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

[Disney Analyst]

Prioritizing activism over entertainment. Audiences and guests do not want to be lectured on sociopolitical issues and topics either directly or indirectly.

Also don't regurgitate the nonsense that all are welcome in a theme park that through obscene pricing automatically excludes a large portion of the general public based on them not being able to afford to get in.

I mean, Animal Kingdom has always been a park about “activism”. Conservation, protecting nature, and animals. Respecting the natural world. Environmentalism.

Does the new Zootopia show miss those core elements? Absolutely. Can the messaging “everyone is welcome” still be included in a show that encompasses those core elements? For sure.

The messaging of inclusivity really has nothing to do with the problems this show faces. If you have a problem with that messaging being included in an attraction, that’s on you.

As to your last paragraph, what?

 

[FigmentsBrightIdeas]

I mean, Animal Kingdom has always been a park about “activism”. Conservation, protecting nature, and animals. Respecting the natural world. Environmentalism.

Does the new Zootopia show miss those core elements? Absolutely. Can the messaging “everyone is welcome” still be included in a show that encompasses those core elements? For sure.

The messaging of inclusivity really has nothing to do with the problems this show faces. If you have a problem with that messaging being included in an attraction, that’s on you.

As to your last paragraph, what?

Absolutely, though I think what basically the real problem here is in the ‘execution’ of said message, in this show particularly. The message & themes of Zootopia work particularly great in the movie it’s meant to be seen in, it was executed incredibly well there, but not within the context of a park icon that’s supposed to represent the park’s core mission & thesis statement. Say what you will about It’s Tough to Be a Bug not feeling seriousness enough but at the very least, more effort was taken to connect it with the park’s theme, while the tree itself’s origins were kept intact. What could’ve been an opportunity to have a show ‘more’ cohesive and thematically accurate was completely wasted in this scenario to feature a show, that, by most accounts, doesn’t succeed in being an improvement to what was there beforehand.

 

[Cmdr_Crimson]

Absolutely, though I think what basically the real problem here is in the ‘execution’ of said message, in this show particularly. The message & themes of Zootopia work particularly great in the movie it’s meant to be seen in, it was executed incredibly well there, but not within the context of a park icon that’s supposed to represent the park’s core mission & thesis statement. Say what you will about It’s Tough to Be a Bug not feeling seriousness enough but at the very least, more effort was taken to connect it with the park’s theme, while the tree itself’s origins were kept intact. What could’ve been an opportunity to have a show ‘more’ cohesive and thematically accurate was completely wasted in this scenario to feature a show, that, by most accounts, doesn’t succeed in being an improvement to what was there beforehand.

Let's be honest...They just wanted this to tie in with the late Nov release..But didn't reflect any reptiles yet but only the Marsh animals as an oddly done 1.2 storyline...

 

[lazyboy97o]

WDI is not about recruiting the best engineers, designers, architects, it's about casting the right people to check boxes. Other than producing concept art and doing set decoration and handling aesthetic features, everything else is subbed out to real design and engineering firms.

Why? Because it's cheaper than doing it in house. Current WDI is like the empty lab at the end of LWTL where the recording says that EPCOT scientists are doing real research work etc.

The results speak for themselves.

Ignorant bigotry completely disconnected from how the process has ever actually worked.

 

[Disney Analyst]

Absolutely, though I think what basically the real problem here is in the ‘execution’ of said message, in this show particularly. The message & themes of Zootopia work particularly great in the movie it’s meant to be seen in, it was executed incredibly well there, but not within the context of a park icon that’s supposed to represent the park’s core mission & thesis statement. Say what you will about It’s Tough to Be a Bug not feeling seriousness enough but at the very least, more effort was taken to connect it with the park’s theme, while the tree itself’s origins were kept intact. What could’ve been an opportunity to have a show ‘more’ cohesive and thematically accurate was completely wasted in this scenario to feature a show, that, by most accounts, doesn’t succeed in being an improvement to what was there beforehand.

Right.

Which is all valid.

I would have liked a bit more focus on the environment or natural world … the biomes… something like that, but I always expected anything Zootopia to include some sort of messaging about togetherness, inclusivity… seeing as that’s the central premise of their world.

They didn’t need to be divorced from one another, and Disney could have ensured both concepts had a presence in the story.

But I stand firm in that including a message like “everyone is welcome” is not a bad thing. Ever.

 

[FigmentsBrightIdeas]

Speaking of which, and while I’m not opposed to the idea of Soarin’ having alternate films rotated at different times. It’s funny to me that they felt the need to update that attraction (despite being successful as-is) and have (atleast from the details of the concept we’ve read about) they’ve made that thematically cohesive and seem to always rotate back to the films playing there earlier. Yet here, failed pretty badly, and again, constantly feel the need to add a Film IP tie in that isn’t neccesary nor well executed as opposed to a new & original concept entirely that ‘is’ well executed. And as I’ve stated before regarding other film theatre attractions.. what keeps stopping them from rotating a variety of films with different effects/AAs at different times throughout the day? They’ve demonstrated they can rotate them at the Opera House at Disneyland (Walt Disney & Lincoln) & Epcot’s France theatre. It’s just befuddling to me. They even call it the Tree of Life Theatre inside.. so it’s like..

 

[JohnD]

IP’s are great when they are a natural fit. But you wouldn’t plop dumbo in the middle of DAK and say it fits cause “it’s an animal”

Dumbo is a misunderstood "real" elephant with large ears living in a circus. His mother is chained up for protecting her child. Zootopia is just people portrayed as animals living in the big city. Dumbo makes more sense in AK (formerly in a circus) than Zootopia.

 

[FettFan]

Also don't regurgitate the nonsense that all are welcome in a theme park that through obscene pricing automatically excludes a large portion of the general public based on them not being able to afford to get in.

Now shut your dang mouth and buy more popcorn buckets.

 

[FigmentsBrightIdeas]

Speaking of which, and while I’m not opposed to the idea of Soarin’ having alternate films rotated at different times. It’s funny to me that they felt the need to update that attraction (despite being successful) and have (atleast from the details of the concept we’ve read about) they’ve made that thematically cohesive and seem to always rotate back to the films playing there earlier. Yet here, failed pretty badly, and again, constantly feel the need to add a Film IP tie in that isn’t neccesary nor well executed as opposed to a new & original concept entirely that ‘is’ well executed. And as I’ve stated before regarding other film theatre attractions.. what keeps stopping them from rotating a variety of films with different effects/AAs at different times throughout the day? They’ve demonstrated they can rotate the AAs at the Opera House at Disneyland (Walt Disney & Lincoln) & 2 different shows at Epcot’s France theatre. It’s just befuddling to me. They even call it the Tree of Life Theatre inside.. so it’s like..

and honestly, this blow could’ve easily been massively softened, had they just offered this as an additional new show without coming at the expense of the others, while the theming of the inside of the theater could’ve matched the exterior better and this would’ve allowed for a wider variety & amount of shows to play there. Say what you will about its execution, that really speaks for itself. But again, something that could’ve softened the blowback it’s gotten for sure.

 

[flynnibus]

and honestly, this blow could’ve easily been massively softened, had they just offered this as an additional new show without coming at the expense of the others. Say what you will about its execution, that really speaks for itself. But again, something that could’ve softened the blowback it’s gotten for sure.

Why would you keep the old show if the entire reason for the new show.. was because the old show was deemed needing a replacement?

Sometimes.. after 30years.. it's time to refresh or move on. Flick and friends could have stayed, but they needed a new gig at the minimum. Company chose to promote the more recent property.

 

[FettFan]

Dumbo is a misunderstood "real" elephant with large ears living in a circus. His mother is chained up for protecting her child. Zootopia is just people portrayed as animals living in the big city. Dumbo makes more sense in AK (formerly in a circus) than Zootopia.

Forget trying to use logic. As soon as they said they were closing Dinosaur to turn it into Indiana Jones, we all knew that Animal Kingdom had been essentially killed.

I was lenient in giving Avatar a pass because at least Joe Rohde was in charge of it and helped meld it to the overall conservation theme of AK.

Anyway. It wouldn’t surprise me now if they just axed Kilimanjaro Safaris for new, relatively cheaper attractions, like cloning the Lion King Splash Mountain/Pride Rock that is being constructed in DLP.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

Anyway. It wouldn’t surprise me now if they just axed Kilimanjaro Safaris for new, relatively cheaper attractions, like cloning the Lion King Splash Mountain/Pride Rock that is being constructed in DLP.

I hadn’t thought about that - but you are 100% correct. Safari would never get built today.

They have ripped out the heart and soul of the other 3 parks - might as well do it to DAK next!

 

[FigmentsBrightIdeas]

and honestly, this blow could’ve easily been massively softened, had they just offered this as an additional new show without coming at the expense of the others, while the theming of the inside of the theater could’ve matched the exterior better and this would’ve allowed for a wider variety & amount of shows to play there. Say what you will about its execution, that really speaks for itself. But again, something that could’ve softened the blowback it’s gotten for sure.

Honestly, consider the possibility of say, 3 shows playing in the theatre at equal amount of showtimes, different times throughout the day. (A new original show that more closely follows the themes & mission statement of the park & tree of life as shown on the exterior, It’s Tough to Be a Bug, and Zootopia: Better Zoogether). All 3, no problem. Granted, depending on the overall guest satisfaction level of this show, it may need to be reworked to actually fit better cohesively with the park aswell as just execution as a whole in general narrative/story & pacing wise. Say, a Zootopia show that actually focused on the need to conserve our environments and work ‘with’ nature rather than against it, done in an engaging, entertaining, and humorous way) without coming at the expense of theme. It totally would’ve been possible. Having all 3 of those offered at different times of the day would’ve been great, and again, only would’ve helped disperse & take in capacity around the park better.

 

[Disney Analyst]

They should have kept the spider infrastructure and had some group of animals repel into the theatre, or disco balls or something come down for the finale.

Shame they removed that one element entirely.

 

[FettFan]

Sometimes.. after 30years.. it's time to refresh or move on. Flick and friends could have stayed, but they needed a new gig at the minimum. Company chose to promote the more recent property.

Yeah but i don’t think Zootopia has the same staying power as the top-tier Disney attractions.

But hey at least they’re not automatically hit with a use-by date like Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind, so they’ve got that going for them.

 

[Brer Panther]

The poster is supposed to look bad on purpose

Isn't that the same excuse that was made for Dino-Rama? Look at how THAT turned out...

The Mongo poster looks like a cereal box. That's not a complaint, just an observation...

But didn't reflect any reptiles yet but only the Marsh animals as an oddly done 1.2 storyline...

The Danny Trejo lizard appears briefly during the musical number at the end, so there's that.

I like how they just reuse the beaver and walrus conversation joke from the sequel in the show, by the way.

Anyway. It wouldn’t surprise me now if they just axed Kilimanjaro Safaris for new, relatively cheaper attractions, like cloning the Lion King Splash Mountain/Pride Rock that is being constructed in DLP.

I wouldn't be opposed to getting a clone of Paris' Lion King ride, but I would never want it replacing Kilimanjaro Safaris. Honestly, though, I wouldn't put it past Iger at this point...

 

[Andrew C]

Eek. This is worse than I expected. Garbage really. So sad.

 

[aladdin2007]

Forget trying to use logic. As soon as they said they were closing Dinosaur to turn it into Indiana Jones, we all knew that Animal Kingdom had been essentially killed.

I was lenient in giving Avatar a pass because at least Joe Rohde was in charge of it and helped meld it to the overall conservation theme of AK.

Anyway. It wouldn’t surprise me now if they just axed Kilimanjaro Safaris for new, relatively cheaper attractions, like cloning the Lion King Splash Mountain/Pride Rock that is being constructed in DLP.

Was thinking about that last night,,maybe not now short term but down the road could see something like that happening.

 

[tanc]

Poor Bug’s Life dying for soulless slop. What lessons do the kids learn from this? Part of ITTBAB is about how important insects are for our eco systems and such. Yeah, some weird effects like the infamous sting but overall it sent an important message. Also an ant literally planted the seed for the tree of life.

So what, they’re rewriting the entire lore of the tree of life now? What is even going on lmao. If I wanted to watch Zootopia, I could just load up my Disney+ app and watch it. Disney simply amazes me, they make a phenomenal new country bear jamboree and Little Mermaid show but then completely decimate ITTBAB with an awfully lackluster replacement.

I really wonder if anyone in imagineering seriously sat down and thought “Wow, this is definitely better than the original”

 

[Andrew C]

Poor Bug’s Life dying for soulless slop. What lessons do the kids learn from this? Part of ITTBAB is about how important insects are for our eco systems and such. Yeah, some weird effects like the infamous sting but overall it sent an important message. Also an ant literally planted the seed for the tree of life.

So what, they’re rewriting the entire lore of the tree of life now? What is even going on lmao

Soulless slop. If someone told me this was AI slop, I wouldn’t call them a liar.