DAK “Zootopia” is being created for the Tree of Life theater

[Disney Analyst]

Couldn't resist "The Message".
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Can you explain what’s wrong with that message?

 

[Cmdr_Crimson]

That’s been a thing forever…they dismantled their labor force as more than “just the minimum” back under evil Michael

Oh it's much worse now. Totally unrelated to the hot mess that Disney HR is I'm sure.

And are we expecting much better things when whomever takes over as CEO in a year two?

 

[Cmdr_Crimson]

Couldn't resist "The Message".
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Equal Animal Opportunities..

 

[Chester&Hester Enthusiast]

Why are effects happening in the theater from events taking place hundreds of miles away on a satellite feed? How are the characters on the satellite feed seeing Clawhauser? Why feature Gazelle if she's not going to sing? Why is the big ball of poo in the queue still there but covered in handprints?

I have several questions about this absolutely embarrassing disaster, but these are the most pressing.

 

[Cmdr_Crimson]

Why is the big ball of poo in the queue still there but covered in handprints?

I have several questions about this absolutely embarrassing disaster, but these are the most pressing.

There is a sign explaining that it's as it's as silly as it dounds a "Pact Pile" which is a collection of soils from each tundra to create said thing....Use your imagination I guess on that..

 

[MisterPenguin]

Why are effects happening in the theater from events taking place hundreds of miles away on a satellite feed? How are the characters on the satellite feed seeing Clawhauser? Why feature Gazelle if she's not going to sing? Why is the big ball of poo in the queue still there but covered in handprints?

I have several questions about this absolutely embarrassing disaster, but these are the most pressing.

1. Carrot vision

2. Two-way "watch what happens" event. The audience is watching how Zoogether Day is being celebrated all over the biomes. Live feeds can go both ways, like TV news anchors conversing with field reporters.

3. Gazelle will sing for the upcoming movie. Sounds like she joins in with the music at the end. Otherwise, the attraction would just be a 5 minute MTV video of Shakira singing.

4. It's a big ball of dirt from all the biomes representing unity. All the animals paw prints are on it as if signing a pact. Think of it as the Fountains Dirtball of Nations.

[From what I've gathered from vloggers showing the signs, plaques, and thematic nicknacks.]

 

[Tom Morrow]

I swear I'm not trying to just automatically crap on every new thing Disney does, but so many recent additions and changes have been misses, and from the video, this is another one. Normally I would wait and not spoil a new attraction for myself before seeing it in person, but I didn't care at all about spoiling this.

Its bad enough that Zootopia. Does. Not. Belong. In. DAK. Those who say it does have never thought about the parks beyond the absolute surface level. "Animal theme park... animal... movie?" was the extent of that thought process. The existence of this IP in the park basically mocks the entire thesis statement of the park, which, as a refresher, is about real animals, their real lives, and their coexistence with humans - both good and bad aspects.

Did ITTBAB fit? Yes! Absolutely! Yes, they talked, but they were "real bugs" showing you their real life. They talk about why they are important. They had a reason to be in the tree. The show was presented as being entirely on stage in front of you and never cut away from that, adding to the effect of the theater being a "real" setting. Through all of this, it also did a fun theme park thing that you can't experience on Disney+. "What if we used a bunch of special effects to make people experience gross and scary bug stuff!!!" That's fun! It has edge! It's a reason for it to be a theme park attraction, and it's something that makes the attraction fun for all ages (except some very young ones haha).

This is an extremely crammed, obnoxious, and hyper Disney+ short that has been shoe-horned into the Tree of Life because... uh.. that was the easiest and lowest effort way to get Zootopia IP somewhere in WDW. That's it. That's why this exists. It doesn't make sense to be in the Tree of Life. It doesn't make sense to be in a park celebrating real animals and their real lives. Shockingly, it doesn't even really have the anti-stereotyping message of the film and just reprises the villain from the film doing a sabotage... again.

All of that ranting aside, it could have still been a good attraction in its own merits, the way Cosmic Rewind is extremely fun while also being a very poor fit for Epcot. But this is... well, it does not come off like a project that was approached with any true inspiration.

 

[Tom Morrow]

2. Two-way "watch what happens" event. The audience is watching how Zoogether Day is being celebrated all over the biomes. Live feeds can go both ways, like TV news anchors conversing with field reporters.

But what we're seeing on the screen is through cameras that are at the scenes... or something? Then Judy and Nick look directly at what's his name as if they're in the room with him. It doesn't make sense and it immediately throws out the established internal logic. Judy and Nick should be looking at the camera. But then shortly after that the attraction also largely throws out the "live feed" aspect anyway so... whatever I guess. I've probably already put more thought into this than the people that conceived it.

 

[wdrive]

That is god awful. Absolute brain rot slop.

 

[Architectural Guinea Pig]

basically mocks the entire thesis statement of the park, which, as a refresher, is about real animals, their real lives, and their coexistence with humans - both good and bad aspects.

The Yeti isn't real? Bugs don't make carnival shows in real life? Dinosaurs did not coexist with humans? All the creatures in the cancelled Beastly Kingdom and now Pandora don't exist? All Zootopia is doing is replace anthropomorphic animals with different anthropomorphic animals. They still offer a meaningful message covered with IP. The entire point of the original show existing in the first place was to promote the Bug's Life film which is not only an extremely underseen movie but it's the same with Zootopia 2 coming soon.

Bug's Life was a show catered for kids in a park barren with kid-friendly attractions that kids did not in fact enjoy, and that's proven by years of data on how it doesn't help Disney's brand image for AK and consistently has low crowds and wait times (I.e. being a walk-on in the Christmas season of 2019). While the Zootopia show isn't great, it's still much more modern, appealing to audiences, and features an IP that people actually care about. It's a clean and simple way for AK to attract more guests to actually support it's other non-IP rides and keep the park alive. It's a bad replacement to a bad attraction (to modern standards) and will at least support the park in a meaningful way.

There's good, insightful reason to have politeful criticism and discourse for the attraction. What shouldn't happen is things like these:

…well that explains a lot…

The teleported a teenage version of Weird Al in to work on this?

Did they use the infinity stone of parody for that?

This is an extremely disrespectful and ill informed comment. If we're blaming a major part of the attraction based on someone's looks this is a reflection on the community's continued toxic and blatantly rude nature that shouldn't be accepted at all. Instead of actually listening to the video and hearing the passion of this Imagineer actually putting effort in creating the smaller details of the attraction this forum just returns to ridiculously childish insults

Couldn't resist "The Message".
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This is just disgusting.

 

[Tom Morrow]

The Yeti isn't real?

It's a mythical creature which is part of the original park concept. Expedition Everest also has a broader message about wildlife habitat encroachment as well as a dose of Tibetan culture (the queue and area as a whole)

Bugs don't make carnival shows in real life?

I addressed the fact that bugs can't actually talk and sing and dance, but its a fun way to incorporate a fun kid-friendly IP into a park that still manages to enhance the park's message and theme rather than detract from it.

Dinosaurs did not coexist with humans?

That was the entire statement of Dinoland USA. They're gone, in the dirt, and the only way to see them alive is to go back in time.

All the creatures in the cancelled Beastly Kingdom and now Pandora don't exist?

See "mythical creatures", also Pandora has a very heavy message of conservation and symbiosis with animals and nature. I get that it's a bit of a stretch, but they made it work. An E-ticket Avatar ride could have been about a mech battle, but they avoided that entirely to make it fit with the park.

All Zootopia is doing is replace anthropomorphic animals with different anthropomorphic animals. They still offer a meaningful message covered with IP.

Zootopia the franchise uses animals as comedic stand-ins for different racial backgrounds of humanity and this attraction is celebrating acceptance. It's a nice message, but it doesn't have anything to do with DAK. They're just animals that live like people.

The entire point of the original show existing in the first place was to promote the Bug's Life film which is not only an extremely underseen movie but it's the same with Zootopia 2 coming soon.

Attractions can promote IP and also not be low effort slop.

Bug's Life was a show catered for kids in a park barren with kid-friendly attractions that kids did not in fact enjoy, and that's proven by years of data on how it doesn't help Disney's brand image for AK and consistently has low crowds and wait times (I.e. being a walk-on in the Christmas season of 2019). While the Zootopia show isn't great, it's still much more modern, appealing to audiences, and features an IP that people actually care about. It's a clean and simple way for AK to attract more guests to actually support it's other non-IP rides and keep the park alive. It's a bad replacement to a bad attraction (to modern standards) and will at least support the park in a meaningful way.

I do understand why ITTBAB was axed and why Zootopia was chosen. I'm also not like, lamenting the loss of ITTBAB. It's just, comparing the two, it's clear that the former was a better theme park attraction.

 

[Architectural Guinea Pig]

Thank you for your insightful comments.

It's a mythical creature which is part of the original park concept. Expedition Everest also has a broader message about wildlife habitat encroachment as well as a dose of Tibetan culture (the queue and area as a whole)


I addressed the fact that bugs can't actually talk and sing and dance, but its a fun way to incorporate a fun kid-friendly IP into a park that still manages to enhance the park's message and theme rather than detract from it.

That was the entire statement of Dinoland USA. They're gone, in the dirt, and the only way to see them alive is to go back in time.

See "mythical creatures", also Pandora has a very heavy message of conservation and symbiosis with animals and nature. I get that it's a bit of a stretch, but they made it work. An E-ticket Avatar ride could have been about a mech battle, but they avoided that entirely to make it fit with the park.

Precisely; mythical creatures are part of the original park concept which basically means the park opened with a thesis not limited to just "real" creatures. It's more so about the fantastical, literal, and imagined interactions between humans and animals. More importantly, the park is designed to raise awareness on the different animals that nature has to offer a story on how we can conserve the stories and creatures that come from it.

Zootopia the franchise uses animals as comedic stand-ins for different racial backgrounds of humanity and this attraction is celebrating acceptance. It's a nice message, but it doesn't have anything to do with DAK. They're just animals that live like people.

Yes, it's mainly a cover to talk about the impacts of systematic racism in an kid-friendly format, but I think Zootopia 2 is probably going to explore further beyond stereotypes, as it highlights on the differences between reptiles, mammals and more. And the way you explain it is basically just how Bug's Life and any anthropomorphic movie works- it's a story centered around more human actions and values rather than real life concepts- that being on overthrowing oppression and unity. There obviously could be a way that the Zootopia integrated a newer message like ITTBAB did, creating a new idea from the source material, but it's moreso on execution rather than the IP itself.

I actually think the irony of having a concentration of so many different animals fits perfectly being right under the Tree of Life, as the tree's carvings of all the Animal Kingdom's animals fits the message of diversity of Zootopia. It might not be precisely close to the park's symbolic message but it sure fits under the Tree of Life's design. It's like saying here's the heart where all the animals coexist- now watch a show inspired by this concept of animals coexisting.

Attractions can promote IP and also not be low effort slop.

Slop sure, but not low effort. A ton of work and dedication was still put into this but the audience isn't for the parks fans, it's for traveling visitors who will be drawn to the park more with recognizable IP and help increase AK's attendance. Slop to us isn't slop to them.

I do understand why ITTBAB was axed and why Zootopia was chosen. I'm also not like, lamenting the loss of ITTBAB. It's just, comparing the two, it's clear that the former was a better theme park attraction.

From a realistic standpoint I agree that ITTBAB is easily the better attraction but the new show isn't as atrocious as it's being put out to be. There's a ton of action, suprising moments, and comedy.

 

[WorldExplorer]

Couldn't resist "The Message".
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They put a similar thing on the pirate bar hang out. Wouldn't want people to get the impression pirates weren't welcoming to all!

 

[HMF]

I cannot believe how much they butchered the entire premise of Animal Kingdom, inside the icon of the park, and not even TRY to tie anything in.

I can. I have been expecting this since the day Joe Rohde announced his retirement.

 

[WorldExplorer]

I can. I have been expecting this since the day Joe Rohde announced his retirement.

This is fun, isn't it?

Now watch, when they start announcing more details about the new human-focused land anyone expressing any doubts will still be scolded and told to have faith they'll make it work and it'll be great.

Don't forget the "well, I refuse to believe anyone liked Dinoland/Dinosaur so it's good by default" pillow to fall back on if there's significant negativity after too much has been shown to pull the wait and see card!

 

[HMF]

I really think Disney sending the Imagineers who worked on the project to do PR videos is a horrible idea because if the attraction is bad, The people who don't like it now have a face and name to attach their ire too and it's been happening way too often. The way people have crapped on the reputation of various Imagineers who really only did what the idiots in management made them do should not be put in the line of fire by the company like that.

 

[FigmentsBrightIdeas]

My reaction after seeing it “Woah! Omg, what in the world was that?!” There wasn’t even a coherent storyline as far as I saw. Felt like whiplash. Even as a fan of Zootopia, I was baffled. There’s a porta potty, a trash can, and jewelry displayed in the queue, the various animals are performing random shows that don’t fit with anything relating to the biomes that go horribly wrong, Nick & Judy know where Clawhauser is outside of their field of vision despite him operating a ‘drone’?? Huh?? They should be looking straight at the drone’s camera. Not Clawhauser at the booth. How did someone screw up the continuity there ‘that’ badly, the Shrews ‘want’ to be iced?? Don’t they use that as punishment against those they feel have double crossed them? The “twist villain” ends up being the most predictable character ever rather than anything clever or well thought out that we’d expect from both WDAS & WDI , but not just that.. wasn’t she arrested in the first movie? What is she doing back? And that finale song number… not only does Gazelle ‘not’ perform literally after she comes down on a crescent moon, but boy is it rough. It sounds like something straight out of a Disney Jr. show
Also.. I get the whole notion of like, they want the scenes to feel familiar as the last big attempt of a big film IP ride, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure had little to no familiar elements to the film it’s based on … but.. you’re gonna do something ‘that’ similar, through film, something that’s essentially the same medium as the actual movies that feels almost exactly the same but not nearly as good, just with 4D special effects? Dude.. how??? Did they not consult or work with anyone from Walt Disney Animation Studios? I am ‘so’ confused

 

[FigmentsBrightIdeas]

It almost feels like they were trying to pull a Muppet*Vision 3D but it’s not nearly as coherent, well timed or cleverly thought out or written. What a shame. Say what you will about Zootopia not fitting, but meet n greets of the characters would suffice the craving from fans at this point. This show was not worth the investment they spent on it, that’s for sure.

 

[FigmentsBrightIdeas]

At this point, they should just replace it with a fully original show w original characters & elements that genuinely embody the park’s mission statement & goals basically. About conservation & connecting with nature. But of course, make an effort to make it engaging and particularly spectacular. Think something like some of the segments you saw in Fantasia or Fantasia 2000 but with dialogue or moving narration & music, the quality of our favorite classic EPCOT attractions (maybe something like Illuminations: Reflections of Earth, or some of the early concepts we’ve seen for audio-animatronic shows that Marc Davis drew up with feeling & depth. But use the type of technology, spfx & the great talent you have from both the animation studio ‘and’ imagineering to collaborate and do it. Keep in mind folks, WDI used to utilize some of the best talent from WDAS to create some of our favorite attractions. Just do that next time.
By that point atleast, it’d feel like Animal Kingdom has a more healthy balance of Park Original & IP based attractions.

 

[WorldExplorer]

The “twist villain” ends up being the most predictable character ever rather than anything clever or well thought out that we’d expect from both WDAS & WDI , but not just that.. wasn’t she arrested in the first movie?

Obvious and poorly done twist villains are a Walt Disney Animation Studios specialty. They haven't done a good one since Wreck It Ralph, and even then the absolute best in their filmography was Bowler Hat Guy who was probably made by people long gone from the studio.

If anything, if Walt Disney Imagineering managed to pull off a decent twist they should probably ship whoever did it to the animation studio in the hopes they could teach those people how to write.