BlakeW39
Well-Known Member
I'd even go as far as to say we have three separate approaches going.
An around the world park with mythology and live animals enriching that
A mythology park with an around the world theme to help organize everything and live animals there too
An animal park that takes guests on a trip around the world with mythology added in.
Of the three, I initially leaned towards the mythology focus. But looking at everything we want to accomplish and include, the around the world focus does seem like the best option. Myths and animals are included as we go, but the lands are focused on the places rather than the stories and creatures.
That being said, I still think a Beastly Kingdom/King Arthur/Shakespeare influence/ruins approach to represent the UK is our best bet. Focusing too heavy on modern and man made icons and cities might make it difficult to differentiate ourselves from just being World Showcase 2 and would limit us in terms of attractions. I'd rather choose one or two lands too create from each continent or cultural category that are their own thing, rather than directly recreating stuff, to better represent the whole of the region. More DAK than Epcot. But either way it will be amazing as all the different ideas for focuses and directions are very strong.
I'm in the camp that agrees with the World Showcase meets DAK - but without icons like in World Showcase.
I'd rather the guests find out where they are not by seeing a Chinese temple and being like, oh yeah we're in China. But more the DAK style where we build either a make-believe town set in China/Mongolia/etc...and have the guests find out where they are via exploring. Make it feel lived-in rather than a replica of a famous monument or statue. Something that is organically made and unique to the park.
I agree 100%. We should totally do some fictional lands to resemble real ones, so we are creating something to snd fresh where you have to explore to learn about your surrounding and what is going on.
If you've heard Rohde speaking about how he and his team approached DAK - they approached it as a story, where you walk through the gates and its your adventure (which is why there aren't any dark rides where you're told a story, because you are always part of it). That could work well for us I think