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

ToTBellHop

Well-Known Member
AK will be much improved with the Dino area going away. I am sorry for those of you who are grieving, but the Chester and Hester area was a cheap eyesore that ruined AK for so many and Dinosaur never lived up to its premise. Most days it was being thrown around in complete darkness while Dr. Seeker yelled at you and you some a few dinosaurs. It was fun for a little bit, but this park will be better served by Indy, Encanto, the carousel which looks like it will be a beautiful addition, and I am hoping the food will be a home run as well. I don’t always trust Disney with their decision and am still lamenting the loss of rivers of America, but I think this land will be a massive hit and will help transform this park.

Glad to see the play area in the permits!!!
Encanto is a net upgrade, as (likely) is the carousel. Let’s hope Indy is an upgrade. It comes down to execution for me. I want a full temple setting with some figures. Not driving in the dark with loud noise, like Dino. No large, empty swaths like TBA.

I’ve moved beyond complaining about thematic integrity. I want a great ride that makes me smile. Cosmic Rewind may not fit, but it’s so much fun to ride that it improves my Epcot day. I hope for that here.
 

rle4lunch

Well-Known Member
The what now
Indy does spend a lot of time in boats or in rivers, either falling from planes, getting chased by religous sects through Venice, driving ducks down waterfalls, as well as exploring underwater shipwrecks... It'd be neat to see the ride vehicle be some sort of amphibeous vehicle of sorts.
 

AidenRodriguez731

Well-Known Member
Will be?

We're witnessing the last coherent park having its theme ripped out in real time. Animal Kingdom is going to be over 25% grab-bag and another 25% "well at least it's an oval peg shoved in a round hole instead of a square one?" in three days.

There's only coherency left if you count the water parks.
MK: "Here you leave today and enter the world of yesterday, tomorrow, and fantasy."
EPCOT: The Human Connection and what makes us similar and different
Hollywood Studios: Celebration of movies and Hollywood
AK: How we all connect to animals and the natural world around us (and how that world interacts with each other)
 

FigmentFan82

Well-Known Member
Very excited for the reinvention of this area. I always felt it was the weakest area of DAK and never held much interest for me. As a big Indy fan I’m thrilled for the tether of Dino (it was too much dark room nothingness) and I feel encanto will be the next new great “classic” Disney attraction. Bring it on!
 

ToTBellHop

Well-Known Member
There was discussion happening in the wrong thread so in bringing it here.

I hope they learned some lessons and will NOT be phase opening this land. It absolutely should and must all open together.
Soft opening one portion seems fine. But, I agree the grand opening and marketing blitz should come when it’s all ready.

But, marketing may be concerned they have nothing to market during the first half of 2027?
 

Bocabear

Well-Known Member
I do wonder why they don't revisit the boat ride and really put some money into developing great show sets around the river... It would be nice to have a riverboat ride that is fully set-dressed...a calm beautiful ride around the island...would be a great attraction....especially since there is no longer a Riverboat at the MK....If done well it would be an engaging park preview...but they would have to invest in some great show sets around the route....
 

doctornick

Well-Known Member
I do wonder why they don't revisit the boat ride and really put some money into developing great show sets around the river... It would be nice to have a riverboat ride that is fully set-dressed...a calm beautiful ride around the island...would be a great attraction....especially since there is no longer a Riverboat at the MK....If done well it would be an engaging park preview...but they would have to invest in some great show sets around the route....

I'd be fine even if it were simply transportation like the boats across the water in Epcot. Just adding some kinetics would be nice.
 

James Alucobond

Well-Known Member
I do wonder why they don't revisit the boat ride and really put some money into developing great show sets around the river... It would be nice to have a riverboat ride that is fully set-dressed...a calm beautiful ride around the island...would be a great attraction....especially since there is no longer a Riverboat at the MK....If done well it would be an engaging park preview...but they would have to invest in some great show sets around the route....
I’d be fine with just doing a day-to-night water parade akin to an aquatic Magic Happens. Use the amphitheater like a hub and have the floats exit and circle there before setting out around the Tree. They could run it all day and use it in lieu of a nighttime spectacular if they’re not keen to develop one.
 

JohnD

Well-Known Member
Encanto is a net upgrade, as (likely) is the carousel. Let’s hope Indy is an upgrade. It comes down to execution for me. I want a full temple setting with some figures. Not driving in the dark with loud noise, like Dino. No large, empty swaths like TBA.

I’ve moved beyond complaining about thematic integrity. I want a great ride that makes me smile. Cosmic Rewind may not fit, but it’s so much fun to ride that it improves my Epcot day. I hope for that here.
If it's anything like the Indy in DL (other than Mayan instead of Indian temple), it's a net win. Plenty of lighting. Clear scenes, etc.
 

BrianLo

Well-Known Member
I’d imagine most posters have at least suggested dinorama needed to be replaced at some point.

The contents of the plan, sure, but I’m not sure why this is so suddenly felt to be a divergent minority opinion?

Dinosaur/Countdown were always a bit more split. Mostly because they never met the bar of Disneylands Indy. Which is not to say it had to be Indy.
 

lentesta

Premium Member

Gremlin Gus

Well-Known Member
Okay so I was looking at the layout that WDWMagic posted earlier and I noticed, the paths for the queue for the Encanto ride did change somewhat since last time

(For the image below, the pathways I marked blue, the show building plus Casita I marked red to make it easier to show what i'm talking about)
Screenshot 2026-01-30 111450.png


As compared to what was revealed previously...
Screenshot 2026-01-30 111514.png
 

Disney Analyst

Well-Known Member
Soft opening one portion seems fine. But, I agree the grand opening and marketing blitz should come when it’s all ready.

But, marketing may be concerned they have nothing to market during the first half of 2027?

All I want is a traditional opening. Big ceremony, fanfare. Let all the fans who lined up rush in. No virtual queues. Let the place be busy and full.
 

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