BREAKING: New Details, Opening Timeframe Revealed for Magic Kingdom’s Broadway-Style Theater

WDWNT on December 21, 2017

At the 2017 D23 Expo, Bob Chapek announced a new broadway-style theater was coming to the Magic Kingdom. The theater, inspired by the Willis Theater as it looked in 1920’s Kansas City, is expected to host broadway-style shows once it opens. It will be located just behind Main Street U.S.A. in an area that was cast member parking. Today, we here at WDWNT are revealing some new details on the project internally known as “MK-1”.

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Walt Disney Parks & Resorts Chairman Bob Chapek unveiled plans to build a new entertainment venue, inspired by the iconic Willis Theater as it looked in 1920s Kansas City, at Magic Kingdom Park. The theater is set to bring world-class entertainment to the Walt Disney World Resort.

The theater will hold around 2000 guests, with 1500 of them seated on the main floor, and another roughly 500 on a mezzanine level. It will be very similar in size to the Hyperion Theater at Disney California Adventure, but not nearly as tall and steep. To accommodate all of these guests, two new sets of restrooms will be a part of the structure, with one set located outside and another within (meaning guests won’t have to leave the building if they have to use the facilities while a show is taking place). The entrance to one of the outside restrooms is visible in the concept art above, located all the way to the left by the popcorn cart.

Sadly, we still don’t know what production the theater will house when it opens, but that’s probably because the opening is still very far away. Should all go according to plan, the theater will be completed by May 2020, with a show debuting inside of it around that time, if not slightly later.

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BREAKING: Permits Filed and Building Placement Revealed for Tron Coaster and Main Street Theater

WDWNT on December 1, 2017

It’s been a busy week in the world of permitting for Walt Disney World construction projects. Today the permits for both the TRON Lightcycle Power Run coaster in Tomorrowland and the new Main Street Theater in the Magic Kingdom were filed. width=

Because both of these projects are actually in Tomorrowland, they have been combined into one permit. The new Main Street Theater will be located behind the former Galaxy Palace Theater in Tomorrowland, but it will be accessible from Main Street U.S.A.

The permits show the placement and size of the TRON Lightcycle Power Run show building (labeled “MK2”), almost due north of Space Mountain. The building will occupy a huge footprint, even larger than Space Mountain. It will be very visible (as Space Mountain is now) from the Top of the World Lounge at Bay Lake Tower and the California Grill at the Contemporary Resort.

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The Main Street Theater (labeled “MK1”) will occupy most of what is now a parking lot southwest of the Carousel of Progress and behind the now-shuttered Galaxy Palace Theater.

More Details on Mickey’s New Home at the Magic Kingdom

WDWNT on February 23, 2011

A press release from Disney gives us more details on Mickey Mouse’s new home, the Town Square Theater, opening later this Spring:

Magic Kingdom officials have a hunch a really “hot ticket” in their realm this summer is going to be something other than a ride, a snack or a show. Rather, it’s a first-ever opportunity to nail down a time to meet with Mickey Mouse.

When meet-and-greets with Mickey move into a permanent new location in Town Square later this spring, Magic Kingdom guests will be able to obtain a Disney’s FASTPASS ticket specifying a one-hour window when they can return to see the popular character for hugs, photos and autographs — without waiting in the standby queue. It will mark the first time the complimentary, computerized service has been available for a character meet-and-greet at any Disney Park.

Since spending time with Disney characters is at the top of the “must-do list” of many guests, the FASTPASS ticket will allow them to experience their Mickey Mouse meet-and-greets more conveniently. As a result, guests will be able to devote more time enjoying other Magic Kingdom experiences with family and friends.

The new meet-and-greet location, Town Square Theater, will be located inside the current Exposition Hall area just inside the park entrance. Imagineers already are working to completely transform the space for the new experience. “This isn’t just remodeling Expo Hall; it is completely re-imagining this entire venue as a beautiful Victorian-era theater and the new home for Mickey Mouse,” Jon Georges, WDI Director, Senior Show Producer, said.

“Mickey and Main Street, U.S.A. are great examples of pure Americana that complement each other very well,” Concept Designer Jason Grandt said. “We drew a lot of inspiration from classic Mickey animated shorts such as The Nifty Nineties and Mickey’s Grand Opera. Many of the scenes in these shorts look like they take place right on Main Street.”

Guests arrive at a building befitting Mickey Mouse’s stardom — with a grand-Victorian-theater elevation, including a marquee that glistens with gold-leaf trim and sparkles with lights. Inside, there’s a mosaic floor, lush curtains with gold rope tie-backs and polished-brass chandeliers. Imagineers are creating new elements and surprises for Magic Kingdom guests, including an interactive queue — with an extra touch of Disney magic — and highly themed retail shops.

The queue takes guests “backstage,” where Mickey is waiting to greet them in a rehearsal-room environment amid posters, steamer trunks and stage props.

In addition, during the New Fantasyland construction, royalty will be visiting as the Disney Princesses will be in Town Square Theater to meet and greet their loyal subjects.

Currently, guests can visit with Mickey Mouse in Tomorrowland, in a location to the right of Space Mountain. Meet-and-greet experiences with the Disney Princesses are currently at Adventureland Verandah.