Major Tokyo Disneyland Expansion On The Way

April 27, 2016

Big news from Tokyo Disney Resort, where Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea have announced major expansions which should be in place by spring of 2020.

The Oriental Land Co., which owns and operates the parks, announced that “Through continued investment of about 50 billion Japanese yen annually in the large-scale development of new areas of the Parks and new major attractions, as well as in enhancing the Guest services and facilities, Oriental Land will continue to improve the two Parks in a variety of ways. Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea will continue to evolve with unforgettable theme park experiences that are unlike anywhere else in the world.”

Tokyo Disneyland will be closing the StarJets and the Grand Circuit Raceway (their Autopia) to make room for a new “Beauty and the Beast Area” including a new dark-ride attraction and theater facility. A new meet and greet facility will be added in neighboring Toontown. And there will also be a new Big Hero 6 attraction for Tomorrowland in this project. 75 Billion Yen has been budgeted for the expansion (over 672 million US dollars)

Screen Shot 2016-04-27 at 3.01.20 PM — The areas being carved out of Tomorrowland (mostly) for the new new projects. To make way for the new development areas and the new facilities, the following attractions in Tomorrowland will close: Grand Circuit Raceway in January 2017 and StarJets in autumn-winter 2017.

Beauty and the Beast Area:

The new (tentatively named) Beauty and the Beast Land will contain an 8 minute ride, a restaurant and a shop. The attraction will be contained within Beast’s castle and the rest of the land will be the village where Belle lives.

Screen Shot 2016-04-27 at 3.01.35 PM — Beauty and the Beast Area

Screen Shot 2016-04-27 at 3.02.26 PM — Guests board enchanted serving dishes that dance in rhythm to the film’s well-known music and follow Belle on a romantic musical adventure inside the enchanted Castle where she dances her way into the heart of the Beast, just in time to break the fateful spell. Guests will feel like they have entered right into the film.

Screen Shot 2016-04-27 at 3.01.52 PM — The restaurant appears to be called Gaston’s.

Indoor Theater:

Opening in a new area of Fantasyland, will be a storybook themed indoor theater for live entertainment. Projected spring 2020.

Screen Shot 2016-04-27 at 3.03.04 PM — Live Entertainment Theater for about 1,500 persons

ToonTown Meet and Greet:

Guests can meet Minnie Mouse in her new meet and greet in ToonTown in Spring of 2020.

Screen Shot 2016-04-27 at 3.03.35 PM — Minnie Mouse, as a fashion designer, will greet Guests in her studio dressed in fashionable costume. After walking through Minnie’s design studio and her work area with interactive elements, Guests can meet Minnie in person, take pictures with her, and generally spend a memorable time together.

Tomorrowland Attraction:

“Baymax, from Big Hero 6, invites Guests to join their own personal healthcare companion for an exciting musical “whip ride” that swings them unpredictably round and round.”

The spinner attraction is tentatively scheduled to open in spring of 2020 at a cost of about 53 million dollars US.

Screen Shot 2016-04-27 at 3.03.21 PM — A ride-type attraction themed to the Disney film, Big Hero 6, will open in Tomorrowland. Also, for the first time in either Tokyo Disneyland or Tokyo DisneySea, a shop themed to outer space and selling popcorn in multiple flavors will open next to the new attraction.

Tokyo DisneySea Soarin’ Attraction

Not to be left out, Tokyo DisneySea will receive a Sorin’ attraction in Mediterranean Harbor. Budgeted at a cost of approximately 161 million dollars US, the attraction will open in 2019 if it sticks to schedule.

Screen Shot 2016-04-27 at 3.04.34 PM — This appears to be a completely original version of Soarin’, perhaps with a steampunk-ish design, new scenes and visual images.

Future Growth

You’ve got to love the Oriental Land Company. In addition to the above:

Oriental Land intends to investigate various ways to add more value to Tokyo Disney Resort® as a whole, such as increasing the number of guest rooms at the hotels within the Resort.

Moreover, regarding plans for further growth through new business other than the Tokyo Disney Resort business, Oriental Land will continue planning for a new and separate business segment that is not constrained by a specific timeframe.

Note: Other development plans to add value to Tokyo Disney Resort, other than those mentioned in this release, are currently under consideration. Those plans will be announced as soon as they are determined.

Well folks, what do you think of Tokyo Disneyland expansion plans? Are you surprised that they aren’t rushing to build a Star Wars Land? Are you ready to book a ticket to visit Belle, Beast and Gaston? Let us know in the comments below.