey Disney! How about a full-length World of Color show featuring The Muppets? (By the way, Kermit and company are also celebrating 70 years of fun in 2025.)

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The main show is anchored by Joy from the “Inside Out” movies. Of course, along with happiness, a little rain must fall, so Sadness, Anger, Anxiety, and the films’ other emotions are also part of the proceedings, lending some pathos and other feelings to the otherwise jubilant presentation. “Tangled,” “Encanto,” “The Goofy Movie,” and other Pixar and Disney flicks get shoutouts as well. Bookending the show is an engaging rendition of “Rainbow Connection” sung by Boyz II Men, which is a great callback to The Muppets.

“We realized very quickly that our friends at Pixar had created the perfect team with the cast from ‘Inside Out’ to help tell the story and explain what happiness is,” says Jennifer Magill, senior producer at Disney Live Entertainment, explaining the brainstorm session she and her team conducted to develop the new show. “You can’t have happiness without all of the emotions, and the fun just started from there.”

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As with all World of Color presentations (this is the seventh version of the show), it is quite grand, and really puts the “spectacular” in nighttime spectacular. It deftly capitalizes on soaring, richly hued fountains, resonant animated scenes, curated music, and other tricks in the show designers’ toolbox to weave an alluring story. It may have been the location in which I parked myself for the presentation, but my sightline was a bit compromised, with some of the action taking place beneath my vantage point. It didn’t help that in today’s phone-obsessed world, I had to peer above a sea of devices poised aloft to capture the show. For crying out loud folks, put down the phones and just be in the moment.

It doesn’t last long, but the Celebrate Happy: A Little Bit of Magic Every Night projection show that animates the Carthay Circle restaurant is nonetheless sweet. I don’t believe Disney is advertising showtimes for this; rather, guests will be delightfully surprised as they stroll past the building and see it spring to life. Tinker Bell is the star here, casting her pixie dust across the Hollywood icon proxy. The soundtrack is “Celebrate Happy,” an original song performed by the Jonas Brothers that can be heard throughout the resort during the celebration.

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Better Together: A Pixar Pals Celebration!, a returning daytime parade, is rolling down the promenade at DCA for the 70th. Among the studio’s movies, it includes contingents representing “Up,” “The Incredibles,” and my favorite Pixar film, “Soul.” As the floats pass by, many have surprise characters on the back of them holding up the rear, such as Dug, the talking dog from “Up.” It’s a nice touch.

Joining the anniversary frenzy, Andy has slapped (digital) “70” and “Celebrate Happy” stickers throughout the carnival games on the interactive ride, Toy Story Midway Mania! (Note that the exclamation mark is part of the attraction’s official name, not an unnecessary grammatical flourish on my part.) The random targets enhanced with a “70” are worth more points; instead of 100, guests can nab 700 points, while a few coveted 1,000 targets yield 7,000 points. Tip: don’t bother aiming for the “Celebrate Happy” stickers. They may grab your attention, but they are worthless. As you might imagine, the point inflation leads to higher scores. I usually end up with a mediocre 100,000 or so total points on Midway Mania, but my score on the anniversary version topped 169,000. By the way, when the attraction opened in 2008, an Imagineer told me the screen-based, fully digital attraction could be easily transformed with holiday overlays and other changes. Until this 70th makeover, however, Disney had not offered any special editions.

It’s not a part of the 70th celebration per se, but a new show, Disney Junior: Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live! (yup, yet another exclamation mark), debuted at DCA’s Disney Theater when the anniversary event kicked off last week. The perky live show, aimed at young children, features Mickey and Minnie and their quest to gather Daisy, Pluto, and Goofy for a party. It beats me why Donald doesn’t get an invite. Grandparents and otherwise exhausted adults, take heed: Except for a few metal benches along the walls, there is no seating in the theater. The whole idea is to get kids up and dancing to the original tunes along with the performers.

Is the venerable Disneyland among your favorite parks? Did you know that the term, “theme park,” was not coined until after Walt’s park had been in operation a few years?

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As I reported on Tuesday, Miral, the United Arab Emirates company that operates the 15-year-old Yas Island theme park resort in Abu Dhabi, is aggressively expanding the property with a new, record-breaking roller coaster, other new attractions, and new lands at its existing parks: Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi, SeaWorld Abu Dhabi, and the Yas Waterworld water park. It is buoyed by the resort’s performance, saying that it attracted 38 million visitors and a 20% attendance growth at the parks last year, breaking all records for the property. The new Disneyland Abu Dhabi would be Yas Island’s crown jewel.

Details are sparse. Speaking at a press conference in Abu Dhabi yesterday, Disney CEO Bob Iger, along with Miral and UAE officials, talked in broad terms about what’s on the way, but did not indicate a timeline for when the project would break ground and open, or any other particulars.

“As our seventh theme park destination, it will rise from this land in spectacular fashion, blending contemporary architecture with cutting-edge technology to offer guests deeply immersive entertainment experiences in unique and modern ways,” Iger said. He added that the park and resort would be “authentically Disney and distinctly Emirati,” which recalls a similar phrase the exec coined for Shanghai Disneyland.

The park and resort will be located along the waterfront at Yas Island. Because of the region’s harsh desert conditions, Abu Dhabi’s other theme parks are largely located indoors. There is no word whether the Disney park would also be housed indoors, although it’s likely. It’s difficult to tell from the largely impressionistic concept art, but it appears that instead of a traditional castle, this Disneyland may feature a whimsical glass tower as its focal point. Perhaps that will be part of the “contemporary architecture” that Iger referred to.

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It strikes me as a bit odd that Disney would share the spotlight at Yas Island with SeaWorld, Warner Bros. World, and Ferrari World. And while “resort” implies that the Disneyland property would include lodging accommodations and other amenities, Yas Island already offers seven hotels, including a Hilton and the upscale W Abu Dhabi.

Miral will develop, build, and operate Disneyland Abu Dhabi, while Disney will license its IPs, design the park, and provide operational oversight. This is similar to the arrangements Miral has with its existing theme parks. It is also akin to to the deal Disney has for Tokyo Disneyland, which is wholly owned and operated by The Oriental Land Company.

Disney’s surprise announcement could be, in part, a response to rival Universal, which has been on a tear building new parks and projects, such as Universal Epic Universe in Orlando and its new park and resort in the UK. Although Walt Disney World and Disneyland will be getting plenty of love as part of the company’s $60-billion investment in and expansion of its parks and experiences division, folks in the US would love to see an entirely new park added to either or both of its California and Florida resorts. However, it will be exciting to see Disney reinterpret its classic Disneyland park in a new locale, possibly indoors, and with today’s technology.

Are you as surprised by this announcement as I am? With Disney in the mix, might you consider visiting Yas Island?

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The park industry’s other big cheese, Disney, is in the early stages of an ambitious $60-billion plan to invest in new and expanded attractions and more across its parks and experiences division. What a time to be a theme park fan, am I right? Let’s run down some recent reveals from The Mouse and find out what it’s been up to with all that cheddar.

Disneyland Paris is transforming its second gate, Walt Disney Studios Park, into Disney Adventure World, with the changeover set to launch in 2026. The resort announced that the park’s reimagined indoor entrance plaza, which it is rebranding “World Premiere,” will welcome guests starting May 15, 2025. The Art Deco-inspired entryway will include a new quick-service eatery, The Hollywood Gardens Restaurant.

As I previously reported, World of Frozen, a new land similar to the Nordic outpost at Hong Kong Disneyland, as well as a log flume attraction in the vein of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure but themed to the “The Lion King,” will open as part of the expanded Disney Adventure World in 2026. A flat ride, Raiponce Tangled Spin, will be part of Adventure Way, the redesigned land in the park’s center. Now, the resort has announced that a second flat ride, which will be themed to “Up,” will be added to the area as well. According to concept art released by Disney, it appears this will be a standard carousel swing ride found at many amusement and theme parks. A number of manufacturers produce the spinning rides, notably Zierer, which calls its model the Wave Swinger.

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Meet your new Buddy at Walt Disney World

In other company news, Walt Disney World in Florida announced that the Tomorrowland favorite, Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, will be closing in August and reopening next year with changes and improvements. The Magic Kingdom attraction will feature new vehicles that will be outfitted with video monitors to display passengers’ gameplay and new handheld shooters that will feature colored beams, sound, and haptic feedback to help guests better track their blasts and improve their scores. The attraction’s “Z” targets, which are currently static, will be tricked out to respond when passengers successfully activate them. Space Ranger Spin will also feature a new introductory scene featuring “Buddy,” a robot who will coach players as they depart on their intergalactic mission to help Buzz Lightyear zap Emperor Zurg.

The Florida parks have a number of developments it will be rolling out soon, including a new show, Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After, and the revamped The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure, both debuting at Disney’s Hollywood Studios on May 27. Later in the summer, the third iteration of Test Track at Epcot will rev up. The park’s new adults-only Spaceship Earth lounge, GEO-82, along with a Pirates of the Caribbean-themed tavern at the Magic Kingdom will begin pouring drinks later this year.

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Before new tariffs were introduced and financial markets started going kablooey, the Disney parks had already begun offering special deals, even during the typically busy summer season. Now, forecasts that call for a challenging period in the travel and tourism industry have to be rattling all parks and attractions. Among Disney World’s latest offers: 50% off children’s (ages 3-9) park tickets; free dining plan with certain hotel packages; and discounts on select Disney hotel bookings.

Like me, have you had a hard time getting a decent score on Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin? Will you welcome the attraction’s enhancements? This might warrant a separate article, but have US and world events, including shaky economic forecasts, had an impact on your plans to visit parks this spring, summer, and beyond? Might you take advantage of special deals like those offered by Disney World?

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5 (out of 5)

When the original Pirates of the Caribbean debuted at Disneyland in California in 1967, the landmark ride was jaw-dropping and an instant hit. Decades later, it remains a beloved classic and still merits its "E-Ticket" status. In rare cases, sequels manage to outshine the originals (“The Godfather: Part II,” “Toy Story 3”). Pirates of the Caribbean Battle for the Sunken Treasure is one of those rare cases. The tour-de-force follow-up is jaw-dropping in its own right and takes its place among the planet’s best rides.

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At the recent South by Southwest (SXSW) festival in Texas, the company presented The Future of World-Building at Disney panel and offered a few more details about some of the developments. The latest installment of Disney’s YouTube series, “We Call it Imagineering” also provides some insights. Let’s dig in on some of the reveals.

The Monsters Inc. coaster will be an uplifting experience

Disney had previously indicated that a Monsters Inc.-themed roller coaster would be coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World. It will take over the park’s Muppets Courtyard. (Fear not Kermit and Miss Piggy fans. While the fate of Muppet*Vision 3D is unclear–although the company has vowed to preserve the film in some way–the furry gang will remain at the Studios by displacing Aerosmith as the focus of the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster.)

The Disney folks had also previously shared that guests on the new coaster would be invited into the Monstropolis factory to ride alongside Sulley and Mike Wazowski, mimicking the door vault scene from the original Monsters Inc. movie. They also indicated that the attraction would be an inverted coaster, which is an inspired use of the ride system in which the train hangs suspended from the track above. This will be the first inverted coaster at a Disney park.

What was revealed by Imagineers at SXSW was the wild vertical lift that passengers will encounter in the ride’s loading station. Guests will board the cars at ground level, and, similar to the scene in the movie, the train will be hoisted into the air and dispatched into the elevated door vault. It will be a dual-load station with one train lifting into position, while guests board a second train. The process looks fascinating, although it may be intimidating for those tending toward the squeamish side of the thrill spectrum. I’m guessing that the coaster itself will be more or less family friendly. (Disney tends to shy away from the more extreme rides of its rival, Universal.) Regardless, I’m also guessing that once guests reach the indoor loading station in the queue and witness the trains rising vertically, some of them are going to bail. But that won’t be the case for ride warriors like us, right?

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Get your Cars kicks off Route 66

We already know that the Rivers of America at Disney World’s Magic Kingdom will be drained (sigh) to make way for a Cars-themed area. It has been teased that a new E-Ticket attraction would take guests for a ride along dusty trails and over rugged mountains aboard the anthropomorphic vehicles. At SXSW and on the latest “We Call it Imagineering” episode, Disney divulged that the attraction would take the form of an off-road rally and that passengers would race over rocky terrain while dodging geysers and other obstacles. To simulate the experience, Imagineers are developing a prototype production vehicle.

“No one builds these in a factory because it has to do so much more than just carrying you from one place to another,” said Imagineer Michael Hundgen at the SXSW panel. “We have to create a car that conveys a feeling when you ride in it.”

“It allows us to put the emotion into the motion,” added Bruce Vaughn, Imagineering president and chief creative officer.

It appears that the ride vehicles may be autonomous and free roaming. This reminds me of the Dynamic All-Terrain Dark Ride that Orlando-based ride designer Dynamic Attractions introduced back in 2018. I don’t believe the company, which has subsequently faced financial troubles, ever produced the concept for an actual attraction.

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Take flight with Tony Stark

Over on the other side of the country, Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure is expanding. For one of the new attractions, Stark Flight Lab, guests will have the chance to soar like Iron Man using the same kind of robotic arm technology that is featured in Universal’s Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. At SXSW and in the You Tube episode, Imagineers shared some peeks at what guests can expect when they visit Tony Stark’s gizmo-packed workshop. It seems passengers will zoom along a track using LSM motors (which sounds suspiciously like a roller coaster, albeit probably not a very fast one) and align with the robots. Each arm will couple with a two-passenger car, pluck it from the chassis, and lift it into the air for some acrobatic maneuvers.

Star Wars synergy

Changes will be coming to both of the Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge lands at Disneyland and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The company has already announced that it will be dropping its strict timeline orthodoxy and allow guests to experience the franchise’s multiverse when they visit the parks. For example, a young Luke Skywalker will be on hand to greet guests at the annual Season of the Force event that will take place March 28 to May 11 at Disneyland. Now, Disney says, guests will be able to go on an adventure with Din Djarin, AKA The Mandalorian, and Grogu aboard the interactive attraction, Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run. Imagineers will be trading out the media for the new storyline, which will debut Memorial Day weekend 2026–the same time that a new “The Mandalorian and Grogu” movie will debut in theaters.

To what new Disney attraction are you most looking forward? How do you think more casual Disney fans (i.e., the GP) will react to the vertical lift for the Monsters Inc. coaster?

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4.5 (out of 5)

“Lord Almighty, I feel my temperature rising,” crooned Elvis Presley on the soundtrack. What I felt rising, however, was my ride vehicle as it shot like a rocket to the top of the tower and lifted me out of my seat for the first of many bouts of free-floating airtime. Before I had a chance to catch my breath, I plummeted precipitously. It was a tough assignment, but it served a higher purpose: to help free the imprisoned Star-Lord, Peter Quill, and his intergalactic buddies.

I was aboard Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! at Disney California Adventure, the Marvel-themed E-Ticket ride that replaced the park’s Twilight Zone Tower of Terror in 2017. It repurposes the faster-than-freefall ride system and delivers what feels like even wilder thrills than the original attraction.

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Perhaps the most intriguing attraction opening next year will be Walt Disney – A Magical Life, a new presentation at Disneyland’s Main Street Opera House. A film will chronicle the legendary showman’s extraordinary biography followed by–get this–a visit from Walt. The man who pioneered Audio-Animatronics (and theme parks themselves for that matter) will take the form of a robotic character to speak directly to the audience. It may be a tad unsettling to see the company founder and park namesake take the stage, but I’m all for Walt getting his Animatronic moment in the spotlight. According to Disneyland, after its initial engagement, the new show will share the theater with the long-running Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln. Disney’s depiction of the 16th president of the United States made its debut at the 1964-1965 New York World’s Fair and was among the first Animatronic representations of a human figure.

The Walt Disney show will debut May 16, 2025, the same day that Disneyland kicks off its 70th anniversary celebration. When Walt spoke at the opening of his beloved park in 1955, he famously said, “To all who come to this happy place… welcome.” In his honor, the theme of the event will be “Celebrate Happy,” which is also the name of a new song that will anchor the celebration.

Disney California Adventure will tie into the joyous theme with a new nighttime lagoon show, World of Color Happiness! (I feel a need to point out that Disney inserts exclamation marks when it names many of its presentations; it is not any grammatical exuberance on my part.) Combining fountains bathed in vibrant hues, lasers, and a 19,000-square-foot water screen, the new iteration of World of Color will focus on happy scenes from films such as “Inside Out,” “Tangled,” and “The Lion King.”

Among other 70th anniversary celebration elements, all of which will launch on May 16, will be the return of Wondrous Journeys, the stunning nighttime castle show at Disneyland Park. It incorporates projections on Main Street U.S.A shops, the “it’s a small world” facade, and locales at the Rivers of America along with the focal point on Sleeping Beauty Castle. The high-wattage Paint the Night parade will also return to wind through Disneyland Park with 1.5 million LED lights adorning its festive floats. Speaking of parades, Better Together: A Pixar Pals Celebration! (exclamation mark alert) will make its way back to Disney California Adventure. The daytime procession will feature characters from movies such as “Up” and “Turning Red.” Disneyland recently opened its version of Tiana's Bayou Adventure, the update of Splash Mountain.

Meanwhile, over at Disney World…

Part of Disney’s $60 billion booty will be spent on a new Disney Villains land that will take shape beyond Big Thunder Mountain at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom in a few years. But visitors will be able to experience the wrath of the meanies in a new show, Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After, coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios in summer 2025. Maleficent, Cruella de Vil, and Captain Hook will lead the repugnant reprobates in the production that’s slated to kick off at the park’s Sunset Showcase theater in the summer. The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure will finally debut at the Studio’s long-dark theater in the Animation Courtyard. The long-delayed, revamped show, which is also set to launch in the summer, will feature songs such as “Part of Your World” from the classic film and will incorporate puppets along with live actors.

The third version of Test Track at EPCOT is set to rev up in late summer. Foregoing the otherworldly, sci-fi look and feel of the most recent take on the attraction, the update will return to the pavilion’s World of Motion roots and celebrate the automobile’s past, present, and future. In late spring, you’ll be able to nosh and imbibe at EPCOT’s Spaceship Earth Lounge. I’ve had the pleasure of dining in this space at private events in the past. The park will now be opening it up to all guests.

This summer, the Magic Kingdom will be getting its own nighttime parade, Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away. From the looks of the rendering (see above), it appears the floats will incorporate the latest in LED light technology. In its day, the Main Street Electrical Parade was wonderful, but show lighting and effects have evolved dramatically since then. The Blue Fairy of “Pinocchio” fame will lead the procession and make way for toon titans from movies such as “Frozen,” “Moana,” and “Peter Pan.” Over in Adventureland, you’ll literally be able to drink up me hearties when a new Pirates of the Caribbean-inspired tavern starts serving grog in late 2025. Yo ho.

Finally, a new 4D theatrical presentation, Zootopia: Better Zoogether! (still not my exclamation mark), will take over the The Tree of Life Theater at Animal Kingdom, which previously was the home of (get ready for the exclamation mark) It’s Tough to be a Bug! The show, which will feature characters from the popular movie, will debut early in the year.

Well, the prognosticators were correct. Disney has revealed that Monstropolis will, in fact, be replacing the Muppets land. But the company did not try to put lipstick on a Miss Piggy about the fate of Jim Henson’s furry friends. In a heartwarming turn of events, the Muppets will remain at the Disney World park by bringing their infectious brand of fiercely funny anarchy to the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster. So, it’s time to bid farewell to Steven Tyler and the gang instead.

The news shared on the Disney Parks blog had few additional details. Repeating the announcement made at the D23 event, the headlining attraction at the Monsters Inc. land will invite guests into the Monstropolis factory to ride alongside Sulley and Mike Wazowski and an aerial conveyor belt of doors, mimicking a pivotal scene in the original movie. In an inspired move, the ride system will be an inverted coaster, in which the cars will hang suspended from the track above. Taking a cue from the Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor theater attraction at the Magic Kingdom, laughter, not screams, will be what humans will be asked to provide to keep the power grid humming in Monstropolis. The land will also include character greetings, restaurants, and shops. Work is set to begin on the Monsters Inc. land some time in 2025.

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According to Disney’s blog post, the Imagineers plan to preserve the Muppet*Vision 3D film. My guess is that it might have limited runs at the Magic Eye Theater in the Imagination pavilion at Epcot, which at one time was the home of Honey, I Shrunk the Audience. The Muppet attraction first opened in 1991 at what was then known as Disney-MGM Studios. It was the final project overseen by Jim Henson, who died in 1990. Muppet*Vision 3D was also an opening day attraction at Disney California Adventure, but has since closed.

Am I sad to see Muppet*Vision 3D go? Sure. It makes clever use of the film gimmick, at one point purporting to break the 3D wall. It is also laugh-out-loud silly, even after multiple viewings. But let’s face it. The attraction has not been generating huge crowds. It was probably time to either update it or close it to make way for something new. The Monsters Inc. attraction, which will be the park’s third coaster, will surely be wildly popular.

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Disney’s stewardship of the Muppets, which the company acquired in 2004, has been spotty. Despite multiple attempts to revive the franchise, it has not been able to land on a winning formula. Folks of a certain age adore the Muppets, but the franchise would not seem to be as relevant among younger audiences. And that’s a shame. Finding the characters a new home at Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, however, is a cause for hope.

I’m a Massachusetts guy and love the bad boys of Boston, Aerosmith. But they are kind of an odd fit for a Disney park. “Dude (Looks Like a Lady)” and “Love in an Elevator,” two songs that are played on the ride’s onboard speakers, are a far cry from “It’s a Small World.” The aging band has announced its touring days are over, and it’s long past the time for a refresh of the launched coaster. So as much of a fan as I am of the group and as sad as I am to see Muppet*Vision 3D go, moving the Muppets over to Sunset Boulevard and onto the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster is more than just a conciliation to me. It’s kind of a genius move.

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Music has long been an important part of the Muppets’ shtick. From the concept art above, Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem will likely be featured in the attraction. (It also appears that Aersomith’s black super-stretch limos may be converted into groovy, tie-dyed Muppet-mobiles.) Disney says that A-list performers will also be along for the ride. I suspect there could be a storyline, which will involve a music festival, that might use the sudden launch, high speed, and inversions of the coaster to capitalize on the Muppet tradition of turning good intentions into utter calamity. That would be in the spirit of the “something goes horribly wrong” ethos that drives most great theme park attractions.

The high-profile ride will put my beloved Muppets into the spotlight, where they belong. For me, that conjures a sweet emotion.

Are you sad to see the Muppets film and land close? What do you make of Disney’s decision to move the Muppets over to Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster?

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Magicians never reveal their secrets. That’s prestidigitation 101. But Josh D’Amaro, who oversees the magical spectacles that are the Disney theme parks in his role as chairman of the company’s experiences division, broke the code a bit. At HubSpot’s recent Inbound conference and expo in Boston, the affable exec delivered one of the keynote presentations, Dream to Reality: How a Disney Story Comes to Life. It turns out there’s more to it than cutting a check for $60 billion and waving a magic wand.

Admitting that it might sound hokey to talk about “the Disney magic,” D’Amaro contended that it is nonetheless “real and what makes us different. It sets the Disney company apart.” The magic all comes down to storytelling and conjuring the power of great stories. The chairman traced this tenet of the company, as well as other core principles that he shared throughout his talk, back to the man who started it all, Walt Disney.

One of the ways that Imagineers harness the power of stories, D’Amaro revealed, is by fostering emotional connections. He is not immune to the potent sway that Disney attractions wield. When he was ten years old, D’Amaro’s family drove across the country to Disneyland. (Like me, the exec is from the Boston area.) After his dad told him that Peter Pan’s Flight was his favorite ride and that he‘d really feel like he’d be flying, the two shared a knowing smile as their galleon rose into the air.

“When I sit in that pirate ship today, I’m immediately ten years old again, and I feel like I’m sitting there with my parents flying over London,” D’Amaro stated. The tale was all the more poignant when he acknowledged that his parents were in the audience at the presentation. “There’s a good chance that I wouldn’t be talking to you today if I didn’t have some of those emotional connections that I made with my family at Disneyland as a kid,” D’Amaro added.

Another key component of Disney’s magic formula is innovation, which is driven by curiosity. D’Amaro said that the original Pirates of the Caribbean, which opened in 1967 at Disneyland and was one of the last projects in which Walt was personally involved, was a “massive leap forward in our experiential storytelling.” It capitalized on the then-nascent audio-animatronics technology with grand-scale sets and a huge cast of mechanized buccaneers and other characters. More recently, Imagineers took innovation to the next level with the highly complex Pirates of the Caribbean Battle for the Sunken Treasure at Shanghai Disneyland. Beyond its highly sophisticated animatronics, the attraction also incorporates, among many other elements, large-format, highly immersive media that is positively mind boggling and a new magnetic ride system that precisely synchronizes the boat vehicles as the story unfolds.

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To demonstrate the company’s innovation, D’Amaro invited a pair of BD-X droids onto the stage that Imagineers had developed and recently introduced at Disneyland. The small robots were remarkably agile and filled with personality. The droids dovetailed with the next storytelling principle the chairman noted: relatability. It’s not enough to wow guests with whiz-bang technology; they have to relate to the characters and buy into the stories. Cast members, the frontline employees that are an integral part of the show at the parks, are key to making relatable connections with guests. By bringing experiences to life, “you start to believe these magical places are real,” D’Amaro said.

Another way that Disney helps to make magical places real, according to D’Amaro, is attention to detail. Guests may not notice all of the minutiae, but the details help create an aura of authenticity, even if it’s on a subconscious level. The chairman says that the Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge lands are prime examples of the company’s keen focus on details. The droid track marks that punctuate the walkways are not just from any robot; they were made using the original R2D2.

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“The finance teams were over here saying, ‘You’re nuts. You’re going to get the real R2D2?’” D’Amaro noted. “The answer is yes. The Imagineers won that one.”

It’s that kind of thinking that exemplifies Disney’s fifth storytelling principle: courage.

“We may not always get this right, but I believe Walt would have wanted us to try. He would have wanted us to be courageous,” said D’Amaro.

That means swinging for the fences sometimes, whether it’s carving out 14 acres at land-starved Disneyland by eliminating Big Thunder Ranch or allocating $60 billion in new capital for Disney’s parks and experiences soon after the company introduced austerity measures.

Finally, D’Amaro said that boundless faith is another core principle driving the company’s storytelling. It can’t rest on its laurels; instead its creative visionaries have to strive for the next big idea. As examples, he pointed to the startling Spider-Man Stuntronic figure that takes flight above Avengers Campus in Disney California Adventure as well as the company’s plans to create a digital Disney playground with Epic Games, the creator of Fortnite.

“We want to be boundless in our thinking as a tribute to our past,” said D’Amaro.

What emotional connections have you made at the Disney parks? Is the “Disney magic” real for you?

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Welcome to ART Talks, an audio narration of one of my articles that is exclusively for paid subscribers like you. I recently attended a presentation given by the Disney exec that oversees the entire portfolio of theme parks. This month, let’s explore some of his insights about the company’s creative process.

Here is the text version of this article: The …

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I also had a ball–of the bowling variety–visiting multiple generations of the Campbells who have been working at family entertainment centers for decades. Read about them in my column for Funworld, the IAAPA publication.

Last week I shared plenty of tantalizing highlights of the D23 parks and experiences presentation. But guess what? Despite running over 1.300 words, I left out quite a few revelations. Ready for more Disney goodness, including things you’ll be able to enjoy soon?

Get the 70th anniversary party started at Disneyland

The Splash Mountain makeover, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, dropped at Magic Kingdom a couple of months ago. At D23, Disney’s genial Josh D’Amaro let fans know that the Disneyland version of the makeover is set to open this November 15. Also, a new mission for Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run will take flight in 2026 to coincide with the release of the big-screen movie, “The Mandalorian and Grogu.”

I already told you about the new show opening in 2025 at the Main Street Opera House that–surprise!–will feature an animatronic Walt Disney. With the original Disney park celebrating its 70th anniversary next year, the sit-down with the man who started it all will surely appeal to folks in a nostalgic mood. Oddly, other than sharing a logo and confirming that there would be an anniversary celebration, D’Amaro was mum about any other specifics. I’d have to imagine that new nighttime shows and parades are in the works along with some other goodies.

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Disney World on track for more fun

D’Amaro did, however, reveal that a new nighttime parade is set to step off on the other side of the country next year. Look for Disney Starlight at the Magic Kingdom starting summer 2025. Think Main Street Electrical Parade, but with today’s incredible LED lighting capabilities. The parks boss said that The Blue Fairy will be leading the procession and that films such as “Encanto” and “Peter Pan” will be part of the lineup. Also on tap at the Magic Kingdom next year is a Pirates of the Caribbean tavern, now under construction across from the classic attraction. That’s right, you’ll literally be able to drink up me hearties. (Yo ho.) Remember, it wasn’t all that long ago that alcohol of any kind wasn’t available at the Magic Kingdom–or Disneyland, which established the Prohibition policy.

Booze has always flowed at Epcot, however. (Drinking around the world, anyone?) There will be yet another watering hole at the park when the Spaceship Earth lounge opens its doors in 2025. We now know that Test Track 3.0 will hit the road next year as well. Instead of the trippy, Tron-like futurism of the attraction’s most recent iteration, the update will take inspiration from the World of Motion pavilion that originally occupied the spot and celebrate the past, present, and future of the automobile.

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It’ll be awhile (2027 to be exact) until we will be able to visit Encanto’s Madrigal family or ride with Indiana Jones in the new Tropical Americas land at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. But we will be able to hang with Judy Hopps, Nick Wilde, and the gang when Zootopia: Better Zoogether! opens next winter in the Tree of Life Theater that previously presented It's Tough to Be a Bug! (By the way, those exclamation marks are parts of the names of the attractions and not reflective of my writing style.) Also on the way to Disney World will be the same Smugglers Run update for the Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Spider-Man will be busy

Two Spider-Man-themed attractions are on the way. A “high-speed” coaster (by Disney standards anyways) is being developed for Shanghai Disneyland, while it appears–from the concept art shared, not from anything said at D23–that a Twilight Zone-like drop tower ride will be coming to Hong Kong Disneyland. Interestingly, these two pieces of news were delivered by Imagineer Scott Trowbridge, who was one of the creative principals behind the groundbreaking The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man attraction at Universal’s Islands of Adventure.

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A Lion King-themed attraction, that looks quite similar to the Tiana’s Bayou Adventure/Splash Mountain log flume rides, will anchor a new Lion King area at Disney Adventure World, the park formerly known as Walt Disney Studios Park adjacent to Disneyland Paris. Construction will begin in 2025.

Finally, things must be going exceptionally well over at Disney Cruise Lines. There are currently six ships plying the seas with another three set to sail soon. At D23, it was revealed that another four will be added to the burgeoning fleet between 2027 and 2031. Keep in mind, it wasn’t that long ago that the pandemic forced the whole cruise industry to shut down and put a question mark on its future. I guess Disney thinks that future looks bright.

What do you find most compelling among these announcements? Might any of the developments planned for next year at Disneyland and Walt Disney World encourage you to plan a visit?

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