While there are many well-known elements of Disney’s films — heroes, princesses, anthropomorphic animals of all kinds — some of the most iconic are the villains.
Many fans adore these baddies and their over-the-top personalities, with many often calling for villains to earn more prominence in the company’s theme parks. Which is why recent talk of a “Villains Land” or villain ride being added to to the Magic Kingdom has many so excited. So, is it really coming? Well, the answer isn’t that simple.
The concept of a villain-themed land or ride being added to the Magic Kingdom actually goes back nearly three decades. In the mid to late 1990s, Walt Disney Imagineering was proposed numerous ideas for a potential expansion to the Magic Kingdom. Allegedly the ride was inspired by the popularity of Tokyo Disneyland’s Cinderella Castle Mystery Tour — a walking tour attraction through the dungeons of that park’s castle that featured up close and personal encounters with Disney villains including those from The Black Cauldron — which existed from 1986 through 2006.
The Magic Kingdom attraction would have either been called 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. According to MiceChat, there were two distinct plans for the attraction during its development:
“These boats would take guests through different Villains’ lairs, with audio-animatronic Villains singing or talking their way through the scenes. In one plan, the Villains plotted to take over the Magic Kingdom, electing who was the evilest Villain to lead the charge. In others, it was just a journey via flume through various Villain scenes: the Evil Queen in her laboratory, Ursula over her cauldron, Maleficent gloating over perceived victory, etc. The longboats would finally reach the biggest baddie: Chernabog from Fantasia. He would unfold his wings and menace the riders, with little demons of fire dancing all around him. The only way to escape would be a long way down, as the longboats would slide down a long flume to safety. Or victory, depending upon which version you are experiencing.”
Sounds pretty cool right? However, the ride wasn’t all, as some rumors also suggested that the attraction would be the centerpiece of a full land known as Villains Land or Villains Lair. Later, even more unsubstantiated whispers suggested the concept would be the centerpiece of a whole new park, perhaps known as Shadowland or Dark Kingdom — that would fill the role of WDW’s mythical fifth gate. However, budget issues and company politics put all of these concepts on the back burner, leaving them to be nothing but a footnote of unbuilt Disney history … until September of 2022.
At that year’s D23 convention, Disney Parks Chairman Josh D’Amaro showed a series of stunning concept art for potential future expansions to the Magic Kingdom, including lands based on Encanto, Moana, and yes, the Disney Villains. Fans, especially those who remembered the rumors form the 1990s, were excited by the potential reveal, something Imagineer Chris Beatty said the company noticed. Entertainment Weekly spoke to him in March of 2023, and the outlet wrote at the time:
“We’re dreaming every day about what could be next at Walt Disney World. We just wanted to give you a peek at some of the amazing things that could be coming. It’s changing every day. It’s exciting. I think Josh was really trying to get across that spirit of creativity, of what could be next, of innovation, of the possibility of what could be is still alive and well at Disney and Imagineering,’ he says of the D23 presentation, which he stresses was not intended to highlight concrete plans for the parks, but rather his team “dreaming about what could be” ahead.’[The villains concept] got pretty good applause,” he admits. “We took note of how loud the applause was when we announced that.’”
A year after the first concept art was shown, Disney further stoked the rumor mill at the Destination D23 event in September 2023. At that event Bruce Vaughn, the chief creative officer of Walt Disney Imagineering, announced that the company was planning a massive expansion to the Magic Kingdom, planning to “to tell stories beyond Big Thunder Mountain” and build a land that would be “similar in scope” to Pandora: The World of Avatar or Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. However, it has yet to be confirmed if that land will be based on either the Villains Land or Coco land seen the year before, or something different entirely.
Would you like to see a full villain land in built in the Magic Kingdom? Do you remember the rumors form the 1990s? Let us know in the comments below.
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My vote is definitely for the Villains Land. An Encanto land is restricted in locale and characters. But a Villains Land draws on 86 years of classic villains with insignificant restrictions to locale or characters. Something for everyone!
Absolutely! This would be amazing. The possibilities are endless with making a Villains themed land. You could make dark rides themed around practically any movie you want. It’s a great addition for Disney adults and those that aren’t into the princesses.
I worked at DDC pre-Imagineering, and then went to the Studios where the Sweetums guys were talking Dark Kingdom back in 1991.
– Unfortunately, guess who has now trademarked that perfect name… across town?
A Villains’ land is clearly the favorite choice of longtime WDW attendees, and I am baffled as to why it has taken Disney management so long to green light it!