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

[doctornick]

I know this isn’t a big deal to everyone, but this really bums me out. This is a favorite of all my kids, and it wasn’t unusual for us to spend a couple hours there each visit.

And I’m still salty they removed the HISTK playground.

Anyway, it always seemed busy…I can’t imagine it had low guest satisfaction scores. Guess you can’t monetize a playground though….

I still don’t understand why it couldn’t be kept. Perhaps just switching to an archaeology vs paleontology theme to go with Indy more. It was the best playground of the sort that Disney had.

 

[MisterPenguin]

It could be Kukulkán. I'm not sure of the technical term, but it could be said that it's a similar deity. I might ask my sister for more information or sources about Kukulkán later.

Kukulkán?

That's Namor, the submariner!!

We now have an Indy-Marvel crossover!!

 

[MisterPenguin]

Someone get a top view shot of that model! We can look at things and estimate sizes.

Or put a banana down next to it.

 

[Rteetz]

So it looks like the Encanto show building will extend into this back stage area?

I am also curious in the model it shows a path behind the current Dinosaur shop and restrooms that is currently backstage. This path we usually run out during the Marathon to leave Animal Kingdom. It does show people walking back there tho.

 

[radiorae]

I know people are hating on the carousel, but I think it’ll be really nice. From a practical perspective, the area will need something for the kids who can’t ride Indy and are waiting for the rest of the family to finish riding before everyone hits Encanto. On the artsy side, it’s really hard to find a wooden carousel these days; most are fiberglass. And the woodcarver “theme” fits the aesthetic. Add in a fun light package and some light music and it’ll be a nice compliment to the land.

(Drew’s photo, not mine)

 

[discos]

Scott Gustin confirmed Encanto will not be a boat ride

 

[GoofGoof]

I can’t see how this isn’t viewed as a nice upgrade to what was there. Dinosaur was a good ride but a lot of long stretches of dark. Indy has the potential to be an upgrade. Even if the Encanto ride is just average (it has the potential to be much better than that) it will be light years better than Primeval Whirl a spinner and some carnival games. Huge upgrade. Trading the playground for a carousel should be a wash for all but really young kids. All-in the look and feel of the land will fit a lot better when compared to the rest of the park. The only downside I see is that it’s not a large upgrade in capacity for a park that needs more rides. I assume in an average day more people will ride these 2 rides plus carousel than the 3 rides lost, but not a large gain in capacity. This would have been less of an issue if the Lion King ride happened too.

 

[UNCgolf]

I think the carousel is a great addition. It adds capacity and DAK needs some smaller rides like it that everyone can ride.

 

[wdwmagic]

I know this isn’t a big deal to everyone, but this really bums me out. This is a favorite of all my kids, and it wasn’t unusual for us to spend a couple hours there each visit.

And I’m still salty they removed the HISTK playground.

Anyway, it always seemed busy…I can’t imagine it had low guest satisfaction scores. Guess you can’t monetize a playground though….

Yep it's a great playground, will be a shame to see it go. Monsters Inc. at Studios appears to have some type of playground in the concept art.

 

[cdunlap]

Perhaps poachers are hunting a rare species of Tropical American animal(s) and Indy stops them? I dunno, Indiana Jones doesn’t fit Animal Kingdom.

Well, now that we have a theme of Maya mythology, it kind of does, considering that a lot of Maya myths have anthropomorphic animals as characters. The Popol Vuh, the Maya creation story, alone has twin monkey gods, a macaw with jewels for eyes and teeth, and Camazotz, a bat god. There’s also Kukulkan, the feathered serpent.

 

[wdwmagic]

Scott Gustin confirmed Encanto will not be a boat rideView attachment 808303

Were we even thinking it's a boat ride?! I am fairly certain its trackless, unless its been switched out for omnimover.

 

[cdunlap]

Were we even thinking it's a boat ride?! I am fairly certain its trackless, unless its been switched out for omnimover.

I think some people thought it would be a boat ride

 

[Rteetz]

Were we even thinking it's a boat ride?! I am fairly certain its trackless, unless its been switched out for omnimover.

@Drew the Disney Dude did say boat ride during the presentation so I think there was some confusion on that.

 

[PREMiERdrum]

Were we even thinking it's a boat ride?! I am fairly certain its trackless, unless its been switched out for omnimover.

It definitely spent some dev time as a boat ride, after initially being sketched out as trackless... myself and others were hearing that as recently as a few months ago.

 

[radiorae]

I think some people thought it would be a boat ride

In their defense, there were a LOT of boats at last night’s panel.

 

[Captain Barbossa]

Were we even thinking it's a boat ride?! I am fairly certain its trackless, unless its been switched out for omnimover.

Bruce said the ride vehicle would be “furniture” inside the house. So unless the ride story is about the impacts of flooding due to torrential downpours and the importance of having a good flood insurance policy, I don’t think it’s going to be water based.

 

[wdwmagic]

It definitely spent some dev time as a boat ride, after initially being sketched out as trackless... myself and others were hearing that as recently as a few months ago.

What are you hearing its current ride system is?

 

[dmc493]

Is there history of an Omnimover that has differently designed vehicles to allow for this “hop on a piece of furniture” concept? Doesn’t sound like it’d be that difficult but who knows

 

[doctornick]

I think the carousel is a great addition. It adds capacity and DAK needs some smaller rides like it that everyone can ride.

Sure but it would be better to have that and a spinner like TS.

 

[PREMiERdrum]

What are you hearing its current ride system is?

Smoke seems to indicate omni? It's difficult to get a straight answer out of anyone, which is odd because their design work has to be done or close to it to be breaking ground in the coming weeks.