Disney announced that Bluey is finally coming to its theme parks on land at Walt Disney World in Florida and Disneyland Resort in California, and Disney Cruise Line at sea. This post shares dates and details about the popular pups making their first-ever appearances in the parks, plus commentary about the bright future of Bluey and the Heller family in the Disney Parks.
Beginning in January 2025, onboard Disney Cruise Line voyages originating from Australia and New Zealand, families can interact with Bluey and her sister, Bingo, like never before. From special meet-and-greets, to an interactive and clue-filled game that ends in a dance party featuring Bluey’s signature moves, families in the region can embark on a magical holiday with their favorite blue heeler.
The producers of Bluey, the multiple Emmy Award-winning Ludo Studio, are working closely alongside BBC Studios and Disney on a number of special activations for fans to enjoy. Details about how guests can meet Bluey and her family at Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort will be shared in the months ahead.
The announcement comes as part of a major expansion of The Walt Disney Company’s global relationship with BBC Studios for Bluey. The new deal sees Disney acquiring the global theatrical rights for the film, which will be produced by Ludo Studio in collaboration with BBC Studios, and which will land in cinemas in 2027 under the Disney banner.
Following the global theatrical release, it will stream on Disney+. The movie will also air on ABC iview and ABC Kids in Australia post-theatrical release. Written and directed by Bluey creator Joe Brumm, the film is a Ludo Studio production in collaboration with BBC Studios. Delivering the same charm and humor that made the television series a global phenomenon, the movie will continue the adventures of Bluey, a loveable, inexhaustible, blue heeler dog, who lives with her Mum, Dad and her little sister, Bingo.
Josh D’Amaro, Chairman, Disney Experiences said: “Bluey has become a household name for families around the world and we are thrilled to bring her story to life in new ways. We can’t wait to watch our youngest guests and their families make memories with Bluey in our parks and on our cruises.”
Ludo Studio, said: “’It’s a lovely day to go boat riding’ and we’re incredibly excited that Bluey and Bingo will be sailing on Disney Cruises, bringing Bluey’s magic to families on the high seas!”
Nicki Sheard, CEO, BBC Studios, Brands and Licensing, said: “The Heeler family’s debut at Disney Theme Parks and Cruises really is the icing on the cake for what has been an exceptional year for Bluey. We are committed to creating the very best-in-class experiences for our fans and can’t wait to open the doors to families next year.”
Available in over 140 countries, Bluey is 2024’s most-watched series globally on Disney+, and the year’s No. 1 most-watched series on streaming to date through November among total viewers in the U.S., with more than 50.5 billion minutes watched (842 million hours). The show has also garnered numerous awards, including a 2024 Peabody Award and back-to-back Television Critics Association Awards in 2023 and 2024.
Our Commentary
We’ve been speculating about this for the last few months, after Bluey and Bingo appeared in a character meet & greet at the D23 Expo. In fact, we just updated What’s Up with Bluey at Walt Disney World? two days ago after the big film deal was announced, doubling down on our prediction that this would happen.
Our perspective has been that Bluey appearing in the parks was inevitable, and we hoped that it’d happen sooner rather than later. In response, most Disney fans have agreed–that it’s a perfect match that they want to happen, and hope happens. However, others have suggested that it was unlikely for a variety of reasons.
One of the bigger points against Disney acquiring theme park rights to Bluey was its staying power and longevity as the series itself winds down. There also have been questions about whether the creator would want to partner with Disney for future projects. With a Disney-distributed Bluey movie coming out in 2027, this should put both of those concerns to rest. As discussed in that post, we thought it would behoove Walt Disney World to have a Bluey ASAP–definitely long before the first movie comes out in 2027!
Bluey has already tested the water with immersive experiences, including Bluey’s World in Brisbane, Queensland. This will offer a more permanent place to explore the Heeler family’s iconic Queenslander home, backyard and beyond – in real life!
It’s inevitable that this type of thing will continue to grow in scale and scope, with Walt Disney World and Disneyland being logical next steps for a number of reasons. First and foremost is that Disney really needs this type of a win. Neither coast has any major new attractions to debut in the next two years–both are wholly reliant on entertainment to drive guest visits.
Disneyland has the 70th Anniversary celebration in 2025-2026, and Walt Disney World has Starlight Night Parade. That’s about it. We’ve been discussing ways that Walt Disney World can “compete” with Epic Universe, which is Universal Orlando’s new theme park that opens in 2025. Spoiler alert: there isn’t a whole lot that matches a brand-new theme park in scale, scope, or potential popularity.
A substantive Bluey offering would resonate deeply with a particular, passionate audience. Bluey is one of the very few things that wouldn’t necessarily compete with Epic Universe, but would generate a massive amount of buzz and have huge drawing popular for Walt Disney World in what will otherwise be a rough couple of years in 2025-2026.
As for what we could expect to see of Bluey at Walt Disney World, Disneyland, and Disney Cruise Line, the obvious first step is a character meet & greet. Realistically, Disney moves too slowly for much more than that before late 2025. There will probably be other smaller-scale activities, like Bluey-inspired scavenger hunts during EPCOT and DCA festivals.
In 2026, we’d hope to see something like the Bluey’s World walk-through. Imagineering used to be temporary exhibits like this with quick turnaround times–it’s precisely how Magic Kingdom ended up with the various permutations of Toontown (RIP) in the first place.
Other realistic options include something temporary back in Animation Courtyard at Disney’s Hollywood Studios (there’s a lot of unused space), a cavalcade at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, or integration into World Celebration at EPCOT (remember, Bluey is Australian, so it’s sorta worldly!).
Disney’s Hollywood Studios is the most logical landing location for Bluey at Walt Disney World, but logic may not dictate where the characters end up. Need could. Unless Walt Disney World has something up its sleeve for 2025, the park most in need of an attendance boost will be Animal Kingdom. About the only place I wouldn’t expect the characters is Magic Kingdom, as they simply aren’t needed there.
At Disneyland Resort, we’d expect Bluey to wind up in Disney California Adventure. After all, California and Australia aren’t that far apart. (Joking aside, DCA has become the de facto ‘studio park’ at Disneyland, so the new stuff like this is more likely to land there–and DCA needs the shot in the arm more than Disneyland.)
Ultimately, it’ll be interesting to see where Bluey ends up landing at Walt Disney World and Disneyland. My hope is that Disney bets big and goes bold on Bluey, and proves me wrong by moving quickly to get an actual entertainment offering launched in 2025. A character meet & greet will be great, easily posting triple-digit wait times…but that’s not enough. Bluey is an international sensation, and its theme park presence should be treated accordingly.
Disney already regrets passing on the theme park rights to Bluey, Bob Iger loves synergy and acquisitions, Bluey’s current rightsholders are obviously open to immersive experiences, and Walt Disney World needs a near-term shot in the arm. The stars are aligned, and it’s too perfect of a fit for it to not happen. Disney needs to move quickly for once, and take advantage of this golden opportunity at a time when the parks are light on new additions!
Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page. For where to eat, read our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will help. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know!
YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you think about Bluey coming to Walt Disney World, Disneyland, and Disney Cruise Line? Does the Heeler family deserve a big presence in the parks? Think Bluey entertainment or characters would be good additions in Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, or Animal Kingdom? Hopeful that Bluey, Bingo, Bandit and other characters are added to entertainment or as meet & greets ASAP? Do you agree or disagree with our commentary? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
