DAK 'Encanto' and 'Indiana Jones'-themed experiences at Animal Kingdom

[flyerjab]

I still think this is historical nostalgic bias. There’s many takes on Animal Kingdom and at its base form, Dinosaurs as ‘animals’ have an obvious place. Dinoland USA, no matter its quality, doesn’t really mesh as well with Africa/Asia as Tropical Americas does, in theory. “North America” would be better on brand for AK than Dinoland USA.

Joe’s whole thing has been more eco tourism and I don’t get that out of Dinoland. Including the inability to lean into living animals or conservation messaging outside the attractions.

The last major plot should be Oceania - which would allow for both the Australian/South Pacific Islands that the park is desperately reaching for.

You and are are in alignment. Having Discovery Island surrounded by Africa, Asia and Tropical Americas just fits better with my OCD mind. If done well, this land could be beautiful.

Also thinking back to what Bruce Vaughn said regarding this land…visitors will be able to fully experience the culture of this part of the world. I wonder if that will take center stage instead of animal additions: human culture over animal experiences - as a cost savings of course. It will be interesting to see how convincing Bruce is and if there will be any actual animals in this part of Animal Kingdom.

 

[yensidtlaw1969]

Thanks to you both. If I thought about the orientation of the art with the current Dino gate and the temple being Indy/Dinosaur, it lines up correctly.

Here's a Gif for everyone's reference:

 

[sedati]

Remember how cynical we all were about the Pandora addition?

Not all- some of us saw the potential while others swore to never step foot inside the land

 

[flyerjab]

True. That’s why they’re adding one.

What’s being added? Isn’t this a zero sum game? A spinner, coaster and E ticket ride to a rethemed spinner, dark ride and re-themed E ticket ride. Where is the addition?

 

[Gusey]

According to Melody Malmberg's ‘The Making of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park’, the original concept for Animal Kingdom was more like a large Epcot pavilion about animals, but in 1992, Michael Eisner went to a pitch meeting and said: "You’ve got to lead with your cliches! I want a dinoland, and I want it to be called Dinoland." That led them to redesigning the park to the concept we know today: hub and spoke with Africa, Asia, Dinoland and Beastly Kingdom. Also interesting that the book also says Camp Minnie Mickey was supposed to act as a transitional land to Beastly Kingdom, not a placeholder land

 

[BrianLo]

Sorry, maybe I gave the wrong impression calling it Dinoland. What I meant is a well themed area about Dinosaurs. I doesn't have to have any resemblance to current Dinoland.

Nothing precludes Indy from being focused on dinosaurs. Not the foggiest idea, but it doesn’t sound like this is a direct clone.

In fact I would love if it is focused on dinosaurs still. That would provide nice variety to the land.

I think tropical americas is a better concept than a non location based ‘dinosaur land’. I think Indy is a better attraction than Dinosaur. I think in eithers current form, Indy as a vessel makes a lot more sense for the direction of the lands overarching location (tropical America).

What I don’t think is that an Indy 1:1 clone as an attraction is a better fit for Animal Kingdom as a whole. So I’m eagerly awaiting how they deal with that. If they do.

Encanto is its own beast. Meshes very very well with the cultural flare the lands usually faces - also highly depends on how they interpret the attraction.


As an aside, I really don’t think this land features Coco, nor should it.

 

[mickEblu]

Nothing precludes Indy from being focused on dinosaurs. Not the foggiest idea, but it doesn’t sound like this is a direct clone.




As an aside, I really don’t think this land features Coco, nor should it.

I agree. Coco has no business being a part of this. Just have the spinner be Antonio’s animals instead. Also, Coco should be saved for a dark ride.

 

[GhostHost1000]

So I guess now the dragon and the dinosaur will be out of place in the AK logo.

 

[mickEblu]

So I guess now the dragon and the dinosaur will be out of place in the AK logo.

All they need to do is put one dinosaur in Indy and change the silhouette of the dragon to match the “dragon” from Avatar.

 

[Captain Barbossa]

So I guess now the dragon and the dinosaur will be out of place in the AK logo.

“The dragon will double as a banshee……….the little kiddos won’t know the difference” is the mindset I’m expecting lol

 

[BrianLo]

I agree. Coco has no business being a part of this. Just have the spinner be Antonio’s animals instead. Also, Coco should be saved for a dark ride.

It would be a huge waste of a great IP. I really can’t think of anything I’d rather immediately transitioning behind Big Thunder (that is a IP, which is a requirement) than Coco.

MK would hugely benefit from the cuisine boost.

 

[KDM31091]

I’d love to see them simply improve dinoland and since technically we have no official confirmation from Disney on anything at this point, I’m holding out a tiny bit of hope that dinosaur will stay. But I know I’m likely wrong.

 

[ToTBellHop]

It would be a huge waste of a great IP. I really can’t think of anything I’d rather immediately transitioning behind Big Thunder (that is a IP, which is a requirement) than Coco.

MK would hugely benefit from the cuisine boost.

You have more faith than I do that they wouldn’t just open a bag of Doritos, throw some taco meat and lettuce in there, and sell Miguel’s Musical Walking Taco Bag for $14.99.

 

[BrianLo]

You have more faith than I do that they wouldn’t just open a bag of Doritos, throw some taco meat and lettuce in there, and sell Miguel’s Musical Walking Taco Bag for $14.99.

Lmao. Ya it is Magic Kingdom. Whom I kidding?

But Disneyland has Rancho del Zocalo. They can’t be that daft to screw it up… well ya they can. Points taken.

 

[MisterPenguin]

All they need to do is put one dinosaur in Indy and change the silhouette of the dragon to match the “dragon” from Avatar.

 

[mickEblu]

View attachment 774148

Oh so they already did that? So put a triceratops in Indy and call it a day haha.

 

[MisterPenguin]

I think the big issue with Encanto is we've never had a ride at DAK that features human animated characters.

Wait... Dr. Steven's *isn't* an AA?!?!

 

[MisterPenguin]

Beyond that it’s dark, disorientating and lacks a musical score. It completely turns off a very core dinosaur demographic (little kids).

Imo it would be easier for them to redo the dinosaur ride and make it a little more family friendly and without needing a chiropractor when it’s over. The loud dark rough scare factor is what hurts its appeal to some (I like it but I get why some don’t). A dinosaur section of the park belongs at AK way more than Indy and Encanto

I would love to ride DINOSAUR over and over again if the ride wasn't so rough to the point of being damned annoying. As it is, I just pretend it doesn't exist.

The sad thig is Energy Adventure was a good way for kids to see Dinos on a ride in an immersive environment with no height requirement. Anyone under 40 inches or someone not wanting mild thrills is seeing no Dinosaurs at WDW unless they pop in or have dining at T-rex Cafe.

Dinosaurs have nothing to do with energy. That's the sad thing from a supposedly "edutainment" ride.



But far be for me to ever be critical of Disney rides, pixie dusting shill that I am. Have I ever told you how I feel about the Nemo ride...

 

[mickEblu]

It would be a huge waste of a great IP. I really can’t think of anything I’d rather immediately transitioning behind Big Thunder (that is a IP, which is a requirement) than Coco.

MK would hugely benefit from the cuisine boost.

Huge waste. I think a Coco dark ride at DCA would be big hit for a few reasons…

1. Guest Demographic
2. Park desperately needs more dark rides
3. IP lends itself very well to a dark ride (particularly a suspended one)
4. It would feel organic at the park due to Plaza de la Familia every year
5. They have a land called Pixar Pier

Just put a Coco ride in DCA/ Mk or Epcot.

 

[ToTBellHop]

Lmao. Ya it is Magic Kingdom. Whom I kidding?

But Disneyland has Rancho del Zocalo. They can’t be that daft to screw it up… well ya they can. Points taken.

How about we go fancy and sprinkle cinnamon on a hot chocolate and sell the Un Poco Loco Cocoa for $7.99?