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

[ToTBellHop]

A lot of site prep is necessary for Villains. That will occur in tandem with early Cars work. As Cars enters its final stages of construction, Villains can enter serious construction. Once we are riding Cars, there will be plenty to see in the villain site. Similar to the TSL/SWGE stagger.

 

[Timothy_Q]

Some people here want to complain more than they want to learn what the facts are

 

[eddie104]

Some people here want to complain more than they want to learn what the facts are

Exactly…

 

[Incomudro]

Next D23 will be Cars, AK, and Monsters. Villains will still be vague. There’s no point in diluting the impact of these significant investments - why waste the boost from Villains Land by opening it close on the heels of Cars?

SWL was extremely different because of Iger’s pressing need, both personally and professionally, to justify the Lucasfilm purchase. I was actually shocked by how much they cut from the land considering that. There’s no similar pressure to open Villains, and in fact a lot of forces pushing against it.

Yes, the vagueness of Villains Land give me little hope.
I certainly don't think it's going to be remotely comparable to what Uni is doing with Frankenstein, the Werewolf etc.

 

[Mr. Sullivan]

I just want Animal Kingdom to be open at night time again

(speaking of which Disney has the oppurtunity to make Tropical America's to look amazing in the dark, esp the Encanto home

I am rather confident in saying that once everything is said and done, AK will start staying open later.

 

[IanDLBZF]

I am rather confident in saying that once everything is said and done, AK will start staying open later.

Me too, add to that once they get a proper replacement for ROL.

 

[Disgruntled Walt]

I am rather confident in saying that once everything is said and done, AK will start staying open later.

That's what they said when Avatar opened, and it didn't last long.

 

[Mr. Sullivan]

That's what they said when Avatar opened, and it didn't last long.

That is true yes! And this time may not be any different. But, I also feel that the context of this whole project is also different than Pandora. I get the sense that this project will result in a more prominent change to the way AK is approached than Pandora did.

 

[doctornick]

That's what they said when Avatar opened, and it didn't last long.

I think that had more to do with RoL failing to hit and the subset safaris being a fail than Pandora

 

[The Leader of the Club]

The park just currently doesn’t have enough for families to do in the evenings.
The safari and animal trails have to close. The live shows don’t have late performances. People don’t want to ride Kali when it’s cold.

That really only leaves Everest, Pandora, and Dino, most of which have height requirements. Tropical Americas will add a few more options with Encanto & the carousel, but I think they still need another big ride for all ages.

 

[JackCH]

The park just currently doesn’t have enough for families to do in the evenings.
The safari and animal trails have to close. The live shows don’t have late performances. People don’t want to ride Kali when it’s cold.

That really only leaves Everest, Pandora, and Dino, most of which have height requirements. Tropical Americas will add a few more options with Encanto & the carousel, but I think they still need another big ride for all ages.

Please do Lion king lol.

 

[Marc Davis Fan]

The park just currently doesn’t have enough for families to do in the evenings. … Tropical Americas will add a few more options with Encanto & the carousel, but I think they still need another big ride for all ages.

…and a nighttime drone show.

Actually, I wonder if they haven’t decided about the drones because the sounds might freak out certain species of animals (like those with exceptional hearing at certain pitches)? Either way, a well-liked nighttime show will do wonders.

 

[ToTBellHop]

Somehow, I struggle to see the net addition of one ride keeping this park open until 9 pm. The Safaris and Kali will still be useless at night. Maybe they can install a bunch of Jack Jacks on sticks for us to try and spot.

 

[mattpeto]

Somehow, I struggle to see the net addition of one ride keeping this park open until 9 pm. The Safaris and Kali will still be useless at night. Maybe they can install a bunch of Jack Jacks on sticks for us to try and spot.

At least Encanto, Indy will draw considerable more demand than Triceratops and Dinosaur. The shine of new ToL show will help as well.

They should be able to launch a nighttime show in 2027, we'll see if it's sustainable after that.

I think at the very least we get an extra hour in the evenings. The 6 pm standard will be at least be 7 pm.

 

[ToTBellHop]

At least Encanto, Indy will draw considerable more demand than Triceratops and Dinosaur. The shine of new ToL show will help as well.

They should be able to launch a nighttime show in 2027, we'll see if it's sustainable after that.

I think at the very least we get an extra hour in the evenings. The 6 pm standard will be at least be 7 pm.

My concern is that they haven’t mentioned a nighttime show. Let’s hope they are working on one and keeping it quiet.

 

[doctornick]

Somehow, I struggle to see the net addition of one ride keeping this park open until 9 pm. The Safaris and Kali will still be useless at night. Maybe they can install a bunch of Jack Jacks on sticks for us to try and spot.

They need a well received night time show and another ride - with the logical choices being either a third ride in Pandora or a TLK ride. Ideally any additional ride would be family friendly and indoors though to compliment other offerings

 

[Disgruntled Walt]

Indy will draw considerable more demand than Dinosaur

What makes you think this? There will be a bump in popularity due to it being new, but the Encanto attraction is the heavy hitter here. That is what will increase overall attendance at the Indiana Jones attraction, and I would wager the attendance would bump on Dinosaur if it stayed, just because Encanto gets more people to this corner of the park.

 

[mattpeto]

What makes you think this? There will be a bump in popularity due to it being new, but the Encanto attraction is the heavy hitter here. That is what will increase overall attendance at the Indiana Jones attraction, and I would wager the attendance would bump on Dinosaur if it stayed, just because Encanto gets more people to this corner of the park.

I mostly agree with you on this.

Still, it seems like Indiana Jones Adventure is much more popular and liked than Dinosaur. If the new Indy ride is in the same spirit, it will be more in demand.

 

[BrianLo]

My concern is that they haven’t mentioned a nighttime show. Let’s hope they are working on one and keeping it quiet.

I’ll be concerned heading out of D23 2026. But it’s way too early in the development cycle beyond ‘and we intend to do a show’.

I cannot fathom we don’t get one. Especially with how entertainment refresh forward they’ve been of late.

 

[JackCH]

Animal Kingdom would be pretty close to being my favorite Disney park if they just added 1) Lion King Ride, 2) Pandora Expansion, 3) a couple more smaller attractions for capacity and things to do, and 4) a well done nighttime show.

I personally believe it is already in competition with DisneySea as one of the most well-themed and beautiful parks in the world, and Tropical Americas I think will match that in a way DinoLand didn't. Now if you add one or two more world-class attractions and some smaller stuff just to increase capacity, I think it would be just spectacular.

Very different from how I feel about DHS, which I think needs a complete overhaul in theming a la Disney Adventure World. AK has the bones it needs to be world-class, it just needs "more."