© Disney

Walt Disney World fans sometimes have high expectations of their favorite parks. I definitely count myself among that group. It’s easy to get riled up with questions like “why can’t Disney bring back Horizons?” or “would it really be that hard to build the Star Wars rides in one year?” We visit the parks and have a great time, but certain parts don’t work as well. These feelings are harder to quell inside when Disney opens new attractions at overseas parks. Amazing original rides like Mystic Manor in Hong Kong and quite a few Tokyo attractions use technology we’ve barely seen here. That’s just the tip of the iceberg, however. We now have Shanghai Disneyland.

It’s been easy to blame Shanghai Disneyland for cutbacks at Disney’s U.S. parks; there’s even a fun hashtag to make it easier. Now the conversation has changed. Online videos of Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure were enough to win me over. The mixing of giant screens with physical sets creates an incredible ride even at home. When you add that excitement to the gorgeous TRON Lightcycle Power Run and upgraded versions of Peter Pan, Buzz Lightyear, and Soarin’, the park looks amazing. Many cynics have been thrilled without even setting foot in the park.

Most of us don’t have the time or money to visit Shanghai. I’ve been to Disneyland Paris and feel privileged to have made that trip. Tokyo is on my bucket list, and I’m not sure getting there is possible. It’s hard to complain too much; I’ve been lucky to see eight Disney parks. We just visited Walt Disney World in January. Even so, the envy that I’m feeling for visitors that reach Shanghai is hard to shake. They’re getting to experience the best Disney has to offer, and we’re getting Frozen Ever After. It’s hard to look at high-tech attractions and not feel like Walt Disney World is falling short.

Photo by Erin Heaton

The Promise of Pandora

There is good news within the creative success of Shanghai. First of all, it does offer a preview of what’s coming in Pandora: The World of Avatar and the two Star Wars lands. The upgrades to Pirates of the Caribbean in particular could fit with the Na’Vi River Journey and the First Order battle. As early as 2017, fans in other countries might feel envious they can’t easily visit Disney’s Animal Kingdom. There’s also still a chance that popular attractions from the parks in Asia may find their way here. For example, Mystic Manor has five years of exclusivity in Hong Kong that will expire in 2018. That doesn’t mean Disney will export it to other resorts, but they would save on design costs if they duplicate it.

I may be envious of Shanghai, but I’m also hoping for its success. Fans have been raving about the new attractions, and Disney could use some positive buzz this year. If Shanghai draws massive crowds and positive feedback, it should remind leadership that nothing beats creating mind-blowing attractions. Universal has shown that massive bumps in attendance will come if you provide guests with unique experiences. Disney has less room to grow; they won’t see a huge attendance bump since the crowds are already so high. However, people may choose to extend their stay and spend more money at Walt Disney World to see new experiences.

© Disney

Modern Technologies

Sitting here in May 2016, we have a good idea of what’s coming to Walt Disney World and Disneyland in the next 4-5 years. Star Wars, Pandora, and Marvel will dominate. What I’m curious about are the next steps. Will Disney revamp Future World using technologies we’re now seeing in Shanghai?

Tomorrowland in the Magic Kingdom also needs some major changes. If there were any doubts, the wonders in Shanghai should remind us of what’s possible from Imagineering. I hope this is just the tip of the iceberg and the start of a creative renaissance at Walt Disney World. At this moment, all we can do is gaze at the videos and dream about what’s possible. If we can dream it, maybe Disney can do it?

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