I’ve seen a couple other sites attempt a map trying to figure out where each of the various buildings from the concept art will be located in relation to existing buildings. But I haven’t seen one that I think accurately reflects what is going where. So, I thought, why not give it a shot. I’m no architect, but I’m okay with photoshop.
In drawing this layout, I’ve used a couple givens. The area I’ve chosen works out to 11-acres (see map below), which is the size given for the expansion by Disney executives at D23 Expo. Additionally, I’m assuming they’re keeping the backstage multi-story parking garage (with parking being at a premium already, I can’t see them getting rid of it) or Letter ‘C’ on the color coded map below. Also, I’m using the concept art as a guide and assuming that the existing showbuilding for Toy Story Midway mania is the building labeled “A” even though it appears to be shaped a little different than the exiting attraction building.
The above area is just a little over 11-acres and includes a bevy of backstage buildings that will shortly be destroyed or relocated. I’ve heard that some prep-work on the deconstruction has begun already.
The perspective of the concept art compresses the distances in the back (upper left) and lengthens them in the front (lower right). So it’s hard to judge the exact layout.
Here’s my guess at where things will be located.
I admit it’s a rough guess, but taking what I believe to be the givens we can infer from the concept art, it’s my best guess.
A – This is the showbuilding for Toy Story Midway Mania (TSMM). It is getting a third track, so the building is bigger than we see it now.
B – This is the future home of Star Wars: Launch Bay, which will be the movie and expansion preview center.
C – That cast member parking lot I don’t see as going anywhere.
1 – The new entrance queue for TSMM. The entrance to TSMM will be relocated so as to be part of the new Toy Story Land. A hallway will connect the new queue with the old queue roughly where Mr. Potato head is now. He will have to be relocated.
2 – Likely new restrooms and a store that is also the exit to the third track of TSMM
3 – A food location. Looks like a lunch box, so it could be any theme.
4 – Buzz Lightyear twin spinners
5 – The Slinky Dog Coaster (it’s a long winding coaster so it takes up a lot of space)
6 – Western set facade, likely retail space or maybe a meet and greet
7 – A Playskool Barn (not Al’s toy barn, since all these locations are toys in Andy’s backyard) and also a store and exit from TSMM for the two original tracks.
8 – The former Pixar Place / Pixar Studios. This will become backstage area for the park
D – Once Lights, Motors, Action closes, this area is pretty much ripe for expansion as well. It’s rumored to be a new take on Radiator Springs from DCA. It really could be anything (rumors include Muppet Land, Marvel, or ___ fill in the blank yourself).
As far as I know, the final blueprints for Toy Story Land haven’t leaked yet, I’m curious how close I came with my guess. What do you think?
This looks spot on to me…really fun project. As for Section D/Lights Motor Action…I had the feeling that Cars Land was Disneyland’s thing and Toy Story Land would be Disney World’s (the same way WDW has EPCOT, DL has California Adventure, Tokyo has Disney Sea, etc.)…a strategy to provide different experiences, so people are encouraged to visit other parks. That said, I could see a Pixar Place replacement there which could feature a Cars attraction but leave the theme all-encompassing for some of the other popular franchises (i.e. The Incredibles and Inside Out). Or, as you suggested, this could be a great spot for future Marvel development.
Whatever it is, I can’t imagine it not involving an E-ticket attraction. Disney’s renovations seem to be pointedly trying to add E-tickets to the backs of the parks to draw people through the entire experience and balance crowd control.
We’re just working on what we know is coming at this point. TSL and SWL are a go, we’re just re-arranging the pieces on the board to decide where they are going.
I think your TSL speculation is pretty spot on.
Given it’s attachment to Star Tours, the section “D” on your map could become part of Star Wars Land, which would keep the expansion away from the center. Some think they would lay SWL over IndyStunt (which is possible) and Echo Lake (possible but would really make the center of the park feel insanly crowded), but also over 50’s Prime Time, which is one of the most popular eateries at WDW. So it’s either avoid it or relocated it.
Couple this with the rumors already floating of a new location and movie for Muppet*Vision and it seems to make even more sense. Would they give up Mama Melrose? It’s fairly popular. Could be ripe for relocation. Both TSL and SWL would bring new opportunities for eateries so it’s hard to say.
What is your take for the buildings on the opposite side of the roller coaster track?
I was wondering that too, but when I looked closer I deduced that they’re probably the Slinky Dog coaster queue and loading/unloading stations.
I’m thinking D would have to be Star Wars land, right?
I think you’re too far to the North. I think the entrance comes in SOUTH of Midway, not north of it. That makes what you have for D actually part of Toy Story land and not future expansion itself. So you actually enter Pixar Land by walking through Pixar Place.
I can’t see them taking down earful tower at this point, and having the garage where you have it leaves a HUGE wall of a 4 story structure to cover with something that is not obvious in the drawing.
Star Wars land in my book goes all the way around from there to Star Tours, wiping out Streets of America, Muppets, Mama Melroses, the theater behind San Fran, and Pizza Planet (why do you need this over here if there is now a whole land for it to be in and having it back up to Star Wars is weird). If they want to get really crazy they even take out Sci Fi, the Commissary, and the old Radio Station.
None of those parts of the park really ‘work’ anymore (you could make a case that they never worked, but the original backlot tour ate up a TON of space that now is very haphazard).
For the record, I also think the entrance off of World Drive goes away or is significantly restructured, and the main entrance moves around to some in off Victory, either at POP or quite possible off of the back entrance to Caribbean.
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I have been following a lot of forum discussion about this and I think it’s spot on. I was not originally convinced that ‘A’ was the existing TSSM building because it doesn’t look right, but I have come around to the idea that it is. Jim Hill brought up the idea that this land would be in area ‘D’ but I think it fits in much more logically the way you have it. The building on the other side of the coaster is the load/unload area and queue. You can see a path that goes right through the middle of the coaster for people to access the queue.
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