Analyzing the scale models of new Disney rides at D23: ‘Monsters, Inc.,’ ‘Encanto,’ Indiana Jones, ‘Avatar,’ ‘Lion King’
New Disney theme park rides were displayed as scale models at D23, including a “Monsters, Inc.” roller coaster, an “Encanto” attraction, an Indiana Jones thrill ride, a land based on the “Avatar” sequels, and a “Lion King” log flume.
Scale models of some of Disney’s most ambitious upcoming theme park attractions were on display at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event on Aug. 11, 2024 in Anaheim, Calif. Strictly off-limits earlier in the convention, the scale models were unveiled for public viewing the morning after Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro’s huge presentation of theme park news.
Among D’Amaro’s bombshells were an announcement of a land based on “Monsters, Inc.” for Disney’s Hollywood Studios, confirmation of plans for “Encanto” and Indiana Jones attractions for Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, a solidified prospect of an “Avatar”-themed land for Disney California Adventure Park, and the reveal of a log flume based on “The Lion King” for Disney Adventure World in France (to name just a few new Disney theme park rides to look forward to), all of which were displayed as scale models on the D23 show floor.
New ‘Monsters, Inc.’ ride at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
A suspended roller coaster inspired by the doors chase sequence from “Monsters, Inc.” will open at Hollywood Studios in Walt Disney World as part of a new Monstropolis land. Construction will begin in 2025.
The model of the “Monsters, Inc.” roller coaster on display at D23 (labeled a “concept model”) presented the basic outline for the ride’s track and exterior. This particular model was void of of coloring, queue details, or any hints as to the undisclosed location of the attraction. (Fans speculate Muppet*Vision 3D or Star Wars Launch Bay could be possible candidates.)
See more angles of the “Monsters, Inc.” doors coaster scale model in our video:
Tropical Americas at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park
DinoLand, U.S.A. at Animal Kingdom in Disney World will be replaced by a new land called Tropical Americas. The updated area will overhaul the Dinosaur thrill ride as a new Indiana Jones attraction, plus introduce a new “Encanto” ride and a carousel of Disney animals. Construction will begin in phases starting in fall 2024.
At D23, Walt Disney Imagineering presented a “concept model” for the Tropical Americas land, complete with the new rides it’s bringing to the theme park.
Lining up the model with aerial photography by bioreconstruct, you can get an idea of where Disney’s new rides will be located in relation to theme park’s current layout of DinoLand.
The Indiana Jones attraction will replace the Dino Institute theming of the Dinosaur building into an ancient temple.
According to the model, the new “Encanto” ride will be located at the former spot of the Primeval Whirl roller coaster, with the new ride’s queue sitting on the current home of the Dino-Rama midway games and TriceraTop Spin.
Interestingly, on the other side of the new “Encanto” ride building, Disney’s model displays a walkable plaza (“above” the shop buildings in the photo below) in what is currently a backstage area of the theme park, blocked off by a large wooden fence.
On the model, the buildings that currently house Restaurantosaurus (a quick-service dining location, bottom right of photo below) and Chester & Hester’s Dinosaur Treasures (a gift shop, top right of photo below) seem to remain, but with new theming. The new carousel (bottom left of photo below) will be located where The Boneyard (a playground) currently stands.
In addition to a scale model of the overall Tropical Americas land, Imagineering displayed a “study model” of the Casita from “Encanto.”
See more of the scale model of Animal Kingdom’s Tropical Americas in our video:
New ‘Avatar’ land at Disney California Adventure Park
Walt Disney Imagineering will build an “Avatar” land at Disney California Adventure Park in Disneyland Resort. The land, which will include a boat ride, will be completely different from Pandora – The World of Avatar at Animal Kingdom in Florida. The new area at California Adventure will be based on 2022’s “Avatar: The Way of Water,” 2025’s “Avatar: Fire and Ash,” and more upcoming sequels.
At D23, Imagineering displayed what seem to be three versions of an architectural centerpiece for the “Avatar” land, each a revision of the last as the creative process has progressed (or, at least, that’s the story told in the display). Notes with feedback from various artists and supervisors were strewn throughout the “workspace.” If this narrative is to be believed, the team may currently be developing the version of the model presented in the middle of the display.
The earliest model (far right on the desk) was accompanied by a sticky note dated June 21, 2023 and reading “Good start – less like movie locale?”
The model on the opposite end of the desk was displayed with notes dated Aug. 21, 2023 from someone who signed their name “C”:
- “This version is interesting”
- “Needs stronger magnetic force lines (see Ref 1)”
- “Try more depth with perspective on next one”
The reply was displayed underneath: “Thanks for the notes! As a wise man once said — ‘This model will never be complete as long as there is imagination …,’” alluding to a Walt Disney quote.
Another stray sheet of paper on the desk was dated Oct. 18, 2023 with the following notes:
- “Would like to try a more ancient version — more distressed.”
- “Going to need the walkway clearances on exit under rockwork”
- “When is the structural review?”
- “Live foliage to [illegible]”
- “Casey — What do you think about seeing the backside of water?”
Yet another adjacent page labeled May 2, 2024 read:
- “Chris — need new ride plan”
- “Facility will be updated on next version”
- “Floating mountains — floatier this time, location TBD via sightlines”
- “Schematic color only NOT! final”
- “Natural/artificial waterfalls still evolving”
Finally, the model in the middle of the desk was accompanied by the following notes:
- “Team – We need a meeting to decide the geographical location on Pandora”
- “Please photograph so Dylan can update art. Thanks! C”
“Dylan” is presumably Dylan Cole, the concept art director for the original “Avatar” film and the production designer of “Avatar: The Way of Water,” the latter being a role he will continue for “Avatar: Fire and Ash” and the unnamed fourth volume in the series. Cole also developed concepts for Animal Kingdom’s Pandora, and seems to be collaborating with Imagineering again for the California Adventure counterpart.
‘The Lion King’ log flume ride at Disney Adventure World
A land based on 1994’s “The Lion King” will open at Disney Adventure World (the future rename of Walt Disney Studios Park) in Disneyland Paris sometime after 2026. The theme park area will feature a new ride (a log flume attraction) as well as shopping, dining, and Disney character greeting opportunities.
This “Lion King” land will be located on currently undeveloped land around an under-construction lake, expanding Walt Disney Studios with new real estate rather than replacing existing theme park rides. With Disney sharing minimal information about the land and its centerpiece attraction, the model at D23 served as the most thorough sneak peek so far into what the project will entail.
D23 did not display scale models for other newly announced projects, such as Villains Land and “Cars” rides at Magic Kingdom or the upcoming “Coco” ride at California Adventure.
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