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

[erasure fan1]

I think the best approach is to do away with it entirely and just build really well themed queues that people won’t get bored in for everything

you're not wrong, but that ship has sailed. I can't think of any theme parks that don't do a skip the line at this point in time. The point was if you're going to do a skip the line, the original fast pass is the way to go.

Everyone could use it, it was a competitive advantage being free. It wasn't perfect by any stretch. But man oh man it was better than anything that's come after in my opinion. As for the well themed queues, no matter what, that should always be the plan.

 

[Disney Analyst]

you're not wrong, but that ship has sailed. I can't think of any theme parks that don't do a skip the line at this point in time. The point was if you're going to do a skip the line, the original fast pass is the way to go.

Everyone could use it, it was a competitive advantage being free. It wasn't perfect by any stretch. But man oh man it was better than anything that's come after in my opinion. As for the well themed queues, no matter what, that should always be the plan.

We should be amazed that Disney once even offered it for free... Bizzaro for this company.

 

[lazyboy97o]

The carousel is a great example of backstory run amok. Strained and self referential. The fantasy of the experience is that this guy isn’t being hit with a cease and desist.

 

[Fox&Hound]

It

I never even walked through the Boneyard, not having kids...Was it as extensive and exploratory as the Honey I Shrunk the kids play area? that was fantastic with so many places to explore...I even enjoyed it as an adult...well I remember many adults climbing through it back in the day. Universal had another very extensive play area in the Jurassic Park area that was also huge and well themed with caves and water features.... It would be nice if the replacing play arera were something on that scale...and not just another plastic slides and ball pit ...

It really was epic! Across the bridge was a giant sandbox but instead of sand it was little pieces of gravel. I didn’t even know until last time it was there. Totally covered/shaded and such a fun place for the kids to explore.

 

[Gremlin Gus]

The carousel is a great example of backstory run amok. Strained and self referential. The fantasy of the experience is that this guy isn’t being hit with a cease and desist.

Plot twist: Disney decided to buy the entirety of Pueblo Esperanza and they decided to retheme the animals at the carousel to Disney animals because of it.

 

[Brer Panther]

The land isn't themed to Encanto.

Yes, but there's a pretty good chance this land was only thought of, or at least greenlit, because of a desire to put Encanto in Animal Kingdom.

 

[JackCH]

Yes, but there's a pretty good chance this land was only thought of, or at least greenlit, because of a desire to put Encanto in Animal Kingdom.

I mean sure. Because Encanto is the main new attraction so of course it played a large part in determining the theme of the land. Not sure how that is relevant to the point, however.

People groaning about a carousel at *Disney's Animal Kingdom* being themed to *Disney Animals* seems a bit over-the-top.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

We should be amazed that Disney once even offered it for free... Bizzaro for this company.

When it was first launched it was great as it was for a small number of attractions but expectation was still you stand in a standby line for majority of rides

In some ways, blowing it up to the full FP+ system long term became a real negative as it trained people to feel they *need* a line skip system to your the parks and not used to doing it without one.

If they went right to a paid system but targeting a smaller percentage of guests (basically right to the Premier Pass only) it might be better for everyone now

 

[Disgruntled Walt]

We should be amazed that Disney once even offered it for free... Bizzaro for this company.

It didn't used to be Bizzaro for this company. There was a time when they provided perks because they cared about guests.

 

[lazyboy97o]

People groaning about a carousel at *Disney's Animal Kingdom* being themed to *Disney Animals* seems a bit over-the-top.

It’s themed decoration, not themed experience.

 

[BrianLo]

The carousel is a great example of backstory run amok. Strained and self referential. The fantasy of the experience is that this guy isn’t being hit with a cease and desist.

I think the fantasy is a bit more that it’s nice and hand crafted. An actual off model carousel would seat 5 and be made of some sort of hard plastic.

I think I like it more than the coco carousel at least.

 

[peter11435]

It didn't used to be Bizzaro for this company. There was a time when they provided perks because they cared about guests.

Perks were never provided because they “cared about guests”

Everything was offered because it benefited Disney.

 

[Ayla]

It didn't used to be Bizzaro for this company. There was a time when they provided perks because they cared about guests.

Great commercial for WDW...other than using DLR's teacups.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

The carousel is a great example of backstory run amok.

Every merry-go-round in WDW must have a backstory

Prince Charming Regal Carrousel set that standard

(side note, please bring back the name Cinderella's Golden Carrousel)

 

[Marc Davis Fan]

...how does the woodcarver whose village has an Encanto ride or a house or whatever it is know all of these Disney characters?

He visited Disney's Animal Kingdom as a child.

 

[DisneyHead123]

Perks were never provided because they “cared about guests”

Everything was offered because it benefited Disney.

I wonder if the post Covid labor shortage has changed their thinking on what to offer at the parks. Rides with a few attendants vs. services like DME which were probably more labor intensive. Especially as they need more and more cast members as the cruise lines expand, they’re competing with Universal for people, etc.

It’s not that they’ve stopped spending on the parks - they’re spending quite a bit, but the spending is much more centered on new builds.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Every merry-go-round in WDW must have a backstory

Prince Charming Regal Carrousel set that standard

(side note, please bring back the name Cinderella's Golden Carrousel)

And for something that didn’t even happen and fix something nobody was asking. Sometimes it’s better to not push the issue. But in the case of this land, just having a carousel in a town park wouldn’t be something weird. Spending time and money coming up with an unnecessary justification is burning of the budget that could be used elsewhere.

 

[Agent H]

And for something that didn’t even happen and fix something nobody was asking. Sometimes it’s better to not push the issue. But in the case of this land, just having a carousel in a town park wouldn’t be something weird. Spending time and money coming up with an unnecessary justification is burning of the budget that could be used elsewhere.

Legitimate question. How much time and money could this have taken? Surely not much. I think having a backstory enriches the experience and makes it better. I do think
that these should be normal South American animals (maybe with Kevin thrown in there for fun)

 

[Timothy_Q]

The carousel having a backstory that it was built by a local woodcarver from Pueblo Esperanza is a pretty similar line of thinking to the Harambe Theater being a retelling of the Lion King by the locals of Port Harambe

Feels pretty organic to the concept of DAK's lands representing "real communities"

 

[James Alucobond]

Legitimate question. How much time and money could this have taken? Surely not much. I think having a backstory enriches the experience and it better. I do think
that these should be normal South American animals (maybe with Kevin thrown in there for fun)

I am not sure what sort of budget goes to these things, but I do think stating it outright feels contrived, especially if there will ultimately be no evidence of it within the park. Ideally, if this were still a thing but not so awkwardly framed for marketing consumption, it would just be something you could infer from the built environment. Like, have a woodworking shop or stall in the town with a half-finished carousel figure in the back.