TWO Wakandas Coming to Disney Parks | What Joe Rohde Said About Changes & Trends | WDW Roku Ad
How Wakanda *legally* works for Walt Disney World...
Hello, Dear Readers!
You may notice I’m experimenting with the layout of my weekly posts. Please bear with me as I find the style that works best for me and hopefully you as well.
I’m writing to you this week amidst rolls of wrapping paper and a leaning tower of Amazon boxes, both excited about Christmas’ impending arrival but a little blue that the season is almost over. Can anyone else relate?
Fortunately, 2024 looks to be a big year for Disney Park news, thanks to recent signaling from the Disney brass, D23 2024 in August, and a new but completely out-of-left-field Roku ad?!
Whether we get more teases and possibly even answers ahead of the New Year remains to be seen. But this week, I’ve got some speculation to share and some analysis from a former Imagineer that I can’t stop thinking about.
Let’s get into it.
What Joe Rohde Said About Trends, Changes, & Timelessness
In case you didn’t know, former Imagineer Joe Rohde has an Instagram, and it’s what we all should aspire to in terms of social media.
Instead of selfies and food photos, Joe’s posts are like TED Talks with a Disney meets philosophy meets National Geographic twist.
Earlier this month, he posted one of the most profound explanations for why theme parks (namely Disney) mean so much to fans, why they (myself included!) keep coming back, and why they’re reliably resistant to change.
For reference, Joe Rohde is responsible for Animal Kingdom (like all of it), Expedition Everest (which came after AK opened), Pandora - The World of Avatar, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Aulani, and more.
I’ve written this section several times, always trying to provide some additional commentary to Rohde’s own words.
But let’s be real.
Joe doesn’t need my help. (FYI: I’ve slightly shortened his Instagram post for length, but you can read it in its entirety here.)
“Placemaking revolves around the Eternal Return. Eliade proposed that for believers, religious ceremonies do not just commemorate sacred history but actually erase history and revive the original sacred event itself.”
“Sacred rituals allowed practitioners to step outside of the decaying chaos of time itself and into an ordered and meaningful but timeless eternity which could be summoned up only in certain special places and with certain special events. Not just ‘once upon a time’ but more like ‘you are there.’”
“Now, we theme park designers do not build temples or churches, and our stories are not sacred, but the underlying logic of the Eternal Return still applies to the best of narrative placemaking.”
“The real world is brutally amoral and relentless in its rate of destruction and replacement. There are few refuges from this assault. Theme parks, at their best, can be such places, secular though they are. People step out of the chaos and into an ordered ceremonial world where time is arrested. Beloved important moments are re-enacted in a space that is outside of history.”
“That’s why it’s such a shock when time intrudes, either with changes, or more tellingly with new events that are too anchored in contemporary relevance.”
“Trends are part of the time-bound world of change. They violate the sanctity of the world of the Eternal Return. The creative challenge of themed places is not exactly innovation. It is the re-expression of timeless values made new again.”
If you’ve ever felt attacked by the improper use of “We keep moving forward” and “Disneyland will never be complete,” these words from Joe are for you.
Why Marvel’s Wakanda Disney+ Series *Could* Mean TWO Theme Park Lands
At the world premiere for What If…? Season 2, Marvel Studios dropped two animated-related announcements.
The first? The MCU’s upcoming Spider-Man Disney+ series, which was previously titled Spider-Man: Freshman Year has been renamed Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man.
The second? A brand-new animated series called Eyes of Wakanda.
Marvel Studios’ synopsis reads as follows:
"Throughout Wakandan history, brave warriors have been tasked to travel the world retrieving dangerous vibranium artifacts. This is their story."
So, I’m 100% on board with this project.
Black Panther is a Top 5 MCU film for me, and much of that has to do with its world-building.
What better way to explore this unique and inspiring MCU location than through animation, right?
Still, upon hearing this series announcement, that wasn’t my first thought. What was is that this series is likely connected to a Wakanda land coming to the Disney Parks, including Walt Disney World.
Why Wakanda - NOT Black Panther - Can Come to Disney World
Now, it’s important to note that Black Panther is legally barred from the East Coast Disney Parks due to the ongoing contract between Marvel and Universal.
Fortunately, the same can’t be said for MCU locations, such as Wakanda.
And, if Eyes of Wakanda doesn’t rely on the Black Panther or a new Black Panther, its new stories and characters could be enough to anchor and/or justify a Wakanda-themed land.
Here’s all the evidence for why I think this land is coming to Disneyland and/or Disney World:
It’s Synergy
The fact Marvel Studios announced a brand-new series amidst an effort to decrease output suggests it was already in the works and potentially serving more than one purpose.
Not a New Idea
A Wakanda-themed land/attraction first appeared in the initial concept art for DisneylandForward. Two years later, it’s still there.
Disney Just Teased a Wakanda for the Parks
Regarding news of Disney’s upcoming $60 billion investment into parks & experiences, back in September, Disney Parks Chairman Josh D’Amaro teased, "Imagine bringing Wakanda to life,” but never specified where.
It’s Already Been Playtested
Back in 2022, Disneyland launched a Black Panther: Wakanda Forever celebration at Disney California Adventure/Avengers Campus ahead of the sequel, offering lots of themed food, movie prop displays, The Black Panther Celebration Garden, and more. Given the layered significance of the sequel, this makes sense. But it may have also served as a test for something more.
Again Not a New Idea
Before the King Thanos Multiverse ride was announced, Disney’s original plans for an Avengers Campus E-Ticket ride involved a mission in Wakanda.
Disney Loves Duplicates
Disney has a reputation in recent years for building two versions of the same land or attraction. If it’s coming to Disneyland - and can also come to Disney World - this is the cheapest & most convenient way to do it. (Btw, it’s also likely that Disneyland Paris could receive a Wakanda as well.)
Every Potential Location for Wakanda at WDW
Animal Kingdom
Rafiki’s Planet Watch. This theme park spot has been ripe for a redo for years. The fact it’s in Africa but removed is perfect for Wakanda as, in-universe, is already hidden from the world.
The problem? The site may be too close to animal enclosures & backstage areas.
Epcot
The Outpost. This lightly themed collection of snack and merch stands is all we have left of Epcot’s once elaborate plans for an Africa pavilion. And, since Animal Kingdom has an entire land inspired by Africa, there have been no efforts to revisit those scrapped concepts.
Wakanda wouldn’t only give World Showcase its long-awaited Africa pavilion, but also a space where Epcotian values of culture, technology, and optimism collide.
Plus, it further makes Epcot an MCU destination thanks to Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at World Discovery.
The problem? Disney still isn’t done with its last batch of Epcot additions and redos.
Magic Kingdom
At the 2022 D23 Expo, Josh D’Amaro introduced the Blue Sky concept of “What’s Beyond Big Thunder Mountain,” suggesting a massive Magic Kingdom expansion just outside of Frontierland.
At the time, Disney’s impressionistic concept art hinted at Coco, Encanto, and villains. But in the months since, new Animal Kingdom concept art now shows Encanto and Coco, suggesting either that villains are now the only focus of what’s “Beyond Big Thunder Mountain” or that Disney has a new direction in mind.
That new direction could be Wakanda. But honestly, I hope not.
Yes, I want Wakanda, but it’s just not a good fit for Magic Kingdom.
Hollywood Studios
Like Magic Kingdom, I don’t love the idea of Wakanda at Hollywood Studios simply because Animal Kingdom and/or Epcot are literally perfect for what Wakanda is.
However, that doesn’t mean there isn’t space and opportunity for Black Panther’s kingdom at the Studios, particularly Animation Courtyard and over to Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster.
Animation Courtyard’s Star Wars Launch Bay is wasted space and Disney has reportedly toyed with overhauling the Aerosmith-themed Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster for YEARS.
The problem? Hollywood Studios is likely third in line for a new land or expansion.
What I’m Working On…
Over at The Direct, I’ve been digging into Star Tours’ upcoming expansion featuring Ahsoka and possibly other Star Wars Disney+ characters & stories.
I’m also planning a January visit to Walt Disney World for the opening of Epcot’s Festival of the Arts (and how it utilizes World Celebration) + the return of anytime Park Hopping.
You can follow me on Twitter at @DisneyParkSavvy.
Have a magical day!