Disney accountants forced Walt Disney Imagineering to shelve a massive makeover of Disneyland’s Tomorrowland because the return on investment didn’t make financial sense, according to a new report.
Disney executives turned down Imagineering proposals to refurbish Disneyland’s aging Tomorrowland, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal.
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Disney executives calculated a Tomorrowland makeover would not do enough to increase Disneyland’s attendance, according to the WSJ report.
The rejected Tomorrowland proposals happened at a time of diminished ambition at Disney when theme parks executives didn’t trust Imagineering could deliver projects on time and on budget, according to the WSJ report.
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Bob Chapek, who took over Disney’s theme parks business in 2015 and served as CEO from 2020 to 2022, was intensely focused on getting Imagineering to stick to budgets and manage costs of theme park projects, WSJ reported.
Disney financial executives approved or disapproved Imagineering budget items line by line during the Chapek era, according to the WSJ report.
Tomorrowland has been a challenge for Imagineering ever since its debut at Disneyland in 1955 — with visions of the future always becoming dated with the passage of time.
The first makeover of “New Tomorrowland” in 1967 brought the Carousel of Progress, Adventure Thru Inner Space and the PeopleMover.
A second refurbishment dubbed the “New New Tomorrowland” in 1998 introduced Honey, I Shrunk the Audience, Innoventions and the ill-fated Rocket Rods.
Fans hoped a “New New New Tomorrowland” was coming in 2019 when the “French Fry Rocks” that flanked the land’s entrance were removed and concept art promoting a fresh new look was posted at the entryway.
Reports surfaced in 2019 that Disneyland would soon embark on a $600 million multi-year reimagining of Tomorrowland, according to WDW News Today.
Year after year, Disneyland fans anxiously awaited an announcement that never came.
Over the past decade, Tomorrowlands at Disney parks around the globe have added new attractions like Tron Lightcycle Power Run (Magic Kingdom in Florida), Ant-Man and The Wasp: Nano Battle (Hong Kong Disneyland), Iron Man Experience (Hong Kong Disneyland) and Happy Ride with Baymax (Tokyo Disneyland).
The Buzz Lightyear Astro Blaster-style rides at Disneyland Paris, Tokyo Disneyland and Magic Kingdom have been undergoing extensive upgrades. Tokyo Disneyland’s Space Mountain is getting a $400 million makeover with a facade featuring neon blue undulating curves.
Meanwhile, empty or idle attractions continue to dot Disneyland’s Tomorrowland, including Innoventions/Star Wars Launch Bay, People Mover/Rocket Rods, Tomorrowland Theater and Starcade.