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

[DisneyHead123]

The difference is Animal Kingdom in tone of warning man and his boundries with something like the Yeti in nature.

Indiana Jones is a celebrated raider.(killing snakes, rats etc.)

You either compromise the integrity theme of the land, or compromise the theme of the character.

If people are fine with it, but it is what is occuring.

So while it may be "fine" it is not the same as Everest.

So, I do agree that the thematic arc for AK is already starting to change and evolve. Which is inevitable, sadly.

That said, I think they could make Indy an ok-ish fit thematically. I think he’s either on some kind of mission (maybe paid, if you want to keep his character rough and cynical) to help the local people, or he gets a sort of comeuppance and there’s a “barely escapes, with a warning” situation. I don’t think either would be totally out of character for Indiana Jones. In some ways it would be a perfect sort of fable for our cocky relationship with nature, showing how seemingly harmless, slumbering ancient ruins contain a power far beyond us.

 

[rd805]

While the themes of the IP themselves are somewhat questionable for the new land as a fit in AK, the undeniable fit is the theming/atmosphere/destination itself. Having a new continent (sort-of - TROPICS, I KNOW), with a jungly/outdoor setting absolutely fits AK, and the overall sense of adventure you feel when there.

I would really love some cool animal exhibits though, and there are so many opportunities to bring some new wildlife to the park.

 

[ChewbaccaYourMum]

So sad to see it all gone. I am really hoping the Encanto ride is amazing and well themed, and not just a cheap IP insertion with no effort. It better be awesome for what we lost to get it. Still don't see the relevance to Encanto with animals as they really play only a minor role in the plot, but it is what it is. I have to accept that today's Disney does not care about thematic cohesion and all of the parks are becoming essentially interchangeable.

It's a shame the billboards were presumably just destroyed, as they were quite attractive.

Now people are sad Dino-Rama is gone?!?
I'm sorry, I don't mean to pick on you, but these forums surprise me every day!

No matter what Encanto ends up being- even if it's just a meet and greet (which it's not) - would be better than the carnival games haha! It doesn't even feel like that's subjective at this point.

 

[Bocabear]

Now people are sad Dino-Rama is gone?!?
I'm sorry, I don't mean to pick on you, but these forums surprise me every day!

No matter what Encanto ends up being- even if it's just a meet and greet (which it's not) - would be better than the carnival games haha! It doesn't even feel like that's subjective at this point.

That alone is sad at this point.... The most creative theme parks company in the world is building a new land and we are all just hoping it will be better than a meet and greet...

 

[Brer Panther]

While the themes of the IP themselves are somewhat questionable for the new land as a fit in AK, the undeniable fit is the theming/atmosphere/destination itself. Having a new continent (sort-of - TROPICS, I KNOW), with a jungly/outdoor setting absolutely fits AK, and the overall sense of adventure you feel when there.

That's true, but they're really just using it as an excuse to shoehorn two IPs that don't really fit Animal Kingdom in the parks.

Imagine what Eisner's Disney could've done with a Tropical Americas/South America land in Animal Kingdom. We could've had some sort of Amazon River attraction, jaguars, capybaras, anacondas... even today, if you HAD to put an IP in there, UP would fit quite well.

Instead, we get "WE DON'T TALK ABOUT BRUNO NO NO NO".

 

[rd805]

Imagine what Eisner's Disney could've done with a Tropical Americas/South America land in Animal Kingdom. We could've had some sort of Amazon River attraction, jaguars, capybaras, anacondas... even today, if you HAD to put an IP in there, UP would fit quite well.

An Up attraction not being used here is for sure ridiculous; tons of opportunities!

 

[Nickm2022]

That's true, but they're really just using it as an excuse to shoehorn two IPs that don't really fit Animal Kingdom in the parks.

Imagine what Eisner's Disney could've done with a Tropical Americas/South America land in Animal Kingdom. We could've had some sort of Amazon River attraction, jaguars, capybaras, anacondas... even today, if you HAD to put an IP in there, UP would fit quite well.

Instead, we get "WE DON'T TALK ABOUT BRUNO NO NO NO".

1. Keep in mind that Eisner would have either spent too much or too little. He's also the same one who did DCA 1.0 and make AK opening it with no Asia, and no rides other then DINO and the Safari. Don't get me wrong I like the dude but if he did it (esp in the 90's) it wouldn't have gone well.
2. I really hope if Tropical Americas does well they take down the theater where Nemo is and do put in a UP ride/expand it. Plus the waterfall/mountain area would blend it well with Everest. I also just think that theater is a big waste of space, especially where it is.

 

[rd805]

1. Keep in mind that Eisner would have either spent too much or too little. He's also the same one who did DCA 1.0 and make AK opening it with no Asia, and no rides other then DINO and the Safari. Don't get me wrong I like the dude but if he did it (esp in the 90's) it wouldn't have gone well.
2. I really hope if Tropical Americas does well they take down the theater where Nemo is and do put in a UP ride/expand it. Plus the waterfall/mountain area would blend it well with Everest. I also just think that theater is a big waste of space, especially where it is.

I think the show is pretty terrible so I'm the wrong person to listen to, but in terms of WDW offerings - it's existence makes sense: Live show, actual singing, puppetry, broadway (okay maybe cruiseline level) entertainment. But i think it's corny and find the music annoying so I'm ready for the replacement (that is most definitely not on the table) lol.

 

[bmr1591]

All y'all talking about Up when The Emperor's New Groove would be a perfect coaster.

 

[michmousefan]

All y'all talking about Up when The Emperor's New Groove would be a perfect coaster.

Pull the lever, Kronk!

 

[Disgruntled Walt]

Said for the 5th time: THE EMPEROR'S NEW CRUISE - gets us the Animal Kingdom flume ride we all want.

 

[𝐌𝖆𝖓 𝖎𝖓 𝐖𝖊𝖇]

All y'all talking about Up when The Emperor's New Groove would be a perfect coaster.

Dark ride Rollercoaster? Best of both. The sequence presented in the movie suggests a bus bar-like dark ride attraction with the UV flats and swing doors but it also features massive drops like a coaster. Hmm... to achieve both maybe a "wild mouse" coaster? I think it'd be a hit with the classic theming. Something like the original "Snow White's Scary Adventure" with a few drops for good measure. Disney needs to bring back the charm of those classic dark rides. DAK would definitely benefit from this type of attraction. Catacomb Coaster.

 

[Charlie The Chatbox Ghost]

Dark ride Rollercoaster? Best of both. The sequence presented in the movie suggests a bus bar-like dark ride attraction with the UV flats and swing doors but it also features massive drops like a coaster. Hmm... to achieve both maybe a "wild mouse" coaster? I think it'd be a hit with the classic theming. Something like the original "Snow White's Scary Adventure" with a few drops for good measure. Disney needs to bring back the charm of those classic dark rides. DAK would definitely benefit from this type of attraction. Catacomb Coaster.

This. Disney seems to think the only C/D tickets worth building are reskinned flat rides. Classic style dark rides could still work really well today- you don’t need everything to be super technologically crazy.

 

[aladdin2007]

This. Disney seems to think the only C/D tickets worth building are reskinned flat rides. Classic style dark rides could still work really well today- you don’t need everything to be super technologically crazy.

This, they are so focused on the largest most expensive technological complex attractions now (has to match their egos I imagine), that they have lost all sense of ride design, story, and art. But UK at Epcot could really benefit from a classic style dark ride as once planned (Poppins, Brave) as could the Studios. Its what Disney use to be masters at, they just don't have that skill anymore with the millennial imagineers, and for some reason at WDW they refuse to do it. Will see how this encanto thing turns out. While they aren't busbar type rides, Tokyo's Fantasy Springs is some proof left that physical built dark rides can still be achieved well.

 

[splah]

Maybe if we echo it enough, they'll grace us with one. what i would give for a up close, physically small scale classic dark ride.

all the show buildings are mushroomed into huge warehouses that they lose a lot of the humanity.

bring back bus bars and scenic design!

 

[eddie104]

they just don't have that skill anymore with the millennial imagineers

Seriously dude ????

Enough with picking on the Imagineers for Disney’s executive decisions.

If they don’t have proper leadership leading the charge then the quality suffers. You just gave props to Tokyo FS which I’m sure was designed by the very same people you say don’t the have skills to pull off small dark rides.

It’s very contradicting but typical on this forum.

 

[Giss Neric]

Ya'll want Emperor's New Groove representation at the parks when the movie underperformed at the box office but also complain why Wish got it's own float in the Starlight parade when the movie also underperformed.

 

[Gremlin Gus]

Ya'll want Emperor's New Groove representation at the parks when the movie underperformed at the box office but also complain why Wish got it's own float in the Starlight parade when the movie also underperformed.

Tbf, Emperor's New Groove is a more liked film than Wish

 

[Sir_Cliff]

The difference is Animal Kingdom in tone of warning man and his boundries with something like the Yeti in nature.

Indiana Jones is a celebrated raider.(killing snakes, rats etc.)

You either compromise the integrity theme of the land, or compromise the theme of the character.

If people are fine with it, but it is what is occuring.

So while it may be "fine" it is not the same as Everest.

Animal Kingdom was at least originally about the relationship between humans and animals, if I remember correctly.

In that case, Indiana Jones can fit if it is being used as a framework for exploring temples dedicated to animal deities by, for example, a Mayan civilisation. I don't think you really need to compromise either the theme of the character or the land in that regard: Indiana Jones is excavating this temple to X deity/ies and you are invited to visit it, you have interactions with the animal deity/ies, he gets annoyed with your misadventures and perhaps plays a role in saving you, and off you go.

I don't think that kind of framework either compromises Indiana Jones' character or the theme of the park. It's more or less what happens in the other Indy rides, so I can't imagine it will be much different.

 

[Ghost93]

Tbf, Emperor's New Groove is a more liked film than Wish

The Emperor's New Groove flopped in theaters, but was a major success on home video. Disney wouldn't have given the movie a direct-to-video spinoff or Disney Channel TV series if it saw no value in the franchise.

I don't hate Wish like most people on here, but the two films aren't really comparable. I don't see any kind of devoted cult following for Wish.