Where would it be best placed within the resort?
Well, while we think Springfield wouldn't look too out of place in Magic Kingdom's Fantasyland, given the explosion of color and fantasy already on offer in that area, we believe it would quickly make itself right at home at Disney's Hollywood Studios, which, in many ways, isn't so far removed from Universal Studios.
With all that said, could Disney expand Springfield in ways never before seen? Would The Simpsons even remain a themed land if it was moved from Universal to Disney, or would the House of Mouse only be interested in an attraction of some kind, rather than committing an entire area to the world-famous family?
It's no mystery that themed lands are becoming even more popular, especially at Walt Disney World. Take Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, for example - not only does the themed land house two signature Star Wars attractions, it has recently been expanded with Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser, an immersive two-night hotel experience.
So what kind of scope is there for The Simpsons? What else can be plucked from its on-screen counterpart and adapted into a Disney Park setting? How about the whole of Springfield?! Imagine being able to enter and explore the Simpsons' household itself, or enjoying a pint of Duff at an actual Moe's Tavern.
While the Universal Studios' versions definitely capture some iconic locations, there's no denying that the face of the themed land is Krusty the Clown, as opposed to the more "generic" Springfield, which we think would go down incredibly well with parkgoers and fans of the show alike.
As for a sole attraction instead of a themed land, how about the infamous monorail from Season 4's "Marge vs. the Monorail"? Or maybe even a ride that incorporates the whimsical opening sequence of the show itself, which sees each member of the Simpsons family racing home to take a seat on their couch in front of the TV.
Though we often put Walt Disney World on a pedestal due to its size, the truth is we're not entirely sure where a Springfield would actually fit! So maybe The Simpsons household would offer the best of both worlds. Let us know where you think The Simpsons would fit best at Walt Disney World by leaving us a comment below.
Comments
There is no mysterious contract that is "up" in 2023. That's not how IPs work in theme parks. Universal isn't going to spend millions on something that could then be randomly taken away. They certainly wouldn't have added the extensive Springfield area in 2013 if it was only going to exist for another decade. These contracts are all about "in perpetuity" and any dates built intp them are usually about losing the rights to the IP if there is no IP presence in the parks. That's why WDW can't even feature the Avengers, the Fantastic Four or the X-Men in Florida, but they can in California. (Universal lost Marvel rights west of the Mississippi by not having any Marvel attractions in USH when the contract was "up".) The Simpsons are in the Universal parks until Universal decides they don't want them to be.
If this were just an exercise in What If.. then obviously the Studios. Echo Lake could turn into the Springfield Town Square. The whole park could then be about things Disney has bought... and ruined!
I mean the contract that was originally signed by Fox and Universal is actually up in 2023. Many people in the theme park community (myself included) believe when Disney and Universal go to the negotiating table I’m January 2023 that Disney will make them an offer of keeping Simpsons in exchange for Marvel
I say not at all. Full disclosure, I don't care for the show. I honestly wouldn't miss it if it was gone all together but it is definitely better suited for Universal.