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

[mattpeto]

I think if Muppets was closing early because of operational costs, we’d see more things close. They gave Dinosaur another year when it almost certainly requires more money to run than Muppets.

They’re also closing Mama Melrose & PizzeRizzo. I figure both of those generate revenue, even if they aren’t the most popular restaurants in the park. Heck, Melrose is even closing EARLIER than MuppetVision. I’m not convinced that it’s a budgetary decision.

Yes this was my point as well.

If nothing is happening in the land near time of the closures and it sits dormant for months, maybe they have a point. I don't see it.

Also if they end up opening Monsters theater show first before the door coaster that would also counter their argument.

 

[Gusey]

I also don't want to hear any goalposts moving when lands don't match the concept art. We all know that some elements won't make the final product.

Unfortunately, Tropical Americas seems to have already lost the pink river around Encanto shown in 2023. Hopefully that's the main missing element

 

[Agent H]

Unfortunately, Tropical Americas seems to have already lost the pink river around Encanto shown in 2023. Hopefully that's the main missing element

I think that was just a embellishment as opposed to something that was actually planned

 

[mattpeto]

I think that was just a embellishment as opposed to something that was actually planned

It was also supposed to be a boat ride per @marni1971 at one point and now it leans to an omnimover-like system.

 

[Agent H]

It was also supposed to be a boat ride per @marni1971 at one point and now it leans to an omnimover-like system.

I’m very intrigued by the omimover. I was sure it was going to a trackless dark ride. But this could end up being better. a (presumably) slow moving omimover would have to have more depth of scenery. not that the trackless rides are bad but it’s exciting that end result might be closer to haunted mansion than mystic manor although that would have been awesome too.

 

[Disstevefan1]

Goats pooped on my feet at Rafiki's Planet Watch when I was six. It was my first disgruntling experience.

Replace it with Beastly Kingdom.

I was at Rafiki's Planet Watch in 2024, very sad, only a few animals. A shell of its former self.

This is Disney's plan. make an area worse and worse, then replace it.

 

[The Leader of the Club]

I was at Rafiki's Planet Watch in 2024, very sad, only a few animals. A shell of its former self.

This is Disney's plan. make an area worse and worse, then replace it.

I think moving Animation Academy over here gave it a little shot in the arm.

 

[Disstevefan1]

I think moving Animation Academy over here gave it a little shot in the arm.

That's why we went there, always fun. The petting zoo however abysmal.

 

[Agent H]

That's why we went there, always fun. The petting zoo however abysmal.

How can you not like goats?

 

[TheMaxRebo]

I’m very intrigued by the omimover I was sure it was going to a trackless dark ride in this could end up being better a (presumably) slow moving omimover would have to have more depth of scenery not that the trackless rides are bad but it’s exciting that end result might be closer to haunted mansion than mystic manor although that would have been awesome too

I think the last rumor out there was an omnimover but not a continuous one - so one that would allow for loading a number of cars and then would leave the station and on a track but then allow for pausing in areas and having the action happen for each car

So think more Journey into Imagination vs Haunted Mansion

 

[Agent H]

I think the last rumor out there was an omnimover but not a continuous one - so one that would allow for loading a number of cars and then would leave the station and on a track but then allow for pausing in areas and having the action happen for each car

So think more Journey into Imagination vs Haunted Mansion

This is very interesting indeed didn’t @wdwmagic say it was going to be an omimover?

 

[Disstevefan1]

How can you not like goats?

I think there was A goat there, its fine

 

[TheMaxRebo]

This is very interesting indeed didn’t @wdwmagic say it was going to be an omimover?

Yeah, it is still under the umbrella of "omnimover" - on a track and control what the guest is looking at ... But just not the continually moving version

 

[marni1971]

It was also supposed to be a boat ride per @marni1971 at one point and now it leans to an omnimover-like system.

Let me check what I last saw. IIRC it’s not Omni as in the HM sense. If I remember I’ll check when home.

 

[Gremlin Gus]

This is very interesting indeed didn’t @wdwmagic say it was going to be an omimover?

They did, though there was a post later on that did say that it wasn't going to be a full-on omnimover and was going to be more like Figment

 

[Agent H]

I think there was A goat there, its fine

Which one?

 

[HauntedPirate]

Which one?

You missed actual GOATs.

Wait... Sorry, I'll refrain from further thread derailment.

 

[Gremlin Gus]

It was also supposed to be a boat ride per @marni1971 at one point and now it leans to an omnimover-like system.

A bit unrelated, but that does make me wonder if the Encanto was originally a boat ride, would it have been a somewhat "retelling" of the movie? Because I'd image it would be hard for the current version of the attraction we have now to be a boat ride seeing as we're going throughout the Casita (unless Pepa cause the weather to rain so hard that it causes a river to flow through the Casita )

 

[Agent H]

I think there was A goat there, its fine

Which one?

I got more

 

[lazyboy97o]

Even if all those things were true, I really don’t see how attraction overlay projects are that exposed. Particularly Indy, the Muppets show replacement and RnRC.

They are largely exposed because they are later phases of a larger project. As you know, most cuts of late that people decry as “budget cuts” aren’t reductions in the actual budget but cuts to keep the project on budget. It’s always easier and cheaper to change something that is still on paper.

Overlays also add some risk because there’s a degree of existing infrastructure that can deliver the minimal viable product. In the extreme you could deliver a Tropical Americas with Dinosaur which already isn’t overly tied to geography. Monstropolis isn’t a super distinct setting, Muppter Theater could go largely untouched and just show the two shorts stitched together. While many may not realize that the rethemed attraction is rethemed, the new attraction is the new thing. That’s the real headliner. I’m not making predictions, just highlighting how much room there is to cut back those aspects while still delivering something.

It’s also not just the tariffs. The US already had a labor shortage and there is an explicit desire to reduce the adult population of the country. This does openly include revoking existing work authorizations, visas and even citizenship. That’s just another factor with a direct connection.