It’s been a busy week of rumors and permits for the upcoming Villains Land at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom. Announced at the 2024 D23 Expo, the project has supposedly undergone some changes to the original concept and the internet (at least the Disney Parks side of the internet) is all abuzz. In this post, I’ll take a look at the rumors and whether they pass the smell test.

This hubbub started about a week ago when Len Testa, on the Disney Dish Podcast with Jim Hill, reported that the Villains Land project was being reimagined. Plans were scrapped in exchange for plans that were “bigger and better” including a reimagining of the rides. The thinking, explained by Testa and that I’m paraphrasing here, is that this land needs to be so well done that people will be excited to spend money there for years into the future. That is most easily done with a mind blowing E-ticket indoor ride and a table-service restaurant prix fixe menu.

Fast forward to yesterday when Drew Taylor of The Wrap reported on how plans have changed. His article shared these details about what Villains Land will include:

• Maleficent E-ticket attraction using the same ride system as Shanghai’s Pirates of the Caribbean.
• Emperor’s New Groove family coaster.
• Hades led dinner show.
• A third attraction being added to the land with no height limit, a flat ride of some kind most likely will be a spinner themed to Ursula.
• The entire land will be more family-friendly than frightening.

Len Testa spoke in more general terms while The Wrap’s report got into specifics. There’s reason to think that they were hearing similar things based on the language used and a few of the details given.

Earlier today, Disney filed more permits for the land that were slightly altered from previous ones. I won’t pretend to know much about the permit process, I’m out of my depth here. But these plans don’t necessarily move the needle in dismantling the rumors, nor do they confirm them. The timing is funny and the ‘Villains Land Rumor Week’ is definitely my favorite saga of 2026, so far. All other 2026 sagas have not been enjoyable, but that’s a different rabbit hole for a different website.

For what it’s worth, both Len Testa and Drew Taylor have had solid information in the past. Both have way more sources than I have and any diverting opinions in my commentary isn’t a dig at them, but instead just trying to discern if plans will get beyond the rumor stage. Len did go into far less detail, clearly hinting that things aren’t written in stone and that he wanted to protect his sources. I don’t think Len and Drew had the exact same information, as there were bits and pieces that seemed different in their reporting.

With that out of the way, it’s important to note that these are rumors. Undoubtedly, you’ve seen social media reports yelling, “NEW PLANS FOR VILLAINS LAND!” or you’ve had your Disney friend say, “Can’t wait to ride Kronk’s coaster!” I’d caution against anything definite at this point. What I do believe is that plans have changed. We didn’t fully know what those plans were in the first place but it feels safe to assume that Villains Land has become more elaborate. I’m hoping it’s become a full on “shoot for the stars” situation.

Chances are that we won’t know details on Villains Land until D23 in August, nearly a half a year away. Even then, the land likely won’t open until 2029 or 2030 so plans could change numerous times even after they’re announced. For now, let’s take a look at the veracity of The Wrap’s rumors.

Maleficent E-Ticket

Both Len and Drew reported that the mega E-ticket in Villains Land will now be the indoor dark ride and I fully believe that. Keep in mind that a dark ride doesn’t necessarily mean an old Fantasyland style ride, it could be Rise of the Resistance or Mickey’s Runaway Railway or Haunted Mansion or an entirely new ride system. My conjecture is that there will be a thrill element to it.

What I have a hard time believing is that the ride will use Shanghai’s Pirates of the Caribbean ride system. There’s not enough room in the current permits to fit that size of a building. On top of that, a water ride involving Maleficent doesn’t necessarily make a lot of sense. The latter point matters less, a great ride will transcend the common sense portion of the ride vehicles. We’ve seen that numerous times. But the space to fit this ride in, as well as the land’s restaurant, is not there currently. That could change.

I’d love for Magic Kingdom to get that Pirates innovative ride system! Walt Disney World could use a groundbreaking attraction, specifically in Magic Kingdom. Whether that’s in the form of this system or something else, I’m very happy to hear that the goal is to aim high.

Emperor’s New Groove Family Coaster

I love Emperor’s New Groove and say some form of “Pull the lever, Kronk!” at least once a week. Needless to say, I’d probably enjoy a ride recreating that famous scene! Kronk is a personal hero of mine, naturally.

I’m just not sure this one passes the smell test. Yzma is up to no good, sure. But out of Disney’s wide canon of villains, she’s the one who gets a very prominent ride in Villains Land? On top of that, the company has shared a list of baddies that we’ll see in the land and Yzma is nowhere to be found. For now, I’m skeptical of that specific IP tie-in.

Others have complained about another coaster being added to Disney World but I don’t feel the same, especially if there’s an excellent dark ride coming along with this addition. Piston Peak is set to have an adventure ride that’s not a coaster – that would mean 5 new rides are coming to Magic Kingdom over the next, let’s say, 5 years. One of them being a coaster is not a problem.

Personally, I think Magic Kingdom is fairly weak when it comes to roller coasters and adding an exciting one here would be a good park fit. We don’t know how elaborate it will be but I hope it’s a longer ride than a few others in the park. I’ll be watching this one closely, as a lot of ideas have floated around but nothing that seems more likely than the next rumor.

A Third Ride

Adding a third ride to the land is a no-brainer and I’m glad to see Disney might be embracing the idea of more rides in lands, even if they are spinners. I’m still disappointed that Galaxy’s Edge didn’t find a way to incorporate an X-Wing spinner attraction. I might be in the minority there.

All that said, an Ursula spinner attraction would give Magic Kingdom 4 of the same ride system. That’s too many. I have no reason to doubt this rumor, it makes sense. But let’s kill 2 birds with one stone – add the Urusula spinner and ditch the Flying Carpets in Adventureland! Bam, everybody’s happy. Or at least I’m happy.

Excuse my blue sky ideas. Overall, I’d be very happy to see a flat ride added to Villains Land as I think Magic Kingdom could use more attractions like that. There are enough spinners though so maybe we can sub one out.

Hades Dinner Show

This rumor also mentioned that there would be other villains involved with Hades, Pain and Panic. I always assumed that there’d be some sort of character dining in Villains Land, it just makes sense. Making this a full-fledged dinner show is even better.

Having it led by Hades is a slightly out of left field but he’s comical and less intimidating than some other villains. He can easily be the emcee of the festivities while other evil icons filter through the show. This could essentially be Villains: Unfairly Ever After from Hollywood Studios but add dinner. That would play well to the crowd and give Disney a reason to charge for a prix fixe menu. Win-win.

Villains Land Will be Family Friendly

Finally, this broader idea that Villains Land will be family friendly seems to have caught people off guard. I don’t want to be blunt, but I’m confused why this was ever in question. The movies that these villains are coming from are animated family films. We aren’t talking about Dracula, Frankenstein or Hannibal Lecter. Disney World’s Halloween Party has ‘Not-So-Scary’ in the name. This was never going to be a trip down horror lane.

Factoring in Dark Universe’s lack of success in Epic Universe is certainly at play here. Disney World could have eyed a slightly more intimidating Villains Land but after Epic’s least popular land came to fruition, they were never going to make this too dark. In my opinion, that was always the plan but this cements it.

While I always thought that this was the intent, a spooky Villains Land would be interesting. Who doesn’t want to face off with Scar and the Evil Queen? But that’s not the best way for Magic Kingdom to thrive, not exactly the Disney Parks way, and would limit the amount of money families spend in that land.

I’m intrigued by all of these rumors, specifically the mega E-ticket. I don’t think that the report from The Wrap will be how Villains Land actually turns out but it does show which way the project is heading. More details will trickle out and I expect more official announcements on the project at D23 this summer!

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