At D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, there was plenty of news that came out and delighted Disney fans. This ranged across Disney Experiences worldwide. One of the topics of discussion was the Villains Land that is coming to Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom. There was a section of the Imagineering Horizons Pavilion that showed a couple of models and gave clues as to what guests would experience and feel when they entered this realm. On Saturday night, during Horizons: A Carousel of Progress, more details were shared. This included the name for the land, the story, and a look at what will be found inside.

The Name

First off, the name. The team at Disney decided that because this new land is in the Magic Kingdom and this kingdom is filled with lands, it made sense to call it Villains Land. This was shared by President & Chief Creative Officer Bruce Vaughn and Executive Creative Director Caroline May. The name fits the land, and it is also cohesive with the rest of the park.

Villains Land has a brand new story that leads to the villains appearing here. While it is a brand new story, it builds on traditions of Disney stories that guests have known and loved for years. Guests will be invited into a new Fairytale… just a different kind of one. Check out the storyline for Villains Land here:

In many fairytales, the real journey begins when you stray from the safe path and instead turn towards the vast, foreboding forest. If you dare enter the forest of Villains Land, you may soon come across a Wishing Well that’s been torn asunder.  Under most circumstances, a Wishing Well would indicate pure and good energy at work, but something dark happened to this one.  Once upon a time, someone made an evil wish here – a wish so evil it corrupted the stone and broke open the structure, spreading the Well’s poisoned magic throughout the forest.

But of course, this sinister setting is tempting for those with wicked intentions, so, one by one, the villains have come here to try and claim the last of the Wishing Well’s power. Villains Land will be shaped by those who have used this dark magic to conjure the perfect new lairs for themselves. These mighty fortresses and gleaming palaces not only reflect the personality of the villains who own them, they invite guests into a tantalizing treasure trove of treats, trinkets, and more temptations. 

This new land will expand Magic Kingdom with an expansion the size and scale of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, it was revealed. However, more than just a story for the land was revealed.

Maleficent Coaster

The main attraction in Villains Land will be a Maleficent Coaster. This will be the first of two attractions that will be found in the land, along with shops and restaurants.

This exhilarating coaster experience will see guests racing through Maleficent’s enchanted briar that surrounds her frightening mountaintop fortress. Guests will also come face-to-face with the Mistress of All Evil herself, Maleficent. The coaster will include elements that Walt Disney Imagineering has never attempted before on similar attractions. This will be a truly groundbreaking project.

Mirror Realm Dark Ride

The second main attraction of Villains Land will be a dark ride. There, a whole array of favorite Disney Villains will be found. They are all hosted by the Magic Mirror.

The Magic Mirror will be found in the catacombs beneath the Evil Queen’s pristine palace, where he is kept. Upon descending into the depths of the palace and finding him, he’ll magically transport visitors into his mystical Mirror Realm to see things on the other side of the mirror. In his ethereal realm, guests will be transfixed by countless Disney Villains who have been conjured in ways only the Magic Mirror can do. This attraction will utilize a combination of special effects and physical set pieces to bring this Mirror Realm and these iconic Villains to life.

More About Villains Land

“Villains Land is such an exciting addition to the Magic Kingdom, because it allows us to expand the park’s storytelling in a way that feels both fresh and true to its legacy and fairytale roots,” Caroline May shared. “We have an incredibly talented and passionate team working behind the scenes every day to make sure this land captures the power, magic, and mischievous (and sometimes humorous) spirit of the Disney Villains, and it’s been incredibly rewarding to see that fans are just as excited as we are for what’s ahead.”

This continues to show how Imagineers really are going all in on this new Villains Land. Last year at Destination D23, it was shared how they traveled to Europe for architectural inspiration. This will help ground the land in reality as they create this magical realm. Imagineers visited Paris, France, and Barcelona, Spain, where they studied and were inspired by architectural styles including Art Nouveau and Modernisme. During these visits, they took note of the rich color palettes, swirling natural patterns, and ominous proportions that all contribute to the feeling that these places were created by magic. The term “Conjured Architecture” came out of this.

Following the announcements, Glenn Close appeared as Cruella on the stage. This was followed by a performance of her theme song by Beck to wrap up the segment. All the announcements and performances from this segment can be seen here:

It will still be some time before guests are venturing to Villains Land and experiencing this “Conjured Architecture.” However, with the reveal of what is coming this weekend at D23, there is a LOT more to be excited about! What do you think of the new details that were shared about Villains Land at Horizons: A Carousel of Progress? What do you think of the name? Share your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!