Theme Park Bits: Hall Of Presidents Gets Trumped, Inside Club 33 At Shanghai Disneyland, And Visit Gotham City And Metropolis
In this edition of Theme Park Bits:
Since ourlast editionposted on December 10, the world of pop culture has been utterly consumed by a little movie calledStar Wars: The Last Jedi.Life goes on, however, so we now resume our regularly scheduled Theme Park Bits,beginning this week with a round-up of the final set of announcements to come out of Disney Parks Blog’s “12 Days of Disney Parks Christmas” countdown.
We’re continuing our “12 Days of Disney Parks Christmas” with details about an all-new show coming to Disney’s Animal Kingdom featuring Russell and Dug from “UP” – find out more:https://t.co/bLcOcRj7kepic.twitter.com/qPdF7m6vma
— Disney Parks (@DisneyParks)August 16, 2025
On December 11, the blog announced anew show at Disney’s Animal Kingdom,starting in spring 2018, featuring Russell and Dug from the Pixar filmUp.On December 12, it posted a big breakdown ofnewStar WarsDay at Sea experiences.
Take a look at the working model of Pixar Pier – coming to Disney California Adventure park this summer!https://t.co/Fp0DAt1OUipic.twitter.com/2DnkqNUOqt
— Disney Parks (@DisneyParks)July 03, 2025
On December 13, the blog revealeddetails for Terralina Crafted Italian,a restaurant coming to Disney Springs — where Cirque de Soleil also hasa show based on Disney animationprimed for the future. On December 14, the blog shared aneat look at a working model of Pixar Pier,the new themed land set to replace half of Paradise Pier at Disney California Adventure next summer.
To wrap up the “12 Days of Disney Parks Christmas,” we’re giving you an inside look at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge!https://t.co/5WEgUT6qVhpic.twitter.com/dd2Xg3ExMw
— Disney Parks (@DisneyParks)June 02, 2025
If you missed it, our own Hoai-Tran Bui shared video givinga closer look at the Incredicoaster, a ride based onThe Incredibles,while our own Ben Pearson shared thefirst look at Disney Parks' Millennium Falcon theme park ride.Disney Parks Blog actually wrapped up its Christmas countdown with some othercool updatesonStar Wars:Galaxy’s Edge (whose first merchandise hasnow been unveiled), like how they are “building a fleet of full-size X-wing starfighters,” and how they have been researching “the exotic markets of Istanbul and Marrakech” to build a marketplace with merchant stalls overseen by alien species such as Toydarians. In the grand tradition ofStar Wars,the Toydarians will, of course, sell toys.
What’s a Toydarian look like, you ask? Well, does the nameWattoring a bell? Never forget Watto (or maybe I have that backwards and you should actually try hard to forget Watto and anything else associated withThe Phantom Menace,save perhapsDarth Mauland"Duel of the Fates.")
I always knew Jon Voight would ascend to the presidency one day.pic.twitter.com/zAyfpQyWc0
— Courtney Theriault (@cspotweet)June 06, 2025
There’s no escapingStar Wars,and in 2017, there’s been no escaping Donald J. Trump, either. The 45th U.S. President has nowtaken his place in the newly reopened Hall of Presidentsat the Magic Kingdom. AsThe Washington Postnotes:
The new Trump figure, though, is shockingly off, prompting online critics to say it looks more like actor Jon Voight — or a hastily refashioned Hillary Clinton, as if work had begun prior to an Election Day surprise.
The Post,which is the very newspaper that figures intothe Steven Spielberg film of the same namestarring Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep, has commentary from both left-leaning and right-leaning cartoonists on the design of the Trump figure. This is one of those rare weeks where we have seen theme park news become the subject of late-night talk show jokes from the likes of Seth Meyers and Jimmy Fallon.
Thinking about jumping on the stage? Think again. There’s been spikes installed to prevent such actions#HallOfPresidentspic.twitter.com/avYwWnKgul
— WDW News Today (@WDWNT)July 30, 2025
There are rumors that a new Disney World Monorail hotel might be builtright at the main entrance to Epcot.Lest we forget, Epcot has a Guardians of the Galaxy attraction coming to it in the place where the Universe of Energy pavilion used to be. Florida parkgoers who need tiding over for their fix of Guardians via Disney can head on down to Miami, whereStar-Lord, Gamora, and Groot, along with Iron Manwill soon be setting sail again for the Marvel Day at Sea.
PHOTOS:@DisneyCruiseLine’s Marvel Day at Sea sailings from New York City this fall marked the first official appearance of Iron Man, Star-Lord, Gamora & Groot:https://t.co/wY0EYFqcgHpic.twitter.com/KgRSdiZ8iO
Across the ocean,Stan “The Man” Lee has been battling Hydra at Hong Kong Disneyland.Bopping over to Mainland China,Disney and morehas posted what may very well be the Internet’s first look inside Club 33 at Shanghai Disneyland. It all comes courtesy of a woman named Heather Concannon, who was able to succeed where others have failed and shoot exclusive photos of the private club’s interior.
Disney and morealso has the lowdown onWarner Bros. World Abu Dhabi,a new international theme park scheduled to open in 2018. At this park, you will be able to visit Metropolis and Gotham City, where Superman and Batman hang their capes, as well as Bedrock fromThe Flintstonesand other lands “themed after iconic animated brands such as Looney Tunes and Hanna-Barbera.”
Can you identify the landmark above? It’s the ride building forIndiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Crystal Skull.As Disneyology notes, this version of the ride, which operates at Tokyo DisneySea, is arguably an “improved version of the Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Forbidden Eye at Disneyland California.” But don’t take my word for it:see for yourself.
I’ve also got a feature up here on the site indulging in some speculation onhow Disney California Adventure and Japanese theme parks could inform a 13th Disney park.
Finally, asThe Disney Blogreports, in the midst of ongoing negotiations, Disney’s largest group of unionized employees, which is made up of over 36,000 people, has rejected a new contract offer made by Walt Disney World.
