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

[Tom Morrow]

I will never understand the people that think Zootopia belongs

I know this sounds stuck up to say, but unfortunately a significant amount of people never engage with or think about art and entertainment on any level beyond the surface. Their thought process is "Animal Kingdom = Animal Park. Zootopia = Animals, therefore Good For Animal Park."

Disney used to sculpt their park experiences in a way that those who only would or wanted to engage with them in the most surface level way could do so, but there was also mountains more to dive into just below the surface for everyone else interested. An experience like Better Zoogether has nothing else, its just the surface.

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).

Until Better Zoogether, DAK was holding its own as the one WDW park that still was what it originally was meant to be. That's why this is upsetting. Now all four parks' purposes are compromised to varying degrees.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

Until Better Zoogether, DAK was holding its own as the one WDW park that still was what it originally was meant to be.

Dropping bluey down at conservation ain’t gonna help either

 

[Tom Morrow]

Dropping bluey down at conservation ain’t gonna help either

Bluey makes even less sense than Zootopia. At least its not taking over what is the centerpiece of the park and Conservation Station is kind of a dead zone. Still. Try harder, Disney.

"BuT ThEy'Re DoGs AnD DoGs ArE AniMaLs!"

 

[James Alucobond]

Bluey makes even less sense than Zootopia. At least its not taking over what is the centerpiece of the park and Conservation Station is kind of a dead zone. Still. Try harder, Disney.

"BuT ThEy'Re DoGs AnD DoGs ArE AniMaLs!"

Part of the concept at least sounds like they're hosting some sort of show about animals native to Australia. The description is so vague that I don't necessarily trust what the final product will be, but while I agree that the IP doesn't fit the park, I prefer the "IP as hosts" format. Frankly, Zootopia, despite not fundamentally fitting either, would have been much less offensive if they had taken that path (i.e. Zootopia characters introducing and commenting on the behaviors, habits, and biomes of their real-world counterparts).

 

[Tom Morrow]

Part of the concept at least sounds like they're hosting some sort of show about animals native to Australia. The description is so vague that I don't necessarily trust what the final product will be, but while I agree that the IP doesn't fit the park, I prefer the "IP as hosts" format. Frankly, Zootopia, despite not fundamentally fitting either, would have been much less offensive if they had taken that path (i.e. Zootopia characters introducing and commenting on the behaviors, habits, and biomes of their real-world counterparts).

Admittedly I didn't look too much into it as I don't care about Bluey, but you're right, that's a little bit better than being just a show about Bluey.

And, absolutely regarding Zootopia. There were several paths that could have led to a show that marginally fits the park. They chose none. That's why I am cautious about Encanto and Indy and their "technically its about animals" approach.

 

[Brer Panther]

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

There's a reason why most of those pitches, assuming they existed, were turned down, however.

 

[James Alucobond]

There's a reason why most of those pitches, assuming they existed, were turned down, however.

You can't claim out of one side of your mouth that they have no standards whatsoever for what goes into the parks while simultaneously saying that they were turning down multiple IP-based replacement pitches to preserve thematic integrity out of the other. Iger has been CEO for almost the entire existence of Animal Kingdom, so some of those pitches almost certainly reached his ears. If they didn't do it in the past, it was likely due more to lack of will or funding than to any sense of preservation or notion that it was a bad idea.

 

[HMF]

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

That's exactly the problem.

 

[HMF]

You can't claim out of one side of your mouth that they have no standards whatsoever for what goes into the parks while simultaneously saying that they were turning down multiple IP-based replacement pitches to preserve thematic integrity out of the other. Iger has been CEO for almost the entire existence of Animal Kingdom,

No Animal Kingdom had been open for 7 years by the time Iger came in. Ironically, until recently DAK had been the park Iger messed with the least, obviously.

 

[James Alucobond]

No Animal Kingdom had been open for 7 years by the time Iger came in. Ironically, until recently DAK had been the park Iger messed with the least, obviously.

He had over 20 years to greenlight the apparently oft-pitched replacement. Do you think he didn't greenlight it during that time because he thought it was a bad idea, or do you think he didn't greenlight it because he didn't want to spend money on that section of the park? The implication of the post I quoted was that it was consistently dismissed because the people in charge knew better when, for two decades, many of the same people have been in charge.

 

[Brer Panther]

It's likely that MOST of the people in charge before Iger took over knew better, then when he took over he was too busy with things like the California Adventure redo and Disney's multiple attempts to build an equivalent to Universal's Harry Potter land (Pandora, Galaxy's Edge, etc.) to worry about Dinoland.

I wouldn't be surprised if Encanto's success is the entire reason why this specific "Tropical Americas as a replacement for Dinoland" pitch got greenlit.

 

[HMF]

I wouldn't be surprised if Encanto's success is the entire reason why this specific "Tropical Americas as a replacement for Dinoland" pitch got greenlit.

That is likely exactly what happened.

 

[DCBaker]

Michael Hundgen, VP Creative at WDI, celebrates the recent construction milestone at the Encanto site:

Huge milestone for our Imagineers working on the addition of Encanto to Disney's Animal Kingdom. The last beam of steel is in and now it's time to bring Casita to life. Congrats, team!

 

[Movielover]

I am very sadden by the loss of Countdown to Extinction as well, however having already gone through this type of loss with The Great Movie Ride I can relate to your feelings and provide a shoulder to cry on.

I just feel like the statements from some people on here are a bit overblown and melodramatic.

 

[EagleScout610]

I am very sadden by the loss of Countdown to Extinction as well, however having already gone through this type of loss with The Great Movie Ride I can relate to your feelings and provide a shoulder to cry on.

I just feel like the statements from some people on here are a bit overblown and melodramatic.

As long as Everest and the safari stands, AK will be a park for me. So once those days comes I'll join the "AK is dead to me" crowd lol

 

[HMF]

As long as Everest stands, AK will be a park for me. So once that day comes I'll join the "AK is dead to me" crowd lol

Does the yeti being broken factor at all?

 

[EagleScout610]

Does the yeti being broken factor at all?

No since I've only ridden it with B Mode, but that's a different story

 

[FigmentFan82]

Does the yeti being broken factor at all?

Why would it? That is one thing that doesn’t change the full scope of the entire experience. The coaster is still thrilling throughout.

 

[MisterPenguin]

It's almost too late to bring back Primeval Whirl!!

 

[Movielover]

It's almost too late to bring back Primeval Whirl!!

A photo just leaked of the inside of the Encanto building!

Spoiler: Encanto Ride System Leak