Sign up for Mr. Todd’s Wild Ride <\/p>\n
An insider guide to the ever-changing world of theme parks, coming to you straight from SoCal \u2014 the theme park capital of the world.<\/p>\n
By continuing, you agree to our Terms of Service<\/a>, which include arbitration and a class action waiver. You agree that we and our third-party vendors may collect and use your information, including through cookies, pixels and similar technologies, for the purposes set forth in our Privacy Policy<\/a> such as personalizing your experience and ads. <\/p>\n That means Disneyland Park is at long last getting its Tomorrowland makeover,<\/a> a top fan request for much of the last decade-plus. Walt Disney World\u2019s Animal Kingdom is fixing its broken yeti, the star of thrilling roller coaster Expedition Everest that has been busted for about 20 years. Epcot\u2019s fan favorite purple dragon Figment will soon be starring in a brand new attraction that resurrects his bearded creator, Dreamfinder, saving fans from suffering through its current half-hearted iteration <\/a>in which \u201cMonty Python\u2019s\u201d Eric Idle essentially treats the beloved character as a pest. (I ride it because I adore Figment, but I cringe throughout, and not just because at one point we\u2019re annoyingly blasted with the smell of a skunk.)<\/p>\n And Disneyland Paris is yanking the marketing-driven \u201cStar Wars\u201d overlay Hyperspace Mountain from Space Mountain to return the coaster to its superior Jules Verne-inspired original. Disneyland officials take note: We don\u2019t want Hyperspace Mountain here, either, but at least ours isn\u2019t semi-permanent.<\/p>\n The long-broken yeti on Walt Disney World\u2019s Expedition Everest will eventually be fixed. The above is an artist rendering of the attraction released by Disney Experiences. <\/p>\n (Disney)<\/p>\n It\u2019s a sharp move, and may seem like a no-brainer, but following fan feedback doesn\u2019t come without some risks. Fans, after all, rarely know best, often prioritizing nostalgia and lore over evolution. And Walt Disney Imagineering has remained one of the most respected corporate creative institutions for a reason. In short, fans, don\u2019t let this go to your head.<\/p>\n But D\u2019Amaro is also showing that he understands something not all Disney leaders have appeared to be well-versed in. And that\u2019s the fact that the best IP of the Disney theme parks are the parks themselves.<\/p>\n Disneyland Park\u2019s biggest selling point is not \u201cStar Wars,\u201d \u201cSnow White and the Seven Dwarfs,\u201d \u201cThe Princess and the Frog\u201d or \u201cPeter Pan.\u201d It\u2019s Disneyland itself, a temple dedicated to our narrative myths and communal play.<\/a> <\/p>\n For too long Disney parks seemed to be, if not led, steered by its marketing teams. A franchise here, a franchise there. That thinking led to lesser designs such as a misguided remake<\/a> of Paradise Pier into Pixar Pier at California Adventure, in which Pixar characters are basically treated as decals. It\u2019s led me to argue in the past that Disney\u2019s IP was squeezing the theme<\/a> out of its theme parks.<\/p>\n Tomorrowland in its current state is a mess of ideas with a number of underutilized buildings. <\/p>\n (Allen J. Schaben \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n Disneyland last attempted to revamp Tomorrowland in 1998<\/a>, and while the concept was on point \u2014 a retro-futuristic, Verne-inspired look of sci-fi fantasy \u2014 the company didn\u2019t fully commit to it and the land has largely been a mess of ideas since. Space Mountain remains a symbol of optimism dedicated to the joy and unpredictability of galactic exploration. But the rest of the land, save for the monorail, one of Disneyland\u2019s most recognizable monuments, should be considered fair game.<\/p>\n Tomorrowland has become such an eyesore that even Disneyland President Jill Estorino recognized its negative press at a pre-D23 media event. \u201cPainful to read,\u201d she said to the assembled media as she rattled off stories observing the \u201clittle tomorrow in Tomorrowland\u201d and describing the land as \u201ctired.\u201d Estorino conceded it was \u201call true.\u201d <\/p>\n That made this past weekend\u2019s announcement even more of a surprise. The reimagining, as Disneyland is calling it, is in good hands. Imagineer Emily \u201cEmo\u201d O\u2019Brien, the creative producer overseeing the Disneyland Resort, recently worked on Fantasy Springs at Tokyo Disneyland, a highly acclaimed modern take on a Fantasyland-like area home to fresh takes on \u201cFrozen,\u201d \u201cTangled\u201d and \u201cPeter Pan.\u201d O\u2019Brien has been with Imagineering for about 30 years, and one of her first projects was hand-shaping the armrests of the approximately 2,000 seats of Disney California Adventure\u2019s Hyperion Theater. The little details at a Disney park matter.<\/p>\n Promotional art for a reimagined Tomorrowland released by Disney. The project, according to Imagineers, is in its infancy.<\/p>\n (Disney)<\/p>\n \u201cI grew up in my career with this legacy,\u201d O\u2019Brien said. \u201cI understand the kind of gravitas and the responsibility that I have with our team to guide us through this journey of reimagining the only Tomorrowland that Walt [Disney] actually envisioned, designed and walked in.\u201d<\/p>\n A remade Tomorrowland, to be clear, is years away. No questions were answered on Tomorrowland at D23, so fans will have to wait to hear what this means for the long out-of-work PeopleMover. And as previously reported<\/a>, Estorino said the reworking of the original Disneyland area will come after California Adventure opens its \u201cAvengers\u201d and \u201cCoco\u201d attractions. The former two were given a 2028 date, while \u201cCoco\u201d still does not have an opening window. After Tomorrowland, the resort intends to tackle \u201cAvatar.\u201d <\/a> <\/p>\n The fan favorite purple dragon known as Figment at Walt Disney World\u2019s Epcot. The attraction Journey Into Imagination With Figment has been earmarked for renovations. <\/p>\n (Todd Martens \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n At a Disney parks presentation Saturday evening, the Tomorrowland announcement received arguably the largest applause. But it was closely followed by the reveal of a reworking of what is currently known as Journey Into Imagination With Figment at Epcot. That ride has been a shadow of its former, glorious self since the late \u201990s, even as the squeaky-voiced Figment has remained a popular mascot for the park. That\u2019s no real surprise, but I, of course, am biased<\/a>, as I have a Figment tattoo and the character was my childhood favorite. <\/p>\n Figment is a dreamer, his very existence the result of a dreamer. While I don\u2019t necessarily trust the memory of my 10-year-old self, I remember Figment becoming an astronaut one moment and pretending to be a ship\u2019s captain in the next. Visions of that ride are burned into my brain. Figment was a reminder to a video-game-obsessed kid that while you can\u2019t do everything, you can at least envision anything.<\/p>\n And Imagineering appears to be doing just that at the moment. The projects, of course, will have to be conceptualized, designed and built, and there\u2019s still time to make mistakes, such as attaching a known IP to the reimagined Imagination (don\u2019t do it).<\/p>\n Concept art for the Maleficent attraction coming to Villains Land.<\/p>\n (Disney)<\/p>\n Tomorrowland has been flawed since the early 2000s and Disney can survive without touching it. Its attractions \u2014 Star Tours, Autopia, Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters \u2014 still, after all, draw crowds. The commitment to redesign it may be a crowd-pleasing one, but it\u2019s also a reminder, a symbol of understanding. <\/p>\n If something\u2019s broke, you correct it. You don\u2019t let it sit in a derelict state simply because the financial math doesn\u2019t justify new guest spending or increased crowds. The Disney parks are a home away from home for many a visitor, and they should be treated as such. <\/p>\n D\u2019Amaro, of course, as CEO will be evaluated on much more than simply how he leads the parks. But he and and his partner Thomas Mazloum, the chairman of Disney Experiences, came to this D23 with one message: We\u2019re one of you. Expect the Disney die-hards to hold them to it. <\/p>\n One more D23 thought An Imagineering research and development project in which Grogu and the character of Hugo are represented as robotic figures serving guests. <\/p>\n (Todd Martens \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n The Imagineering booth on the convention floor was full of delights and wonders, especially in its research and development section. I tend not to devote a ton of newsletter space to R&D, only because I\u2019d rather focus on what guests can or will be seeing in the future, but the two \u201cStar Wars\u201d attractions shown not only deserve their props, but belong in Star Wars: Galaxy\u2019s Edge. <\/p>\n One is a no-brainer, and it\u2019s a snack stand featuring Grogu and Hugo from \u201cThe Mandalorian and Grogu.\u201d The latter, voiced by Martin Scorsese in the film, is largely asleep and snoring in the food truck-like stand, while Grogu uses the Force to whisk orders across the counter. Fan were transfixed. And this seems like the perfect mix of corporate and creative desires, as no doubt many a Disney guest would order an extra soda if it came with a show featuring \u201cBaby Yoda.\u201d <\/p>\n An Imagineering research and development project featuring robotic Anzellan mechanics that can interact with guests. <\/p>\n (Todd Martens \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n The other was an Anzellan work bench. Anzellans are tiny creatures introduced in \u201cStar Wars: The Rise of Skywalker\u201d known for their engineering skills, and here they were seen working on droid parts. But they also interact with guests. <\/p>\n Get close enough, and they\u2019ll stop what they\u2019re doing to quizzically look at you, ask you a question or maybe even repeat what you said to them. They\u2019re as lifelike a robotic as Disney ever created, and the 14-acre Galaxy\u2019s Edge is never not in need of more activity. Here\u2019s hoping these little guys find a destination in the parks soon. <\/p>\n This week in SoCal theme parks The vibrant, dance-focused \u201cMagic Happens\u201d parade will return to Disneyland in 2027. <\/p>\n (Allen J. Schaben \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n Halloween is here! While the temperature may not feel like it, the fall Halloween season has arrived, and the Disneyland Resort\u2019s Oogie Boogie Bash<\/a> begins Tuesday evening. Additionally, the resort-wide Halloween Time<\/a> launches Friday. There are still tickets available for many an Oogie date, and new this year is a Haunted Mansion-inspired street festival as well as the arrival of Yzma, the villain from \u201cThe Emperor\u2019s New Groove.\u201d Oogie is a good time, especially if you haven\u2019t done it before. Have a theme park tale to share? Whether it was a good day or less-than-perfect day, I would love to hear about it. Have a question? A tip? A fun photo from the parks to share? Email me at todd.martens@latimes.com<\/a>. I may feature your note in an upcoming newsletter. <\/p>\n Ride on, <\/p>\n Todd Martens<\/p>\n P.S. A still from the Smugglers Gambit game in Fortnite.<\/p>\n (Image from Disney)<\/p>\n The Disney theme parks this past weekend deepened its connection to \u201cFortnite\u201d as part of a partnership with Epic Games. The latter\u2019s Unreal Engine already fuels Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run<\/a>, as well as a new Pirates of the Caribbean audio-animatrionic<\/a>. And now guests who utilize the Disneyland app and connect it to their Epic Games account can receive in-game rewards for experiencing the Millennium Falcon attraction, including the recovery of a unique crate on the ride. <\/p>\n I had a chance to play the \u201cFortnite\u201d experience inspired by the ride, \u201cSmugglers Gambit,\u201d and appreciate the way park worlds are being used to fuel connection to them at home. \u201cFortnite,\u201d admittedly, is not my game of choice, but \u201cSmuggler\u2019s Gambit\u201d was more robust than I expected, and I\u2019m happy see aspects of the fictional planet of Batuu represented in the digital space. Business writer Samantha Masunaga has more on Disney\u2019s relationship with Epic Games<\/a>. <\/p>\n ![\"Concept](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1787087675_578_.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Tomorrowland](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1787087676_401_.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Promotional](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1786861573_343_.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1787087681_150_.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Concept](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1786861574_925_.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"Two](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1787087683_648_.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Two](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1787087684_11_.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1787087684_471_.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n
Looking ahead to Disneyland in 2027. With the new Avengers Campus not opening until 2028, the Disneyland Resort in 2027 will rely heavily on entertainment to lure locals back to the park. That means the fantastic \u201cMagic Happens\u201d parade is returning before next summer season. While it has the requisite mix of Disney characters, it\u2019s also notable<\/a> for its use of contemporary dance. Also returning is the original \u201cWorld of Color\u201d to Disney California Adventure and a refreshed version of the fireworks show \u201cRemember… Dreams Come True\u201d at Disneyland Park. Both are expected in February, shortly after the holiday season concludes.
A blow to the in-park games of Disneyland. Reports surfaced Monday<\/a> that the Walt Disney Co. was killing the Play Disney Parks app, which is home to the enjoyable Star Wars: Datapad game Batuu Bounty Hounters<\/a>. The app was largely designed to give fans activities while they waited in lines, and was also meant to turn Star Wars: Galaxy\u2019s Edge into a live-in video game<\/a>. The app will go offline Sept. 16, according to Disneyland officials.
A new window on Main Street. Former Disney CEO and future Los Angeles Lakers co-owner<\/a> Bob Iger has received a window on Disneyland\u2019s Main Street, U.S.A. The honor is reserved for those who have heavily impacted the Disney parks, and Iger certainly qualifies, as his many acquisitions \u2014 Marvel, Pixar, Lucasfilm \u2014 changed the tenor of Disneyland and beyond. Look for Iger\u2019s window<\/a> above the Emporium gift shop, where he is heralded as a \u201cnew century builder.\u201d
Good news for Disneyland\u2019s \u2018Monsters, Inc.\u2019 fans. With the announcement that Disney California Adventure\u2019s \u201cAvatar\u201d experience<\/a> won\u2019t arrive until after Tomorrowland\u2019s redo, the attraction Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue! will get to remain open a little longer. Previously, the attraction was supposed to close in early 2027, but Disneyland officials now say the dark ride will remain open for the foreseeable future. A closing window will be announced at a later date. Tell us your stories. Ask us your questions.<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1787087685_385_.png\")
<\/p>\n