Walt Disney World shared updates to several projects on Thursday. This includes details of one grand opening date and improved roller coaster.
The next Disney World attraction after its debut is the 3D film “Zootopia: Better Together” in Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park The Tree of Life Theater. Visitors’ first day is November 7th, Michael Hangen, portfolio executive creative producer at Walt Disney World and executive creative producer at Walt Disney Imaginering.
He also revealed the pannie side of the film. That’s an alternative to “it’s difficult to become a bug.” The nine-minute film features elements of its predecessors, with surprises tied to the theme of Zoogeather Day.
“We have a new scent, not a foul smelling bug,” said senior creative director Danny Hanke. “Yeah, there’s nothing to thrust you back this time,” he said.
In the storyline, “Everyone comes there to see our new character, Heidi Howler. She is a wolf host with a lot of energy,” Hanke said.
The characters from “Zootopia” will be part of a new attraction, similar to the parts of “Zootopia 2,” which will arrive at the theater on November 2nd.
“The same animators working on films have been working on our appeal,” Hanke said.
The attraction will feature a new song entitled “We Are Zoonited,” and Nick Wilde and Judy Hopps will be available in the new Meet and Greet area, combined with the theatrical release of “Zootopia.”
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Disney executives revealed details during a preview of members of Epcot’s media. They talked about two WDW roller coasters that will see changes next year.
Magic Kingdom’s Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is currently closed for renovations and will acquire a new early scene, executive producer Wyatt Winter said.
“You’ll see now hundreds of bats filling the bat caves, like all of them staring at you a little ominously in that space,” Winter said.
Next up is the Rainbow Cave, “filled with all the colours of magnificent natural lympool, sturdy, titro, and rainbow,” he said.
It shifts with a Thunder Clap.
“The whole cave will transform into this creepy red space. This is a real warning, so don’t continue here,” Winter said. There are mountain themes and mountain themes.
“The mountain is constantly being pushed back against all the miners who are trying to get money,” Winter said.
At Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park, Rock and Roller Coasters move from Aero Smith mode to a Muppet-based storyline. Producer Bette Lombardi said the outside of the indoor coaster will also change.
“The giant guitar can get a new, vibrant look, psychedelic, and fans may find themselves nodding to the golden teeth of their teeth on the piano,” she said.
Inside, the Muppets take over. Specifically, the Electric Mayhem Band – the Aerosmith scene from the coaster that debuted in 1999.
“When we rehearse for our next big concert, we see that we’re laying out our groovy songs in the recording studio,” Dr. Tood’s character said. The band’s four Muppets (and human handlers) appeared on stage during the presentation, along with Kermit, Fozzie and Scooter. In a new story, Scooter’s uncle purchased G-Force Records, the label of the electric Mayhem.
“The scooters need to find a way to get to that big concert, and that needs to be faster,” Lombardi said.
No deadline has been announced for the Aero Smith version ride.
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Includes updates for other attractions:
• Update inspired by the Millennium Falcon’s “Mandalorian”: Riding in Star Wars: The edge of the Galaxy at Disney’s Hollywood Studios allows passengers to select interplanetary destinations. “The engineer position can be chosen by location, and they can also communicate with Grog during the mission,” Hangen said.
• Also, at Hollywood Studios, Revamped Animation Courtyard has an indoor play space called Drawn To Wonderland. It is inspired by Disney legend Mary Blair’s concept art for “Alice in Wonderland.”
•For Magic Kingdom’s Buzz Lightyear Spacer Ranger Spin, a new support robot named Buddy “welcomes guests into the attraction,” says Hundgen. “They will give you mission tips, encouragement, and that will be your first chance to interact with the blasters and test their upgraded features.
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Original issue: August 21, 2025, 12:36pm EDT
