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

[Tom Morrow]

I think Joe Rohde (and many others on the creative side of the business) are just genuinely good people who value the art, want to encourage their peers, and don’t see the need to criticize projects they might do differently.

Joe knows Imagineers do the best they can with the direction and constraints placed on them by Executives. He also knows what it’s like to be unfairly criticized by people who don’t understand what it’s like to build projects like these.

This used to be standard in the industry (Rolly Crump and former CEOs notwithstanding).

Disneyland and Knott’s used to take out a full page ads in the OC Register congratulating each other for opening new lands and attractions. WDW did the same for Universal when they opened their first park in Orlando. Jeff Vahle did this last year when Epic Universe opened.

Is it good optics to encourage and not criticize competitors? Maybe. But it’s also classy, respectful, and kind.

That's true. I wasn't really trying to suggest that he doesn't also believe what he's saying, rather that is the right time to congratulate them, whereas taking that moment to be like "ehh I can't say I agree with the attraction choices" would be bad optics for him.

 

[BrianLo]

That's true. I wasn't really trying to suggest that he doesn't also believe what he's saying, rather that is the right time to congratulate them, whereas taking that moment to be like "ehh I can't say I agree with the attraction choices" would be bad optics for him.

Joe Rohde was around and involved in a conversion to Indy pitch in 2017.

Obviously it’s impossible to say what he’d have done with Encanto arriving on the scene.

 

[Incomudro]

View attachment 908216

The only time wild/native animals come up in Indiana Jones is as antagonists.
Crocodiles, snakes...

 

[Freshee61]

i still want to rant AGAIN ...
So RIDICULOUS take off dinoland -the dig site, dino ride, & theming for a movie ride ***UGH. Its AK.
Indiana has no business there it belongs in Hollywood. These wdw top executive are (*insert word*).
That dig site was the best play ground for lil ones! And who doesnt like dinosaurs. They had the whole other side to fill with encanto! And dont get me started with bugs life sorry replacement - zootopia
End rant.

 

[Dranth]

i still want to rant AGAIN ...
So RIDICULOUS take off dinoland -the dig site, dino ride, & theming for a movie ride ***UGH. Its AK.
Indiana has no business there it belongs in Hollywood. These wdw top executive are (*insert word*).
That dig site was the best play ground for lil ones! And who doesnt like dinosaurs. They had the whole other side to fill with encanto! And dont get me started with bugs life sorry replacement - zootopia
End rant.

I get the frustration fans have but a lot of this really does depend on final execution.

From what we know so far, IJ is essentially EE, at least setup wise. Both are dealing with mythical creatures, both are dealing with intruding on said mythical creatures domain. The real difference is a fictional archaeologist vs. a fictional train operator.

Maybe it is just me but I think Indy is the easiest to fit.

Dig site going does stink but there is some speculation that we are getting something similar so may not be a total loss. Forget where I saw it (might have been a Theme Park Stop video) but there were some plans that had a similar looking area relocated with a giant serpent thing in it.

As for who doesn't like Dinos. Lots of people. I don't understand it, but I also don't understand how people can't find space fascinating, or any number of other things that piqued my personal interests.

Encanto is a stretch fit but they might make it work. I have my doubts, but I am willing to wait and see.

Zootopia in general, and as it was implemented, is just a bad fit.

 

[Sorcerer Mickey]

I get the frustration fans have but a lot of this really does depend on final execution.

From what we know so far, IJ is essentially EE, at least setup wise. Both are dealing with mythical creatures, both are dealing with intruding on said mythical creatures domain. The real difference is a fictional archaeologist vs. a fictional train operator.

Maybe it is just me but I think Indy is the easiest to fit.

Dig site going does stink but there is some speculation that we are getting something similar so may not be a total loss. Forget where I saw it (might have been a Theme Park Stop video) but there were some plans that had a similar looking area relocated with a giant serpent thing in it.

As for who doesn't like Dinos. Lots of people. I don't understand it, but I also don't understand how people can't find space fascinating, or any number of other things that peak my personal interests.

Encanto is a stretch fit but they might make it work. I have my doubts, but I am willing to wait and see.

Zootopia in general, and as it was implemented, is just a bad fit.

The original plan of Zootopia and Moana would have been horrible and worthy of the criticism Tropical Americas is getting based on what we know. I'm willing to wait and see how the current update rolls out.

 

[Dranth]

The original plan of Zootopia and Moana would have been horrible and worthy of the criticism Tropical Americas is getting based on what we know. I'm willing to wait and see how the current update rolls out.

Likely.

I will never understand the people that think Zootopia belongs, not that they couldn't make it work done right, but it is a real stretch. Moana would be a better fit but again, could go very wrong.

AK really does need another water ride but I think they can do better than Moana as a starting point.

 

[gorillaball]

i still want to rant AGAIN ...
So RIDICULOUS take off dinoland -the dig site, dino ride, & theming for a movie ride ***UGH. Its AK.
Indiana has no business there it belongs in Hollywood. These wdw top executive are (*insert word*).
That dig site was the best play ground for lil ones! And who doesnt like dinosaurs. They had the whole other side to fill with encanto! And dont get me started with bugs life sorry replacement - zootopia
End rant.

Feel better? If so, that’s all that matters. Sometimes it’s good to vent.

I do get annoyed by the small but vocal few that will rant the same information for literally years and hundreds of times. Venting did not help in those instances, apparently.

PS/Edit- losing the dig site does stink. If not replacing w comparable that will be the biggest loss of this redo.

 

[Tha Realest]

Why volunteer for the direct harassment that is sure to come, even more so if they’re not a white man?

Zack Riddley was not exempt from a ton of criticism. This is a really odd take.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Zack Riddley was not exempt from a ton of criticism. This is a really odd take.

Who said he was exempt? Just because he got crap doesn’t mean more isn’t thrown at others and for less valid reasons.

 

[Tom Morrow]

The original plan of Zootopia and Moana would have been horrible and worthy of the criticism Tropical Americas is getting based on what we know. I'm willing to wait and see how the current update rolls out.

Yes this is very true. I'm very thankful that the land itself is in-line with the overall park even if the attractions kind of aren't. I'll say it again though, the land itself will have to do a lot of heavy lifting and placemaking to sell this as something that naturally compliments Africa and Asia.

 

[Tha Realest]

The only time wild/native animals come up in Indiana Jones is as antagonists.
Crocodiles, snakes...

In Raiders the monkey saved him by eating the poisoned date first. Crocodiles finished off Mola Ram (in case the head hitting the cliff wall didn’t kill him on the way down). The snake that slithered out of his long sleeved shirt forced the cave robber to let go of him on top of the circus train during the opening sequence in TLC. In that same film, the flock of birds killed the Nazi pilot chasing him and his father.

 

[ChewbaccaYourMum]

The only time wild/native animals come up in Indiana Jones is as antagonists.
Crocodiles, snakes...

I don't mean to just pick on you (sorry!!!), many other people have said similar things to what you're saying, but my issue with this argument that seems to come up over and over in here to prove or argue against Indy fitting is that:

Did Disney ever say they are making this ride based on Raiders?
Did Disney ever say they making this ride based on Temple of Doom?
Did Disney ever say they are making this ride based on Crusade?
What about Crystal Skull? Or Dial of Destiny?
Young Indiana Jones? The video games? The books out there?
The ride out in the other parks?

No?

Ok, so then what does any of the prior Indiana Jones stories, and media, and how they handled animals (or anything for that matter) have to do with this specific ride?

They can make this ride about how Indiana Jones finds a temple in the tropics of America and finds a million animals and becomes their best friend and fights the deforestation and becomes a activist for animal rights and whatever ridiculous thing they want lol!
My point is, that just saying "Well all Indy ever had relationships to animals is this" means actually nothing, because Disney already made it clear they are making a brand new story for him.

Indiana Jones is that type of rare character in the culture that you can put him into anything and it will make sense. He's a history teacher, a spy, an archeologist, a globetrotter and, above all, an adventurer. He does literally anything. They can put Indiana Jones into the Haunted Mansion and it could make sense!!!!

So what does Crocodiles and bugs and snakes in the old movies have anythign to do with this ride? That seems very closeminded to me to think that all Disney can do is go off of whatever is in the movies or other media. I don't get why this keeps coming up.

OK rant over. I'm sorry I picked on you lol!

 

[MisterPenguin]

In Raiders the monkey saved him by eating the poisoned date first. Crocodiles finished off Mola Ram (in case the head hitting the cliff wall didn’t kill him on the way down). The snake that slithered out of his long sleeved shirt forced the cave robber to let go of him on top of the circus train during the opening sequence in TLC. In that same film, the flock of birds killed the Nazi pilot chasing him and his father.

This is the true meaning of Animal Kingdom, that is, to weaponize nature. Just like Walt wanted.

 

[Nickm2022]

Anyway changing topic. As we can argue over IP all we want but at the end of the day a Tropical/South American themed area is a good idea and everything looks good with the only question being will Encanto and Indy fit well which none of us will know until we see the rides. And even if they aren't we are still getting a nice new land with IP that is pushed far away and could be easily avoided by those who don't like.

Anyways the RUMOR: A few days ago there was the rumor that Josh wants Imaginners to dream bigger for Villains. And apparently he wants the same for Tropical Americas by possibly adding a third ride (fourth if you count the carousel). If true I think this would be a huge win, and I'd assume it would replace the Nemo theater show building. Emperors new groove? Up? (dear god please let it be Up if this happens) anyway wanted to discuss. We believe Disney is considering adding/expanding the Tropical Americas before it even opens? If so where and what would we want to see, anyways lets discuss

 

[Gusey]

Anyway changing topic. As we can argue over IP all we want but at the end of the day a Tropical/South American themed area is a good idea and everything looks good with the only question being will Encanto and Indy fit well which none of us will know until we see the rides. And even if they aren't we are still getting a nice new land with IP that is pushed far away and could be easily avoided by those who don't like.

Anyways the RUMOR: A few days ago there was the rumor that Josh wants Imaginners to dream bigger for Villains. And apparently he wants the same for Tropical Americas by possibly adding a third ride (fourth if you count the carousel). If true I think this would be a huge win, and I'd assume it would replace the Nemo theater show building. Emperors new groove? Up? (dear god please let it be Up if this happens) anyway wanted to discuss. We believe Disney is considering adding/expanding the Tropical Americas before it even opens? If so where and what would we want to see, anyways lets discuss

I saw the rumour from Brayden (I'm aware of his track record being very hit or miss) and it was that Tropical Americas saw changes over a year ago. In that case, it might be why the new archaeology playground was not in any models/concept art that were available in 2024 but was announced much later.

 

[britain]

Joe Rohde was around and involved in a conversion to Indy pitch in 2017.

Obviously it’s impossible to say what he’d have done with Encanto arriving on the scene.

I'm sure "conversion to Indy" pitches have been happening since 1997.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Anyway changing topic. As we can argue over IP all we want but at the end of the day a Tropical/South American themed area is a good idea and everything looks good with the only question being will Encanto and Indy fit well which none of us will know until we see the rides. And even if they aren't we are still getting a nice new land with IP that is pushed far away and could be easily avoided by those who don't like.

Anyways the RUMOR: A few days ago there was the rumor that Josh wants Imaginners to dream bigger for Villains. And apparently he wants the same for Tropical Americas by possibly adding a third ride (fourth if you count the carousel). If true I think this would be a huge win, and I'd assume it would replace the Nemo theater show building. Emperors new groove? Up? (dear god please let it be Up if this happens) anyway wanted to discuss. We believe Disney is considering adding/expanding the Tropical Americas before it even opens? If so where and what would we want to see, anyways lets discuss

Removing the theater would be horrible for a park that desperately needs more capacity.

You can also just start a thread Armchair Imagineering if you want to discuss ride ideas for the land.

 

[_caleb]

Likely.

I will never understand the people that think Zootopia belongs, not that they couldn't make it work done right, but it is a real stretch. Moana would be a better fit but again, could go very wrong.

AK really does need another water ride but I think they can do better than Moana as a starting point.

From my perspective, it’s that fans try to hold Disney to thematic standards that the Company obviously doesn’t still hold.

So while I get “anthropomorphic animals are stylistically out of line with AK’s stated theme!” Animal Kingdom, Epcot, DHS, etc. aren’t what they originally were (and really haven’t been for a long time).

 

[britain]

So what does Crocodiles and bugs and snakes in the old movies have anythign to do with this ride? That seems very closeminded to me to think that all Disney can do is go off of whatever is in the movies or other media. I don't get why this keeps coming up.

OK rant over. I'm sorry I picked on you lol!

Just to play devil's advocate, there's an angle here they could play: The Indy ride could be a tribute to the Fear of Animals. This is what happens when you DON'T take an empathetic, curious and clinical look at rats, snakes, and insects: They become monsters of mythic proportions.

Now, one could say that this does not fit because it is the antithesis to Animal Kingdom. And how would they go about saying that this is the inverted "Screwtape Letters" of the park's attractions? I don't know.

But if anthropomorphic Zootopia animals don't fit and yet still have a place in AK, I think this could work better than that.