Disney says permits will soon be filed to begin work on Magic Kingdom's 'Beyond Big Thunder Mountain' expansion

Apr 04, 2024 in "Magic Kingdom"

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Beyond Big Thunder Mountain Blue Sky concept art

Posted: Thursday April 4, 2024 11:00am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

In a recent presentation to invited reporters at Walt Disney Imagineering in Glendale, California, earlier this week, the company confirmed that plans are moving forward with the 'Beyond Big Thunder Mountain' expansion at Magic Kingdom.

Specifically, Michael Hundgen, VP, Walt Disney World Portfolio at Walt Disney Imagineering said that permits would soon be filed for preliminary work on the site. The plans will likely be Water Management District permits, typically required before large projects break ground.

The yellow area indicates the approximate area of the project

According to the Blue Sky concept unveiled by Parks head Josh D'Amaro, the new land behind Big Thunder Mountain at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom would include Disney animation IPs, including Coco, Encanto, and villains.

Beyond Big Thunder Mountain Blue Sky concept art

We expect to hear more about the Magic Kingdom expansion at the upcoming D23 Fan Event in August 2024.

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TTA9445 minutes ago

You are right it has been said it’s happening, but what has not been said is where in the process it is. I do not know how their process works when it comes to new entertainment and at what point they get to where There’s no turning back now lol, other than when floats are in the process of being built.

Bocabear2 hours ago

OMG I think WISH is possibly the worst Disney film I have ever seen....stinks on ice. I can't believe they rushed out merchandise for that one....way more than they did for Moana....

Brer Panther2 hours ago

Would you prefer people desperately trying to be Lin Manuel-Miranda and failing at it like in the songs from Wish?

SilentWindODoom9 hours ago

I was going to say. I thought someone said it was definitely happening, but when you're traversing three threads that were once two and that could literally come up in any of them, it's hard to keep straight. 🤔

TTA949 hours ago

Idk. I do trust @wdwmagic, But a little skeptical at the same time. As we all know they can pull the plug or throw it to the back burner at any moment. The only way the parade is a guarantee is if floats are in the process of built. If they aren’t or if the plans are really for MSEP or PTN as we knew it then it can easily be canceled.

𝕴𝖒𝖆𝖌𝖎𝖓𝖊𝖊𝖗9710 hours ago

Yeah, I agree. I never have high hopes. I actually actively dread D23. I have since I was in WDW during 2017's expo and they revealed the Great Movie Ride was being replaced. And I was once under attack in the movies thread for questioning why LMM keeps getting Disney jobs. I think he's a brilliant lyricist at times. But I also kind of want to punch him.

HauntedPirate10 hours ago

Pass. And not just because I think LMM is way overrated. The best way to be disappointed by this regime is to have high hopes. They have continually proven that expectations should be low, because they’ll often come in at or below them even there.

𝕴𝖒𝖆𝖌𝖎𝖓𝖊𝖊𝖗9710 hours ago

Take a look at my Lin-Manuel Miranda rap in the Tiana thread and I think you'll see where my hopes are.

HauntedPirate10 hours ago

I wouldn’t get your hopes up.

TheIceBaron10 hours ago

I don’t think it will be a flop as they can simply announce projects, as if they are happening, then not do anything about them until they are either ready or quietly cancel them after a few years. Then they don’t have to face the boos and pretend like everything is zipadeedooda!

𝕴𝖒𝖆𝖌𝖎𝖓𝖊𝖊𝖗9710 hours ago

If they make it another Blue Sky fest, there had better be BOOS raining from the rafters.

TTA9410 hours ago

D23 might be a flop, as it usually is. Bunch of blue sky stuff we may or may not see and other more solid stuff that we won’t see built for many years. The parade is probably the only thing that’s in the near future, but even that might not be announced at D23 and just saved for a DPB post.

𝕴𝖒𝖆𝖌𝖎𝖓𝖊𝖊𝖗9710 hours ago

NIGHT PARADE? Spectromagic 2.0?!

EricsBiscuit11 hours ago

It’s sad that all they’re likely going to talk about for WDW, their cash cow, is the Tropical Americas replacement of Dinoland. I doubt the parade will be announced (if it’s even happening) because, if so, wouldn’t we have heard it was under construction? And how does it take so long for them to announce concrete plans for Moana and CoCo? Why can’t they make up their minds?