Disney Is About to Make My Childhood Nightmares Come True…and I CAN’T WAIT

After decades of rumors and whispers, a cadre of Disney’s most maniacal villains are taking over a portion of the Magic Kingdom… and I AM SO READY!

Rumors of an all-villain land coming to Walt Disney World have been popular in Disney fan circles since the late 1990s. At the time, the land — supposedly entitled Villains Land or Villains Lair — was rumored to be coming to the Magic Kingdom or even be the centerpiece of a whole new park, perhaps known as Shadowland or Dark Kingdom, that would fill the role of Disney World’s fifth gate.

These long-running rumors said that the land would include a ride inspired by the popularity of Tokyo Disneyland’s Cinderella Castle Mystery Tour, called either Bald Mountain (after the home of Chernabog from Fantasia) or the more blatant Villain Mountain. Supposedly, the ride would have been a flume-style attraction. Supposedly, the flume-style ride would take guests through different Villains’ lairs, with audio-animatronic Villains plotting to take over the Magic Kingdom.

Allegedly, featured scenes would have included the Evil Queen in her laboratory, Ursula over her cauldron, Maleficent gloating over perceived victory, etc. The ride would then climax with an encounter with Chernabog, who would unfold his wings and menace the riders until they slid down a long flume to safety.

This villain-based concept captured the imaginations of many fans, including myself, to the point that every time Disney had a major announcement coming up, many speculated it would be confirmation of Villains Land. For decades, this remained a pipe dream…

UNTIL 2024.

At that summer’s D23 Ultimate Fan Event, Disney announced that the land was FINALLY coming. At the time, Disney announced that “guests will be able to venture Beyond Big Thunder Mountain into an all-new land dedicated to Disney Villains. Inspired by the wicked characters fans know and loathe, the multi-acre expansion will include two major attractions, plus dining and shopping. Walt Disney Imagineering is pushing creative boundaries to dark and mysterious levels to bring this new, first-of-its-kind land to life.”

In addition to the announcement, Disney released concept art for the land, which seemed to indicate several striking features, including a dark castle…

…sprawling craggily rock work…

… and even what appears like it could be an outdoor roller coaster with a track reminiscent of bones.

While I, and many other Disney fans, are stoked for the land, there are some who question if it truly fits in the Magic Kingdom. After all, the one time in the park’s history when Disney tried installing a truly “scary” attraction was short-lived.

However, I personally think these fears are unfounded. For starters, villains have been a part of Disney’s storytelling since the very beginning, and the baddies are some of the most memorable characters in the company’s history.

Plus, let’s be real, the odds are low that Disney is going to create a truly scary land. Instead, while there may be some frightening moments with the land’s attractions, the overall vibe will likely be more along the lines of the Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After show at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, which is more playful with creepy elements than it is a full-on fright fest.

In case I haven’t made it abundantly clear already, I CAN’T WAIT for Villains Land. Personally, I’m hoping not only for the major players like Maleficent, Ursula, Jafar, etc., but also some deeper villain cuts (fingers crossed for Rattigan from The Great Mouse Detective).

The Disney Villains are coming to the Magic Kingdom “beyond Big Thunder Mountain” and fulfilling decades of fan hopes in the process. Stay tuned to AllEars as more information about the upcoming land is revealed!

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What villain are you most hoping to see in the Magic Kingdom’s Villains Land? Let us know in the comments below!

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