Everything we learned at Disney’s parks panel at the 2024 D23 Expo

The time of villains has come.

Disney’s classic baddies are getting their own theme park land at the Magic Kingdom in Orlando, Florida.

The company first teased the potential for a villainous takeover at the last D23 Expo in 2022 as part of a series of “blue sky” projects that it was contemplating, but not sure would come to fruition.

While the prospect of exploring what lies beyond Big Thunder Mountain tantalized fans, its lack of tangibility left many wondering what exactly Disney was doing to compete with the upcoming opening of Universal’s Epic Universe.

The answer came on Saturday night during the company’s experience showcase at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California.

“As we sit here together at the Honda Center we have Imagineers hard at work,” Josh D’Amaro said to a roaring crowd. “Everything we have to share with you is in active development … This means dirt is moving. This isn’t blue sky.”

Disney’s theme parks, which are part of the wider division known as experiences, have long been a top-performing segment for the company, especially at a time of flux for linear television networks and cable advertising revenue slumps. Parks have offered stability in recent quarters as Disney shuffles to adapt its entertainment business to match consumer habits that changed after the pandemic.

However in the most recent quarter, Disney’s domestic parks in California and Florida saw slower consumer demand and increased inflation. The company expects this flat attendance will carry over the next few quarters.

Still, Disney is bullish on its experiences division, which encompasses its theme parks, cruise lines and hotels. The company has pledged to invest $60 billion in experiences over the next 10 years — a key part of its strategy to keep the parks fresh and relevant in a competitive segment.

About 70% of that money will go toward new experiences in domestic and international parks, along with cruise lines. The other 30% will go toward technology and infrastructure, including maintenance of existing attractions.

On Saturday, Disney fans got a glimpse at where that investment was being placed with the help of some big names.