There is a big shake-up currently occuring at Walt Disney Imagineering (WDI). According to the Blue Sky Disney Blog.....
At the present moment, Disney is looking to maximize profits while minimizing their spending. Currently, most work is going on at the resort level. Third party companies will populate such areas as Westward Way, a Downtown-Disney-like project the new Four Seasons resort. Work is also going on to construct a new Contemporary tower and to add Disney Vacation Club (DVC) rooms to the Animal Kingdom Lodge. But still, this does not stop major new ideas to be proposed.........
Walt Disney World Resort
Two other properties are being looked at for DVC occupancy.
Announcement Date: no earlier than 2009
A third waterpark is getting its way through the approval process. Current plans would tie the park to Disney's films (Pirates, etc).
Announcement Date: no earlier than mid-2008
Proposals are being made for a 5th gate. Three such ideas have been seen in the halls of WDI. These could also serve as inspirations for extra gates at Disney's Asian properties.
Announcement Date: as early as the begining of next decade with the new park opening in 2014-2015 (around WDW's 45th anniversary)
Magic Kingdom
There are proposals for a new parade
Announcement Date: Likely at the end of The Year of a Million Dreams
The next E-ticket attraction is planned for no earlier than 2009. No current proposals involve Pixar characters. One involves a classic Disney character & the other is entirely different
Epcot
SSE will of course reopen later this year in a new true Epcot fashion
Announcement Date: SSE will close in July and reopen in November. Complete refurbishment will be complete in early 2008.
The Wand may be coming down, but nothing is set in stone
Announcement Date: could come down as early as next year
There are ideas and proposals for Epcot's next E-Ticket
Announcement Date: likely around 2010
There is a proposal to retheme the back of Soarin's ride building to better blend in with Canada's rocky theming. This would also give more area to build a new Canadian Rockies water attraction
Announcement Date: unknown
Disney-MGM Studios
The name change to the Disney-Pixar Studios is imminent
Announcement Date: as early as next year
One or two E-tickets and three to four C/D-tickets are expected to be approved within the next year
Announcement Date: likely mid to late 2008
An updated Star Tours and Indiana Jones attractions are being heavily proposed
Announcement Date: around 2010-ish
All the rebranding is expected to be finished around 2011 & will provide the Studios with a more family-friendly movie experience
Disney's Animal Kingdom
There is still a group in WDI that wants Beastlie Kingdomme to be built, but money is still a major issue. In addition, there are proposals for small-scale theming changes in Dinoland USA. Currently, however, no major proposals are really known for the Animal Kingdom.
