I assumed we were talking about the Tiger River Run area north of Kali?
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- Thread starter MousDad
- Start date
EPCOT Explorer
New Member
Disneyson 1
New Member
So it has a name...?
donvincenzo
Member
Wasn't that the original, planned name for the attraction?
hpyhnt 1000
Well-Known Member
^Yep, it has a name, which, if memory serves me correctly, was the original name of Kali River Rapids. I'm pretty sure that originally, KRR would have been much longer and more extensive than the current attraction, and as the name suggests, would have provided a view of the tigers as you floated down the river. Of course, budget issues scaled this back, rather dramatically, to what we see today.
MiklCraw4d
Member
Ah so....
Was the raft ride supposed to extend into this area? I had no idea... I always thought TRR just got downscaled by removing the real tigers and renamed to Kali - I had no idea the actual footprint changed. Interesting.
Looking at DAK from the air, it's obvious that the park layout won't really make sense until that area between Africa and Asia is filled in so that people can walk back all the way to Rafiki's Planetwatch. It was so odd in 1998 when you took that train out there, then walked for a while through the middle of nowhere to get to the goat pens. I remember thinking at the time that something big had obviously been left out!
I've also wondered in the past if the train was meant to do anything but shuttle back and forth to RPW. If Asia had extended all the way back and it linked to that, it would have made more sense.
Was the raft ride supposed to extend into this area? I had no idea... I always thought TRR just got downscaled by removing the real tigers and renamed to Kali - I had no idea the actual footprint changed. Interesting.
Looking at DAK from the air, it's obvious that the park layout won't really make sense until that area between Africa and Asia is filled in so that people can walk back all the way to Rafiki's Planetwatch. It was so odd in 1998 when you took that train out there, then walked for a while through the middle of nowhere to get to the goat pens. I remember thinking at the time that something big had obviously been left out!
I've also wondered in the past if the train was meant to do anything but shuttle back and forth to RPW. If Asia had extended all the way back and it linked to that, it would have made more sense.
The original Tiger River was a lot bigger than Kali. Yep, it got downscaled (no surprise) and then had a name change. The original would have been one of the worlds longest, most immersive raft rides. Think Kali meets Jungle Cruise.
The obligitory map, where the final version is in the trees at the bottom of the sketched ride:
The obligitory map, where the final version is in the trees at the bottom of the sketched ride:
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hpyhnt 1000
Well-Known Member
You know as, great as it was to see youre rendering, Martin, it really disappoints me that the original design was never followed through. What we have today isn't even a shell of the original. Kali is maybe a fifth of what the original design was suppossed to be. 
krankenstein
Well-Known Member
jt04
Well-Known Member
The first time I rode Kali I was stunned by how short the ride was. It paled in comparison to a similar style ride at BG IMO. Seems like they could have better compromised between the original version and what they ended up doing. I never ride Kali when at AK.
There is a silver lining though. All that land is now available and is large enough for a large new land(s). Personally I would love to see "South America" that utilizes the train and the Planet Watch area (rethemed).
I remember someone thought they might build a European themed area that would have BK and/or possibly Narnia themes. Now before you laugh that off, just remember there is a very strong rumor Fantasyland is dropping the Medieval Fair theming as part of it's extreme makeover. Perhaps that lends credibility to a new reimagined BK type land coming to AK. Think about it. It would fit some rumors around here and be a potential Potter slayer.
There is a silver lining though. All that land is now available and is large enough for a large new land(s). Personally I would love to see "South America" that utilizes the train and the Planet Watch area (rethemed).
I remember someone thought they might build a European themed area that would have BK and/or possibly Narnia themes. Now before you laugh that off, just remember there is a very strong rumor Fantasyland is dropping the Medieval Fair theming as part of it's extreme makeover. Perhaps that lends credibility to a new reimagined BK type land coming to AK. Think about it. It would fit some rumors around here and be a potential Potter slayer.
The Empress Lilly
Well-Known Member
First time I've seen this. So many things make sense to me now.:sohappy:The original Tiger River was a lot bigger than Kali. Yep, it got downscaled (no surprise) and then had a name change. The original would have been one of the worlds longest, most immersive raft rides. Think Kali meets Jungle Cruise.
The obligitory map, where the final version is in the trees at the bottom of the sketched ride:
Kali. Why Kali feels impossibly short. The 'empty plot of land'. The oddly placed train stations. It all falls into place.
EpcotServo
Well-Known Member
Wasn't the orginal Tiger River Run going to actually pass through/go near a Tiger area like the one in the Jungle Trek? I always thought that would've been cool.
DisneyWales
Member
OMG thanks Martin for the little sketch doodad. WHAT I BIG CROCK tho.
Kali is one of those attractions that i always come off and wonder, so this is where the money ran out then. Its just so short, and it feels shoe horned into that area, but now the "Great Kali Mystery" is now solved.
For what people have said if that was the original planned version of Kali, that would have been the most amazing version ever, so float by the Tiger areas, and the animal walk through, now thats true theming kinetic energy.
Argh, such a shame this never came to pass
Kali is one of those attractions that i always come off and wonder, so this is where the money ran out then. Its just so short, and it feels shoe horned into that area, but now the "Great Kali Mystery" is now solved.
For what people have said if that was the original planned version of Kali, that would have been the most amazing version ever, so float by the Tiger areas, and the animal walk through, now thats true theming kinetic energy.
Argh, such a shame this never came to pass
DisneyWales
Member
Lol its the same for the TV/EVENTS industry, just hold a clipboard and wear a headset looking self important will get you onto most sets or backstage lol.
MiklCraw4d
Member
Well that explains that. Way to blow it, guys. I vividly recall my disappointment when I first rode Kali; while they had heavily promoted the original concept of the ride they never promoted they downscaling and so when I first went on it I expected to be rafting by the tigers, etc. After the amazing and atmospheric queue and load area the ride starts well and then... that's it. I was incredibly disappointed and shocked at what they had done. There were similar, lengthier rides at BG and ever Carowinds. I haven't ridden it since.
RSoxNo1
Well-Known Member
This idea was thrown around on these message boards originally be a fan, and I've echoed that sentiment on several occasions. I feel that Europe would lend itself to many mythical creatures, and that would be a derivation of the original Beastly Kingdom concept.
As for the retheming of Fantasyland, I would assume a change would need to be made for the Little Mermaid, but the remainder European theme would fit in for the presumed faked Beauty and the Beast rumor (France) and/or the Snow White Coaster (Germany).
darthjohnny
Active Member
I don't think cut backs aren't the only reason Tiger River Run became Kali. Let's not forget that they didn't find it thrilling enough in the former version, that's why they combined the little drops into the big drop of today. And they probably got rid of the tiger ideas because it didn't work. If you really think about it, how would you be able to really even see the tigers where they are still in a visible, yet secure way, while you are zooming by in a rotating raft. Plus, with the loud noises due to the rushing water and the screams of people might have even been too loud for the tigers (which might have caused them too stay hidden). It doesn't seem like it would work out that well.
jt04
Well-Known Member
Seems like they would have been better off just scraping the idea if you are right. If it wasn't feasible for AK it would have made a great attraction at the MK or Epcot (rethemed of course). It's a great ride system and it just seems wasted as it is currently being utilized. Just my opinion.
Howdya figure that out? TRR would have had awesome rapid sections, waterfall canyons and at least 2 drops.
not to mention tigers