The Walt Disney Company 10 Year Challange
The Walt Disney Company 2010 vs 2020
As we settle into 2020 (because, let’s be honest, January is a fluke month) and we start planning our vacations for the year in more depth, it is important to know the changes coming to Disney vacationing! The Walt Disney Company is always giving us something to be excited about, but what about where we were 10 years ago? 2010 brought some exciting announcements to the Disney Company. Here are some of my favorite things that came out of 2010 alongside what we have to look forward to in 2020!
In the movies…
In 2010 we saw the release of four films. We started the year with the live action version of Alice in Wonderland. Johnny Depp, Anne Hathaway, and Helena Bonham Carter’s performances made Lewis Carroll’s fantasy world come to IMAX 3D life. The film was received well (earning it multiple Golden Globe
nominations), and this unique adaptation of classic characters has changed the way we all look at the Red Queen’s head.
In 2020 we will be seeing a whole new type of live action movie. While creating a movie from a ride is not a new thing for Disney, I’m not sure we’ve had one with quite the volume as Jungle Cruise. With names like The
Rock and Emily Blunt, this will certainly be a whole new twist to the iconic ride. Plus, I’m pretty excited to see the backside of water on the big Screen.
2010 also brought us the first animated princess film of Disney’s revival era. This hair glowing, spatula wielding princess swung into our screens and continues to be a crowd favorite. Tangled was released on November 24th of 2010. With pop singer Mandy Moore providing the voice of Rapunzel, comedy/spy-drama Chuck’s Zachary Levi as Flynn Rider, and tony winner Donna Murphy as Mother Gothel, plus six expensive years of production, this film was a shoo-in to be a hit. What could possibly live up to Tangled in 2020?
If you said Raya and the Last Dragon then you are absolutely correct! This epic will follow a warrior Raya as they travel through Lumandra (an ancient civilization that inhabits a reimagined Earth, themes are based on Southeast Asia) in search of the last dragon. While we do not currently have many details on this film, the concept art is leaving us more than excited.
At the beach…
The Walt Disney Company finally announced the name of its Hawaiian family destination resort in 2010. While the property in O’ahu was purchased in 2007, it wasn’t until 2010 that we saw concept art and the grand reveal of the name Aulani: a Disney Resort and Spa.
Aulani has come a long way in the last decade. In 2010 it was simply a construction site and a name. Now, we have a full resort with 351 rooms and 481 DVC villas and a 18,000 square-foot spa. I just warn you to be careful of the Menehune (pictured above).
On the sea…
Disney’s cruise ship Dream finally touched water in 2010. Disney’s third ship stood 40% larger than the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder. Though the ship did not take its maiden voyage until January of 2011, Disney Dream’s completion was a huge step forward for the Disney cruise line in 2010.
Scheduled to set sail in 2022, Disney Cruise Line Ship Wish is the biggest news in the DCL. While we only know small details about Wish, this enchanted ship is certain to surprise as we anxiously watch its unveil.
In the parks…
On August 17, 2010 Disneyland Paris was the first to welcome a Toy Story themed land. Toy Story Playland, similar to its successors, shrinks guests down to the size of a toy as they explore the world of Woody, Buzz Lightyear, and all their friends.
This year Disneyland will be welcoming a new land: Avengers Campus. Coming Summer 2020, this new land will immerse guests into a interconnected global story spanning across parks. Instead of being shrunk down to the size of a toy, guests will be thrown into an intergalactic conflict larger than themselves!
Walt Disney World on the other hand was refurbishing old attractions. On September 7th, 2010 D23 club members went on the final ride of the original Star Tours in Hollywood Studios. Immediately Disney started releasing concept art for the refurbished ride. While the original ride (from 1998) took place following episode 6, and therefore was referred to as episode 6.5, this remastered ride would take place after the 2005 episode 3. Therefore, Star Tours Episode 3.5 went into production to be released in 2011.
Some of the largest refurbishments in 2020 will take place in Walt Disney World’s EPCOT. Cirlce of Life: An Environmental Fable, Reflections of China, O Canada, and Impressions de France are all getting major makeovers.
For those of us who are avid about our Disney parks shows, 2010 was a big year. World of Color lit up the Paradise Bay at Disneyland’s California Adventure on June 11th. This $75 million show utilizes musical fountains, lights, fire, lasers, fog, and mis projectors. World of Color has since become a staple of California Adventure and continues to fascinate with each new iteration and seasonal show.
In 2020 we will see a new nighttime spectacular in Walt Disney World’s EPCOT park: HarmonioUS. It will feature artists from all over the world as they reimagine famous Disney songs. This spectacular is slated to be the largest ever created for a Disney park featuring massive floating set pieces, custom-built LED panels, choreographed moving fountains, lights, pyrotechnics, lasers, and more.
Ten years has brought us all a long way. As we look into the horizon on what the 2020’s will bring, let us all be thankful for what is truly important. That we are no longer seeing Johnny Depp versions of the Mad Hatter running around, and instead will be able to find adult sized skipper costumes (one can only hope).
Larissa Papas is an independent, contributing Blogger and Writer for Wanderlust Journeys LLC. All information, views and opinions are not affiliated or shared by Wanderlust Journeys, it’s employees, contractors or suppliers.