PHOTO - New ground clearing taking place behind Harambe in Disney's Animal Kingdom

[wdwmagic]

This topic has been raised in a couple of threads but seems to be a significant project and deserves its own thread. Anyone have any info on what is going on there?

http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions...behind-harambe-at-disney's-animal-kingdom.htm

Thanks to @photoflight for the image!

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

Too small for a coaster or water ride, Junge Book based pooh like ride? Or is that me being too unimaginative?

 

[Timothy_Q]

Too small for a coaster or water ride, Junge Book based pooh like ride? Or is that me being too unimaginative?

Jungle Book takes place in Asia...

 

[tl77]

It seems like it has something to do with the Planet Watch train tracks

 

[wdwmagic]

It seems like it has something to do with the Planet Watch train tracks

I think the most interesting point is that it has been cleared right up to the in-park path. Meaning that at some point, there is likely to be an entrance to this area from an existing path. If it were purely backstage construction, they would not have cleared that close to existing path.

 

[phi2134]

That area is so congested right now, I wonder if it's some type of crowd control measure. I am not sure if that is possible with the train tracks over there, but any relief in that area would help

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

Jungle Book takes place in Asia...

youll be telling me Frozen was in Norway next.

 

[doctornick]

I think it will end up being something small, like new bathrooms near the safari/pangani trail with a new path leading between Asia and Africa.

 

[wdwmagic]

I think it will end up being something small, like new bathrooms near the safari/pangani trail with a new path leading between Asia and Africa.

There are bathrooms right there in Harambe, just the other side of this area. I really can't see them adding more bathrooms.

 

[marni1971]

Tis a big area.

Devils advocate.... something for Rivers of Light work? Infrastructure / compound or 3rd shift access? Assuming the dock by Dinosaur isn't suitable.

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

What is the foot print of the existing conservation and petting area? Move it and theres no need for the train

 

[doctornick]

There are bathrooms right there in Harambe, just the other side of this area. I really can't see them adding more bathrooms.

Well, the bathrooms are "in" Harambe, so if you are going between the safari or Pangani or the Wildlife Express, you have to kind of double back into the main part of the town to use them. Having bathrooms in that area would make it quicker to go between the attractions.

That said, I don't think that you really need bathrooms in the area. And the amount of clearing suggests to me something of reasonable size. Could it be food or merch? I dunno. I feel like if it were an attractions, we'd have heard about it. But, if you wanted to open up a small scale attraction (like a dark ride), building ti now and opening it simultaneously with the Rivers of Light show and extended hours of the park would make sense.

 

[wdwmagic]

Well, the bathrooms are "in" Harambe, so if you are going between the safari or Pangani or the Wildlife Express, you have to kind of double back into the main part of the town to use them. Having bathrooms in that area would make it quicker to go between the attractions.

That said, I don't think that you really need bathrooms in the area. And the amount of clearing suggests to me something of reasonable size. Could it be food or merch? I dunno. I feel like if it were an attractions, we'd have heard about it. But, if you wanted to open up a small scale attraction (like a dark ride), building ti now and opening it simultaneously with the Rivers of Light show and extended hours of the park would make sense.

Food, merchandise, walkway is my guess at this point.

 

[wdwmagic]

Tis a big area.

Devils advocate.... something for Rivers of Light work? Infrastructure / compound or 3rd shift access? Assuming the dock by Dinosaur isn't suitable.

Notice they have cleared right to the guest walkway though. If it were backstage stuff I don't seem them doing that - they would have left a line of trees to mask that area.

 

[tl77]

I think the most interesting point is that it has been cleared right up to the in-park path. Meaning that at some point, there is likely to be an entrance to this area from an existing path. If it were purely backstage construction, they would not have cleared that close to existing path.

It seems strange that they tore up the Conservation Way service road that crossed over the train tracks. Maybe they are going to expand the Marketplace and restaurant and need to do some sightline camouflage/theming for the view from the Plant Watch train?

 

[MichWolv]

I think it'll be storage/infrastructure for Rivers of Light. Hopeful for something else of course.

 

[wdwmagic]

Africa is certainly short on quick service food. Since Tusker moved to table service, it has only left walkup windows for quick service. Now that Lion King has moved into town, perhaps the area is ripe for another full blown quick service.

 

[wdwmagic]

I think it'll be storage/infrastructure for Rivers of Light. Hopeful for something else of course.

Why clear the land right to the guest area then? Wouldn't you want to leave trees in place to conceal that area? It is also a long way from Rivers of Light.

 

[rioriz]

Starbucks?

 

[DktrBob]

First post! It looks to me like it has something to do with the train. Maybe they are moving the station down or creating a second station for loading passengers (with the old one used for dropping passengers off). There is such a bottleneck around the safari and the zoo trail that they might want to direct the train passengers elsewhere.