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

[Haymarket2008]

Misspelled superior narration. And while the mirror effect isn't phenomenal, I did it more successful than the 5D. And the awkward moment when the car needs to settle into the drop shaft. The 2.0 models still achieve the elevator moving laterally and it works as a perfect bookend with the Bell Hop.

And DCA is still very much California centric. They even added lines to Mission BO to set the attraction in California.

I do love the ambition, facade, queue, and the opening starfield effect much better in Florida though. But whenever we ride it, we laugh at how clunky the ride is in comparison. Definitely a different era of Disney.

You may be the first person I have ever heard of to say DCA’s Tower was better than DHS.

I personally could not disagree more, but to each their own!

 

[Professortango1]

You may be the first person I have ever heard of to say DCA’s Tower was better than DHS.

I personally could not disagree more, but to each their own!

It's probably an East Coast vs West Coast thing. It's still a minority opinion, but I know quite a few folks even on this site who prefer the updated version.

 

[Disgruntled Walt]

It's probably an East Coast vs West Coast thing. It's still a minority opinion, but I know quite a few folks even on this site who prefer the updated version.

We agree on a lot, but not on this, Prof. Apologies to the mods on how off-topic this is, but I must address this.

The lateral elevator movement works better in DHS because it's a reveal. We don't know just how "uncommon" the elevator is until right before the climax of the ride. Like a good Twilight Zone episode, things gradually go off the rails (in this case, literally!). It starts out normal (aside from the seatbelts, haha), then we see some strange things at the first stop. Next stop, and empty corridor...that we start MOVING FORWARD INTO! An elevator is definitely not supposed to do that! Once you get to that starfield and the lit-up doors opening, you don't know what's ahead but you know it's terrifying and pitch dark (and humid, haha!). And you get that iconic line that was absent from DCA: "You are about to discover what lies BEYOND the fifth dimension. Beyond the deepest, darkest corner of the imagination...in the Tower of Terror." [I get chills even writing this]

At DCA, the efficiency was the driving force of the entire thing, at the expense of the storyline. For example, every time Rod Serling said "You are passengers on a most uncommon elevator..." I wanted to respond by saying, "Yeah, you think? We're going backwards!"

Plus "Wave goodbye..." is such a dumb line.

I could talk about this all night, ToT in DHS is the best attraction ever made, hands down.

Anyway, back to Encanto and Indiana Jones...oh well, I guess there's no news.

 

[Incomudro]

We agree on a lot, but not on this, Prof. Apologies to the mods on how off-topic this is, but I must address this.

The lateral elevator movement works better in DHS because it's a reveal. We don't know just how "uncommon" the elevator is until right before the climax of the ride. Like a good Twilight Zone episode, things gradually go off the rails (in this case, literally!). It starts out normal (aside from the seatbelts, haha), then we see some strange things at the first stop. Next stop, and empty corridor...that we start MOVING FORWARD INTO! An elevator is definitely not supposed to do that! Once you get to that starfield and the lit-up doors opening, you don't know what's ahead but you know it's terrifying and pitch dark (and humid, haha!). And you get that iconic line that was absent from DCA: "You are about to discover what lies BEYOND the fifth dimension. Beyond the deepest, darkest corner of the imagination...in the Tower of Terror." [I get chills even writing this]

At DCA, the efficiency was the driving force of the entire thing, at the expense of the storyline. For example, every time Rod Serling said "You are passengers on a most uncommon elevator..." I wanted to respond by saying, "Yeah, you think? We're going backwards!"

Plus "Wave goodbye..." is such a dumb line.

I could talk about this all night, ToT in DHS is the best attraction ever made, hands down.

Anyway, back to Encanto and Indiana Jones...oh well, I guess there's no news.

That moving forward of the elevator blew my mind when I first experienced it!
I got chills reading your post.
Every step of that ride is amazing.

 

[Bocabear]

Maybe they need to update the 5th dimension room...make it look less like displauy windows and a little more immersive...that would be the only tweak I could think of... That and actually build a Tip Top Club with a seperate elevator and entrance...Themed to night time in the old Art Deco Ballroom on the top of the tower.... It would be a collosal hit with guests, and thematically blow all of the others out of the water. The same muisic as the Queue, occasional thunderstorms passing and power loss...Create a secondary events ballroom at the same time..again if done well would be another hit for corporate events and parties...

 

[Ayla]

So....about Animal Kingdom...

 

[MisterPenguin]

So....about Animal Kingdom...

What is it?

 

[Bocabear]

LOL we got wildly off track! So, yeah, Encanto and Indiana Jones.... I am hoping that by now they have progressed the designs from the Blue Sky phase and will be showing some stuff off at D23... Can only hope they knock it out of the park this time....

 

[The Leader of the Club]

LOL we got wildly off track! So, yeah, Encanto and Indiana Jones.... I am hoping that by now they have progressed the designs from the Blue Sky phase and will be showing some stuff off at D23... Can only hope they knock it out of the park this time....

I’m thinking we’ll for sure see a model on the convention floor. Probably get attraction names, synopses, concept art, and an opening year during the panel. Maybe a confirmation of animal exhibits or Meet & Greets coming to the land. The DPB will probably reveal the closing date for Dinoland/Dinosaur.

 

[Rich Brownn]

We agree on a lot, but not on this, Prof. Apologies to the mods on how off-topic this is, but I must address this.

The lateral elevator movement works better in DHS because it's a reveal. We don't know just how "uncommon" the elevator is until right before the climax of the ride. Like a good Twilight Zone episode, things gradually go off the rails (in this case, literally!). It starts out normal (aside from the seatbelts, haha), then we see some strange things at the first stop. Next stop, and empty corridor...that we start MOVING FORWARD INTO! An elevator is definitely not supposed to do that! Once you get to that starfield and the lit-up doors opening, you don't know what's ahead but you know it's terrifying and pitch dark (and humid, haha!). And you get that iconic line that was absent from DCA: "You are about to discover what lies BEYOND the fifth dimension. Beyond the deepest, darkest corner of the imagination...in the Tower of Terror." [I get chills even writing this]

At DCA, the efficiency was the driving force of the entire thing, at the expense of the storyline. For example, every time Rod Serling said "You are passengers on a most uncommon elevator..." I wanted to respond by saying, "Yeah, you think? We're going backwards!"

Plus "Wave goodbye..." is such a dumb line.

I could talk about this all night, ToT in DHS is the best attraction ever made, hands down.

Anyway, back to Encanto and Indiana Jones...oh well, I guess there's no news.

WDW's had one big theme advantage over Cali - when the elevator doors open it reveals an elevator. In Cali the elevator door open to reveal .... a hallway with another set of doors ! And the thing about the 5th dimension - you're actually supposed to be on your back, traveling up to the sky (the stars). Next time look at the lamps and signage on the sides and you'll see they are sideways. I once road with an imagineer who explained this and said an effect was never added because of time and budget that would have shown the building twisting.

 

[Nickm2022]

I’m thinking we’ll for sure see a model on the convention floor. Probably get attraction names, synopses, concept art, and an opening year during the panel. Maybe a confirmation of animal exhibits or Meet & Greets coming to the land. The DPB will probably reveal the closing date for Dinoland/Dinosaur.

I agree. I also think the model and the new concept art will differ a tad from the old blue sky one we currently have. If you look at the leaked concept art that stuff already has minor differences so I am curious to see what they change.

 

[Starship824]

I agree. I also think the model and the new concept art will differ a tad from the old blue sky one we currently have. If you look at the leaked concept art that stuff already has minor differences so I am curious to see what they change.

I don't recall seeing the river around the Encanto house in the leaked concept art so that's at least one difference from what I can tell.

 

[Professortango1]

WDW's had one big theme advantage over Cali - when the elevator doors open it reveals an elevator. In Cali the elevator door open to reveal .... a hallway with another set of doors ! And the thing about the 5th dimension - you're actually supposed to be on your back, traveling up to the sky (the stars). Next time look at the lamps and signage on the sides and you'll see they are sideways. I once road with an imagineer who explained this and said an effect was never added because of time and budget that would have shown the building twisting.

That sounds incredible. I've heard that a few imagineers mention that the 5th Dimension Room had big ambitions but it was reduced and the idea that just the car moving horizontally would be a big enough awe factor to excuse a thinly staged sequence. The first trip that was true for me. But every ride after that has left me less and less in love with the original and more appreciative of the newer version Disney created.

 

[Professortango1]

I don't recall seeing the river around the Encanto house in the leaked concept art so that's at least one difference from what I can tell.

It's pink.

 

[Starship824]

It's pink. View attachment 792430

I know, that's the original art from d23, I'm referring to the leaked art from a few days ago. It appears as if the pink river is gone from this art, obviously we don't know for sure if this art is real but it's just something interesting worth noting.

 

[Nickm2022]

Other differences include the enterence is different, along with the river. Plus the enterence to the land looks different in the other leaked piece of art. Also the addition of animals (or at least birds).

 

[co10064]

We keep seeing a mountainous berm beyond the Casita facade. I wonder if that will make the final cut, or if it’s artistic license…?

 

[Brer Panther]

It's pink. View attachment 792430

Are they gonna fill the flume with Pepto-Bismol or something?

 

[RoysCabin]

Whatever rides they put in, I just have to admit I hope they get away from "there's a mission, and we need YOU to help us accomplish it!" ride stories. Like, I know that's the story in Dinosaur, but at the same time it's more that Seeker is using us and we're helplessly riding along with his scheme, not that we, a bunch of passive tourists sitting in a vehicle, are somehow instrumental to his project's success through our own actions.

The nature of riding a theme park attraction is that you are passively experiencing something; turning it into "you saved the day!" has always struck me as particularly lame, going back to the initial Kilimanjaro Safari storyline where we "save" the elephants.

 

[Nickm2022]

We keep seeing a mountainous berm beyond the Casita facade. I wonder if that will make the final cut, or if it’s artistic license…?

If Disney does anything right, it's going over the top on fake rocks/mountains