During a video at a shareholders' meeting in Disneyland, Iger talked about various theme park expansion plans. These include the potential addition of an 'Avatar' area to Disneyland and a 'Frozen' area to Disneyland Paris.
Iger revealed a concept image of the 'Avatar' project, which expands on the success of Pandora: The World of Avatar. This is a highly immersive area at Disney's Animal Kingdom, announced in 2011 and opened in 2017. The main attraction, Flight of Passage, is one of the most advanced and emotionally engaging rides in Disney's collection.
The image shows a lagoon with a boat-like attraction (potentially a new version of Na'vi River Journey) and several large show buildings, possibly including Flight of Passage. It's unclear where this will be located due to limited space in California. Iger mentioned the Disneyland Forward project, which aims to significantly expand both Disneyland Resort parks, will go in front of Anaheim legislatures next week. This could determine when and where this new area will be developed.
The most recent major expansion at Disneyland was the opening of Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, which occupies the former Big Thunder Ranch area of the park and opened on May 31, 2019. Mickey's Toontown, another section of Disneyland, was recently updated with the addition of Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway and a general aesthetic overhaul that opened in 2023.
There has been confusion about the Disneyland 'Avatar' project for a long time, as the terms 'land' and 'experience' have been used interchangeably. An experience could involve anything from a live show to a meet-and-greet to a photo opportunity. However, despite being labeled as a 'possibility' by Iger, the concept art clearly shows it is a complete area.
More details are expected to be revealed at D23, the Disney-only Comic-Con, taking place in Anaheim in August.
