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

[CJR]

What are the odds of Disney finally getting Harrison Ford to be involved in the attraction? Hopefully they'll give it another try, and maybe get him to finally record dialogue for Disneyland as well.

Definitely an improvement over TriceraTop.

I'm actually somewhat excited for this, it'll be nice for the option outside of Fantasyland. Do you think it'll be exclusive to Coco or might it have hints of all the nearby IP's?

of course, always possible they could replace it with a new show later on to fit the land (there are many possible IPs they could go with – e.g., Encanto, Coco, Up, ENG).

They absolutely could do that, but it would be easy to hide behind the Marine Life Institute being in the "Tropical Americas" or whatever they end up calling the area.

 

[SamusAranX]

The only way I count this a full success is if they add animals to this section of the park.

 

[wedenterprises]

View attachment 777240
Image of the temple mock-up. No forbidden eye. No crystal skull. There is something at the top though. Looks like a beast with a huge open mouth... and ears.

But in the concept art it's red. Seems odd.

View attachment 777243

Googling "Myan Red Temple" led to this:

View attachment 777241

Looks the same. It's called Rosalila Temple:

Rosalila Temple

A full-size replica of this well-preserved temple lets you take a walk through the Mayan age.

www.atlasobscura.com

The beast is apparently a Jaguar.

This seems a clear inspiration. Disney has taken it and elongated it. I'd say the beast in the Disney version looks different. More like a snake or crocodile... or dinosaur. But in case they are going with Jaguars:

Jaguars in Mesoamerican cultures - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Either way, if this is the design, I love it. It is very distinct looking.

BRAVO. You are a true sleuth. There's no way you're wrong, this all makes too much sense.

 

[wedenterprises]

Amazing find. I read this in the wiki article you linked and it sounds like a promising premise…

“Often depicted on these artifacts are the gods the Maya revered and it is no coincidence that these gods often have jaguar attributes. As stated earlier, the jaguar is said to have the ability to cross between worlds, and for the Maya daytime and nighttime represented two different worlds. The living and the earth are associated with the day, and the spirit world and the ancestors are associated with the night. As the jaguar is quite at home in the nighttime, the jaguar is believed to be part of the underworld; thus, "Maya gods with jaguar attributes or garments are underworld gods" (Benson 1998:64). One such god is Xbalanque, one of the Maya Hero Twins who descended to the underworld, and whose entire body is covered with patches of jaguar skin. Another is God L, who is "the primary lord of the underworld" and often is shown with a jaguar ear or jaguar attire, and atop a jaguar throne (Benson 1998: 64-65). “

This entire topic of Jaguars and Indy is my new obsession. I love this for AK.

 

[mickEblu]

This Pop Up Sephora ad is killing me.

 

[wedenterprises]

Okay more important:

What kind of food do you serve at an archaeological dig-themed restaurant across from the Indiana Jones Adventure?

monkey brains?

 

[Sir_Cliff]

I'm just so happy we're discussing a land that isn't based on a single IP! It almost seemed as though Disney had stopped building those.

 

[eddie104]

If the rumors of DAK getting some Lion King addition are true I hope it’s an extension of existing area with its own mini land included with the attraction.

 

[MagicHappens1971]

If the rumors of DAK getting some Lion King addition are true I hope it’s an extension of existing area with its own mini land included with the attraction.

I personally think it's more likely Pandora will get a third attraction since they'll be developing a new one for DLR anyway. On the same token, if they can fit the DLP Lion King attraction in, it's basically the same concept. I believe some have mentioned that DAK doesn't have the room for the DLP attraction.

 

[mickEblu]

I personally think it's more likely Pandora will get a third attraction since they'll be developing a new one for DLR anyway. On the same token, if they can fit the DLP Lion King attraction in, it's basically the same concept. I believe some have mentioned that DAK doesn't have the room for the DLP attraction.

Two boat rides for the same IP in one park?

 

[MagicHappens1971]

Two boat rides for the same IP in one park?

The concept art for DLR was Blue Sky. We still have no idea what will actually come to fruition. Although yes, two boat rides for the same IP would be a little repetitive.

 

[mickEblu]

The concept art for DLR was Blue Sky. We still have no idea what will actually come to fruition. Although yes, two boat rides for the same IP would be a little repetitive.

In your hypothetical if you are assuming the DCA Avatar ride will happen why not assume the boat ride will happen too?

I think there is zero chance they would add another boat ride to Pandora.

 

[MagicHappens1971]

In your hypothetical if you are assuming the DCA Avatar ride will happen why not assume the boat ride will happen too?

I think there is zero chance they would add another boat ride to Pandora.

The DCA Avatar ride is Blue Sky, that's what I was saying. They may build two attractions there, the E-ticket boat ride using Shanghai (Pirates) tech and a C ticket with a different ride system, and then maybe they'll port that over. I'm just talking out loud. Especially since insiders are leaning towards a Moana attraction in Adventureland using the same tech.

 

[mickEblu]

The DCA Avatar ride is Blue Sky, that's what I was saying. They may build two attractions there, the E-ticket boat ride using Shanghai (Pirates) tech and a C ticket with a different ride system, and then maybe they'll port that over. I'm just talking out loud. Especially since insiders are leaning towards a Moana attraction in Adventureland using the same tech.

Got it. Yeah some C ticket I could see being brought over.

Is it just blue sky though? The Beyond Big Thunder concept art looks like Blue Sky. The DCA Avatar art looks more like Pandora at AK or GE concept art. I think it’s a little more than blue sky. Somewhere between blue sky and green lit. Whatever that’s called. I think IF it actually happens it’s almost certain to be a boat ride.

 

[MagicHappens1971]

Got it. Yeah some C ticket I could see being brought over.

Is it just blue sky though? The Beyond Big Thunder concept art looks like Blue Sky. The DCA Avatar art looks more like Pandora at AK or GE concept art. I think it’s a little more than blue sky. Somewhere between blue sky and green lit. Whatever that’s called. I think IF it actually happens it’s almost certain to be a boat ride.

Well it's not officially announced and even when Iger presented the art he said this is what we "could" build at DLR. I obviously don't know, and we won't until Disney makes official announcements.

 

[mickEblu]

Well it's not officially announced and even when Iger presented the art he said this is what we "could" build at DLR. I obviously don't know, and we won't until Disney makes official announcements.

Yeah this is all new territory. I can’t remember them ever teasing a land for so long like this without actually committing. I think the long tease is due to them waiting for the DL Forward approvals while at the same time wanting to give positive news during the hostile takeover bid.

 

[MagicHappens1971]

Yeah this is all new territory. I can’t remember them ever teasing a land for so long like this without actually committing. I think the long tease is due to them waiting for the DL Forward approvals while at the same time wanting to give positive news during the hostile takeover bid.

I think we will finally have clarity at D23, if not sooner, so everything should be clear soon.

 

[mickEblu]

I think we will finally have clarity at D23, if not sooner, so everything should be clear soon.

I Agree.

 

[BrianLo]

Tom Bricker attended a presser earlier in the week with Iger and Josh, and he says it includes Coco.

Just so Tom isn’t entirely misquoted, he says “Maybe Coco”.

“Vaughn also indicated that Imagineering had considered several options for Dino-Rama and Tropical Americas, but that Encanto and Indiana Jones “rose to the top” because they give Imagineering “so much to play with.” Vaughn also indicated that there’s “a long way to go and a lot more to discover, but our team in Florida is all over it.”

All of that suggests Tropical Americas featuring Encanto and Indiana Jones is the plan for Dino-Rama. Coco also seems to maybe have a place in Tropical Americas, with a carousel replacing TriceraTop Spin, restaurant replacing Restaurantosaurus, and courtyard architecture reminiscent of Santa Cecilia. Beyond the concept art above, I saw concept art reflecting the latter during a recent visit to Imagineering.“

I speculate that this is still relevant to both projects as the Coco E ticket isn’t being let go of easily. And that’s the reason for either downplaying or being cagey. But as it currently stands it seems like Coco is supposed to be represented in Tropical Americas, whether kept to a minor position and played up for Magic Kingdom OR dropped last minute if the Big Thunder project really doesn’t want them to use it at all in Animal Kingdom.

But with Moana in Epcot and also pushing forward elsewhere, a minor carousel doesn’t preclude two Coco appearances either way.

 

[jaxonp]

Will this land have some new animal exhibits?

I want capybaras!