In a surprise announcement on Disney Parks Blog, it was revealed that Lightning McQueen's Racing Academy is headed for the junkyard and a new Villains-themed show will take its place in 2025. On the one hand, this change makes sense because Cars will now have its home in Magic Kingdom as the anchor of a new Frontierland. On the other hand, Cruella, Ursula and their foul-natured friends are also getting a new home in Magic Kingdom with their own Villains land. Of course they also feature prominently in Fantasmic!, which is not likely leaving Hollywood Studios any time soon.
The provided artist rendering shows Maleficent, Hook, Jafar, the Queen of Hearts, Scar, Ursula, Hades and Cruella surrounding the Magic Mirror and the description notes that they will be "breaking through the glass to take the stage in live production numbers."
International parks like Disneyland Paris and Tokyo Disneyland prominently feature large-scale stage shows that feature song and dance numbers from a variety of Disney characters that are loosely threaded into a larger narrative. Currently, the closest thing to those productions at Walt Disney World are the stage shows that happen in front of Cinderella's Castle and as part of special events like Jollywood Nights. This show will likely bring that popular format to Hollywood Studios, which is a logical home with its theming around movies and entertainment.
Fans who want one last ka-chow will need to burn rubber over to Hollywood Studios before October 7.
That’s awesome! I wonder if they are going to use the LMcQ animatronic in the new Cars area at MK. I had a feeling there were a lot more announcements that didn’t come from D23.