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

[BrianLo]

Yes some people here said specifically that it would be unique almost a year before Disney announced that but yes it has now been confirmed by Disney.

Not talking about your comment. There’s still this gigantic backlog of garbage from Henry Mystic to wade through.

 

[Rosso11]

Not talking about your comment. There’s still this gigantic backlog of garbage from Henry Mystic to wade through.

that was a mess

 

[𝐌𝖆𝖓 𝖎𝖓 𝐖𝖊𝖇]

Indy is being thrown in here as a convenience. Encanto was/is the goal for driving new attendance to this area of the park. I suspect with almost certain budget cuts, we're going to be very disappointed in the Indy ride.

The irony is, the Indy conversion doesn't even have to be done. The Dino Institute could have been built in South America (I know, the land is called DinoLand USA, but that backstory could be altered along with the land), considering it sends you back in time to that geographic region. How do I know that? Well, the only Carnotaurus skeletons ever found were in Argentina.

Other-way around, no? Indy is already established so they have to pull out all the stops on this version to make it unique for DAK. It's Encanto that's likely budget stricken. Nah, Indy's golden. It has actual talent behind it. Actual research trips (not that Tiana PR crap!) Encanto can be anything and people will eat it up. Why would they put effort into Encanto?

 

[Blobbles]

Yes Florida WDI now runs most projects that happen in WDW with the exception of mandates that come out of Cali such as TBA. I know for sure the projects in AK and MK are all being done in Florida. I have not heard specifically about who is running the projects at Hollywood studios but I believe those are also Florida. WDI has bulked up tremendously the past few years in Florida with anticipation of being the new headquarters and all of this expansion in the pipeline. As we know the Lake Nona office is no longer happening but I wouldn’t be surprised if there will soon still be more Imagineers based out of Florida over California.

Their main building is in Epcot behind Test Track but they do need to expand that at some point.

Good! I am so down with this, as WDW projects are now being done by people who can actually walk in the park and think about Florida specific problems and do other things team cali does for DL. hopefully, more florida people also means we get some imagineers who respect wdw's history just as much as Team Imagineering Anehiem does for DL. WDW deserves more respect other than "the tourist one".

 

[JackCH]

Not talking about your comment. There’s still this gigantic backlog of garbage from Henry Mystic to wade through.

I wasn't active during that time so I've just seen the leftover debris

 

[Blobbles]

I wasn't active during that time so I've just seen the leftover debris

He really needs to stop letting albert open the music box.

 

[ToTBellHop]

Other-way around, no? Indy is already established so they have to pull out all the stops on this version to make it unique for DAK. It's Encanto that's likely budget stricken. Nah, Indy's golden. It has actual talent behind it. Actual research trips (not that Tiana PR crap!) Encanto can be anything and people will eat it up. Why would they put effort into Encanto?

Also, it already has a ride system so as long as they don’t cut its budget, it should be great. The budget is all on sets.

 

[Coaster Lover]

That is really exciting if true. Would be great for them to be "gearing up" for a decade of focused WDW projects.

Hopefully, it also means attractions are better planned with shade/cooling structures in any outdoor portions of the queue in the initial design for WDW...

 

[Marc Davis Fan]

Encanto was/is the goal for driving new attendance to this area of the park.

This prospect makes it even more puzzling that Encanto is supposedly just a D-ticket… Hopefully the hints that it’ll be a “high D” are right…

Also, while I respect both of your thoughtful options, I lean in favor of @Bocabear ’s view about Indy. While I'm generally skeptical (at best) of "re-themes" because I think they cheapen the parks (making attractions feel less "real" and such), this is one case where - though I'd still prefer a new build - I believe that if Indy is truly done well (that’s an “if”), its aesthetics will add a lot to the overall experience of Tropical Americas.

He really needs to stop letting albert open the music box.

I can handle Albert opening the music box, it’s when he logs into Henry’s WDWMagic account that things really go haywire…

 

[JD80]

This prospect makes it even more puzzling that Encanto is supposedly just a D-ticket… Hopefully the hints that it’ll be a “high D” are right…

Where did you read that Encanto is a D-ticket? Where did we get any info on what kind of "ticket" it is?

 

[celluloid]

Where did you read that Encanto is a D-ticket? Where did we get any info on what kind of "ticket" it is?

Combining the build window, the property and the fact that Indy will be an E ticket are pretty good indicators with Modern Disney.

 

[britain]

Combining the build window, the property and the fact that Indy will be an E ticket are pretty good indicators with Modern Disney.

But this is kind of a weird situation. I definitely can see a scenario where they wanted to build an Encanto E ticket but they also wanted to do “something“ to freshen dinosaur. The end result is probably two E tickets (although I have no illusions that this would be some sort of Tokyo-scale E ticket).

It’s a little bit like building Tron next to Space Mountain, although to complete the analogy they would need to re-skin Space Mountain.

 

[JackCH]

I think the distinction between a D and E ticket, especially with dark rides, is a very blurry one.

 

[BrianLo]

It’s a well sized show building. Not Shanghai Pirates or Rise… but I see parallels to Mystic Manor and Pooh’s Honey Hunt size wise and how the queue structure is set up.

 

[James Alucobond]

Also, IIRC, FoP is D, so it’s not like being a D would preclude it from being a major draw for both the land and park.

 

[Disgruntled Walt]

Also, IIRC, FoP is D, so it’s not like being a D would preclude it from being a major draw for both the land and park.

Oh it will definitely be a draw...more so than Indy, I think. Especially for the younger folks.

 

[Freshee61]

The biggest pile of dung to hit ak Dinoland -ugh, so upset about this direction

 

[The Leader of the Club]

Also, IIRC, FoP is D, so it’s not like being a D would preclude it from being a major draw for both the land and park.

If FOP is considered a D ticket, does DAK even have an E? Only Everest?

 

[Disgruntled Walt]

If FOP is considered a D ticket, does DAK even have an E? Only Everest?

Dinosaur is an E Ticket. I would say Kilimanjaro would be classified as an E ticket also because of its scope.

 

[Marc Davis Fan]

Where did you read that Encanto is a D-ticket? Where did we get any info on what kind of "ticket" it is?

This thread! (Insider saying it’s being viewed as a D, but will be a high D.) But as @JackCH and @James Alucobond noted above, the distinction is blurry and highly-regarded attractions can technically be Ds, so maybe we have reason for optimism about the quality and impressiveness…

It’s a well sized show building. Not Shanghai Pirates or Rise… but I see parallels to Mystic Manor and Pooh’s Honey Hunt size wise and how the queue structure is set up.

It’s funny, considering the show building’s size/design and also considering the ride’s apparent premise, I’ve been wondering if it’s possible that they’re looking to MM/PHH stylistically and in terms of ride system. And WDW still doesn’t have an “intimate” trackless ride a la MM and PHH (RRA is the closest, but relies too much on screens to have the MM/PHH effect).