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

[bwr827]

I know my phone camera isn't the best quality, but I can absolutely promise you they look terrible in person. Note that the cart has lost all of its flying shopping dinos. If you told me these were from some abandoned, actual Route 66 roadside attraction I would believe you.

Authenticity.

 

[WorldExplorer]

It's supposed to look like an attraction that's still running, not one that's been sitting empty in the woods for a long time and had pieces ripped off by bored local explorers.

 

[BlakeW39]

Correct me if I'm wrong but wasn't the asteroid replaced very early on in the attraction's life? It's definitely not a recent change. I do agree the animatronics aren't well maintained and break often, though at least so far they have been repairing them it seems. The sauropod was broken for awhile but has been fixed. One of the carnotaurous was broken too but only briefly. The pterodactyl hasn't moved in many years so I don't really call it broken; it's intentionally shut off.

I wish they'd just infuse capital into it and make it fresh without getting rid of the Dinosaur theme. People love dinosaurs. It doesn't have to be IP to be popular. But hopefully the Indiana Jones ride will feature a better quality than Dinosaur has been relegated to lately. That said -- given recent track record, I'm definitely skeptical. It could just be a cheap reskin with a bunch of screens.

Let me rephrase. I am not a proponent of replacing Dinosaur with movie IP. God knows we do not need any more of that trash. Disney should be replacing Dinosaur with an original attraction that keeps the dinosaur theme. And I'm not giving them a pass on that like many others on this board will. Just because Disney won't do the right thing does not mean we should stop criticizing them for it.

Anyone who says criticizing the IP mandate is "beating a dead horse" or "pointless" both fails to understand the function of criticism to begin with AND overestimates the longevity of such a mandate in a company that consistently damages the IPs they currently have, whilst failing to create new ones.

But that doesn't change the fact that Dinosaur as it currently stands is a significantly worse attraction than it was at opening. And that isn't due to poor maintenance, like other attractions. Disney made Dinosaur worse on purpose because they felt the original attraction was too scary. It is the Stitch to CTX's Alien Encounter.

The current version isn't worth saving and I won't mourn it. I'm more concerned with what's replacing Dinosaur than I am with Dinosaur being gone in the first place.

 

[KDM31091]

From asking cast members around Dinoland to guest services, I’ve not run across anyone who seems even slightly excited about this change. Of course they won’t outright criticize it, but you can tell there’s no enthusiasm there. Read the room Disney, people don’t want you to get rid of Dinoland. Stop shooting yourself in the foot with controversial, poor decisions such as this, potentially getting rid of Muppets, Rivers of America, even Tiana hasn’t worked out well so far. Stop removing everything that people love. Just put money into Dinoland, make it even better, use original ideas.

I know it won’t happen but it’s kind of amazing to me that they think this is what people want.

 

[Gusey]

From asking cast members around Dinoland to guest services, I’ve not run across anyone who seems even slightly excited about this change. Of course they won’t outright criticize it, but you can tell there’s no enthusiasm there. Read the room Disney, people don’t want you to get rid of Dinoland. Stop shooting yourself in the foot with controversial, poor decisions such as this, potentially getting rid of Muppets, Rivers of America, even Tiana hasn’t worked out well so far. Stop removing everything that people love. Just put money into Dinoland, make it even better, use original ideas.

I know it won’t happen but it’s kind of amazing to me that they think this is what people want.

Here's someone who is really excited about this change. We're getting:

• a completely original land that is not based on a single-IP
• we get to keep the thrill ride system of Dinosaur, but with an Indiana Jones overlay tied to Mayan mythical creatures
• a family dark ride replacing an off-the-shelf coaster, adding more for all ages to do at the park
• a well-themed flat ride, the first flat-ride to open at a Domestic Disney Park since 2019 (Emotional Whirlwind & Jessie's Critter Carousel)
• South America actually being represented at a WDW park

 

[KDM31091]

Here's someone who is really excited about this change. We're getting:

• a completely original land that is not based on a single-IP
• we get to keep the thrill ride system of Dinosaur, but with an Indiana Jones overlay tied to Mayan mythical creatures
• a family dark ride replacing an off-the-shelf coaster, adding more for all ages to do at the park
• a well-themed flat ride, the first flat-ride to open at a Domestic Disney Park since 2019 (Emotional Whirlwind & Jessie's Critter Carousel)
• South America actually being represented at a WDW park

Fair points, just wish it were an actual expansion instead of just more lateral moves in terms of capacity.

 

[bwr827]

From asking cast members around Dinoland to guest services, I’ve not run across anyone who seems even slightly excited about this change. Of course they won’t outright criticize it, but you can tell there’s no enthusiasm there. Read the room Disney, people don’t want you to get rid of Dinoland. Stop shooting yourself in the foot with controversial, poor decisions such as this, potentially getting rid of Muppets, Rivers of America, even Tiana hasn’t worked out well so far. Stop removing everything that people love. Just put money into Dinoland, make it even better, use original ideas.

I know it won’t happen but it’s kind of amazing to me that they think this is what people want.

Dinoland is pretty famously the weak link of Animal Kingdom.

You seem to mostly complain about Disney things. Maybe the cast members picked up on your vibes and didn’t want to upset your magical day.

 

[Prince-1]

From asking cast members around Dinoland to guest services, I’ve not run across anyone who seems even slightly excited about this change. Of course they won’t outright criticize it, but you can tell there’s no enthusiasm there. Read the room Disney, people don’t want you to get rid of Dinoland. Stop shooting yourself in the foot with controversial, poor decisions such as this, potentially getting rid of Muppets, Rivers of America, even Tiana hasn’t worked out well so far. Stop removing everything that people love. Just put money into Dinoland, make it even better, use original ideas.

I know it won’t happen but it’s kind of amazing to me that they think this is what people want.

I think they were all just being nice to you so that you would walk away.

 

[KDM31091]

Dinoland is pretty famously the weak link of Animal Kingdom.

You seem to mostly complain about Disney things. Maybe the cast members picked up on your vibes and didn’t want to upset your magical day.

It’s not like I walked up to them all rudely and said omg this sucks I hate everything. Just said I’m disappointed about the changes.

And yes, unfortunately, of late there’s a lot to complain about with recent projects. But I still love the parks, primarily the classic attractions but there’s some bright spots in the newer ones

 

[Gusey]

Fair points, just wish it were an actual expansion instead of just more lateral moves in terms of capacity.

Gotta wonder, how long does a space formerly occupied by an attraction need to be empty for it to be considered a capacity expansion? Primeval Whirl would have been closed for 7 years by the time Encanto opens. Wonders of Life has been closed for 17 years and Stitch 7 years, so if anything opens in those spaces, I'd consider it a capacity expansion. For me, any space closed for a significant amount time (5+ years) being used for a new attraction is an expansion

 

[doctornick]

Here's someone who is really excited about this change. We're getting:

• a completely original land that is not based on a single-IP
• we get to keep the thrill ride system of Dinosaur, but with an Indiana Jones overlay tied to Mayan mythical creatures
• a family dark ride replacing an off-the-shelf coaster, adding more for all ages to do at the park
• a well-themed flat ride, the first flat-ride to open at a Domestic Disney Park since 2019 (Emotional Whirlwind & Jessie's Critter Carousel)
• South America actually being represented at a WDW park

Fair points, just wish it were an actual expansion instead of just more lateral moves in terms of capacity.

I think all these points are correct.

Dinorama is an eyesore and needs to go. Replacing that with a higher quality is a win.

Having Latin American representation in the park and a seemingly cohesive land is a win.

Losing Dinosaur (the ride) and the presence of dinosaurs (in general) in WDW and DAK is a big loss.

For the amount of money being spent, we should be seeing a large capacity increase at DAK, but we won't. Instead is just more replacement when we need additions.

 

[bwr827]

I think all these points are correct.

Dinorama is an eyesore and needs to go. Replacing that with a higher quality is a win.

Having Latin American representation in the park and a seemingly cohesive land is a win.

Losing Dinosaur (the ride) and the presence of dinosaurs (in general) in WDW and DAK is a big loss.

For the amount of money being spent, we should be seeing a large capacity increase at DAK, but we won't. Instead is just more replacement when we need additions.

I’d love 3/3 expansion but I’ll happily enjoy 1.75/3 expansion.

 

[AidenRodriguez731]

It’s not like I walked up to them all rudely and said omg this sucks I hate everything. Just said I’m disappointed about the changes.

And yes, unfortunately, of late there’s a lot to complain about with recent projects. But I still love the parks, primarily the classic attractions but there’s some bright spots in the newer ones

First off, people have said that Dinoland should be rethemed for literal years and turning Dinosaur to Indy was one of the top requested ideas I've heard in general so it isn't like Disney had to "read the room". They did. Dinoland has been a joke for years in the theme parks community so its not like Disney is doing something "no one wanted". Second, yeah the cast members aren't going to be like "WOOOOOOOOO I love Tropical Americas, you're so wrong actually because it's going to be amazing" when you literally walked up to them saying "I don't like the idea of Tropical Americas replacing Dinoland USA" Like most people here said, they're just trying to be nice to you, do their job, and not start an argument about what's good or not because they don't care that much. I do the same thing everytime in my job when someone complains to me about something, I just passively agree with them because I'm not getting into it.

 

[AidenRodriguez731]

I think all these points are correct.

Dinorama is an eyesore and needs to go. Replacing that with a higher quality is a win.

Having Latin American representation in the park and a seemingly cohesive land is a win.

Losing Dinosaur (the ride) and the presence of dinosaurs (in general) in WDW and DAK is a big loss.

For the amount of money being spent, we should be seeing a large capacity increase at DAK, but we won't. Instead is just more replacement when we need additions.

The amount of money being spent is designed to help better theme one of their best themed parks to a more consistent level of theming. Also you are not going to tell me that Primeval Whirl had the same capacity as this huge looking Encanto Dark Ride or the carousel. Afaik expanding at AK is hard without taking up some of the animals spaces. There are a few expansion plots but they can also kinda close other ideas off. (Pandora expansion plot which I assume they will wait until Avatar 3/4 do well before deciding how to continue) While they have space, the logistics become a lot more difficult when you're playing with backstage/roads.

 

[KDM31091]

I mean, the lady at guest relations literally got tears in her eyes talking about the tree of life and dinoland changes. I don’t think they’re just telling me what I want to hear. I think just like us fans, some are genuinely upset, others maybe support the changes. It is what it is of course , just wish we weren’t constantly giving up something to get something else.

Will some just placate you of course yes, but I’ve definitely seen some actual emotion from them. Even people running the carnival games.

Just like us regular people, some cast members are sad about the changes, others maybe not.

 

[KDM31091]

First off, people have said that Dinoland should be rethemed for literal years and turning Dinosaur to Indy was one of the top requested ideas I've heard in general so it isn't like Disney had to "read the room". They did. Dinoland has been a joke for years in the theme parks community so its not like Disney is doing something "no one wanted". Second, yeah the cast members aren't going to be like "WOOOOOOOOO I love Tropical Americas, you're so wrong actually because it's going to be amazing" when you literally walked up to them saying "I don't like the idea of Tropical Americas replacing Dinoland USA" Like most people here said, they're just trying to be nice to you, do their job, and not start an argument about what's good or not because they don't care that much. I do the same thing everytime in my job when someone complains to me about something, I just passively agree with them because I'm not getting into it.

They could have just actually invested in the area and made it better instead of just canning the idea for more IP. But here we are. Oh well.

 

[doctornick]

First off, people have said that Dinoland should be rethemed for literal years

I don't want to generalize, but I've mostly heard people complain that Dinorama needed to be changed - the roadside attraction themed area. It didn't seem to me that many people had any problem with Dinosaur the ride or the idea of dinosaurs in the park. I think if they had replaced Dinorama with an Excavator coaster that it would have pleased most everyone who had any concerns.

 

[doctornick]

The amount of money being spent is designed to help better theme one of their best themed parks to a more consistent level of theming. Also you are not going to tell me that Primeval Whirl had the same capacity as this huge looking Encanto Dark Ride or the carousel. Afaik expanding at AK is hard without taking up some of the animals spaces. There are a few expansion plots but they can also kinda close other ideas off. (Pandora expansion plot which I assume they will wait until Avatar 3/4 do well before deciding how to continue) While they have space, the logistics become a lot more difficult when you're playing with backstage/roads.

1. We are also losing the Boneyard
2. We are also seeing money spent to lose a perfectly quality ITTBAB show for a lateral move to Zootopia
3. Sure, adding Encanto is an improvement over the current Dinorama including and increase in capacity. But that would be true with almost anything they would have built there including (for example) putting something themed to dinosaurs like the Excavator coaster
4. There's tons of expansion land in DAK that can be used without touching any animal enclosures. There's a massive plot north of Asia that could fit multiple lands if desired. But even short term, they could add stuff to Pandora or Africa or even the current Dinoland or Asia without closing existing attractions. They are just choosing not to do that but instead replace. As has been typical for WDW for years. sigh

 

[peter11435]

2. We are also seeing money spent to lose a perfectly quality ITTBAB show for a lateral move to Zootopia

Bugs rarely fills shows anymore

 

[doctornick]

I’d love 3/3 expansion but I’ll happily enjoy 1.75/3 expansion.

I would agree that this will make the park better. My question would be if this is the best use of the time and money being invested versus options that actual expand the park. I just think that it is being inefficient and not guest friendly.

Given the option, I'd rather see Dinorama continue to exist and keep ITTBAB and spend the same money on adding a third Pandora ride and a TLK ride elsewhere in the park. Do that first, then you have much more capacity to be able to withstand closing Dinoland and replacing (if that really much occur). You can even add in a night time show replacing RoL once you have that additional capacity to justify longer hours.