Well, what's new is that it's been announced all over the place that Disneyland is closing several Frontierland attractions (some permanently) to pave the way for the new Star Wars Land that will be build right behind it. What's more, the construction will re-shape Disneyland forever as the Rivers of America will be shrunken in size (with the unused back part of Tom Sawyer island disappearing entirely), and the Disneyland Railroad will be re-routed. The closures include the Disneyland Railroad, the Mark Twain Riverboat, the Sailing Ship Columbia, Davy Crockett's Explorer Canoes, and Fantasmic!. All will reopen with Fantasmic! being refreshed and updated (or so the reports say). Big Thunder Ranch along with its restaurant and petting zoo is going to Yesterland permanently, and there are conflicting reports about the Fantasyland Theatre closing too, leaving the way open for a Fantasyland expansion that apparently is desired and has been in the works, and will be next in line (anyone has any confirmation about this?).
While all this is certainly exciting, I can't help but wonder at the current Tomorrowland and what is being planned for that part of the park. The PeopleMover track has sat pretty much abandoned for 15 years since the ill-fated Rocket Rods closed in 2000, and takes up too much room. Over the years there have been rumors about the Peoplemover coming back, but nothing has been announced. I have read that that attraction in its original form could never come back due to safety and Cal-Osha restrictions, which would mandate that the tracks be heavily modified. Anyone know any information about what are Disney's plans for that unused track, whether it will be modified for a new PeopleMover or a new attraction or whether it will be finally removed?
Another thing that bugs a lot of Disneyland fans (me included) is that awful kinetic sculpture that sits on top of the unused PeopleMover loading station where the Rocket Jets used to be. That was added in 1998 as part of the awful "New Tomorrowland" that opened that year, and has really no purpose but to look pretty awful, while the nearly identical and more visually appealing replacement for the Rocket Jets (the Astro Orbitor ride) was placed at the entrance of Tomorrowland obscuring it and upstaging or at least competing with Sleeping Beauty Castle (to me and I think to many others, it looks out of place in that spot -- Your thoughts on this?). I would love for the Astro Orbitor to be relocated back on top of the PeopleMover station where it not only look awesome but the ride experience would be much better due to its increased height. Any info or opinions on this?
So to end this post, does anyone know and can share any information on what Disney is thinking about doing for Tomorrowland? Any insight would be much appreciated by most if not all of us Disneyland fans!
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