Villains Land is the official name of the dark new corner coming to Magic Kingdom, and its two headline attractions now have shapes: a Maleficent roller coaster and a Magic Mirror dark ride. Disney Experiences Chairman Thomas Mazloum delivered the update Saturday at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event after the Magic Mirror itself materialized on stage, and Glenn Close appeared in character as Cruella de Vil to punctuate the reveal.
Why It Is Just Called Villains Land
Mazloum summoned two Imagineers to present it: Bruce Vaughn, President and Chief Creative Officer of Walt Disney Imagineering, and Caroline May, Executive Creative Director. May explained that the plain name is deliberate, since Magic Kingdom has an established precedent of putting “land” in the title, from Fantasyland to Tomorrowland. As she put it, “why mess with a good thing?” She added that it is what guests were going to call it anyway.
A Corrupted Wishing Well Draws Them In
The land’s original story centers on a broken Wishing Well deep in a foreboding forest, corrupted by an evil wish. Its dark magic has drawn Disney’s most notorious villains, including Cruella, the Evil Queen and Dr. Facilier, who have each conjured elaborate lairs described as elevated and elegant, reflecting their own styles and personalities. Disney characterizes the residents as powerful, sophisticated and possessing impeccable taste, and the land will include shops and restaurants alongside its two rides. The entrance leans on a fairytale convention: the real journey begins when characters stray off the safe path into the woods.
Two pieces of the creative groundwork were established before this weekend rather than announced at it. Imagineers coined the term “Conjured Architecture” to govern the land’s look after research trips to Paris and Barcelona studying Art Nouveau, and Disney Legend Andreas Deja, the animator behind Gaston, Jafar and Scar, confirmed at Destination D23 last year that he is consulting on the project. Both were restated on stage Saturday as the design philosophy behind what was shown.
The Maleficent Coaster And The Mirror Realm
The coaster races through the enchanted briar surrounding Maleficent’s mountaintop fortress, and Imagineers teased that it will include elements they have never attempted on similar attractions before. The second headliner is a theatrical dark ride hosted by the Magic Mirror, found in the catacombs beneath the Evil Queen’s pristine palace. Guests enter the Mirror Realm, where the Mirror conjures visions of villains from across Disney animation using a mix of practical and special effects.
The land is planned on the scale of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, which would make it one of the largest expansions in Magic Kingdom history. Maquettes of the land’s twisted forest trees are on display in the Imagineering pavilion on the D23 show floor, the largest such pavilion the event has ever staged, as we covered when the D23 2026 show floor map arrived.
No, There Is Not A Cruella Ride
Close’s surprise appearance, complete with a Beck performance of “Cruella De Vil,” briefly sent social media speculating about a Cruella attraction. That is not accurate. Cruella gets a lair within the land, and the attraction count remains two: the coaster and the dark ride. Disney’s own materials describe two headlining attractions plus dining and shopping, with no third ride named.
Villains Land was first announced at D23 2024, when Josh D’Amaro revealed with an assist from Rita Ora that Disney’s villains would finally get a home of their own at Magic Kingdom. Saturday’s update added the name, the story and the ride lineup, but Disney has not yet announced an opening timeline for the project.
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