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

[DrStarlander]

I want to see the show writing team that came up with that show

According to the Jared Bush interview:

"The story really begins with Imagineering...early on we talked about what kind of story could be told...we knew we wanted to see biomes and see how they intersected...and they had a lot of great ideas at the beginning...it was a lot of back and forth...what would our characters do that also needed to make sense for what the attraction was going to be...for me it was a bite-sized view into how Nick and Judy solved the case..."

This doesn't identify who exactly was behind the original ideas, and for me that's not the point. While I don't expect Jared Bush to be an expert on what makes for a great theme park show or what's most appropriate for Animal Kingdom's mission, it's not a career highlight for him as quite possibly the most senior person directly involved.

Since many theme park attractions involve animation IPs, some retrospection on this project and partnership would be warranted. What could have happened differently? How can the bar be set higher? Were the WDI/animation teams too deferential to each other (the image of two overly-deferential outfielders staring ruefully at the ball on the ground comes to mind)? Did they do a painful but necessary "What's terrible about this?" session mid-project where team-members are challenged to brainstorm every aspect of the project that will be criticized and perceived as failure, then recalibrate as necessary? Did they test-screen this adequately in animatic form with people removed enough from the project and company's politics to provide honest feedback? And every time they sought feedback, did they make sure to ask the question: "Even if you loved it, please tell me at least one thing you think other people might possibly criticize about it" (as this is often the only way to suss out something close to honest feedback).

 

[AidenRodriguez731]

And The regular defenders are strangely silent!!!

I’m trying to keep it spoiler free - I’ll give it a chance on my next visit.

I mean here I am and I was not silent about liking it

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

I mean here I am and I was not silent about liking it

Did I miss your post? Have you seen it in person and liked it?

 

[Biff215]

I mean here I am and I was not silent about liking it

Admitting you like this show certainly doesn’t help your credibility. Your hatred of ITTBAB is well-documented, but are you really unable to see the many issues that are being pointed out here about the new show? Is this really the best we can expect from Disney in 2025???

 

[Tom Morrow]

Whoever mentioned how the humor in this sucks also nailed it.

The single moment that I find the most cringey is that stupid part where the polar bear or whatever is slowly flung around in slow motion toward the audience. This is such a staple of low effort CGI kids shows and movies. Haha bear make funny face and noise in slow motion.

I know the smallest kids may laugh but most older kids who have a grasp on what’s going on know when they are being pandered to. Shows like ITtBaB did it well - having its point driven home in a way kids can understand without it feeling like it was dumbed down for them, or a tone that makes adults roll their eyes.

 

[James Alucobond]

I want to see the show writing team that came up with that show.....and hope they will not be involved in the Encanto and Monsters projects....

Encanto has the advantage of centering on an event that already takes place in the film, so at worst, it'll be like Rapunzel's Lantern Festival where you get a peek into part of the existing narrative. At best, it'll be that plus some sort of effort to throw in an AK-related message, with their competence in doing so determining the final outcome beyond the baseline. Basically, it should be impossible to end up with a braindead Maribel commenting on how "these animals can play" because there's already existing context and dialogue that's, well, not that.

I have no idea for Monsters. Laugh Floor is already meh, so I'm not exactly super hopeful that it'll be better.

 

[Bocabear]

I have been very hopeful and optimistic about the Encanto and IJ projects... Until I saw what they did with Zootopia and I am remided to be cautiously optimistic....
I agree about Laugh Floor... It was cute when it first opened but has become one of the attractions I pass by on each trip...

 

[Brer Panther]

What exactly was the Imagineering process for this like? Was it just them jotting down a bunch of things from the movie and deciding to throw them into the show at random, followed by one of the higher-ups barging in to remind them to put Shakira in the attraction because they think people still give a crap that they got Shakira to lend her voice to their movie?

This makes me think the Muppet replacement show is more likely to be Put That Thing Back Where It Came From or So Help Me.

Which is a terrible idea because the whole joke was that it sucked and was being pulled from thin air, and they do not have the comedic chops to make that work for a full show. Or bits of one.

Y'know, I can kind of see your point. I feel like it's the same problem I'd have with the rumored Muppets takeover of the Hall of Presidents... it sounds like a funny idea on paper, but as an actual thing (especially as a replacement for an attraction that takes itself seriously), it'd be cringe-worthy.

But it would make it easy to throw in movie characters and reference specific moments (which was clearly important to them here) and they can just recycle movie jokes, potentially with some stock meta references ("this is the part where...!") if they really feel like hitting all the comedy cliches.

We've complained about Disney scrubbing fear from their parks, let's acknowledge their war on humor.

I recall the new Country Bears has a couple of genuinely funny jokes ("Get a hook! Get a bear trap!")... but yeah, most of the new attractions aren't particularly funny. The closest thing Tiana's has to a joke is that thing at the end with Juju eyeing Mama Odie's beignets, and even that's not particularly funny.

None of the jokes in this were funny. I still don't get the punchline of that "For legal reasons, I cannot [sing]" joke. It's gonna be really disappointing if the Monsters Inc. show isn't funny, considering how hilarious the film is. And I know I'm in the minority on this, but I think Laugh Floor is really funny too.

- oh no George Sanderson got hit with 2319 again
- we don't talk about- stop
- Mike got blocked on something again
- oh no snakes I hate snakes

Ha...ha...

Oh, they're SO gonna sing "We Don't Talk About Bruno" at some point in the Encanto ride. I'm trying to remember what jokes that film had... I remember finding the violin-playing donkeys in Luisa's song pretty funny...

If this is a hit, maybe they'll need to consider adding a Zootopia land just north of Kali.

Don't give them ideas.

I have been very hopeful and optimistic about the Encanto and IJ projects... Until I saw what they did with Zootopia and I am remided to be cautiously optimistic....

I keep hearing people say "Give them a chance! I'm sure they'll make Indiana Jones and Encanto fit in Animal Kingdom!". But they were saying the same thing about THIS before the video was released, so I'm even more skeptical.

 

[AidenRodriguez731]

Admitting you like this show certainly doesn’t help your credibility. Your hatred of ITTBAB is well-documented, but are you really unable to see the many issues that are being pointed out here about the new show? Is this really the best we can expect from Disney in 2025???

Hatred of ITTBAB? When did I say I hated it, I just didn't love it as much as some...

I have also said I had some issues with it but found it cute and fun and overall a funny show.

Also what credibility? I don't need credibility. I have no skin in the game of the theme park industry other than loving them. I don't work in the industry, I don't report on the industry, I am not a public figure even. I am a theme park fan posting on a forum. Most of us are here, we don't need someone to "agree with us". I am fully aware I have a different opinion. This was certainly a show more aimed at my demographic anyway with the jump cuts/humor.

 

[EPCOTCenterLover]

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 think they just knew they'd lost dinosaurs to Jurassic Park at Universal. I don't think DAK has been killed by the move.

 

[AidenRodriguez731]

Did I miss your post? Have you seen it in person and liked it?

I have not seen it in person yet, only video as of now. I just got back from Disney last month and I’ll be making the trip up again in January/February. It’s definitely on my list to see in person.

 

[Biff215]

Hatred of ITTBAB? When did I say I hated it, I just didn't love it as much as some...

I have also said I had some issues with it but found it cute and fun and overall a funny show.

Also what credibility? I don't need credibility. I have no skin in the game of the theme park industry other than loving them. I don't work in the industry, I don't report on the industry, I am not a public figure even. I am a theme park fan posting on a forum. Most of us are here, we don't need someone to "agree with us". I am fully aware I have a different opinion. This was certainly a show more aimed at my demographic anyway with the jump cuts/humor.

Sorry, just had to take a shot at your “hey I said I liked it” when it was pointed out that the usual suspects aren’t here defending Disney on this one.

You and I beat the whole Bug’s Life thing around before and that you don’t find that movie realistic (even though ITTBAB was fairly accurate).

So what’s your demographic that you feel this appeals to because most here (including @wdwmagic) feel it’s only young kids?

 

[AidenRodriguez731]

Sorry, just had to take a shot at your “hey I said I liked it” when it was pointed out that the usual suspects aren’t here defending Disney on this one.

You and I beat the whole Bug’s Life thing around before and that you don’t find that movie realistic (even though ITTBAB was fairly accurate).

So what’s your demographic that you feel this appeals to because most here (including @wdwmagic) feel it’s only young kids?

I'm Gen Z, some of it is certainly aimed lower but I did find the "hey bub" scene particularly pretty funny but that might just be my humor being shot. The faster pace is just how we consume content though.

I do not find the Bug's Life movie realistic because it is not. I loved the movie. I like the show enough, it wasn't great, about the same score I'd give this honestly. I was simply pointing out that its not the best fit for AK either which is undoubtedly true.

 

[Biff215]

I'm Gen Z, some of it is certainly aimed lower but I did find the "hey bub" scene particularly pretty funny but that might just be my humor being shot. The faster pace is just how we consume content though.

I do not find the Bug's Life movie realistic because it is not. I loved the movie. I like the show enough, it wasn't great, about the same score I'd give this honestly. I was simply pointing out that its not the best fit for AK either which is undoubtedly true.

Thanks for your candidness, but you’d still honestly place Bug equal with this mess?

 

[WorldExplorer]

None of the jokes in this were funny. I still don't get the punchline of that "For legal reasons, I cannot [sing]" joke. It's gonna be really disappointing if the Monsters Inc. show isn't funny, considering how hilarious the film is. And I know I'm in the minority on this, but I think Laugh Floor is really funny too.

The punchline is that they acknowledged real life in something that isn't real life and for some reason we're supposed to find that perpetually funny.

Oh, they're SO gonna sing "We Don't Talk About Bruno" at some point in the Encanto ride. I'm trying to remember what jokes that film had... I remember finding the violin-playing donkeys in Luisa's song pretty funny...

I think Louisa came within shouting distance of funny a couple of times. Not laughing funny, snort through the nose funny. Other than that...

Frankly, the fact that Encanto is apparently the defacto Disney movie of the decade so far is just a symbol of how far the company has fallen to me. It was a very forgettable, middle of the road movie.

 

[FettFan]

Oh, they're SO gonna sing "We Don't Talk About Bruno" at some point in the Encanto ride. I'm trying to remember what jokes that film had... I remember finding the violin-playing donkeys in Luisa's song pretty funny...

Well, would be awkward and distasteful to feature Luisa comparing her situation to the Titanic again.

I’m still wondering what the point of the movie is, because as far as I can tell, it’s just a hodgepodge of ideas from other movies that never satisfactorily gets explained.

It’s essentially a prettier, Disney-fied remake of Monster House, only this time with granny going nuts and enslaving/indenturing her own family.

 

[Ayla]

Sorry, just had to take a shot at your “hey I said I liked it” when it was pointed out that the usual suspects aren’t here defending Disney on this one.

You and I beat the whole Bug’s Life thing around before and that you don’t find that movie realistic (even though ITTBAB was fairly accurate).

So what’s your demographic that you feel this appeals to because most here (including @wdwmagic) feel it’s only young kids?

According to his profile, a 22 year old.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Well, would be awkward and distasteful to feature Luisa comparing her situation to the Titanic again.

The magic of the House protects the village from marauders (you know, the ones that kill grandma's husband).

Without that magic, there could be hundreds of deaths from militia groups.

Luisa was noticing her magical ability starting to waver, and if that was a sign of everyone's magic going away... it would indeed be a portent of massive deaths as the magical shield went away.

 

[DisneyHead123]

I've only seen the video previews of Zootopia but to my mind it's hard to say how successful it is without knowing what they were aiming for. Who is the target audience? What is the target mood? Etc.

It's certainly not an emotional journey or anything but if they were looking for something light and laugh-inducing for kids that would be at least palatable for their parents, I'd say it works relatively well. If it's meant for people my age I'd say it's too fast paced and confusing. My brain doesn't run that fast anymore, ha ha.

 

[DrStarlander]

I've only seen the video previews of Zootopia but to my mind it's hard to say how successful it is without knowing what they were aiming for. Who is the target audience? What is the target mood? Etc.

It's certainly not an emotional journey or anything but if they were looking for something light and laugh-inducing for kids that would be at least palatable for their parents, I'd say it works relatively well. If it's meant for people my age I'd say it's too fast paced and confusing. My brain doesn't run that fast anymore, ha ha.

I think it would be a mistake to put something "for kids" inside the centerpiece of the park. That's a place from something broad in appeal.

They could have even made a Zootopia show that's broad in appeal, but they chose not to. Slapstick, butt jokes, dumb puns. It's the most basic writing possible for animation. I can't find a single thing that's particularly clever or smart in there. It would have at least been funny and self aware if they set up one of these obvious jokes and then failed to land the visual gag punchline (on purpose), then have Nick look at the camera sheepishly (since unlike the Zootopia movie, in this show he knows he's on camera). That would be endearing in a particularly Jason Bateman way, and a way to wink-wink to adults that we know this humor is dumb-fun, this is for the kids.