Beyond Big Thunder: What We Know and What We Don't Know

At the 2022 D23 Expo (now known as D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event), Josh D'Amaro (Chairperson of Disney Parks and Resorts), presented a number of "blue sky" ideas for Disney Parks around the world. Part of that presentation included a project referred to as "Beyond Big Thunder" that described ideas for expanding the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World into undeveloped areas beyond Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.

Since then, speculation has been rampant about what exactly would be part of that expansion. Ideas based on the 2022 presentation included Encanto, Coco, a Villains Land, etc. However, with the recent Disney Experiences Showcase event at the 2024 D23 event, we have a much better idea of what is (and what isn't) part of the Beyond Big Thunder expansion.

What We Know

The 2024 D23 event specifically introduced two definite projects that include some of what is considered the space beyond Big Thunder. These are a Cars Land and a highly anticipated Villains Land.

The Walt Disney World Cars Land will not be a copy of Radiator Springs at Disney California Adventure. Rather, it will be a land unique to WDW. It will include at least two attractions with one being what appears to be a cross country version of Radiator Springs Racers. However, the location of the Cars Land at WDW will be in the current spot used by Tom Sawyer Island and the Rivers of America Riverboat: The Liberty Belle. This location is adjacent to Big Thunder Mountain and directly intersects the space where Frontierland and Liberty Square meet. In essence, this location is not "beyond Big Thunder." Instead, it is a reimagining of space already used by current attractions.

Villains Land, however, appears to be heading into the space adjacent to The Haunted Mansion and extending into additional unused territory. This footprint would definitely be considered beyond Big Thunder when it is complete. Very few details about what will be in Villains Land has been released but the concept art suggests a castle of some sort and, potentially, a roller coaster. Even with Villains Land, there still seems to be quite a bit of additional space to expand beyond Big Thunder in the Magic Kingdom for additional lands.

What We Don't Know

Other than Villains Land, which we speculate might get a more "catchy" Disney-esque name, No other ideas have been mentioned officially by Disney to go into the rest of the space available for expansion. Maybe more details about that may be revealed at the next Destination D23 or at the 2026 D23 Ultimate Fan Event. For now, though, beyond Big Thunder at the "Most Magical Place on Earth" will be home to the "Most Villainous Place on Earth."

What else do you hope is developed beyond Big Thunder?

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See you real soon!

Troy and Mimi

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