Overview
- Len Testa, posting on the WDWMagic forum and later interviewed by FOX 35, said the original creative plans were scrapped and the team was instructed to rethink rides, shows, dining, and retail on a larger scale.
- Several outlets attribute the push for a bigger, darker, more ambitious direction to incoming CEO Josh D’Amaro, though Disney has not confirmed his direct role in the change.
- Rumored upgrades include a high-speed coaster, a next‑generation trackless dark ride, and a multi‑level villains stronghold, but no attraction specifics have been officially announced.
- Coverage stresses this is a redesign rather than a cancellation, with visible site clearing continuing behind Big Thunder Mountain and Disney offering no new details.
- Reports suggest the overhaul could move a 2029 opening into 2030–2031, even as some insiders say Disney may accelerate construction, with competitive pressure from Universal’s Epic Universe cited as a key driver.