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

[UNCgolf]

I really don't get the hype for the River Journey. It's scenic, it's relaxing, the animatronic is great, but it just feels like it's missing something. Suspense, excitement, I dunno, something. Not to say it needs to be a thrill ride, but it's basically just stunning visuals and not much else. IMO, nowhere near worth the usual wait times it has. I'll do it as a pleasant relaxing attraction if the wait is <30 mins.

I don't think there's much hype -- people here seem to hate it.

I actually love it and think it's one of the best attractions they've built this century at WDW from a design standpoint, but you have to look at it as a C ticket (which it is) and grade it on that scale. It's certainly not a 60+ minute wait kind of ride, but that's because Animal Kingdom doesn't have enough attractions.

 

[Chef idea Mickey`=]

C'mon, this is the World's 1st Ever Encanto ride attraction experience and to say it will not be on par with Frozen would be a huge humongous disappointment for the Domestic Park's. It deserves some Animatronics?

 

[doctornick]

I actually do like Remy I just don't think that kind of ride works for Encanto. I think Encanto is a ride that needs lots of physical sets and AAs. It can have seems or projections but they have to be used well. It has to be used in a way that can't be done physically imo.

Remy does has pretty significant physical sets - even if a lot of the "action" is on screens in front of you - though it doesn't really have AAs that I can recall. I think a biggest "issue", which is something that came up in this discussion already, is whether a ride has 3D glasses. IMHO, it is difficult to make effective physical features when a ride relies on wearing glasses and having 3D images - the glasses themselves dull the physical view and make anything you see there less engaging. They become more window dressing than something that really draws you in themselves.

NRJ is a fantastic example on how to integrate both physical scenes with screens to create activity and movement. The problem with that ride is a lack of "stuff happening" - it's all (beautiful) background and no sizzle.

I wouldn't have a problem with Encanto having screens for at least some of the "action" if they are integrated well with physical sets. But the property does seem to be tailor made for a lot of moving features within the casita that are physically there and no projections. Not having glasses though is a huge positive deal as if they were being used it would limit what they could effectively do with the rest of the ride.

I'm curious also about what @Moth is hearing about the premise of the ride. Justified and fitting in DAK?

 

[KDM31091]

I don't think there's much hype -- people here seem to hate it.

I actually love it and think it's one of the best attractions they've built this century at WDW from a design standpoint, but you have to look at it as a C ticket (which it is) and grade it on that scale. It's certainly not a 60+ minute wait kind of ride, but that's because Animal Kingdom doesn't have enough attractions.

I guess by "hype" I mean I don't get why it routinely has such a long wait but I think it's just like you said AK doesn't have enough to absorb crowds

 

[UNCgolf]

I guess by "hype" I mean I don't get why it routinely has such a long wait but I think it's just like you said AK doesn't have enough to absorb crowds

I'm pretty sure that's it. If DAK had 5 or 6 more attractions, the NRJ wait time would probably drop significantly.

 

[Rich Brownn]

Remy does has pretty significant physical sets - even if a lot of the "action" is on screens in front of you - though it doesn't really have AAs that I can recall. I think a biggest "issue", which is something that came up in this discussion already, is whether a ride has 3D glasses. IMHO, it is difficult to make effective physical features when a ride relies on wearing glasses and having 3D images - the glasses themselves dull the physical view and make anything you see there less engaging. They become more window dressing than something that really draws you in themselves.

NRJ is a fantastic example on how to integrate both physical scenes with screens to create activity and movement. The problem with that ride is a lack of "stuff happening" - it's all (beautiful) background and no sizzle.

I wouldn't have a problem with Encanto having screens for at least some of the "action" if they are integrated well with physical sets. But the property does seem to be tailor made for a lot of moving features within the casita that are physically there and no projections. Not having glasses though is a huge positive deal as if they were being used it would limit what they could effectively do with the rest of the ride.

I'm curious also about what @Moth is hearing about the premise of the ride. Justified and fitting in DAK?

I dont know about Remy but Universal used Dolby 3D type where the frequency of the colors are changed and the glasses change them back. Unlike polarized 3D this type has fewer cross talk issues and since you're recieving 100% of the light (just shifted) it's also much brighter and sharper. You can tell by looking at the glasses which is used (D3D glasses have a reflective surface and if you look around with them one eye at a time normal stuff has weird color changes. Polorize has grey lenses, and generally reduce light by 50%) The main reason why polarized is still used in theaters is D3D type glasses can be very expensive (I've heard as much as $35 each) Its why they have RFID chips in them that sound an alarm if someone tries to walk out with one

 

[andre85]

well that’s good. Should be a good ride hopefully. The one I worry for is Indy. Especially with the way the Dino building doesn’t allow for the big cool room in the other versions of Indy. Can imagineering capture lightning in a bottle twice?

Just curious, but what about the Dino building prevents the big room?

 

[James Alucobond]

Just curious, but what about the Dino building prevents the big room?

I think it's been said that there's no "basement" level as in the other IJ attractions where you look down into the pit while crossing the bridge, so you'd have to do something structurally different unless you wanted to spend a lot more than necessary.

 

[Tha Realest]

It's statistically proven that any IP connected to dinosaurs they could use or ask to use (Ice Age, Good Dinosaur, Nat Geo, Walking with Dinosaurs thru relationship with the BBC), would NOT sell Mirabel dolls. If there isn't a hook to sell dolls and dresses, then why keep it around?! What is Disney, a charity?!

Are they selling Mirabel dolls now?

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

I guess by "hype" I mean I don't get why it routinely has such a long wait but I think it's just like you said AK doesn't have enough to absorb crowds

It’s one of 4 rides that has no height requirement. The train, the Dino spinner, and the safari are the others.

 

[Coaster Lover]

For Encanto-

Glasses or no glasses?

If so, hopefully they at least make them green and appear somewhat like wireframe glasses...

 

[AidenRodriguez731]

It’s one of 4 rides that has no height requirement. The train, the Dino spinner, and the safari are the others.

All I'm hearing is more reasons to build a new Bug's Land in AK. With proper ride planning, the new Tropical America's, Lion King Ride, and a Bug's Life Land would probably make AK officially a "full day park" in a lot more peoples eyes. Have a nice quick service location similar in scale to the Lunchbox over in TSL, could do a new show for Bug's Land but isn't really all that necessary. Have a nice indoor area to look at bugs and other "creepy crawlies" to show our relation with bugs and show they aren't so scary after all. Add in 3-4 flat rides and see those ride wait times drop. If you wanna get some major brownie points, get in a playplace/splash pad and make it a kids paradise basically.

 

[MagicEye99]

All I'm hearing is more reasons to build a new Bug's Land in AK. With proper ride planning, the new Tropical America's, Lion King Ride, and a Bug's Life Land would probably make AK officially a "full day park" in a lot more peoples eyes. Have a nice quick service location similar in scale to the Lunchbox over in TSL, could do a new show for Bug's Land but isn't really all that necessary. Have a nice indoor area to look at bugs and other "creepy crawlies" to show our relation with bugs and show they aren't so scary after all. Add in 3-4 flat rides and see those ride wait times drop. If you wanna get some major brownie points, get in a playplace/splash pad and make it a kids paradise basically.

That makes wayyyy too much sense.

 

[Quietmouse]

Animal kingdom is almost 30 years old and it’s taken them 3 decades to barely move their attraction count…

Disney should have done a cycle where each park gets one new themed attraction land every 4 years. Cycling off between the 4 parks.

 

[JD80]

Animal kingdom is almost 30 years old and it’s taken them 3 decades to barely move their attraction count…

Disney should have done a cycle where each park gets one new themed attraction land every 4 years. Cycling off between the 4 parks.

They were on track for that but then Chapek and COVID.

 

[mattpeto]

They were on track for that but then Chapek and COVID.

And it also doesn't matter what they do in other parks. People still want to burn their vacation days mostly at MK.

 

[ToTBellHop]

And it also doesn't matter what they do in other parks. People still want to burn their vacation days mostly at MK.

You’re probably correct that MK needs a physical expansion because it’s packed to bursting while the other parks can get by with changing out content just to promote people visiting again on subsequent vacations. Epcot certainly doesn’t suffer for lack of space. Changing out rides and shows, as they’ve done, hopefully encourages more people to use the existing space.

The biggest exception (to me) is DHS. Like MK, it’s too full. So, it’s no surprise that park is also set to receive a true expansion in the 2030s. No such plans for Epcot or DAK.

 

[Streetway]

You’re probably correct that MK needs a physical expansion because it’s packed to bursting while the other parks can get by with changing out content just to promote people visiting again on subsequent vacations. Epcot certainly doesn’t suffer for lack of space. Changing out rides and shows, as they’ve done, hopefully encourages more people to use the existing space.

The biggest exception (to me) is DHS. Like MK, it’s too full. So, it’s no surprise that park is also set to receive a true expansion in the 2030s. No such plans for Epcot or DAK.

Is that in animation courtyard, or somewhere else new?

 

[danlb_2000]

Animal kingdom is almost 30 years old and it’s taken them 3 decades to barely move their attraction count…

Disney should have done a cycle where each park gets one new themed attraction land every 4 years. Cycling off between the 4 parks.

Based on the announcements for Disney World it looks like Disney is more interested in optimizing then expanding.

 

[ToTBellHop]

Is that in animation courtyard, or somewhere else new?

Animation Courtyard and beyond. Whether or not Monsters, Inc. goes there, more is planned extending west toward RnRC.