Overview
- Vahle said construction has broken ground on Monstropolis at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Tropical Americas at Animal Kingdom, and Villains- and Cars-themed areas at Magic Kingdom, with Disney Lakeshore Lodge also well underway.
- He characterized recent closures and rebuilds as revitalizing underutilized areas, pointing to Rivers of America, DinoLand U.S.A., and the former Muppet Courtyard now being reimagined into new, story-driven lands.
- Recent on-the-ground changes include the June 2025 closure of Muppet*Vision 3D, demolition work in Dino-Rama, and the draining of Rivers of America as multi-year projects move forward.
- Near-term updates include a new Zootopia show at the Tree of Life Theater and refurbishments that add scenes to Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, with a reported plan to reimagine Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster with a Muppets theme.
- Orlando Magazine placed Vahle atop its 2025 tourism power list as he touted a yearslong cadence of openings and said leadership is being thoughtful about fan favorites during the transformation.