Disney’s new live action film, Tomorrowland, is about to hit theaters on May 22nd.  The film, directed by Brad Bird (The Incredibles) and starring George Clooney, is a sic-fi film that shares a title with one of Disney Park’s most famous lands.

For as iconic and legendary as Tomorrowland is in Disney Parks, the land isn’t exactly the gold standard for Disney right now.  Both in Disney World and Disneyland, Tomorrowland is somewhat outdated and doesn’t fit the theme.  We could debate until our faces are neon blue if the Tomorrowland Speedway (and Autopia), Star Tours, and the Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor all fit in with the theme of Tomorrowland.  Our world has changed since these lands have been created and the idea of what was futuristic isn’t so futuristic anymore.  While there’s no denying Space Mountain’s rightful place in this land, other areas need some help.

I’d like to pause at this point to tell you that I had a hard time not naming this post, ‘Could Tomorrowland Fix Tomorrow’s Tomorrowland?’ or ‘Coming Tomorrow: How Tomorrowland Could Fix the Tomorrow of Tomorrowland’.  It took all I have in me not to do this, but I’ll leave the headline writing to Leslie Knope.

Enter Tomorrowland!  The film, that is.  This is getting confusing!  This movie comes out at what may be the perfect time for the Disney Parks.  With New Fantasyland done in Magic Kingdom and all of the different projects set to premier for Disneyland’s 60th anniversary, there isn’t as much on the horizon for either park (of course, Disneyland could be housing a Star Wars expansion).  Hinging on the film’s success may be a renovation for a land that could probably use it.

When looking at Tomorrowland’s trailer, I’m getting ahead of myself, it’s hard not to notice the sparkle and shine of the Tomorrowland they refer to in the film.  It does look futuristic in the architecture, color and technology.  This is a stark contrast to the neon and sometimes 80’s feel of the Tomorrowland in Disney Parks.  Could the film be a sign of a redesign?  I would guess that question hinges on the film’s success.  If the film flops and isn’t very good then I’m guessing a Tomorrowland renovation will be minimal.  But, if it succeeds, a total overhaul isn’t out of the question.  Yes, both resorts have quite a few upcoming projects but Disney is starting to see that they have to spend to compete with the constantly-improving Universal.

So, what would go into a new Tomorrowland?  It’s hard to know at this point.  Space Mountain would almost surely stay.  The Astro Orbiter is fairly iconic and fits the theme of the land fairly well.  Also the TTA in Magic Kingdom should never go away.  In all honesty, I don’t care as much about the attractions within the land as the design of the land itself.  I believe that it’s time to move Tomorrowland forward to actually reflect the future instead of reflecting the kitschy environment that it currently holds.  Maybe this film will prove to be the jumping off point for what’s to come.

Would you like to see an updated Tomorrowland?  What would you put in it or how would you redesign it?  Let us know in the comments!

– Andrew