Disney sets opening date for ‘Zootopia’ attraction, updates coaster plans

[Disney4me]

Walt Disney World shared updates on several projects Thursday, including one grand opening date and revamped roller coaster details, some revealed by a menagerie of Muppets featuring Kermit the Frog.

The next Disney World attraction to debut will be “Zootopia: Better Together,” a 3D film inside the Tree of Life Theater at Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park. Opening day for visitors will be Nov. 7, Michael Hundgen, Walt Disney World portfolio executive creative producer at Walt Disney Imagineering, said.

He also revealed punny aspects of the film, which will replace “It’s Tough to Be a Bug.” The 9-minute film will have elements of its predecessor and surprises tied to the theme of Zoogether Day.

“We have a new scent. It’s not a stink bug,” said Danny Hanke, senior creative director. “Oh, and nothing pokes you in the back this time,” he said, referring to the jabbing special effect built into the theater seats for “Bug.”

Michael Hundgen, portfolio executive creative producer, reveals the opening date of the new Zootopia: Better Zoogether! attraction during a media preview on Thursday. The new show will run in the Tree of Life Theater at Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)

In the storyline, “everyone will come there to see our new character, Heidi Howler. She is a wolf host with a lot of energy,” Hanke said.

“Zootopia” characters will be part of the new attraction, as will parts of “Zootopia 2,” which arrives in theaters on Nov. 2.

“The same animators working on the movie worked on our attraction,” Hanke said.

The attraction will feature a new song titled “We are Zoonited,” and Nick Wilde and Judy Hopps will be available in a new meet-and-greet area in conjunction with the new “Zootopia” theatrical release.

Theme park shifts: Epcot acts, ‘small world’ song, Baby Shark

Disney executives revealed the details during a preview for members of the media at Epcot. They talked about two WDW roller coasters that will see changes in the next year.

Magic Kingdom’s Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, currently closed for refurbishment, will have a new early scene, said Wyatt Winter, executive producer.

“You will see hundreds of bats filling the bat cave now, all of them kind of staring at you a little ominously in that space,” Winter said.

Next up will be the rainbow caverns, he said, “full of spectacular natural phosphorus pools, stalagmites, stalactites and all the colors of the rainbow.”

That will shift with a thunderclap.

“The entire caverns transform into this eerie red space that’s really kind of warning, like you should not continue in here,” Winter said. There’s a man versus mountain theme coming.

“The mountain is always pushing back against all the miners trying to get its gold,” Winter said.

At Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster will transition from Aerosmith mode to a Muppet-based storyline. The exterior of the indoor coaster will also change, said Bette Lombardi, producer.

“The giant guitar will be getting a vibrant and psychedelic new look, and fans may notice a nod to Dr Teeth’s golden tooth on the piano,” she said.

Producer Bette Lombardi is welcomed to the stage by Kermit the Frog for an update on the Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring the Muppets, during a preview event at Epcot at Walt Disney World on Thursday. The re-themed coaster is slated to open at Disney's Hollywood Studios in 2026. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)

Inside, the Muppets take over — specifically, the Electric Mayhem band — some Aerosmith scenes from the coaster, which debuted in 1999.

“You’ll find us in the recording studio laying down some groovy tunes as we rehearse for our next big concert,” the Dr. Teeth character said. Four Muppet members of their band (and their human handlers) appeared on stage during the presentation, along with Kermit, Fozzie and Scooter. In the new story, Scooter’s uncle has purchased G Force Records, Electric Mayhem’s label.

“Scooter needs to figure out a way to get you all to that big concert, and it needs to be fast,” Lombardi said, which mirrors a current plot point regarding the superstretch limo-inspired ride vehicles.

No closing date has been announced for the Aerosmith version of the ride.

Disney World: Epcot unveils Food & Wine festival menus, prices

Other attractions updates included:

• The “Mandalorian”-inspired update for Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, a ride at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, will allow passengers to select the interplanetary destination. “The engineer position gets to pick the location … and they’ll also get to communicate with Grogu during the mission,” Hundgen said.

• Also at Hollywood Studios, the revamped Animation Courtyard will have an indoor play space called Drawn to Wonderland. It’s inspired by Disney Legend Mary Blair’s concept art for “Alice in Wonderland.”

• For Magic Kingdom’s Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin, a new support robot named Buddy “will welcome guests into the attraction,” Hundgen said. “They’ll give you mission tips, encouragement, and it’s going to be your first chance to interact with a blaster and test out those upgraded features. The ride, which is getting new vehicles, blasters and targets, is already closed for the refurbishment.

Email me at dbevil@orlandosentinel.com. BlueSky: @themeparksdb. Threads account: @dbevil. X account: @themeparks. Subscribe to the Theme Park Rangers newsletter at orlandosentinel.com/newsletters.

View the full article