One of the big theme park announcements coming out of Disney’s D23 event was that a Villains Land was coming to the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World. Fans have requested such a land for years, and its announcement got the biggest cheer from the crowd. Disney released very early concept art for the lad, which does not have an official name as of yet. (We’re just going to call it “Villains Land” for now.) The art definitely leans into spooky sinister vibes of their classic fairy tale films, which we’re very here for. So which villains of their many dozens need to figure prominently in the land? We have our ideas for which ten baddies definitely must have a significant presence when the land eventually opens its gates.
We should note, we’re only using villains from animated films from Walt Disney Animation Studios. The concept art conveys a medieval feel, so we’re guessing bad guys like Syndrome from The Incredibles or Sid from Toy Story would not fit in. We’re also not including any Marvel or Star Wars villains. They have their own lands to roam. Oh, and for each of these villains, we are specifically looking at their original animated incarnations. No shade, but we go classic over those from any of the live-action adaptations every time.
10. Captain Hook (Peter Pan, 1953)
Sometimes we love a classic Disney villain because they’re menacing, or ooze sinister cool. In the case of Captain Hook from Peter Pan, however, we just love him because he’s a complete bumbling idiot. As far as villains go, he’s really just a big goof. But we must admit, he has fabulous hair and a lovely hat, that make him a fashion icon. We don’t know if he warrants his own attraction, but Disneyland used to have Captain Hook’s pirate ship as a restaurant in Skull Rock decades ago. Maybe revive that concept for Villains Land?
9. The Evil Queen (Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, 1937)
She may not have an actual canonical name, but that doesn’t stop Snow White’s wicked stepmother from being an icon. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in 1937 was Disney’s first animated feature film, and her appearance created the template for all other Disney animated villains to come. The unchecked jealousy, the snazzy purple and black wardrobe, the arching eyebrows; all the others followed in her footsteps in some way. She’s so iconic that her disguised form of an old hag is just as famous as her default glamorous mode. Hopefully they at least give her an apple cart somewhere in Villains Land. (It can sell churros too.)
8. Chernabog (Fantasia, 1940)
Is Chernabog from Fantasia a villain? He certainly looks like one. The silent, mountain-sized figure is based on the God of Darkness from Slavic folklore. He commands an army of the dead, which he uses to terrorize a sleepy village in Fantasia’s “Night on Bald Mountain” segment. So, we guess that counts as bad guy behavior. We’re not sure where Chernabog would fit into Villains Land, but how absolutely awesome would it be if there was an actual Bald Mountain in that land with him on top? During the day, the giant wings would be folded up and at night they would open up to reveal Chernabog’s true demonic self. C’mon, Imagineers, this is an easy one.
7. Gaston (Beauty and the Beast, 1991)
Gaston from Beauty and the Beast has no mystical powers nor is he an evil royal. He’s just a great big entitled jerk, toxic masculinity personified, someone who thinks he’s God’s gift to women. Oh, those poor ladies from Belle’s village, having to put up with his obnoxious self. So why do we love him? Well, it helps that he has a great song that goes with his name, and that kind of self-delusion can kind of be endearing. He also has a great pub where he hangs his hat, which could make for a great eatery in Villains Land.
6. Cruella de Vil (101 Dalamtians, 1961)
Like Gaston, Cruella de Vil has no magical powers and she’s not an evil queen….except in her own mind. And that’s why we love this cackling, preening fashion icon. Yes, she wants to kill adorable puppies to make herself a coat. We should totally hate her for such gruesome intentions. But she has a heck of a lot of style, and that counts for a lot. We don’t think Cruella should get her own attraction necessarily, but at least one of the higher-end clothing shops in the land should be named “Cruella’s.”
5. Jafar (Aladdin, 1992)
Jafar is another iconic villain from Disney Animation’s Renaissance era. The Royal Vizier of Agrabah in Aladdin, he wanted to rule the kingdom and get a hold of that pesky magic lamp. Animated Disney villains are known for their camp and coded queerness, and no one goes harder in this direction than Jafar. Like all good Disney villains, he rocks a great outfit, and has some killer facial hair too. His sidekick, Iago the parrot, was annoying, but Jafar is still one of the greatest. We’re sure he’ll be wandering around the land, holding his scepter, but we kind of hope he gets an attraction too. Maybe a terrifying Cave of Wonders?
4. Dr. Facilier (The Princess and the Frog, 2009)
The mystical voodoo villain Dr. Facilier from The Princess and the Frog was the last great Disney villain introduced in classic hand-drawn animation. Voiced by the great Keith David, the Shadow Man had a spooky and suave demeanor, that made us instantly fall under his spell. And like most of the great Disney baddies, he looks snazzy in a purple and black ensemble. For inexplicable reasons, he’s not used in the new Tiana’s Bayou Adventure attraction in Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, so he needs representation in the new Villains Land. At the very least, Dr. Facilier’s Magic Shop?
3. Scar (The Lion King, 1994)
What makes for a better villain than a seethingly jealous sibling? Besides, when your name is Scar, what else is going to be your career path? Voiced by the iconic Jeremy Irons in The Lion King, Scar committed one of the more heinous acts of any of the animated Disney villains, actually killing the hero’s father. What can we say, Scar went in hard. Seeing as we likely won’t see Pride Rock in Villains Land, we’re not sure where a big imposing cat with hyena lackeys fits in. Hopefully, we should “Be Prepared” for something special in Villains Land for Scar.
2. Ursula (The Little Mermaid, 1989)
When The Little Mermaid premiered in 1989, we hadn’t had a proper witchy villain in a Disney film in 30 years. And yet, Ursula instantly took her place among the pantheon of the great witches, first with her sassy dialogue, then her banger of a signature song, “Poor Unfortunate Souls.” The Sea Witch also had a visual design no one can ever forget, based on the late, great drag icon, Divine. And let’s hear it for black and purple again for the winning color combo. Because she figures prominently in The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Undersea Adventure, she might not get her own attraction. Hopefully, she at least gets her own seafood eatery inside the land.
1. Maleficent (Sleeping Beauty, 1959)
Sleeping Beauty isn’t quite the greatest of all the animated Disney films, but it has the distinct honor of having the best villain. The sorceress Maleficent has it all—an iconic and memorable design, a tremendous voice performance by Eleanor Audley, and our girl turns into a giant dragon. Not to mention, her whole evil plan is revenge on a whole kingdom for not inviting her to a kid’s party. That’s a nuclear level of pettiness and we respect it. The concept art for Villains Land seems that Maleficent’s castle is prominently featured. The coaster also seems to show off Maleficent in dragon form. We don’t think we have to worry too much about Maleficent representation here. However, we would be remiss to not reiterate that she’s the Queen Bee. She deserves the royal treatment in Villains Land.
