Disney Promises To Go “Beyond Storytelling” by Bringing More IP to the Parks

Disney has promised to “accelerate and expand investment in its Experiences segment” by a whopping $60 billion, and they’re finally starting to let us in on just what they have planned.

That’s nearly double the amount of money that was invested in Disney’s last major overhauls: Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Toy Story Land, Avengers Campus, Pandora, and countless rides. But, Disney has made a promise to go “beyond storytelling,” and we’re sharing what that means.

We’ve had a few updates from Disney about the company’s $60 billion investment into the Experiences — the parks and cruise line, mainly — including CEO Bob Iger’s admission that he doesn’t really know where all of that money will be going.

Iger explained that some of that money has been put on a sort of “reserve” for Disney to decide what to do with later. For example, let’s say that five years down the road Disney has another massive box-office success and wants to add something with that intellectual property to the parks — part of this money would be used to do it.

But, Disney shared a new look at how the company is going “beyond storytelling,” which you can see below.

NEW: Disney shared a new sizzle reel highlighting how the company goes "beyond storytelling" – and how the "connective storytelling approach is on full display at Disney’s theme parks and on-board Disney Cruise Line." pic.twitter.com/nSds4qQesI

— Scott Gustin (@ScottGustin) May 20, 2024

In the clip, Disney points out successful franchises and record-breaking films like Avatar and Frozen II (the highest-grossing animated film of all time), as well as the streaming success of The Mandalorian, which was the most streamed U.S. series of 2023. The video later shows examples of each of those properties being used in Disney Parks and on the Disney Cruise Line — and that’s where the “beyond storytelling” comes in.

On Disney’s corporate website, they shared multiple examples of just how these franchises have gone beyond storytelling, including:

Frozen, which has earned $2.7 billion at the global box office, features a hugely popular line of souvenirs, and “Disney experiences around the globe,” like themed lands at Hong Kong Disneyland, Tokyo DisneySea, and Disneyland Paris — not to mention the Frozen attractions at Disney World.

Another successful franchise, Toy Story, has brought in $3.2 billion at the box office. You’ll find lands at Walt Disney World Resort, Shanghai Disney Resort, Hong Kong Disneyland, and Disneyland Paris dedicated to Toy Story, along with hotels at Shanghai Disney Resort, Tokyo Disney Resort, and at Pixar Place Hotel at Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California.

The Avengers changed the game for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and that IP has brought in $7.7 billion globally. You’ll find themed Avengers Campus lands at both Disneyland and Disneyland Paris resorts, and on Disney Cruise Line, where you can “experience and Marvel Super Hero Academy on-board the Disney Wish.”

Of course, there’s also Star Wars, which is one of the most successful film franchises of all time and has earned over $10 billion at the box office over the years — and it’s a HUGE draw for Disney Parks. There’s the original Star Wars ride — Star Tours, but Star Wars comes alive at Galaxy’s Edge in Orlando, Anaheim, and eventually Paris. You can also visit the Hyperspace Lounge on the Disney Wish, where you can “glimpse interstellar views of Coruscant, Tatooine, and Batuu with signature Star Wars-inspired beverages.”

Disney also shared a bit more about their recent partnership with Epic Games, which will “give way to a brand-new games and entertainment universe, bolstering the reach of Disney’s time-tested stories to gamers worldwide.” Not only that, but Disney promises that “this new universe will not only give users the chance to play and interact with Disney content but will offer them the opportunity to create their own wholly unique Disney-themed gaming experiences, too.”

Overall, it sounds like Disney’s “beyond storytelling” plan means further bolstering the presence of IP and successful franchises in the parks and on Disney Cruise Line.

Iger recently shared that once Cars Land and Toy Story Land proved to be successful, Disney “decided that almost all of our investment in the parks would be using that IP and it’s very clear what that delivered.” What exactly this looks like remains to be seen, but we’ll be on the lookout for more updates!