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

[gerarar]

Question, why do park shows never run at nighttime? Whats stopping Nemo and Lion King from a performance at like 8?

They sometimes add a late FOTLK showing right at park closing. Can't remember the exact reason why but it was done very recently.

Edit:
It was extended evening hours. Say park closed normally at 6pm, there were FOTLK showtimes at 6pm and 7pm.
It's rare, but they often do late showings.

 

[AidenRodriguez731]

They sometimes add a late FOTLK showing right at park closing. Can't remember the exact reason why but it was done very recently.

Like the park closed at 7pm and there was a show at 6:30pm for example. But this is a rare thing to see.

I guess it can stop people from getting in lines for "one last ride" on FOP. Since they won't make it to the queue before the park close. Much easier to clear people out with one last show than keep open what rides they would go on for a last ride on for longer.

 

[mysto]

Question, why do park shows never run at nighttime? Whats stopping Nemo and Lion King from a performance at like 8?

I'm pretty sure it makes life difficult for the resident animals who cannot choose to escape the loud noise and lights like people can. It's the same reason the park closes so early.

 

[Mr. Sullivan]

I never heard. Was there a logistic or animal safety reason why night safaris couldn't continue other than the park no-longer being open past dark?

Having been on one, I didn't think it was a bad experience. Certainly not the same as the day one and it felt like fewer animals but being in relative darkness also changed the feel of it, too making it seem in some ways like a different ride - something worth trying even if you'd already done the day one, for instance.

They stop the safaris earlier than park close because it can be a rather complicated process to take the animals in for the evening. They don't just leave them there on the savannah overnight, they are taken to backstage facilities to be cared for and put to bed.

It's the same reason that not many zoos stay open past dark. It's a pretty difficult thing to get the animals in where they need to be at night, especially since many of them are nocturnal and thus more active and less prone to following along what needs to be done. Beyond that too, these animals are used to a routine and it can be very distressing to them if this routine is broken. They're used to being put in their backstage places at a certain time, and it could very well be troubling to them to be left out and met with the trucks and park guests past the time they're used to winding down.

Yes, a night safari would be cool but logistically there's just not really any way for them to do that that also allows the zoological cast members to do what they need to do to the best of their ability. They already are working on it past park close as is, it'd be a real nightmare and time consuming process for them if they were only starting it at park close.

 

[FerretAfros]

They stop the safaris earlier than park close because it can be a rather complicated process to take the animals in for the evening. They don't just leave them there on the savannah overnight, they are taken to backstage facilities to be cared for and put to bed.

It's the same reason that not many zoos stay open past dark. It's a pretty difficult thing to get the animals in where they need to be at night, especially since many of them are nocturnal and thus more active and less prone to following along what needs to be done. Beyond that too, these animals are used to a routine and it can be very distressing to them if this routine is broken. They're used to being put in their backstage places at a certain time, and it could very well be troubling to them to be left out and met with the trucks and park guests past the time they're used to winding down.

Yes, a night safari would be cool but logistically there's just not really any way for them to do that that also allows the zoological cast members to do what they need to do to the best of their ability. They already are working on it past park close as is, it'd be a real nightmare and time consuming process for them if they were only starting it at park close.

Nonsense. The park regularly operated a nighttime version of the safari from 2016 (coinciding with the Pandora opening, the nighttime lagoon shows, and push toward greater nighttime activities in the park overall) through early 2020 until the Covid shutdowns. They did so in full compliance with animal welfare regulations and best practices.

Yes, there were challenges with certain species. No, not all species were present in the evening. Yes, visibility was limited with the low light levels. But they were able to operate the nighttime attraction for years, while complying with animal safety and comfort needs, without even needing to pause operations in the evening while certain animals came indoors for the evening. While the number of animals visible was lower than during the day, they were often much more active, accounting for some of the more interesting sightings I’ve had on the attraction (including a rhino running alongside our ride vehicle and lions getting frisky after dark).

They don’t run it any more because they’re too cheap to operate the park with any meaningful nighttime activities. And curiously, when there’s barely anything to do after dark and all of the animal viewing opportunities close early, park guests also leave early, reinforcing their self-fulfilling claim that nobody wants to be in the park after dark. It has nothing to do with animal welfare, and everything to do with being cheap. How quickly we (willfully?) forget our history!

 

[GhostHost1000]

Question, why do park shows never run at nighttime? Whats stopping Nemo and Lion King from a performance at like 8?

$taff

 

[lazyboy97o]

They stop the safaris earlier than park close because it can be a rather complicated process to take the animals in for the evening. They don't just leave them there on the savannah overnight, they are taken to backstage facilities to be cared for and put to bed.

It's the same reason that not many zoos stay open past dark. It's a pretty difficult thing to get the animals in where they need to be at night, especially since many of them are nocturnal and thus more active and less prone to following along what needs to be done. Beyond that too, these animals are used to a routine and it can be very distressing to them if this routine is broken. They're used to being put in their backstage places at a certain time, and it could very well be troubling to them to be left out and met with the trucks and park guests past the time they're used to winding down.

Yes, a night safari would be cool but logistically there's just not really any way for them to do that that also allows the zoological cast members to do what they need to do to the best of their ability. They already are working on it past park close as is, it'd be a real nightmare and time consuming process for them if they were only starting it at park close.

Outside of veterinary treatment and specific needs based on care, animals are not forcibly moved around the habitats and barns at any well run zoological park.

The park already ran night safaris nor was night activities something unique to Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

 

[WorldExplorer]

Nonsense. The park regularly operated a nighttime version of the safari from 2016 (coinciding with the Pandora opening, the nighttime lagoon shows, and push toward greater nighttime activities in the park overall) through early 2020 until the Covid shutdowns. They did so in full compliance with animal welfare regulations and best practices.

Yes, there were challenges with certain species. No, not all species were present in the evening. Yes, visibility was limited with the low light levels. But they were able to operate the nighttime attraction for years, while complying with animal safety and comfort needs, without even needing to pause operations in the evening while certain animals came indoors for the evening. While the number of animals visible was lower than during the day, they were often much more active, accounting for some of the more interesting sightings I’ve had on the attraction (including a rhino running alongside our ride vehicle and lions getting frisky after dark).

They don’t run it any more because they’re too cheap to operate the park with any meaningful nighttime activities. And curiously, when there’s barely anything to do after dark and all of the animal viewing opportunities close early, park guests also leave early, reinforcing their self-fulfilling claim that nobody wants to be in the park after dark. It has nothing to do with animal welfare, and everything to do with being cheap. How quickly we (willfully?) forget our history!

Disney Guide to Running Animal Kingdom:

Do you want to cut costs somewhere?

Yes - Proceed to next question
Of course! - Proceed to next question

Can it be blamed on animals and their welfare, even if it isn't true?

Yes - Do so! Aren't you so caring?
No - Blame Dinoland! How could they do this?!

Enjoy your money!

 

[Mr. Sullivan]

Nonsense. The park regularly operated a nighttime version of the safari from 2016 (coinciding with the Pandora opening, the nighttime lagoon shows, and push toward greater nighttime activities in the park overall) through early 2020 until the Covid shutdowns. They did so in full compliance with animal welfare regulations and best practices.

Yes, there were challenges with certain species. No, not all species were present in the evening. Yes, visibility was limited with the low light levels. But they were able to operate the nighttime attraction for years, while complying with animal safety and comfort needs, without even needing to pause operations in the evening while certain animals came indoors for the evening. While the number of animals visible was lower than during the day, they were often much more active, accounting for some of the more interesting sightings I’ve had on the attraction (including a rhino running alongside our ride vehicle and lions getting frisky after dark).

They don’t run it any more because they’re too cheap to operate the park with any meaningful nighttime activities. And curiously, when there’s barely anything to do after dark and all of the animal viewing opportunities close early, park guests also leave early, reinforcing their self-fulfilling claim that nobody wants to be in the park after dark. It has nothing to do with animal welfare, and everything to do with being cheap. How quickly we (willfully?) forget our history!

Outside of veterinary treatment and specific needs based on care, animals are not forcibly moved around the habitats and barns at any well run zoological park.

The park already ran night safaris nor was night activities something unique to Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

Thank you!

I had always incorrectly been under the impression they took them in. Unsure where I picked that up from, but I appreciate you correcting me on it. You learn something every day!

 

[FettFan]

Again, why not construct on the expansion pad between Kali River and Rafiki’s planet watch? Maybe put a third train station in to visit Tropical Americas?

 

[AidenRodriguez731]

Again, why not construct on the expansion pad between Kali River and Rafiki’s planet watch? Maybe put a third train station in to visit Tropical Americas?

Logistics I would imagine. Right now there is a staging space there that people speculated could be kept and reused for a LK ride. (Pure speculation though).

Plus it would shake up the park being the only land not directly connected to DI + the park is not currently open long enough in some people’s mind to justify that many attractions while Dinoland is a pretty universally low guest satisfaction rate. Just a bunch of things going against it kinda lead to it

 

[lazyboy97o]

the park is not currently open long enough in some people’s mind to justify that many attractions

That’s backwards.

 

[EagleScout610]

New demolition pics from the site we can't say. More of the theming on TriceraTop Spin and the gift shop are gone:

 

[Gusey]

Again, why not construct on the expansion pad between Kali River and Rafiki’s planet watch? Maybe put a third train station in to visit Tropical Americas?

Disney logic: because if they use all the expansion pads now, where will they expand in 10/20 years time.

 

[danlb_2000]

Again, why not construct on the expansion pad between Kali River and Rafiki’s planet watch? Maybe put a third train station in to visit Tropical Americas?

Because the goal is not to expand the park but instead to optimize what is already there.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Because the goal is not to expand the park but instead to optimize what is already there.

Why is that the goal is still a very valid question for a park with insufficient capacity.

 

[AidenRodriguez731]

That’s backwards.

I mean Disney doesn't want to update the opening times yet soooo

 

[MrPromey]

They stop the safaris earlier than park close because it can be a rather complicated process to take the animals in for the evening. They don't just leave them there on the savannah overnight, they are taken to backstage facilities to be cared for and put to bed.

It's the same reason that not many zoos stay open past dark. It's a pretty difficult thing to get the animals in where they need to be at night, especially since many of them are nocturnal and thus more active and less prone to following along what needs to be done. Beyond that too, these animals are used to a routine and it can be very distressing to them if this routine is broken. They're used to being put in their backstage places at a certain time, and it could very well be troubling to them to be left out and met with the trucks and park guests past the time they're used to winding down.

Yes, a night safari would be cool but logistically there's just not really any way for them to do that that also allows the zoological cast members to do what they need to do to the best of their ability. They already are working on it past park close as is, it'd be a real nightmare and time consuming process for them if they were only starting it at park close.

Thanks. I appreciate you trying to come up with a possible reason why but you might want to re-read my post that you responded to.

There was a night safari there for years. I did it. It had a perpetual simulated sunset in the savanna portion.

I'm aware that the animals don't all run loose 24/7 but whatever difficulties you're hypothesizing, they had some way of working around it.

Maybe it was too much effort (or more likely, too much $)?

My question was for people who might actually know if there's a legitimate reason for why that couldn't have continued or be brought back. Seems like the perfect way to make Africa not be a dead zone if they don't want to put an additional ride/attraction there and they don't want to do an evening LOTLK evening show.*

*Which is puzzling as to why this would need to be a dead zone if they can run a night safari and do evening shows since the only thing they would need to close attraction-wise would be the trail in that area.

 

[MrPromey]

I'm pretty sure it makes life difficult for the resident animals who cannot choose to escape the loud noise and lights like people can. It's the same reason the park closes so early.

LOTLK and Nemo are both entirely indoor shows, though so I'm not sure what lights and loud noises being produced by them would be impacting animals.

On the subject of lights and noise, that didn't stop them from tearing out all the trees they did by the lagoon and putting seating in there for an outdoor night "spectacular" (minus fireworks, of course). I suspect if disturbing the animals had something to do with that failing, they'd have wanted to make that known as "the safety and welfare of our guests and animals is our top priority so we made the hard decision to cancel the show" has a much nicer ring to it than "after pouring tons of money into it, we could simply never get the show to run right".

 

[RSoxNo1]

Why is that the goal is still a very valid question for a park with insufficient capacity.

Just because something represents capacity, doesn't mean it represents optimal capacity.

Replacing / Upgrading Dinorama is something that absolutely needs to happen at DAK. It doesn't mean that the plot of land North of Asia shouldn't also be used at some point, but the two don't have to be mutually exclusive.