After being announced last month, the “Coco” bus wrap has made its debut at Walt Disney World Resort.
The bus is mostly purple, and features Dante in his alebrije form alongside Pepita, Hector Rivera, and Miguel. Imagery of the marigold bridge from the film is also present throughout the art.
Pepita is Mamma Imelda’s spirit guide in the afterlife.
Hector and Miguel ride on her back, and are featured in a 2D animation style rather than their 3D Pixar counterparts.
“Coco” doesn’t have much presence at Walt Disney World, but a “Coco” scene was added to Mickey’s PhilharMagic in 2021, and you can see Miguel in the Disney Adventure Friends Cavalcade at Magic Kingdom. A “Coco” land could also open at Magic Kingdom in the future. The film was originally mentioned as one of the considered inspirations for “Beyond Big Thunder Mountain,” the biggest expansion in Magic Kingdom history, when it was first announced at D23 Expo 2022.
The Walt Disney Company has always been a champion of imagination, and loves bringing everyone’s favorite Disney films, animations, and ideas to life.
Now, they’re considering bringing something that Disney fans and Park Guests have been asking for, for ages — an entirely Villain-themed land!
The Villains in the Disney Parks have always been a huge draw — with Guests loving to interact with Villainous face characters like Gaston from Beauty and the Beast (1991), Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty (1959), and Cruella De Vil from One Hundred and One Dalmatians / 101 Dalmations (1961).
Unfortunately, until now, Guests have only been able to meet and interact with these coveted Villains either at Halloween Events (like this mind-blowingly realistic Ernesto de la Cruz Meet N’ Greet at this year’s Oogie Boogie Bash) or around at their “heroes” or “good counterparts’” lands and areas within the Disney theme parks.
At this year’s D23 Expo held in California, Disney Parks Head Josh D’Amaro took to the stage to share several brand-new concepts that the Imagineering team are looking to put into action. D’Amaro brought out Chris Beatty and Jennifer Lee, and the Disney team opened up about what they’ve been cooking behind the scenes — and gave the crowd a sneak peek at a Villains land concept that they’ve been playing with.
After discussing the potential of a Coco and Encanto land that might be entwined together somehow over at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, the gathered Disney team began talking about one of the strongest, most iconic and also beloved portions of the Disney canon — the Disney Villains — in all their maniacally evil glory!
This proposed “Villains Land” would be placed right behind Big Thunder Mountain at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom over in Orlando, Florida, tucked alongside or behind the bright, colorful world of Coco and Encanto.
They then shared this new concept art of a new Villains Land, and proposed the concept of:
Villains looming over Casita Madrigal, and what could be beyond Big Thunder Mountain.
This announcement was met with thunderous applause and much shouting from the assembled Disney Parks fans!
All of this would undoubtedly fill a missing void in the Disney Parks for an enhanced Villain experience — and is something that fans have been dying to see for years. The new concept images definitely look cool, and we’re excited to see where this delectably evil new Land over at the Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom might have in store for Disney Park Guests.
Miguel from “Coco” was announced as a Disney Fab 50 character for the statue collection. The announcement was made by Miguel’s voice actor, Anthony Gonzalez.
Anthony Gonzalez, the voice of Miguel in Disney and Pixar’s film “Coco”, has shared that Miguel will be part of the four theme parks’ “Disney Fab 50 Character Collection” that you’ll soon see during “The World’s Most Magical Celebration” beginning October 1. #DisneyWorld50pic.twitter.com/TenXuI2mc4
The Disney Fab 50 character statues are part of the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World this October 1 and will be found across all four theme parks. The celebrations will last for 18 months.
The latest addition to the Disney Fab 50 character statue lineup for the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World is Dante from “Coco.” Dante will appear at EPCOT.
The statue was revealed by Cesar Millan, the “Dog Whisperer” of National Geographic.
We previously shared the exciting news that Disney and Pixar’s “Coco” is joining the fun over at Mickey’s PhilharMagic, as the classic attraction is getting a new “Coco” scene! Today, July 17, is a big day at Disneyland Resort and Disneyland Paris as the new scene is now available to experience with Mickey’s PhilharMagic attraction. While guests at Walt Disney World will have to wait until closer to the 50th Anniversary celebration, Disney is giving us a behind-the-scenes look at the designing of the new Coco scene.
As shared by Disney: “Beginning today, guests of the Disneyland Resort and Disneyland Paris can don their opera glasses at the fan-favorite attraction and experience the addition of the musical number “Un Poco Loco,” from Disney and Pixar’s “Coco.” One of the original composers of “Coco” – Germaine Franco – produced a score unique to “Mickey’s PhilharMagic.”
