Armchair Imagineering: My Vision for the Best WDW

[AidenRodriguez731]

Have you ever dreamed or wondered what Walt Disney World could be if every park reached its full potential. If every park had its full clear theme and combined it with storytelling and immersive worlds to make something that is truly beautiful and (atleast in my opinion) would make EVERY WDW park a contender for one of the best parks in the world. This is my armchair imagineering journey, a continously updated blueprint imagining of all the WDW parks, land by land. From new dark rides and expansion areas to environmental storytelling and meaningful upgrades.

So please, hop aboard. We're heading into uncharted territory, guided entirely by my own crazy ideas and the belief that any park in WDW can become one of the greatest parks WORLDWIDE.

A few simple ground rules for this project/idea:

1. Reimagining/plussing/replacing attractions is allowed as long as respect to the OG attraction is paid and the attraction experience is improved for the guest.

2. These ideas should all be RELATIVELY practical. I do have 1 impractical idea that involves moving a very popular ride somewhere else but I believe it would massively improve the guest experience and flow of certain areas. This should not be an expectation, this is an isolated incident that I have come to for MANY reasons that I believe will help the guest. Everything else should be able to realistically happen which means the ride tech exists or could exist, there is space for it, and the current IP "mandate" is atleast partially followed to anchor every new land with some IP. This does not mean I am restricting myself to any "IP lands", in fact, they will be avoided as much as possible! These lands will mix IP, original attractions, and more to make a great experience for all guests.

3. I will not be changing ANYTHING that Disney has currently announced, all of these plans are going to act as if everything that has been announced is coming exactly as announced. I am not saving the ROA, Dinoland, or Muppets Courtyard (but there could be other spots where some of these appear in some way or another)


Now, with all of that said, and without further ado. I cannot wait to introduce you to my new version of... ANIMAL KINGDOM!

This is one of my favorite Disney parks of all time and the idea of plussing it to truly make it my favorite, is just too tempting. The next post will be about the first NEW land added to AK so without further ado I will now be presenting.... the GLACIAL FRONTIER!

 

[AidenRodriguez731]

Glacial Frontier

A breathtaking, fully indoor realm in Disney's Animal Kingdom, where the Ice Age comes roaring to life through stories and the stunning power of nature itself.

Overview:
Guests enter through a cavern found in the back of Asia, mining supplies are found alongside the trail as cold air rushes out from the cave. As guests go through, cave drawings featuring cavemen, mammoths, and various other creations begin appearing along the walls as distant animal calls are heard. The cave begins to look more and more frozen over with giant icicles appearing and the rock giving way to large walls covered in ice. The entry way opens up to The Glacial Frontier's main room. A massive atrium with a large lagoon sitting in the center, multiple waterfalls cascade down from the ceiling and the walls as the ice appears to be melting constantly. You have now been sent back into a pocket of the Ice Age seemingly "frozen in time". A massive skeleton of a giant ground sloth, smilidon, and a cave bear all appear embedded in the ceiling. Throughout the day, the ceiling seems to echo the Northern Lights, almost as if they are constantly just outside the ice.


Attractions:

Ice Age: Meltdown
(A family thrilling boat ride similar to the ride system used on Mission Bermudes)



Queue: The ride's queue winds through one of the many icy passages through the cavern, featuring a few animatronics of various Ice Age creatures and a small recreation of the Tar Pits from the Ice Age movie. Various creatures are relaxing and joking about how things could never get any better than this and that things must be perfect right now. The riders continue on into a stone cave with the flickers of torches following their way as they approach an abandoned human camp that serves as this rides load station.

The ride lurches forward into a gentle stream as Manny appears from around a corner with Sid, noticing the riders and telling Sid not to look at them and to hope they just go away. Sid asks if he can give them a tour which Manny cuts off and declines. Diego is shown overhead on a nearby ice cliff warning the two that these are humans and he doesn't trust any of them. The boat continues forward to a ravine where an ice bridge above is creaking and pressing down slowly as projections of animals footprints from the top are visible. Water begins to pour out of cracks as small crackling noises are heard from around the ravine. The boat turns into a small section showing off the main atrium, passing by one of the waterfalls, as the boat rounds the corner. Diego appears again at the top of a bridge, telling the others that the humans followed them and asking if he can eat them yet. Manny tells him not to bother and to let the humans follow if they want as they don't have time for this. The boat continues as cracks start appearing all over the walls, suddenly massive splashes in the water simulate chunks of ice and rock falling in the water around the boat as the boat careens away to avoid a large falling icicle.

Sid pops out and asks why everything seems to be trying to murder them which Manny reminds him is the reason they are leaving. The boat exits the cave and enters a large set showing the outside of the caverns with herds of animals heading away from the melting ice. A massive ice shelf simulates falling as a crack is hearing, the boat dips down into a brief rollercoaster section before splashing down into a narrow canyon.

Ellie comes over to say that they are losing the trail as the boat enters a rapids section where movements of the boat are synchronized with rushing water to simulate going down a chaotic river. Sid once again shows up to direct you into a "shortcut" he found. As you enter and slow down, the ice walls around you begin to close in as rapid loud cracking is heard all around you. Manny is heard telling everyone that there is no way through and to run for it. As the boat nearly gets out of the ice wall, it stops to simulate being stuck before suddenly jolting forward. Shadows of various ice age predators appear along the walls as Diego comes up overhead, insisting that he has this. The projections fight and we turn into a small fight scene depicted through animatronics before the shadows begin to run away. Manny tells you that your people are just ahead as the boat speeds up into one final small drop into a regular cave. A flicker of a campfire telling you that other humans are nearby. Manny and the others appear at the cave entrance to say their goodbyes with Sid offering you a tour anytime and Manny interrupting him to not rush it as you return back to the unload station going uphill.


Scrats Acorn Spin:
(Family Spinning Coaster like Crush's Coaster in DLP)

Ride: Guests board large acorn ride vehicles in a frozen ravine with a Scrat animatronic sniffing around the loading area. As the carts turn the corner, they are brought up a large lift hill where Scrat is seen trying to pull his beloved acorn out of the ice just above the riders. As they approach, a large rumble is heard as a crack forms going through the cave, the coaster spins throughout the cave passing various scenes of Scrat running from breaking ice and chasing his prized acorn through both screens and animatronics. The ride ends with Scrat getting his acorn but the coaster vehicle spraying snow up at him, covering him in snow as the ride vehicle slows to a stop.

Melt Zone Mayhem
(Family Bumper Boat Attraction)
People board small boats made of wood/bones and can bump into each other or various obstacles that can shoot water or trigger various effects to reveal animals and other fun effects! Geysers spraying, drums banging, etc!

Echoes in Ice
(A unique animatronic show)

This show is most similar to Tiki Room with an impressive use of animatronics mixed with well placed screens as a Caveman tells about the importance of various animals to their tribe. The audience gathers around a fire in a large stone cave as a caveman sits in the middle and beckons them inside, asking them to sit and listen to the story of his people and their connection with nature. First, he discussed the almighty, ground stomping Mammoth. Prized for its meat and tusks that can create tools and make warm meals on many cold nights. A cave drawing of a Mammoth comes to life before appearing as a giant animatronic in one of the 4 corners of the room.

The caveman then describes the Steppe Bison, large and powerful animals that were also eaten and their hides were used to keep them warm. The bison appears in a separate corner of the room as a large elaborate animatronic. He explains that as the weather changed and we continued to hunt them, less and less appeared until none were left. The loss of these animals didn't stop at them, the cave lion was also a victim of this lack of food. The cave lion appears in a cave drawing before again appearing in an opposing corner. From competition with the cavemen over both shelter and food, the cave lion, once thought to be feared and respected, was one day also extinct. Finally, came the wolves. Wolves were able to adapt to the tribe and became their best friends, hunting with them and becoming an important step in surviving. The wolf joins the other as the final animatronic. The Caveman goes on to warn that what we do as humans affects everything around us and how we should not take nature for granted. The fire begins to grow dark as drum beating is heard. The top of the cave opens up to a beautiful night sky as constellations of all 4 animals are seen as the Caveman looks up to admire them.
"While they are gone. Do not forget the lesson they have taught us. If you forget, look up at the sky and their spirits can guide you." The room flashes dark as the sky disappears and the fire glows again. The doors open and audiences can now exit.

Now these are just the attractions so far... let's just say we have dining, shopping, meet and greets, and of course Wilderness Explorer still planned for this land!! That will be in the next post!

 

[Miru]

Glacial Frontier

A breathtaking, fully indoor realm in Disney's Animal Kingdom, where the Ice Age comes roaring to life through stories and the stunning power of nature itself.

Overview:
Guests enter through a cavern found in the back of Asia, mining supplies are found alongside the trail as cold air rushes out from the cave. As guests go through, cave drawings featuring cavemen, mammoths, and various other creations begin appearing along the walls as distant animal calls are heard. The cave begins to look more and more frozen over with giant icicles appearing and the rock giving way to large walls covered in ice. The entry way opens up to The Glacial Frontier's main room. A massive atrium with a large lagoon sitting in the center, multiple waterfalls cascade down from the ceiling and the walls as the ice appears to be melting constantly. You have now been sent back into a pocket of the Ice Age seemingly "frozen in time". A massive skeleton of a giant ground sloth, smilidon, and a cave bear all appear embedded in the ceiling. Throughout the day, the ceiling seems to echo the Northern Lights, almost as if they are constantly just outside the ice.


Attractions:

Ice Age: Meltdown
(A family thrilling boat ride similar to the ride system used on Mission Bermudes)



Queue: The ride's queue winds through one of the many icy passages through the cavern, featuring a few animatronics of various Ice Age creatures and a small recreation of the Tar Pits from the Ice Age movie. Various creatures are relaxing and joking about how things could never get any better than this and that things must be perfect right now. The riders continue on into a stone cave with the flickers of torches following their way as they approach an abandoned human camp that serves as this rides load station.

The ride lurches forward into a gentle stream as Manny appears from around a corner with Sid, noticing the riders and telling Sid not to look at them and to hope they just go away. Sid asks if he can give them a tour which Manny cuts off and declines. Diego is shown overhead on a nearby ice cliff warning the two that these are humans and he doesn't trust any of them. The boat continues forward to a ravine where an ice bridge above is creaking and pressing down slowly as projections of animals footprints from the top are visible. Water begins to pour out of cracks as small crackling noises are heard from around the ravine. The boat turns into a small section showing off the main atrium, passing by one of the waterfalls, as the boat rounds the corner. Diego appears again at the top of a bridge, telling the others that the humans followed them and asking if he can eat them yet. Manny tells him not to bother and to let the humans follow if they want as they don't have time for this. The boat continues as cracks start appearing all over the walls, suddenly massive splashes in the water simulate chunks of ice and rock falling in the water around the boat as the boat careens away to avoid a large falling icicle.

View attachment 870802Sid pops out and asks why everything seems to be trying to murder them which Manny reminds him is the reason they are leaving. The boat exits the cave and enters a large set showing the outside of the caverns with herds of animals heading away from the melting ice. A massive ice shelf simulates falling as a crack is hearing, the boat dips down into a brief rollercoaster section before splashing down into a narrow canyon.


View attachment 870803

Ellie comes over to say that they are losing the trail as the boat enters a rapids section where movements of the boat are synchronized with rushing water to simulate going down a chaotic river. Sid once again shows up to direct you into a "shortcut" he found. As you enter and slow down, the ice walls around you begin to close in as rapid loud cracking is heard all around you. Manny is heard telling everyone that there is no way through and to run for it. As the boat nearly gets out of the ice wall, it stops to simulate being stuck before suddenly jolting forward. Shadows of various ice age predators appear along the walls as Diego comes up overhead, insisting that he has this. The projections fight and we turn into a small fight scene depicted through animatronics before the shadows begin to run away. Manny tells you that your people are just ahead as the boat speeds up into one final small drop into a regular cave. A flicker of a campfire telling you that other humans are nearby. Manny and the others appear at the cave entrance to say their goodbyes with Sid offering you a tour anytime and Manny interrupting him to not rush it as you return back to the unload station going uphill.


Scrats Acorn Spin:
(Family Spinning Coaster like Crush's Coaster in DLP)

Ride: Guests board large acorn ride vehicles in a frozen ravine with a Scrat animatronic sniffing around the loading area. As the carts turn the corner, they are brought up a large lift hill where Scrat is seen trying to pull his beloved acorn out of the ice just above the riders. As they approach, a large rumble is heard as a crack forms going through the cave, the coaster spins throughout the cave passing various scenes of Scrat running from breaking ice and chasing his prized acorn through both screens and animatronics. The ride ends with Scrat getting his acorn but the coaster vehicle spraying snow up at him, covering him in snow as the ride vehicle slows to a stop.

View attachment 870801

Melt Zone Mayhem
(Family Bumper Boat Attraction)
People board small boats made of wood/bones and can bump into each other or various obstacles that can shoot water or trigger various effects to reveal animals and other fun effects! Geysers spraying, drums banging, etc!

View attachment 870800
Echoes in Ice
(A unique animatronic show)

View attachment 870798

This show is most similar to Tiki Room with an impressive use of animatronics mixed with well placed screens as a Caveman tells about the importance of various animals to their tribe. The audience gathers around a fire in a large stone cave as a caveman sits in the middle and beckons them inside, asking them to sit and listen to the story of his people and their connection with nature. First, he discussed the almighty, ground stomping Mammoth. Prized for its meat and tusks that can create tools and make warm meals on many cold nights. A cave drawing of a Mammoth comes to life before appearing as a giant animatronic in one of the 4 corners of the room.

View attachment 870799
The caveman then describes the Steppe Bison, large and powerful animals that were also eaten and their hides were used to keep them warm. The bison appears in a separate corner of the room as a large elaborate animatronic. He explains that as the weather changed and we continued to hunt them, less and less appeared until none were left. The loss of these animals didn't stop at them, the cave lion was also a victim of this lack of food. The cave lion appears in a cave drawing before again appearing in an opposing corner. From competition with the cavemen over both shelter and food, the cave lion, once thought to be feared and respected, was one day also extinct. Finally, came the wolves. Wolves were able to adapt to the tribe and became their best friends, hunting with them and becoming an important step in surviving. The wolf joins the other as the final animatronic. The Caveman goes on to warn that what we do as humans affects everything around us and how we should not take nature for granted. The fire begins to grow dark as drum beating is heard. The top of the cave opens up to a beautiful night sky as constellations of all 4 animals are seen as the Caveman looks up to admire them.
"While they are gone. Do not forget the lesson they have taught us. If you forget, look up at the sky and their spirits can guide you." The room flashes dark as the sky disappears and the fire glows again. The doors open and audiences can now exit.

Now these are just the attractions so far... let's just say we have dining, shopping, meet and greets, and of course Wilderness Explorer still planned for this land!! That will be in the next post!

One small detail; Disney lost the rights to Scrat in a 2023 lawsuit, so unless he gets bought back, the spinner can’t happen. Maybe a Captain Gutt spinner instead?

 

[AidenRodriguez731]

One small detail; Disney lost the rights to Scrat in a 2023 lawsuit, so unless he gets bought back, the spinner can’t happen. Maybe a Captain Gutt spinner instead?

Oh really? Didn't realize that, yeah Captain Gutt could work instead! I'll give it a rewrite after I continue on.

 

[Wendy Corduroy]

Love the idea of a glacial area for AK! I feel like it gives the park a cooling effect it could really use. It takes me back to how much I enjoyed going into Epcot's "Club Cool" cave as a kid. (Which I have a semi-replacement idea for and will be sharing soon!)

 

[AidenRodriguez731]

Love the idea of a glacial area for AK! I feel like it gives the park a cooling effect it could really use. It takes me back to how much I enjoyed going into Epcot's "Club Cool" cave as a kid. (Which I have a semi-replacement idea for and will be sharing soon!)

I'll just say... you're probably definitely going to like the next land based on your name

There's a reason other than space that Glacial Frontier connects to Asia... if history serves right.