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

[Garyjames220]

So when does everyone think the work will start

im going in December, do we expect dinosaur to be closed by then

 

[James Alucobond]

So when does everyone think the work will start

im going in December, do we expect dinosaur to be closed by then

The closing of Dinosaur is supposed to be delayed relative to the closing of Dinorama. I would personally bet on it still being open in December, though there are of course no certain bets.

 

[KDM31091]

What do you mean by 'on-theme'? How does a story about a multigenerational Colombian family who receives magical gifts from a miracle and then tries to defend their family and magic fit a theme about conservation and how animals live and behave? How does a story about an archaeologist who tries to defend historical artifacts fit a theme about conservation and how animals live and behave?

I’m sorry, but just adding a random animal to these completely different stories doesn’t make them a good fit for the park’s theme. If that’s your logic, what would be your argument against a Doctor Strange ride at Animal Kingdom where he uses the Time Stone to save endangered species? That kind of thinking is why all parks now look and feel the same—they're just Six Flags parks with no real theme...

Yes unfortunately, Disney’s new idea of thematic cohesion is a very loose link to tie things together. Encanto features a minor amount of animals so it’s perfect for AK. Cars is about “paving your own frontier” so of course it makes perfect sense in Frontierland.

I’d rather they just admit they no longer care about the themes of the area than try to justify with these ridiculous leaps of excuses.

Ironically, the carousel, the most minor new addition, is the most fitting.

As far as closing I’d say Dinosaur itself is likely save until the new year. They’re not going to close a major attraction in such a sparse park before the holidays IMO. Rest of Dinoland and Dinorama, harder to say.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

Encanto features a minor amount of animals so it’s perfect for AK. Cars is about “paving your own frontier” so of course it makes perfect sense in Frontierland.

Cars in Frontierland is a way bigger stretch though you have to admit. Encanto by itself doesn’t take anything away from the theme of the park.

I’d actually say zootopia in tree of life is a worse fit than an Encanto dark ride.

 

[EagleScout610]

So when does everyone think the work will start

im going in December, do we expect dinosaur to be closed by then

I've heard October rumored for the first part of DinoRama and Boneyard, but Dinosaur could leg it out til spring.

 

[James Alucobond]

I bet when the Encanto ride opens and it does indeed focus on Antonio and animals like everyone is claiming, we're gonna have a lot of people going "Where's Bruno? Why isn't Bruno in the Encanto ride?", like how everybody's complaining about Dr. Facilier not being in Tiana's Bayou Adventure.

They already said he's in the ride. You probably just briefly transition behind the walls at some point.

 

[Quietmouse]

I wouldn’t mind if animal kingdom shifted into a more, “adventure” theme park. I think there are some fun ips that could really work well within the realm of animal kingdom but the fact it has to relate to animals makes it kind of like they have to shoe horn things in.

Just call it animal adventure kingdom and allow both animal themes and adventure themes to coexist.

Casually a giant adventure land but themed with animals in mind instead of it being the end all be all focal point.

 

[Starship824]

I wouldn’t mind if animal kingdom shifted into a more, “adventure” theme park. I think there are some fun ips that could really work well within the realm of animal kingdom but the fact it has to relate to animals makes it kind of like they have to shoe horn things in.

Just call it animal adventure kingdom and allow both animal themes and adventure themes to coexist.

Casually a giant adventure land but themed with animals in mind instead of it being the end all be all focal point.

Please no. Just no.

 

[𝐌𝖆𝖓 𝖎𝖓 𝐖𝖊𝖇]

I wouldn’t mind if animal kingdom shifted into a more, “adventure” theme park. I think there are some fun ips that could really work well within the realm of animal kingdom but the fact it has to relate to animals makes it kind of like they have to shoe horn things in.

Just call it animal adventure kingdom and allow both animal themes and adventure themes to coexist.

Casually a giant adventure land but themed with animals in mind instead of it being the end all be all focal point.

Disney has diluted all meaning of the word at this point. Means nothing. I vote No.

 

[Timothy_Q]

Encanto fits in a Latin America land
And a Latin America land fits DAK

I choose to see it this way and be happy about it

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

I wouldn’t mind if animal kingdom shifted into a more, “adventure” theme park.

Then it’s just a giant Adventureland.

That’s the complaint of the Iger era…. The parks are losing all unique personalities and becoming “Igers IP land” - and then people shout “Walt had IP in the parks!” - yeah of course he did and so did Eisner. But he didn’t add 20,000 leagues into Frontierland cause the water was there and the riverboat was old fashioned. Haha.

 

[Consumer]

Encanto fits in a Latin America land
And a Latin America land fits DAK

I choose to see it this way and be happy about it

Usually I would agree with your logic, but does that mean Mulan would fit in Asia at DAK? I think Encanto can and will fit into the park, but there is a slippery slope here for sure.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

Usually I would agree with your logic, but does that mean Mulan would fit in Asia at DAK?

Yes, and Raya, and Turning Red as well.

 

[co10064]

Yes, and Raya, and Turning Red as well.

Turning Red in DAK would be far, far worse than even a Zootopia land there.

 

[Coaster Lover]

If I had to pick one modern day IP to add to DAK and I think Encanto would be it.

As far as "modern" Disney animated movies go, I think the message of Strange World fits DAK almost perfectly... unfortunately, the movie completely bombed meaning it will never see the light of day inside any Disney park.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

As far as "modern" Disney animated movies go, I think the message of Strange World fits DAK almost perfectly... unfortunately, the movie completely bombed meaning it will never see the light of day inside any Disney park.

Honestly… I watched it and completely forgot about it until you mentioned it.

 

[Bleed0range]

Exactly. And now we come full circle to my original point.

It's cool and all that everyone gets excited or whatever, but yall should honestly keep your expectations in check. Everytime some new announcements come around, everyone here has to shove their fingers in their ears and act like we haven't been through this before.

It's definitely possible that Encanto is an E-ticket, but that would also go against what we know Disney usually does. Assuming it's gonna be this world class E-ticket on the level of Mystic Manor is just silly. Not because it can't happen but because in situations similar to this, it consistently doesn't.

I think it will be exactly that kind of E ticket precisely because Indy will be a retheme not an entirely new ride (even though it kind of is) and Lin-Manuel Miranda was pushing hard for them to make an Encanto ride and I think they actually will listen to him in some capacity.

 

[Quietmouse]

Usually I would agree with your logic, but does that mean Mulan would fit in Asia at DAK? I think Encanto can and will fit into the park, but there is a slippery slope here for sure.

At this point I wouldn’t mind. Theme it around the mythical animals of China (Chinese dragon as an example).

You can make things fit even if the ip isn’t directly linked to animals.

Also, I desperately want Mulan to get the respect it deserves and get a proper attraction.

 

[Ghost93]

I bet when the Encanto ride opens and it does indeed focus on Antonio and animals like everyone is claiming, we're gonna have a lot of people going "Where's Bruno? Why isn't Bruno in the Encanto ride?", like how everybody's complaining about Dr. Facilier not being in Tiana's Bayou Adventure.

The complaints about Dr. Facillier being absent on TBA have more to do with the ride's story being very boring and feeling like he would add much needed excitement.

I think it's possible to have a fun Encanto ride without Bruno.

 

[Ghost93]

Yes, and Raya, and Turning Red as well.

Raya could definitely fit in Animal Kingdom if the focus was on the dragons (a dragon remains at the center of the animal kingdom logo!). Turning Red, not so much, as the Pandas are really just humans.