Imagine with me, what would your version of a new Disneyland Tomorrowland look like?

As a Huge Disney geek and lover for all things made by the mouse, Tomorrowland always seemed to me a “lost land.” Even when I was a kid, but especially now as a Disney Adult, despite that it has two of my favorite rides (Space Mountain and Star Tours). After you ride these, I think most people like myself rarely stick around, and they move onto other places.

It almost feels like every ride in Tomorrowland is on its own, and doesn’t have “the flow” or links, like the other lands do. These different lands at Disney are set up as genres: Frontierland is Westerns; Adventureland is Action/Adventure and Explorers; Main Street USA is Nostalgia; and Tomorrowland is Sci-Fi.

If I were to redesign, I would want my Tomorrowland to be more inviting and exciting!

1. Bring Disney Movies and TV Shows Into Tomorrowland Rides

This may be controversial, but I believe Disney parks should have more Intellectual Property rides based on movies and TV shows. There’s a reason why people go to Disneyland, we want to experience MORE Disney, and as fans, what better way to do that, than by including more of our favorite shows coming to life?

I absolutely adore listening about Walt’s vision for Tomorrowland, and the ever changing future. I understand why it was important. However, I feel back in the 50’s so much has changed since then, and now that we are 70 years later (and yes there are always new inventions) there aren’t as many big changes nowadays. I feel if we keep it more simple, and concentrate on more of Disney’s greatest box office hits, this land might not feel so “lost” and always feel “incomplete”.

I think Tomorrowland just needs to have some minor tweaks to take off again. Adding a few more rides and a couple of themed eating areas could be all it needs.

As Tomorrowland leans more towards Sci Fi, Star Wars and Marvel would be a good fit, but in saying that, they do have their own lands set up at the parks. So, I’m not sure another Star Wars ride in Tomorrowland would work when park goers can always attend Galaxy’s Edge, and I feel Star Tours has its place, and has always been a popular standout. There’s always a line, and for good reason: the ride is brilliant and it still holds up as they recently updated it to the newest Star Wars films. Maybe a Thor ride could work in Tomorrowland. There was talk about a Thor themed roller coaster at one time. I’m a fan of the Incredibles themed Incredicoaster in California Adventure, but a more fitting Disney character for Tomorrowland could be a Lilo & Stitch themed ride.

2. A New Lilo & Stitch Space Ride for Tomorrowland

In this new attraction (where Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters currently is), you can ride on a spaceship with the lovable alien, but Stitch (being his funny mischievous self) will cause bumps to happen, and you’ll end up in outer space, so we guests will have to help him get back to Earth. An indoor dark ride, we would start on The Federation ship as the walk through queue, and we see (or hear) Stitch making his way through the ventilation system. Once we board the ride (our own Red One spaceships), he hijacks the Red One, and we enjoy his flight with him, and he helps us get back to Earth. It will be fast-paced, like Space mountain, but would be a fun family ride and appeal to most ages, similar to the ET dark ride at Universal, or the Peter Pan ride in Fantasyland.

3. Fix the Tomorrowland Submarine Lagoon Problem

There’s also this huge chunk of Tomorrowland at Disneyland that specifically doesn’t fit in with the “sci-fi” theme. Something needs to be down with the back corner of the land where the submarine ride, currently Nemo themed, and I personally don’t like this ride as sitting in the submarine is too claustrophobic. I absolutely love the lagoon, as it breaks up Tomorrowland to not feel like it’s a concrete jungle.

4. Why Autopia Still Belongs in Disneyland Tomorrowland

Then there’s Autopia, the bumper cars on a rail, and I still love this ride to this day. Seeing the kids get excited to drive on their own is hilarious to witness, and they can have the option to collect their driving licenses afterwards. The sounds the cars make still makes me smile and gives me happy memories of practicing to drive years before I actually could, although I understand the criticisms, and how the cars are still gas-powered.

5. Replace Carousel of Progress With Modern Disney Attractions

Then, right next to Autopia, by the train station, is the circular theater which used to house the Carousel of Progress. This could be replaced, as it is taking up a great deal of space. I would love to see an open air ride where the Incredibles meet up with Big Hero 6 to fight a Sci-Fi villain, a literal clashing of worlds and franchises. Then, in order to maximize space, I would build a subterranean dark ride roller coaster based on the TV show Phineas and Ferb.

6. Reimagine the PeopleMover as a WALL-E Adventure Ride

Then there’s the People Mover that does not work. If Imagineering did get it to work again, I believe they could theme it around the wonderful Pixar film, WALL-E, and make the people mover look like the Axiom Hover Chairs. Then you could have little videos on the indoor sections of the ride, like you’re inside the massive spaceship.

7. Revive Tomorrowland’s 3D Theater With Music & Disney Magic

There’s also the Magic Eye theater which used to host Captain EO 3D with Michael Jackson, as well as the occasional showing of Honey I Shrunk the Kids in 3D. Right now, that fully functioning 3D theater is empty. Completely unused! I find this so sad, Captain EO was incredible, and I feel if they don’t want it all year round, why not have it come back every “Halloween season” so that we could look forward to seeing Michael Jackson fight the terrifying Anjelica Huston. Then for the other 11 months of the year, create a similar 3D cinema experience for the next generation, and change it each year with the latest pop star like “Taylor Swift” or “Lady Gaga” to keep it more relevant. Disney has given us so many pop stars like Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, and Christina Aguilera, why not keep them relevant?

8. Add Immersive Sci-Fi Walkthroughs to Tomorrowland

There needs to be something groundbreaking, like Sci-Fi Immersive experiences where you feel like you’ve landed on another planet! A section where you can walk around a Hawaiian tropical forest or be on another planet’s surface, and you notice some of your favorite sci fi characters amongst the environments. Kids can be given a map, go on a scavenger hunt, and find amazing treasures. I feel Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge (even though I was hesitant at first) has the immersive experience totally down, where you walk under the railway line, and feel like you just walked from Anaheim into another planet. There are actually some great spaces in the futuristic buildings around Spaceship Earth that could be repurposed for this.

9. Redesign Toy Story’s Pizza Planet Into a True Disney Dining Experience

Speaking of futuristic buildings, the dining areas in Tomorrowland should be more themed. I have never had the urge to want to sit, and eat here. It looks like any other normal looking restaurant you’d find at a mall. The only themed eatery I know of is Toy Story’s “Pizza Planet” which is a great idea on paper, but definitely needs improved theming. For example, I would have liked talking robots at the entrance (similar to the film). Also, the rocket spaceship that’s next to the restaurant should be built to look more authentic, and cool, like the one from the movie, even though I do realize that rocket was from opening day in 1955, it can still be bedazzled or something. It should look like an actual Spaceship that could take off at any moment, which would add excitement to the area. The Toy Story dining and play area needs to be more appealing for kids AND adults, where you feel like you are in Andy’s room, and can sit with your favorite characters, and eat on giant toy blocks, or inside a toy chest surrounded by Woody, Buzz, & friends.

10. Transform Tomorrowland Terrace Into a Space-Themed Dining Area

More sitting areas could be themed to the rides. For example, at Tomorrowland Terrace, what if you could sit in the Space Mountain rollercoaster ships (or a facsimile of it) to eat food, and you could sit in the dark, or under blacklight, similar to the ride, to feel like you were eating whilst in Space. Sound design could be a huge component of this.

11. Build a Lilo & Stitch Lagoon Restaurant With Live Shows

Similarly, a Lilo and Stitch dining area could be located where the lagoon is, mixing Sci-Fi and Hawaiian vibes. I would also add a performance space by the lagoon and rocks, where singers and dancers could do water-themed, hopeful, and joyous performances. Imagine a Hawaiian Hula dance performance show with Lilo and Stitch, which would also integrate the land with nature, ala a Solar Punk utopian future, bringing together Earth, Water, and Air. You could even add large fountains, like they have at the Bellagio in Las Vegas. This would be very entertaining, and the water fountains showcase popular Disney songs, of course!

12. Introduce More Disney & Pixar Characters Walking Around Tomorrowland

I feel Disney Sci Fi characters need a place to walk around, in this area, and yet I have never seen them. Even if I saw something as simple as Mickey and Minnie wearing astronaut suits, that would be fun! You could have so many Disney and Pixar characters to interact with and walking around. Imagine seeing BayMax & Hiro, Lilo & Stitch, or Woody & Buzz Lightyear.

Tomorrowland doesn’t need to continue to be lost it needs to feel like it belongs to Disneyland. I feel some of these improvements could really make it even more special than it already is, giving us a Greater & Grander tomorrow.

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