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

[Chester&Hester Enthusiast]

A parking lot with dino-themed flat rides and carnival games stands out like sore thumb.

A lush land full of animals, trees, and cultural areas themed to a specific geographical area intune with the other lands (Africa, Asia) works. Even with IPs in there.

I hope this clears things up.

You know there's a whole lot more to Dinoland than the relatively small corner of it you guys seem to only fixate on, right? Like it's a pretty big land and is honestly pretty richly themed (even the DinoRama! part of it).

Not to mention that the actual land as a whole is pretty lush and vegetated, you're just choosing to focus on the one small part of it that isn't.

 

[Drdcm]

I don't often post but Indie at DLP is a terrible terrible ride, not even vaguely worthy of being in a Disney park and certainly not DAK. But then going against the trend I am consistently underwhelmed by my visits to DLP especially the Studios, Disney Village and the hotels. Still, it's all opinions.

But damn, DLP is a beautiful park. Studios is skip when we visit.

 

[Deadly Danson]

But damn, DLP is a beautiful park. Studios is skip when we visit.

It is indeed and BTM and Pirates in particular are fantastic.

 

[EricsBiscuit]

It only sticks out to you because the setting is more familiar. Rundown businesses and tourist traps with Asian and African architecture seem well themed to you. But if you tell the same story with an American setting it seems cheap to you.

You know, that’s a good point. KRR, EE, KS, and Pandora are all themed as tourist attractions.

 

[danlb_2000]

A parking lot with dino-themed flat rides and carnival games stands out like sore thumb.

A lush land full of animals, trees, and cultural areas themed to a specific geographical area intune with the other lands (Africa, Asia) works. Even with IPs in there.

I hope this clears things up.

Dinoland is one of the best themed lands at Disney World, it's just not a very ambitious theme.

 

[Teddybearre]

I know nostalgia rules supreme with Disney fandom...

But this plan looks so much better and more fitting in AK than Dinoland, even with IPs

I keep having to remind myself that the majority of the fandom is just a bunch of nostalgia-obsessed hypocrites. They can sulk and complain all they want, but if we want to be hyped for this new land, and be optimistic for anything else that Disney may build, then the misery of others on these forums (or just in this fandom in general) shouldn’t be the judge of that.

 

[Incomudro]

I imagine AK’s IJA will involve ancient Mayans’ or Aztecs’ mythology involving animals—like snakes and jaguars, for example. That would make it about “humankind’s relationship with animals and the natural world,” e.g., how various cultures have viewed animals as our cousins rather than just existing for our benefit, etc., which fits AK’s “intrinsic value of nature” philosophy.

I'm glad you imagine that.
Because it may only exist in your imagination.

 

[Teddybearre]

I'm glad you imagine that.
Because it may only exist in your imagination.

I get why some of y’all might not be excited for this land, and you have every reason to feel that way…but this is just flat-out mean for basically no purpose

 

[DisneyDodo]

Dinoland is one of the best themed lands at Disney World, it's just not a very ambitious theme.

It’s not poorly themed, but it is badly themed (at least the Dino-Rama part). You pony up thousands of dollars and travel hundreds of miles to visit the world’s most preeminent theme park resort only to be transported to some dingy, beat-up regional carnival. The effect is so convincing, which only compounds the problem.

The goal of a theme park is to transport you to someplace you wish you could go, not someplace you easily could have gone but chose to avoid. That’s just theming for theming’s sake, and not for the purposes of entertainment.

 

[Incomudro]

I get why some of y’all might not be excited for this land, and you have every reason to feel that way…but this is just flat-out mean for basically no purpose

The purpose is that those in charge of this expansion in AK clearly are not honoring the concept of the park by putting these things there while removing dinosaurs.
Therefore, it is entirely possible that the links to animals the poster in question made will indeed only exist in that person's imagination and not in the reality of what is constructed.
I'd like to be wrong.

 

[MisterPenguin]

I get why some of y’all might not be excited for this land, and you have every reason to feel that way…but this is just flat-out mean for basically no purpose

Yeah, don't want to be mean...

I keep having to remind myself that the majority of the fandom is just a bunch of nostalgia-obsessed hypocrites.

...or hypocritical.

 

[Yellow Strap]

The problem with current Disney is that they are no longer allowed to tell true stories. The stories they tell can only be fiction.

Disney has been telling fiction in the parks since 1955. AK originally was supposed to have Beastly Kingdom. Fiction will always be part of Disney.

I assume you mean IPs...Disney will always have IPs. Its the way of the world now. Everyone here is raving about Epic Universe as a potential "Disney Killer" and that will be 95% IPs.

If the rumors are true that Joe Rohde is back to consult on this reimagining...I say let him cook.

 

[Jrb1979]

Disney has been telling fiction in the parks since 1955. AK originally was supposed to have Beastly Kingdom. Fiction will always be part of Disney.

I assume you mean IPs...Disney will always have IPs. Its the way of the world now. Everyone here is raving about Epic Universe as a potential "Disney Killer" and that will be 95% IPs.

If the rumors are true that Joe Rohde is back to consult on this reimagining...I say let him cook.

The IPs have been the issue. At least for me, the problem is putting IP in places with no rhyme or reason. At one time each park felt different. Now they all have similar feels.

 

[DisneyDodo]

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

I agree with the latter point, but unfortunately not with the former. Obviously nothing has been confirmed and plans can always change, but the area I circled in the concept art definitely gives off strong Santa Cecilia vibes:

Additionally, the fact that Disney is deviating from the continent pattern to call this land “Tropical Americas” instead of “South America” suggests there will be some sort of North American representation (though it’s also possible that the Indy ride could take place in Central America).

Finally, we know Encanto and Coco were connected in the original Beyond Big Thunder plans, so Disney very well may have moved them here as a package.

I’m guessing the gazebo-like structure in the concept art will be some sort of alebrije carousel.

Again, I hope I’m wrong or that the plans change. There are better places to put Coco (Mexico, BBT) and better IPs to put here (Up, Emperor’s New Groove, Rio)

 

[Yellow Strap]

The IPs have been the issue. At least for me, the problem is putting IP in places with no rhyme or reason. At one time each park felt different. Now they all have similar feels.

I see that...
At the same time...An Indiana Jones E-Ticket ride set in the Mayan Pyramid? Yeah...gimme that.

 

[Yellow Strap]

I agree with the latter point, but unfortunately not with the former. Obviously nothing has been confirmed and plans can always change, but the area I circled in the concept art definitely gives off strong Santa Cecilia vibes:
View attachment 774189
Additionally, the fact that Disney is deviating from the continent pattern to call this land “Tropical Americas” instead of “South America” suggests there will be some sort of North American representation (though it’s also possible that the Indy ride could take place in Central America).

"Tropical Americas" is an actual geographical designation
Tropical America boasts an incredibly diverse range of plant and animal life. Tropical America represents a region that includes all but the northernmost part of Mexico, all of Central America, and the northern two-thirds of South America.


This region is still an excellent choice for AK

 

[Teddybearre]

I agree with the latter point, but unfortunately not with the former. Obviously nothing has been confirmed and plans can always change, but the area I circled in the concept art definitely gives off strong Santa Cecilia vibes:
View attachment 774189
Additionally, the fact that Disney is deviating from the continent pattern to call this land “Tropical Americas” instead of “South America” suggests there will be some sort of North American representation (though it’s also possible that the Indy ride could take place in Central America).

Finally, we know Encanto and Coco were connected in the original Beyond Big Thunder plans, so Disney very well may have moved them here as a package.

I’m guessing the gazebo-like structure in the concept art will be some sort of alebrije carousel.

Again, I hope I’m wrong or that the plans change. There are better places to put Coco (Mexico, BBT) and better IPs to put here (Up, Emperor’s New Groove, Rio)

My main concern with this is that it would make the land feel like it’s just “Mexico featuring some house from Columbia.”

I’m hoping they find a way to represent as many countries in the region as possible without culturally appropriating, or giving into the stereotype that “all Latin American cultures are the same”

 

[DisneyDodo]

"Tropical Americas" is an actual geographical designation
Tropical America boasts an incredibly diverse range of plant and animal life. Tropical America represents a region that includes all but the northernmost part of Mexico, all of Central America, and the northern two-thirds of South America.


This region is still an excellent choice for AK

I’m not complaining about Disney choosing that name for the land. I’m just suggesting that that name choice is an indication that they intend to include Coco in the land (that’s what I’m not thrilled about)

 

[𝐌𝖆𝖓 𝖎𝖓 𝐖𝖊𝖇]

There are better places to put Coco (Mexico, BBT) and better IPs to put here (Up, Emperor’s New Groove, Rio)

This!

 

[capsshield]

I wish people wouldn't get so hung up on "the park started as this and has to stay this way". If Disney decided to change the name of animal kingdom to Disney's Wild Kingdom or something else and, or add a bunch of attractions that had little to do with animals, or featured animals with clothes it wouldn't change the experience of the existing rides.
With the addition of Pandora and the removal of Dinoland the park will never be what it was first imagined to be. It might be a lot better.

Dinoland was the cheapest looking land in the entire resort and barely a step above most six flag parks or carnivals.
Dinosaur is down grade of indy a fun ride but not nearly as good.
Primeval whirl was an imagineering joke
I can't wait to see that area improved, and I hope there's more to come