The Miscellaneous Thought Thread

[TP2000]

I spent the evening reading up on all the Apollo landing missions. It's exciting to think we're 2-3ish years away from watching and listening to stuff like this live for a few days-

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I hope the science teachers in every single grade are milking Artemis for all it's worth to excite the kids into exploration and science/engineering.

Of note, I found this random youtube edit of the lead up to and launch of Artemis II with some music. Cliche with Freebird yes... but... yeah... great watch-

Yes, truly incredible stuff. I just dropped off the family at Lindbergh Field today as they head home, and we all agreed the Artemis II landing and what turned into a celebratory dinner was the highlight of this Easter vacation!

How stupid of me to think I was going to see the splashdown from the beach! But as it was explained, they landed within 1 mile of their target location mapped out for them 10 days ago during their launch burn. Incredible! For Artemis III, they should aim for the pool at Shamu Stadium and really put on a show.

What an absolutely perfect mission to launch America's return to the moon! And again, those 4 charming and brilliant astronauts chosen to go were pitch-perfect ambassadors for the whole thing! Bravo to NASA for their selection!

There's a new TDA President Du Jour that no one has heard from since she took the job a month ago. Ms. Estorino should show up to TDA on Monday morning and immediately ask which of these five facilities in Tomorrowland that are sitting empty will be used for the Artemis Program Exhibit that opens on July 4th, 2026.

The abandoned Carousel Theater's entire first floor (or just a section of it) is probably the best fit. But I also added the 3D Theater that's empty and the various leftovers from the Starcade, and just for fun the old PeopleMover station platform up on the second floor, just as a Blue Sky idea to get a couple of Speedramps working again.

 

[TP2000]

Artemis astronaut Victor Glover got this welcome home today from his Houston neighbors! Houston, we have a celebration.

How great is this?!?



Yoo hoo, TDA President Du Jour?! Come out, come out, wherever you are! Why not install an Artemis Project Exhibit into one of your many abandoned Tomorrowland buildings and show spaces? You know, for the paying customers?

And I don't know why, but the little neighborhood children in their plastic make-believe space helmets just kills me!

 

[TP2000]

Gorgeous spring evening on the patio, so just for fun, here's how many rides WDW currently is operating in Spring, 2026 during some big construction projects in Magic Kingdom Park and Animal Kingdom. (I always count the Carousel of Progress as a "ride" instead of a theater or show, because it actually moves you from one place to another)

Compared to Disneyland Resort in 2026, naturally.

Walt Disney World Resort = 51 Rides, 21 E Tickets

Magic Kingdom Park = 25 Rides, 8 E Tickets (Jungle, Pirates, Thunder, Tiana, Mansion, World, Tron, Space)
MSUSA Trolley, Vehicles, Railroad, Magic Carpets, Jungle, Pirates, Thunder, Tiana, Mansion, Small World, Peter Pan, Carousel, Pooh, Mine Train, Mermaid, Barnstormer, Dumbo, Teacups, TRON, Space Mt., Speedway, Astro, PeopleMover, COP, Buzz

EPCOT = 11 Rides, 4 E Tickets (Guardians, Space, Test Track, Soarin')
Spaceship Earth, Imagination, Guardians, Mission Space, Test Track, Soarin, Land, The Seas, Gran Fiesta Tour, Frozen, Remy

Hollywood Studios = 9 Rides, 5 E Tickets (Star Tours, Rise, Target Run, Rock N' Roller, Tower of Terror)
Runaway Railway, Star Tours, Rise, Target Run, , Slinky Dog, Midway Mania, Rock N' Roller, Tower of Terror

Animal Kingdom = 6 Rides, 4 E Tickets (Flight of Passage, Safaris, Kali River, Everest)
Navi River, Flight of Passage, Safaris, Kali River, Everest, Train to Conservation Station

Disneyland Resort = 55 Rides, 18 E Tickets

Disneyland = 37 Rides, 13 E Tickets (Jungle, Indy, Pirates, Thunder, Mansion, Tiana, Rise, Target Run, Small World, Matterhorn, Submarines, Star Tours, Space Mt.)
MSUSA Trolley, Vehicles, Railroad, Jungle, Indy, Mark Twain, Columbia, Big Thunder, Pirates, Mansion, Rafts to TSI, Canoes, Tiana, Pooh, Rise Before Dawn, Target Run, Peter Pan, Snow White, Pinocchio, Mr. Toad, Carousel, Dumbo, Teacups, Casey Jr., StorybookLand, Alice, Small World, Runaway Railway, Go Coaster, Roger Rabbit, Matterhorn, Submarines, Autopia, Space Mt., Buzz Lightyear, Star Tours, Astro Orbiter

California Adventure = 18 Rides, 5 E Tickets (Soarin', Grizzly, Chase-A-Baby, Cars Racers, Mission: Breakout)
Soarin', Grizzly, Mermaid, Zephyr, Jellyfish, Goofy's, Swings, Whirlwind, Ferris Wheel, Midway Mania, Carousel, Chase-A-Baby, Cars Racers, Luigi's, Mater's, Spiderman, Mission Breakout, Monsters Inc.

 

[TP2000]

I can think of three rides actively under construction in Anaheim right now; the E Ticket Avenger's Thrill Ride and Avenger's Campus C Ticket opening in '28, and the D Ticket Coco Boat Ride opening in '29, both in DCA.

How many rides are under construction in WDW right now? They've got Cars E Ticket and Cars C Ticket in Magic Kingdom, Monsters Inc. coaster at DHS, plus Encanto (D Ticket?) and a C Ticket carousel, and the revamped Indy E Ticket in DAK. What else am I missing out there?

 

[Centauri Space Station]

The tropical americas carousel. 2 rides are supposed to be in villains land as well.

 

[TP2000]

The tropical americas carousel.

Ah, okay! I'll add it to the post above.

2 rides are supposed to be in villains land as well.

But Villains Land isn't under construction yet. Right? There's nothing happening there yet.

I'm assuming Villains Land is something for the time beyond 2030, like DCA's Hollywood Studios redo or a New New New Tomorrowland for Disneyland.

 

[TP2000]

If you push this list out to Summer, 2029 and assume that all of the attractions currently in land clearing phase or actively under construction on both coasts are finished, you'd end up with this list for 2029:

Walt Disney World 2029 = 57 Rides, 24 E Tickets
(Added since '26: Indy E Ticket, Monsters Inc. E Ticket, Cars E Ticket, Encanto D Ticket, Encanto C Ticket, Cars C Ticket)

Disneyland Resort 2029 = 58 Rides, 19 E Tickets
(Added since '26; Avenger's E Ticket, Avenger's C Ticket, Coco D Ticket)

 

[Centauri Space Station]

Ah, okay! I'll add it to the post above.



But Villains Land isn't under construction yet. Right? There's nothing happening there yet.

I'm assuming Villains Land is something for the time beyond 2030, like DCA's Hollywood Studios redo or a New New New Tomorrowland for Disneyland.

The land is being cleared and prepped but no actual buildings or foundations as of yet

 

[eddie104]

The land is being cleared and prepped but no actual buildings or foundations as of yet

Thank you.

Because I was confused by his comment referring to Villains Land like it was the proposed Avatar “experience” in DCA.

The project is happening right now and not in a state of limbo.

 

[TP2000]

Thank you.

Because I was confused by his comment referring to Villains Land like it was the proposed Avatar “experience” in DCA.

The project is happening right now and not in a state of limbo.

I had seen some photos of the MK clearing on my Twitter from bioreconstruct, but I assumed that was for Cars Land East.

What are the rides coming for Villains Land, and when do they open?

 

[eddie104]

I had seen some photos of the MK clearing on my Twitter from bioreconstruct, but I assumed that was for Cars Land East.

What are the rides coming for Villains Land, and when do they open?

The wrap article talked about…

• Potential C/D ticket family coaster
• Major E ticket boat ride
• Third attraction geared towards kids( most likely a flat)

Land clearing is being done for both Cars/Villains at the same time.

 

[TP2000]

The wrap article talked about…

• Potential C/D ticket family coaster
• Major E ticket boat ride
• Third attraction geared towards kids( most likely a flat)

Land clearing is being done for both Cars/Villains at the same time.

Okay. I had to go to Google as I only had a vague recollection of them saying something about this at the last D23 in '24.

They didn't say much. Two "attractions" being included in the land were officially announced by Disney, but they haven't said what either will be yet. Timeline announced at D23 in '24 didn't have an opening date, and no opening date has been mentioned by Disney since.

I think it would be safe to put Villains Land in the "2030 And Beyond" category, along with DCA's bulldozing and rebuilding the Hollywood Backlot area, presumably for Avatarland West.

 

[TP2000]

Second cup of coffee time. I recently switched from Starbucks Pike Place Roast to Peet's Major Dickinson on suggestion of a friend, and I'm really enjoying it! So let's do Parades/Night Spectaculars/Fireworks for both coasts as of 2026, with Disneyland dramatically scaling back entertainment post-Covid with California's very high labor costs.

We'll call this category "Major Entertainment Offerings".

Walt Disney World Major Entertainment Offerings = 5

Magic Kingdom: 2 Parades (Flights of Fantasy, Starlight), 1 Fireworks
Epcot: 1 Spectacular (Luminous)
DHS: 1 Spectacular (Fantasmic!)
DAK: None

Disneyland Resort Major Entertainment Offerings = 4

Disneyland: 1 Parade (Paint The Night), 1 Fireworks, 1 Spectacular (Fantasmic!)
DCA: 1 Spectacular (World of Color)

 

[eddie104]

Okay. I had to go to Google as I only had a vague recollection of them saying something about this at the last D23 in '24.

They didn't say much. Two "attractions" being included in the land were officially announced by Disney, but they haven't said what either will be yet. Timeline announced at D23 in '24 didn't have an opening date, and no opening date has been mentioned by Disney since.

I think it would be safe to put Villains Land in the "2030 And Beyond" category, along with DCA's bulldozing and rebuilding the Hollywood Backlot area, presumably for Avatarland West.

Yea it’s most likely gonna be a 2030 opening at this point.

However dirt is moving for this project so I expect construction to ramp up in a couple of months.

 

[TP2000]

Yea it’s most likely gonna be a 2030 opening at this point.

However dirt is moving for this project so I expect construction to ramp up in a couple of months.

As we don't even know what they are building there, I think it's best to let that one sit on the back burner for now.

I'm sure they'll say something this summer at D23 Expo about it, with hopefully some actual information about the ride's themes and story, what ride systems they'll be using, a preliminary overview, etc.

But it's not anything that is actively being built yet. For all we know, they're clearing all of the land to use as a staging ground for Cars construction, then in 2029 begin construction on Villains Land for 2032. When Cars Land was being built in 2009-2012, WDI had to lease a giant vacant lot near the freeway for three years to use as the staging ground for Cars Land and its mega-steel construction.