Boardwalk Times: Stories from the Seashore — 45 Disney D23 2024 Predictions from Experiences to Entertainment
This month's newsletter we will be sharing our D23 predictions for Disney Experiences & Entertainment and also doing a box office breakdown of Deadpool & Wolverine.
Welcome back to Boardwalk Times: Stories from the Seashore!
In this issue, we will be covering:
45 D23 Predictions from Experiences to Entertainment💡
Deadpool & Wolverine Box Office Breakdown 🍿💰
Podcast Plugs 🎙
Links of the Month 📰
We’ve gained a few new subscribers this month (some from various organizations in the entertainment industry 👀), so I wanted to ask a question.
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45 D23 Predictions from Experiences to Entertainment
Experiences
Avengers E-Ticket gets a name, opening window, and additional details
This has to happen. If this doesn’t happen, then we are in deep trouble folks. If Disney can’t commit to a ride that has basically a $30 billion-dollar IP attached then what will they actually commit to? I’m on the optimistic side that the Avengers attraction gets a name, cast, additional details, and an opening timeframe. My early belief is that the attraction will be filmed during the filming of Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars.
Disney leans heavily into the Horizons theme
Expect the music, the logo, and the theatrics. Horizons fans will probably be torn as it’s extremely unlikely they announce the attraction’s return but they will likely use everything about the attraction to hype this presentation.
Josh D’Amaro jokes about Blue Sky — he made jokes about Tron & Spider-Man stuntronic in the past
I think Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro is more self-aware than he’s given credit for. I think he’s going to make a few Blue Sky jokes at the Honda Center.
Spaceship Earth finally gets its refurb
Spaceship Earth has a great theme but the problem is that the attraction is wearing down. The track has seen better days. Although Spaceship Earth is a legendary attraction and any refurb has the potential to mess with greatness, the fixing of the track is critical.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad refurbishment announced
It is rumored that Big Thunder at Walt Disney World is receiving a track replacement and updated effects similar to Disneyland.
Beyond Big Thunder — Phase 1 revealed to be Coco
I think the first phase of Beyond Big Thunder will be the Village of Coco.
Beyond Big Thunder — Phase 2 teased
D’Amaro will get his Blue Sky session in as he can tease Phase 2 of Beyond Big Thunder. It’s unclear if Villains Land or another IP will occupy that expansion plot.
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Gets A New Theme
I have a feeling that time is up for Aerosmith. I also previously thought they would keep the musical DNA but now I’m starting to think we’re going to see a true Disney retheme whether that be Incredibles, Monsters, Inc., or something else.
Inside Out takes over Wonders of Life
You don’t stumble into billion-dollar franchises often. Disney has the rare opportunity to give Inside Out a massive presence within EPCOT and luckily an abandoned pavilion fits the theme of the franchise perfectly.
Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge adds more offerings
I believe Disney will emphasize more experiences coming to Galaxy’s Edge. I suspect we will see an uptick in meet and greets and the possible tease of a new attraction. I’d also expect the area to lose the timeline strictness.
Muppet Courtyard Revived
This won’t happen but I’m making it a prediction so it’s willed into existence. Disney rethemes Mama Melrose into a new Muppet dining concept and makes Muppet Courtyard a reality. Then they reopen the store as well that sells exclusively Muppet merchandise. I think it’s a win-win.
Animation Courtyard expansion plans revealed — Villains?
I could see Disney revealing their plans for the Animation Courtyard at Hollywood Studios. If we could’ve gone back eight years this would’ve been prime space for a mini Toontown/Runaway Railway area. Now it could possibly be used for the Villains Land that was rumored for Magic Kingdom.
Magic Kingdom nighttime parade announced
A nighttime parade has been rumored to be in the works at Magic Kingdom for a while now. I don’t see why Disney wouldn’t announce this at D23.
Avatar at Disneyland officially revealed
I think Disney will reveal the location, the size and scope, and the name of this project.
Tomorrowland at Disneyland project begins
I know fans have been waiting on this forever. Disneyland’s Tomorrowland is in bad shape. It makes WDW’s Tomorrowland look 12x better.
Tropical Americas update with a focus on Encanto, Indiana Jones, and possibly Up?
I believe this will be a major part of the panel. Disney will have to sell this land and I believe they will spend a good amount of time on Encanto and Indiana Jones coming to Animal Kingdom. I think they will reveal the opening date and the ride system for Encanto. I also think they will try to sell Indiana Jones as best as they can, especially after Dial of Destiny’s box office flameout. I also wouldn’t rule out Up being a dark horse for this land.
Lion King at Animal Kingdom announced
The Lion King is rumored for a land at Disney Adventure World in Paris. Animal Kingdom is also working on another attraction outside Tropical Americas. I think The Lion King at Animal Kingdom is an easy win for Disney.
Figment & Dreamfinder return in an updated Journey into Imagination
Talk about the easiest of wins, and the amount of merchandise money they could make. Disney announcing an updated Journey into Imagination with Figment & Dreamfinder seems like a no-brainer. It will satisfy hardcore fans while also adding a much-needed refresh.
New Star Tours Scenes Announced
The latest Star Tours update skimped out on some scenes. I think Disney could announce new scenes from The Mandalorian, Andor, more from Ahsoka, and possibly even The Acolyte.
Disney Adventure World details
It’s not every day that Disney renames an entire park. I suspect we will hear a lot about Adventure World at this panel.
Disney Cruise Line expansion details for Adventure, Destiny, and OLC ship
Disney Cruise Line is dominating and it has several projects in development. I’d expect a flurry of updates here.
Updates on Spider-Man Shanghai Coaster
Although it’s a international park I don’t see Disney passing up the opportunity to announce a Spider-Man roller coaster for Shanghai Disneyland at D23.
Update on Wreck-It Ralph, it’s a small world (Marvel), and Space Mountain: Earthrise at Tokyo Disney Resort
Sure Disney doesn’t own Tokyo Disney Resort but these are projects in development at Walt Disney Imagineering. With the reception to Fantasy Springs in the States, I wouldn’t be shocked if Disney leaned into talking about some of these fancy Tokyo projects.
A Drone Show at one of the four Walt Disney World Parks
The Disney Springs drone show is a test for a future nighttime spectacular at one of the four main parks. Truthfully I could see drones incorporated at any of the parks but if I were a betting man I think Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom have good odds for a drone show, and EPCOT isn’t too far behind either.
The Reinvention of Space of the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser
Whether you loved or hated the concept, Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser is a lightning rod for conversation. I’m predicting Disney will announce its future plans for this space during their biggest fan event of the year.
DisneylandForward: Frozen/Wakanda
This truly could be a “one more thing” announcement from D’Amaro but with the passing of DisneylandForward and D23 being in Anaheim, it could make sense to announce a brand-new immersive land on the scale of Arendelle or Wakanda.
A Preview of Disney’s Epic Games Universe
Remember folks, this is a Disney Experiences panel not just Disney Parks. D’Amaro was also one of the key execs behind the Epic Games deal so I wouldn’t be shocked if they gave some updates on this project.
Disney Gaming Slate
Piggybacking on the preview of Disney’s Epic Games universe, I could see Disney also addressing its gaming slate.
Storyliving by Disney
Fans may groan but I could see Disney spending a portion of its Honda Center presentation discussing Cotino and Asteria — the Storyliving by Disney communities. With the possibility, they announce another Storyliving by Disney community as well.
Planet of the Apes Blue Sky parks tease
I get people hate the Blue Sky teases but I wouldn’t mind it if Josh D’Amaro would continue to confirm what IP’s that Walt Disney Imagineering/Disney Parks are thinking about. Disney knows they have untapped potential with the 20th Century franchises in the parks. I think Apes could be the perfect tease, and they could even tease it by joining its 20th Century counterpart Avatar at Animal Kingdom.
Turning Red to the Canada Pavilion
I think a Turning Red Circle-Vision show would be a good utilization of space and it would also give EPCOT another solid IP that fits. Plus you could find a way to do a Panda Mei meet and greet at the Canada Pavilion.
A truly big “Oh and one more thing” moment
Josh D’Amaro has to bring it. He needs an “Oh and one more thing” moment. What will that be? I truly don’t know but he has a ton of options. He just has to leave the fans on a high note.
Entertainment
Updated MCU Slate
San Diego Comic-Con only focused on three Marvel films and a big reveal of Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom. I’d expect D23 to give a full slate update and a focus on the Disney+ series.
Percy Jackson Season 3 Renewal
I’m making a bold prediction that Disney will greenlight Season 3 during D23 just to take advantage of the incredible hype around the franchise. I don’t remember the last time a non-Star Wars, Marvel, Pixar, Disney Channel, etc. got its own major panel at D23.
Ahsoka Season 2
Ahsoka Season 2 gets a focus and maybe we get some new castings, a projected premiere date, and more. I could see Filoni teasing Abeloth and the Mortis Gods as pivotal characters in Season 2 over in the other galaxy, while Thrawn rebuilds in the main galaxy.
Dave Filoni teases his film, maybe announces it as Star Wars: Heir to the Empire
I think we all want to hear an update on Filoni’s Star Wars film as it will be a gigantic crossover of the Mandoverse.
Mandoverse timeline
Speaking of the Mandoverse, I bet they will finally show the roadmap for all these interconnected projects.
A new “Tales of” Series from Star Wars
Tales of the Jedi. Tales of the Empire. Tales of… there are so many possibilities and D23 feels like a good time to reveal the next chapter.
The Mandalorian and Grogu update
Jon Favreau will provide an update on The Mandalorian and Grogu and perhaps Favreau will provide a brand new date for the film along with additional plot details and what the film may mean for the future of the show.
The future of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise charted out with multiple projects across mediums
I could see Disney mapping out Pirates across mediums. There are films in development (two live-action films and a rumored animated film as well). Could there be a Disney+ series? Another attraction? Books? I could see Disney leaning heavily into Pirates. Also could see D23 being the place where they introduce new stars to the franchise like Austin Butler and others.
Planet of the Apes tease
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes resonated at the box office and with fans. D23 seems like the perfect time to announce the rest of the planned trilogy.
Frozen III and IV update
Frozen III and IV are in development and I think fans are curious about what stories will be told. I also think a section of fans are secretly hoping Disney Animation CCO Jennifer Lee announces another Making of Frozen behind-the-scenes docuseries for Disney+.
Updates on various Disney Parks film adaptations
The Rock pulls up
The Rock just signed a new deal with Disney. I could see him showing up to D23 to promote Moana 2 and the live-action Moana. Maybe The Rock also announces a new project?
An update on Disney+’s content slate & new features announced
D23 could be the perfect time for Disney to showcase the upcoming Disney+ content slate. Disney could also use the time at the event to show new features for Disney+.
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Deadpool & Wolverine Box Office Breakdown 🍿💰
Box Office Breakdown🍿💰: Executives at Disney and Marvel Studios can sigh in relief. Deadpool and Wolverine is making a killing at the box office.
$38.5 million in previews on Thursday.
$96 million on Friday (the 6th biggest opening day of all time).
Largest R-rated Global Opening Ever with $444.1 million globally.
$211 million domestically (6th highest-grossing opening of all time)
Can Deadpool & Wolverine sustain this momentum? The film is super rewatchable which could lead to repeat viewings. The film is on track to be Marvel Studios’ biggest hit since Spider-Man: No Way Home. Records are expected to continue to shatter.
Deadpool and the Disney Parks 🎢: Deadpool and Wolverine are already meeting guests at Avengers Campus. Their costumes look terrific and Deadpool at Disney already broke the internet on day one with his “fourth wall” joke about Splash Mountain. Although it was stated to be only for a limited time, Disney should keep Deadpool and Wolverine throughout the film’s entire run.
Deadpool’s integration into the Disney Parks has gone smoothly. After the success of Deadpool & Wolverine, it isn’t so crazy to think that these two characters could very well be in the Avengers Multiverse attraction. Heck, I think if this film continues to do numbers I think Walt Disney Imagineering may have to find a permanent presence for Deadpool within Avengers Campus or elsewhere at the Disney Parks…
Marvel Studios at Hall H Post-Deadpool and Wolverine 💡: On the heels of Deadpool & Wolverine’s premiere. Marvel Studios did their Hall H presentation at San Diego Comic-Con. The presentation saw Feige and Co. reveal new details on Captain America: Brave New World (Giancarlo Esposito’s role & Eternals confirmation), Thunderbolts* (Florence Pugh’s showcase), The Fantastic Four (new subtitle First Steps and extra details on the retro-future aesthetic), and the biggest and ballsiest news was Avengers: Doomsday which will mark the returns of The Russo Brothers and Robert Downey Jr. to the MCU.
Oddly, Feige didn’t confirm Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman for Avengers: Secret Wars. Here’s to hoping.
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Podcast Plugs 🎙
This is the Waycast breaks down the finale of The Acolyte (Spotify) (Apple)
Zach is joined by Savannah Sanders to discuss Marvel’s future in the Disney Parks. Multiverse of Marvel will have new episodes on Marvel Studios’ recent announcements and Deadpool & Wolverine soon. (Spotify) (Apple)
The Lowdown on the Plus-Up: Kelly McCubbin and Peter Overstreet discuss interactivity in theme park attractions like Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser and Evermore. They also discuss Back to the Future: The Ride. (Spotify) (Apple)
LINKS OF THE MONTH
— Disney CEO Bob Iger and his wife Willow Bay are the new owners of Angel City FC. (Semafor)
— What Does Anxiety Look Like? How Pixar Created the Inside Out 2 Villain (The New York Times)
—Oriental Land Company (owners of Tokyo Disney Resort) will build and operate a new Disney Cruise Line ship from Japan, starting in 2029. (The Walt Disney Company)
— I agree with this take wholeheartedly: Muppet*Vision 3D Should Be a National Heritage Site (Vulture)
— Inside Out 2 is the biggest animated film ever, surpassing Frozen II. (The Hollywood Reporter)
— Predictions for the Disney Destiny Cruise Ship. (Boardwalk Times)
— Boardwalk Store released an entire Deadpool & Wolverine collection! Use code DEADPOOL10 until August 2 to get 10% off your entire order. (Boardwalk Store)
— My friend Klein Felt is doing an awesome job with his newsletter “The MCU Top 5” (The Direct)
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