For more than 50 years, Magic Kingdom has invited guests into worlds filled with heroes, princesses and happily-ever-afters. However, the park’s next major expansion will encourage visitors to leave the safe path behind and enter a dark corner of the kingdom where Disney Villains control the story.
During the “Horizons: A Carousel of Progress” showcase at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, Walt Disney Imagineering revealed new details about Villains Land, including its original backstory and two major attractions. The highly anticipated expansion will feature a Maleficent roller coaster and a Magic Mirror dark ride filled with familiar Disney Villains.
Here is everything Disney has confirmed about Villains Land at Magic Kingdom so far.
Where Will Villains Land Be Located?
Villains Land is being developed beyond Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at Magic Kingdom. The expansion will become part of one of the most significant periods of growth in Walt Disney World history.
Disney previously announced that the new land would include two major attractions alongside themed dining and shopping experiences. Imagineers have now compared its size and scale to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, suggesting that this will be a complete immersive destination rather than a small addition to the park.
An opening date has not yet been announced.
What Is the Story of Villains Land?
Although Villains Land will be inspired by familiar characters from Walt Disney Animation Studios, Imagineers are creating an original story that brings these villains together within one setting.
The story begins deep inside a dark and foreboding forest, where guests will discover a Wishing Well that has been torn apart by a powerful evil wish.
Instead of spreading hope and positive magic, this wish corrupted the stone and released poisoned magic throughout the surrounding forest. That dark energy eventually attracted Disney Villains, each hoping to claim the remaining power for themselves.
The villains have used the corrupted magic to conjure elaborate fortresses, palaces and personal lairs throughout the land. These structures will reflect the personalities of the villains who created them while housing attractions, shopping, dining and other temptations for guests brave enough to explore.
Maleficent Roller Coaster Coming to Villains Land
One of Villains Land’s two headlining attractions will be a roller coaster centered around Maleficent, the Mistress of All Evil.
Guests will accept Maleficent’s invitation and race through the enchanted briars surrounding her mountaintop fortress. During the adventure, riders will come face-to-face with the iconic villain herself.
Walt Disney Imagineering teased that the attraction will incorporate elements the team has never attempted on similar attractions. However, Disney has not yet explained what those groundbreaking features will be.
The coaster’s official name, ride system, height requirement and opening date have not been revealed.
Magic Mirror Dark Ride Will Feature Multiple Disney Villains
The second major attraction coming to Villains Land will be a dark ride hosted by the Magic Mirror from Disney’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
Guests will enter the catacombs beneath the Evil Queen’s pristine palace, where she keeps the mysterious Magic Mirror. From there, the Mirror will transport riders into its ethereal Mirror Realm.
Inside this strange dimension, guests will encounter numerous Disney Villains conjured by the Magic Mirror. Imagineers plan to combine large physical sets with special effects to bring the villains and their environments to life.
Unlike the Maleficent coaster, which appears focused primarily on one character, the Magic Mirror attraction will give Disney an opportunity to feature an entire collection of classic villains.
The attraction’s official name and complete character lineup have not yet been announced.
Which Villains/Characters Have Been Confirmed?
Disney has directly connected three characters to the attractions and storyline revealed for Villains Land:
- Maleficent
- The Evil Queen
- The Magic Mirror
Imagineers have also confirmed that the land will draw inspiration from classic Disney animated villains and that several characters will appear inside the Mirror Realm.
Disney has not released a complete list of participating villains. Characters such as Ursula, Hades, Jafar, Cruella de Vil, Captain Hook and Dr. Facilier have not been officially confirmed for the attractions at this time.
What Will Villains Land Look Like?
Imagineers are developing a distinctive visual style for the land called “Conjured Architecture.”
While designing the environment, members of the Imagineering team traveled to Paris and Barcelona to study architectural styles such as Art Nouveau and Modernisme. Those influences include rich colors, dramatic proportions, swirling natural patterns and organic shapes.
The goal is to make Villains Land appear as though its fortresses and palaces were not constructed through traditional methods but conjured into existence by powerful magic.
Guests can expect a dramatic environment filled with twisted vegetation, towering structures and visual details inspired by the personalities of Disney’s most infamous characters.
Dining and Shopping Are Coming to Villains Land
Disney has confirmed that Villains Land will include dining and shopping in addition to its two major attractions.
The new land’s palaces, fortresses and villainous lairs will contain places where guests can find themed treats, merchandise and other temptations. However, Disney has not announced the names, menus or specific themes of any restaurants or stores.
These locations could eventually give Disney Villains fans an entire merchandise collection and new character-inspired food experiences inside Magic Kingdom.
How Large Will Villains Land Be?
Imagineers compared the scale of Villains Land to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, one of Disney’s largest and most immersive theme park environments.
The comparison does not necessarily mean the two lands will occupy identical acreage. It does indicate that Disney is approaching Villains Land as a substantial destination with multiple experiences and environments to explore.
The land is expected to include:
- A Maleficent roller coaster
- A Magic Mirror dark ride
- Multiple Disney Villains
- Themed dining
- Villain-inspired shopping
- Fortresses and palaces
- A dark forest environment
- An original connecting storyline
Disney has not announced an opening date or construction timeline for Villains Land.
A Dark New Chapter for Magic Kingdom
Villains Land represents something entirely new for Magic Kingdom. Instead of watching heroes overcome their adversaries from a safe distance, guests will enter a world created and controlled by the villains themselves.
The original Wishing Well storyline gives Imagineers the freedom to bring characters from different animated films together naturally. With two major attractions, elaborate environments, dining and shopping—and a scale compared to Galaxy’s Edge—Villains Land could become one of the most ambitious additions in Magic Kingdom history.
Disney still has many secrets hidden inside this foreboding forest, but the Maleficent coaster and Magic Mirror dark ride already give fans two compelling reasons to prepare for a walk on the wicked side.
We will continue updating you when news is released about Villians Land. What are you most excited for with this new expansion?
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