SparkyGiraffe
Member
VERY well said!:wave:
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Yeti is indeed being fixed! Update 8/4/2014
- Thread starter jjharvpro
- Start date
RSoxNo1
Well-Known Member
Perhaps that's part of the problem. For me it comes up a bit short for a zoo at that price. For others it comes up short for a theme park at that price.
San Diego Zoo is like $30-40 a day. The Wild Animal Park is probably a more appropriate comparison, so figure with the price of a multi day ticket, DAK is $20 more. The exhibits at DAK may be done better, but there aren't as many.
I love the animal based attractions, but they could also be expanded upon. Asia has a large roster of animals that aren't represented, and the Maharajah Jungle Trek probably needs a bit of re-working in the area that used to have the Malayan Tapir.
The obvious additions are not so realistic (Giant Pandas and Asian Elephants apparently have ridiculous restrictions on their exhibits). I'd also suggest that not enough people would care about the difference between African and Asian Elephants. I'd think orangutans would be a great addition, and wouldn't really have the concern often held that the animals are always sleeping. There would typically be enough of them active to entertain the guests.
With all that in mind, a master plan for the Animal Kingdom has to start with expansion in the Camp Minnie Mickey area. We had Mitch and Lilly from Imagineering Disney on our show this week and we discussed this very thing - Animal Kingdom has excellent design components. It doesn't have the same problems of parks like DCA or Disney Studios Paris. What it's missing is attractions. That's a much easier fix than what's happening in California.
A 2-3 attraction addition in Camp Minnie Mickey will allow the necessary downtime for maintenance of the other attractions in the park. It will also allow for disruption in other areas as the existing areas are plussed with new attractions as well.
flavious27
Well-Known Member
Agreed, dak is not close to being in the bad shape that dca was/is. And what is needed to be fixed is just expansion, nothing needs to be redone (sorry indyland fans). There are two areas at dak that can be used for easy expansion (which is a godsent compared to the other gates). I also don't think that there is much argument over what should be placed in those areas, which should be telling to tdo about what their customers want.
I don't know if camp mickey should be expanded first, because there are some people that do like that m&g area and the folk. The south american land should be build first because it would cause the least disruptions for guests and it would be more expensive. Also, it would gauge how guests think of dak and future visits. I think that tdo would be happy if attendance at dak surpassed epcot (without epcot's attendance dropping at the same time).
Web rumour. The northern cleared land is earmarked, but for a later stage of the parks development.
CM&M was temporary as designed. I know, so was Mickeys Birthdayland.
Pumbas Nakasak
Heading for the great escape.
I dont know if its true but Ive heard that its possible to see animals in their natural environment. No costumes or sets required.
A theme park is a theme park the only place I want animal is on my plate. Only the delusional pretend its otherwise.
A theme park is a theme park the only place I want animal is on my plate. Only the delusional pretend its otherwise.
Until I can afford to see all of them in their natural environment, I guess I'll continue to see them at zoos, aquariums, etc. And quite frankly, I prefer seeing sharks and rays at Sea World, and gators anyplace but on my dock. But not dolphins and manatee - I like having them follow me when I'm on the water, or coming up to the dock in the morning.
And I don't think I want them on my plate, but I have no affection for fish, chickens, pigs or cows, so if they end up on my plate that's fine by me.
Lucky
Well-Known Member
Theme parks evolved from amusement parks which evolved in part from county agricultural fairs. Disneyland had mule rides when it opened.
Pumbas Nakasak
Heading for the great escape.
Excellent a ride you can eat.
electricmayhemm
New Member
Ee
I know the discussion has drifted helplessly away from the Yeti being fixed, but I would like to chime in on EE for a minute.
My wife and I went to WDW for the first time together last year. We have been to DL many times, so we decided to change it up. I had heard of EE, but decided to stay away from youtube ride-throughs and things like that so the first ride I would get to be surprised and enjoy all of the quirks. What I did know going in was that it was themed around the yeti and that it was a roller coaster with some ground-breaking effects.
I was surprised: in a good and bad way.
I really loved the theming and the coaster reversal. I thought the ride was building well to the end. I couldn't wait to encounter the yeti... surely that must happen!
Until it didn't (seemingly). When we reached the end of the ride, I turned to my wife and asked, "Did you see the yeti?" I am being 100% serious. The sun was bright that day, and coming around the corner right before his triumph of groove-disco splendor... my eyes did not adjust and the strobes did not light him enough for me to notice. Over our stay, we rode EE many more times and I tried to get a look at this HUGE animal, but it was very hard to see anything.
"Surely this cannot be the way things are", I though. Hell, the sign for the ride has 30 posters on it warning of the fierce yeti... and we get a strobe light?
Now, we love the Matterhorn in DL, and the Abominable Snowman rules that domain. Sure, he is not scary... but I enjoy going by him. He simply stands there posed and his eyes light up red. At different points in the ride, you can hear him growling/laughing menacingly. The effect is not amazing, but I enjoy looking for him each time going by. What does this have to do with EE?
I thought at the very least they could dramatically light-up the yeti. Since he is now paralyzed, why not brightly illuminate him from many different angles so that you can see him. Maybe do it at the last second for surprise? Also, they could employ some old Disney tricks to enhance the experience: try playing a growl at extremely loud volume. Its not my first option, but it does help rides like Dinosaur. And, rather than putting one box fan on the yeti, try aiming some high powered fans at the coaster to give the impression that something is happening. This works very well for Space Mountain and Indiana Jones.
Since I went, I realize that it used to be really great, and its even more of an insult to people that saw the yeti in A-Mode. However, for the average disney guest that did not experience that, they really could get by with making a few smaller changes to enhance the experience. Unfortunately, it seems like a strobe light and box fan were all they could find in the basement of the WOL pavilion.
I know the discussion has drifted helplessly away from the Yeti being fixed, but I would like to chime in on EE for a minute.
My wife and I went to WDW for the first time together last year. We have been to DL many times, so we decided to change it up. I had heard of EE, but decided to stay away from youtube ride-throughs and things like that so the first ride I would get to be surprised and enjoy all of the quirks. What I did know going in was that it was themed around the yeti and that it was a roller coaster with some ground-breaking effects.
I was surprised: in a good and bad way.
I really loved the theming and the coaster reversal. I thought the ride was building well to the end. I couldn't wait to encounter the yeti... surely that must happen!
Until it didn't (seemingly). When we reached the end of the ride, I turned to my wife and asked, "Did you see the yeti?" I am being 100% serious. The sun was bright that day, and coming around the corner right before his triumph of groove-disco splendor... my eyes did not adjust and the strobes did not light him enough for me to notice. Over our stay, we rode EE many more times and I tried to get a look at this HUGE animal, but it was very hard to see anything.
"Surely this cannot be the way things are", I though. Hell, the sign for the ride has 30 posters on it warning of the fierce yeti... and we get a strobe light?
Now, we love the Matterhorn in DL, and the Abominable Snowman rules that domain. Sure, he is not scary... but I enjoy going by him. He simply stands there posed and his eyes light up red. At different points in the ride, you can hear him growling/laughing menacingly. The effect is not amazing, but I enjoy looking for him each time going by. What does this have to do with EE?
I thought at the very least they could dramatically light-up the yeti. Since he is now paralyzed, why not brightly illuminate him from many different angles so that you can see him. Maybe do it at the last second for surprise? Also, they could employ some old Disney tricks to enhance the experience: try playing a growl at extremely loud volume. Its not my first option, but it does help rides like Dinosaur. And, rather than putting one box fan on the yeti, try aiming some high powered fans at the coaster to give the impression that something is happening. This works very well for Space Mountain and Indiana Jones.
Since I went, I realize that it used to be really great, and its even more of an insult to people that saw the yeti in A-Mode. However, for the average disney guest that did not experience that, they really could get by with making a few smaller changes to enhance the experience. Unfortunately, it seems like a strobe light and box fan were all they could find in the basement of the WOL pavilion.
inluvwithbeast
New Member
I would love AK much more if they expanded on the zoo end of things. I'm a bit spoiled because I can go to the OKC zoo for under $20 and see orangutans, Asian elephants, Sumatran tigers, red pandas, Komodo dragons, Indian rhinos, and snow leopards along with various "hoofstock" from Asia. The OKC Zoo isn't that big it seems, at least to me. The theming isn't quite up to par with AK but the newer areas are still pretty awesome for $8 admission.
Either embrace your inner zoo-ness, AK, and educate us about nature and ecosystems, or beef up your attraction line-up. Or do both? The Tiger River is something I long for, maybe more than BK.
comics101
Well-Known Member
I don't mean to argue or anything, I'm just genuinly curious, why is that? I would assume that the parks are the most profitable division of TWDC. Considering MK is the most visited place in the world, I just figured that means it probably makes the most money of any product the company offers. I understand it's the biggest investment, but I would think that investment offers HUGE reward.
Pioneer Hall
Well-Known Member
Media networks are the most profitable area. The parks are great, but they cost a ton to run and really eat into the profit margin of the segment.
http://corporate.disney.go.com/investors/annual_reports/2010/financials_highlights.html
lazyboy97o
Well-Known Member
I do not know about currently, but even in the early 1980s when Walt Disney productions was heading for financial trouble, the company remained solvent because Disneyland and Walt Disney World were able to make up for the losses at the Studio.
The first wrench into it was the end of the tickets, which, regardless of how you feel about them, gave each attraction an actual, traceable source of revenue. Then came a slow change in thought that the parks would be even more profitable if every divisions, unit whatever was profitable. So the shops that sold little that wen and more interesting food choices were replaced by cheaper to buy, easier to prepare items like burgers. The attractions get sucked into this and now, without a direct source of revenue, become hard to justify and those with declining attendance are shuttered.
Disney also began doing more and more research and they have found that most people are happy if they experience 8.5 attractions per day. So in order to get people in the shops and restaurants more, Disney began trying out means of getting people to this threshold and not above. FastPass was not intended to have people stand in queue while holding a FastPass, they were supposed to be buying. Parks with limited attraction offerings (Disney's Animal Kingdom, Disney's California Adventure, Walt Disney Studios Park and Hong Kong Disneyland) were intended to give you just enough to do your 8.5 attractions. Meet and Greets are becoming more elaborate because more and more people are considering them to be attractions, a much cheaper alternative to rides and shows. This is why I fear the new reservation systems, I see it as another try at trying to limit you to that lucky number of attractions to make you happy and get you spending.
Ultimately carried out by people who have no history with the company and many who helped create a culture in which such history, or love for it, is a negative quality. They do not know or understand the original intentions behind building of the parks, and selling entertainment, and for many they frankly could not care that they are in themed entertainment. It is about doing what they know, profit maximization, doing it well and moving on to the next job. Just remember, any time you see a quote or reference to Walt, there are plenty in the company laughing at you for buying into that crap.
Natazu.
KingdomKeeper
Member
I never noticed that...is there some way to be allowed to stay in the room long enough to decode it? They move people along pretty quick...
inluvwithbeast
New Member
You gotta read the whole conversation. Lol.
My original post, which RSoxNo1 responded to, said that for a park that bills itself as NOT a zoo, it sure feels like one.
cheezbat
Well-Known Member
They sure seem to like to make us all think it's got plenty to do because of the Zoo aspect...even though it's Natazu. For you AK lovers, i get it. You love it. Awesome. Continue to support your love. BUT the park is seriously lacking in attractions in comparison to ANY of the other Disney theme parks around the world. The only park I would think it even comes close to in lack of attractions is probably Walt Disney Studios Paris...and we all know how horrible that park is performing!
The park needs some dark rides. Some places to get out of the heat. That's a must for a central Florida theme park. The park needs another thrill ride, but it also needs something for the younger and older crowds to balance things out. AK needs work. And to see how little Disney has spent on it since it's opening is just sad. DHS got more money poured into it on opening day. So did Epcot. And those parks opened years before DAK...before the inflation.
Time to step it up Disney. I have been boycotting DAK the past year and will continue to until the Yeti is fixed or something else is added. We as fans gotta speak up to the company the only way they understand - with our wallets.
The park needs some dark rides. Some places to get out of the heat. That's a must for a central Florida theme park. The park needs another thrill ride, but it also needs something for the younger and older crowds to balance things out. AK needs work. And to see how little Disney has spent on it since it's opening is just sad. DHS got more money poured into it on opening day. So did Epcot. And those parks opened years before DAK...before the inflation.
Time to step it up Disney. I have been boycotting DAK the past year and will continue to until the Yeti is fixed or something else is added. We as fans gotta speak up to the company the only way they understand - with our wallets.
lazyboy97o
Well-Known Member
You just sort of proved WDW1974's point. You start off saying you want more attraction, then get into specifics about the types of rides they need to add. A ride is a type of attraction, not all attractions are rides.
Wilt Dasney
Well-Known Member
Does it really matter, since you've already "paid for" a visit to AK with a Park Hopper whether you enter the park or not?
(Granted, this strategy could have a noticeable impact on the park's admission figures, but it's not going to have a correlated financial impact if you're just spending your normal AK day at another WDW park. Buying fewer total days in the parks could have a limited impact, but that's also situational, since extra days become so cheap at the top of the scale.)
WDW1974
Well-Known Member
I think BK would have (but I think the park can easily be a full day experience now IF the guest isn't simply in a hurry to 'ride all the rides and leave') ... Not only that, but add a night show like RoL and perhaps a full-serve dining location that actually wasn't run by Landry's and had some spectacular setting and the park would have been very fleshed out.
Maybe it's because I love animals and spectacular theming, but I have yet to be bored at DAK ... I am often bored to tears at the MK.