Disney4me Posted February 24 Report Share Posted February 24 It’s taken years, but FINALLY the Villains are getting the representation they deserve in not one, but TWO Orlando theme parks! The new Villains Land coming to Magic Kingdom will feature fan-favorite Disney Villains from popular Walt Disney Animation Studios films and two new attractions. Disney World has announced that a brand new Villains Land will be coming to the open area of land behind Big Thunder Mountain Railroad in Magic Kingdom in the coming years, and Universal Orlando is getting ready to open Epic Universe on May 22nd, 2025, where one of the new lands is Dark Universe, celebrating all things classic Universal Monsters. While both of these lands focus on the villains in these stories, they’re going to be VERY different from each other, and we’re wondering which one will be visited more often! Villains Land in Magic Kingdom When Disney confirmed Villains Land was on the way at the 2024 D23 Ultimate Disney Fan Event, they said the land would be home to the villains we “know and loathe” from some of our favorite and classic Disney films. Their full quote reads: “The evil ambition of all these Villains means that the possibilities are endless for the stories that can be told — and visitors to the dark and thorny land should be prepared for whatever chaos might come their way.” Villains Land announced at D23 (2024) We also know that the land will be home to two new attractions, dining options, and shopping locations, all at an “incredibly twisted grand scale” according to Disney. And from the concept art we’ve seen, that certainly seems to be the case! Villains Land coming to Magic Kingdom ©Disney As we’re still years away from the opening of this new land, we don’t have exact updates on what attractions we can expect here, but from the concept art, it looks like a winding, thrilling roller coaster is in the works. The color palette of the land also appears to be MUCH darker than anywhere else in Magic Kingdom, which seems to indicate the major tonal shift between heroes and villains. ©Disney Overall, we’re thrilled to hear more information about this new land as it comes out, but for now, we’re left with more questions than answers. How dark is Disney going with this land? Is it similar to the Descendants films (which are focused on the children of prominent Disney villains but are still very much kid-friendly), or will we see a darker tone that adults often pick up on in these Disney films? We’ll have to wait and see! Dark Universe at Epic Universe Now Dark Universe is truly what it sounds like — this is a DARK area that will not be for the faint of heart. As this land is getting ready to open in a few months, we DO have tons of information on what to expect out of this new land, and all we can say is that if you’ve got kiddos with you, really ask yourself if they’re okay with scary things before you take them in! ©Universal Dark Universe is set in the fictional world of Darkmoor. Universal says: “Once guests make their way through the cemetery, they will find themselves in the village proper, where misbegotten scientific experiments scar the land and unnatural creations lurk in the shadows. This is Darkmoor, home to monsters, monster makers, monster hunters and the welcoming villagers who are just trying to survive.” ©Universal Uh, yeah, trying to survive? This place is intense! Visitors will also “encounter everything from the experiments of Dr. Victoria Frankenstein to the shadowy landscape where monsters roam in a world of myth and mystery.” It’s also been hinted that additional Halloween Horror Nights events will be held in this land during the Halloween season, so that’s how you KNOW this place is spooky. We mean, come on, they have a FLAMING WINDMILL! ©Universal What can you experience in this thrilling, terrifying land? The biggest attraction of the area will be Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment where you’ll enter Frankenstein’s Manor — the official synopsis for the ride reads, “Dr. Victoria Frankenstein continues the work of her ancestors deep below the family estate. A demonstration of her experiments to control monsters goes awry when Dracula leads a revolt of enraged monsters including The Wolf Man, The Mummy, the Creature from the Black Lagoon and more.” We also know this ride will have some of the most advanced and state-of-the-art animatronics ever seen, and we’re STOKED! ©Universal But that’s not all! There is a family coaster attraction in this land called Curse of the Werewolf. Here you’ll enter the Guild of Mystics and be “greeted by Maleva, the guild’s all-knowing seer and leader, who warns them that they bear the mark of the werewolf. Guests then board a wagon and venture into the forest, racing to escape the werewolves before they become one themselves.” Alright, so a little less scary, but we can only imagine how frightening this will look at night — especially to kids! ©Universal We also know there will be multiple places to dine here, such as: Das Stakehaus (a quick service dining location which is an “old inn and dining hall built over the ruins of ancient catacombs.”) The Burning Blade Tavern (another quick service that pays homage to Universal’s classic 1931 film Frankenstein — it’s an “old mill which Darkmoor Village’s monster hunters [The Hounds] have transformed into their hangout.” De Lacey’s Cottage (the sweets shop where you’ll find ice cream, cinnamon bread, twisted taters, and more) ©Universal There will also be meet and greets with iconic Universal Monsters including Dr. Victoria Frankenstein’s Monster and the “alluring” Bride of Frankenstein, Victoria Frankenstein’s servant, Ygor, and The Invisible Man, among others. A Monster Makeup Experience will also be available for guests, and you can shop for your favorite souvenirs at Pretorius’ Scientific Oddities. Comparing The Two Despite both lands being inspired by the Villains or monsters of their respective stories, these two lands couldn’t be more different. Without even seeing attraction, dining, or shopping plans for Villains Land, we feel we can say with full confidence that even if Villains Land looks spooky, it’ll still be kid-friendly. ©Disney Why? Well, because it’s Magic Kingdom! As much as some hardcore Villains fans really want a more intense villainous area, and there truly are some Disney Villains who have done some truly heinous acts, Magic Kingdom just isn’t the place for an intense, dark land. Parents will bring their kids in the land to visit characters, which we’re assuming could be people like Captain Hook, Maleficent, The Evil Queen, and Jafar, and as it’s connect to Magic Kingdom, arguably the most kid-centered of all the parks, there’s an extremely slim chance this land would be an ENTIRE 180 degree tone shift. Villains Land coming to Magic Kingdom ©Disney However, Universal has made monster movies for decades — that’s why Dark Universe exists in the first place! It’s also why Halloween Horror Nights is far more intense than Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party has ever been (as you can tell by the name differences) and people looking for a real scare have always gone to Universal. Dark Universe is essentially a way to bring those Halloween Horror Nights vibes to life all year round. ©Universal So what does all this mean? Well, we can’t say definitively since we still don’t have a lot of information about Villains Land, but we’d bet money on the fact that if you’re traveling with kids who don’t have an affinity for horror and monsters, Villains Land will be the place to be. However, if you yourself, or the party you’re traveling with are into the more intense scares, or you just want a land geared more towards adults (AKA, they’re not sugarcoating the fear — again, you won’t have to worry about jumpscares like in haunted houses), you’ll want to visit Dark Universe. Dark Universe Concept Art ©Universal However, we’ll be visiting both lands when they open to bring you ALL the news you could ever possibly need/want. We’ll be detailing all the rides, attractions, meet and greets, dining locations, and everything in between so you can make an informed decision on which land is better for you and your group to visit on your trip. No matter which land you choose to visit, or if you choose to visit both, you can count on DFB to bring you all the latest news as these massive new developments grow and change. Be sure to stay tuned to our blog to hear all the latest construction and crowd updates, dining reviews, attraction reviews, and everything in between! People Are Questioning If Disney’s Villains Land Concept Art Is Real Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Which of these lands are you most excited to visit? Tell us in the comments!The post TWO New Villain-Themed Lands Are Coming to Orlando Theme Parks – Which One Will You Choose? first appeared on the disney food blog.View the full article Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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