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

[BrianLo]

I believe it's a park "nothing-burger", but I'd be surprised if we didn't get any updates.

I’d normally agree. But I was a bit surprised the last one included announcements on ITTBAB and Country Bears. Which weren’t entirely nothing. Mixed with the promise to double this conference in size and scope. Plus the trio of things for WDW we’ve had in between (RnRC, Monsters Show and Villains show)… I’d expect a little something.

A little being an overlay. Kind of looking at something like Spaceship Earth or a revival on the China film. Not a land. Or a DAK night show. But maybe I’m being naive that I feel like an Imagination overhaul seems like the ripe fruit for this type of conference.

 

[DisneyHead123]

The protests at park opening were negligible so I can’t imagine it being much more now

You mean when AK opened? Meant sincerely - why can’t you imagine the reaction in 2025 might be different than it was in 1998? Also, there’s social media now, which is a whole different thing.

I will say, I don’t think a poor reception is a given. I think there’s a good chance that a small animal exhibit would be received just fine. That said, Disney has a bit of a target painted on their back at the moment, when it comes to clickbait issues. And I don’t see a big upside to them taking that risk, in a world where well run zoos and sanctuaries are already abundant.

 

[AidenRodriguez731]

In the Cars thread there was some discussion of Indiana Jones' fit here. I wanted to respond but not in that thread...

Indiana Jones is an archaeologist. It doesn't make thematic sense for him to be searching for a mythical animal. That's not his job. What is his goal? To find the animal and put it in a zoo?

"It belongs in a museum" is Indiana Jones' credo. He has nothing to do with animals; rather he deals with the animals he encounters...which are usually an inconvenience for his mission, whatever it may be.

This is absolutely a stretch for Animal Kingdom. They should have used Shanghai's Pirate-tech and replaced the stunt show with an Indiana Jones boat ride. That's the UNIQUE Indy ride I want. Does ANYONE think that would have been worse than retheming an existing, fantastic ride?

And on the subject of uniqueness: guess what, no matter what you're passing by, those CTX-Rovers are still going over the same ride path, and that's a huge distraction for me, especially because I love Dinosaur so much. There is nothing they can do to make this different enough from Dinosaur (or even the other Indiana Jones rides at DL and TDS) to make it truly UNIQUE.

I would assume he's not searching for a mythical animal. Similar to Expedition Everest, the mythical animal found him as he was in a routine temple find to find more about the culture of the people/get an important artifact

 

[Disgruntled Walt]

I would assume he's not searching for a mythical animal. Similar to Expedition Everest, the mythical animal found him as he was in a routine temple find to find more about the culture of the people/get an important artifact

I'm literally just going by what Disney themselves said to describe the ride. They said there's a creature that "he's got to see for himself." I say that is not Indy's character.

 

[HMF]

I'm literally just going by what Disney themselves said to describe the ride. They said there's a creature that "he's got to see for himself." I say that is not Indy's character.

Wouldn't be the first time Disney misunderstood the characteristics of a Lucasfilm Protagonist.

 

[Gusey]

Seems like they won't close Dinosaur until Encanto is ready. I thought the park had actual expansion space they could build on without having to close and replace rather than just grow....

Dinosaur is closing in 2026. Encanto is opening in 2027
The footprint of Tropical Americas is using the expansion plot behind Dinoland USA, expanding this section of the park. We now know Tropical Americas will feature 4 new attractions (Encanto, Indiana Jones, Carousel and Playground), so it may not be a net gain from what was there in 2020, I feel like Primeval Whirl has closed long enough for this to be seen as a small expansion when it comes to the lineup. But if you don't include that, it's still a land expansion

 

[TheMaxRebo]

I’d normally agree. But I was a bit surprised the last one included announcements on ITTBAB and Country Bears. Which weren’t entirely nothing. Mixed with the promise to double this conference in size and scope. Plus the trio of things for WDW we’ve had in between (RnRC, Monsters Show and Villains show)… I’d expect a little something.

A little being an overlay. Kind of looking at something like Spaceship Earth or a revival on the China film. Not a land. Or a DAK night show. But maybe I’m being naive that I feel like an Imagination overhaul seems like the ripe fruit for this type of conference.

I am hoping for similar - especially if some of the news is more about Cars or Monsters which are both replacing things attendees are, in general, more upset about than the broader park going Universe .... Announcing something that this group would appreciate more than the broader population (e.g., JII update, etc) could be good recovery programming

Granted as I am attending I am a little biased in my hopes and dreams

 

[rle4lunch]

I am hoping for similar - especially if some of the news is more about Cars or Monsters which are both replacing things attendees are, in general, more upset about than the broader park going Universe .... Announcing something that this group would appreciate more than the broader population (e.g., JII update, etc) could be good recovery programming

Granted as I am attending I am a little biased in my hopes and dreams

JII is so janky. I really have NO idea why it hasn't been razed. Besides the new DVC lounge, that whole building and adjacent theater feels like WDO has forgotten they actually exist.

 

[Disney Analyst]

Seeing this reported on the socials?

Disney and Thrifting (@thrifteverafter) on Threads

🚨 BREAKING: A massive new Encanto restaurant is coming to Disney’s Animal Kingdom! 🌴✨ 🍽️ Quick-service 🏛️ Hacienda-style design 📍 Part of the new Tropical Americas land (bye, DinoLand!) 🥇 One of the largest QSRs in Disney history

www.threads.com

 

[wdwmagic]

Seeing this reported on the socials?

Disney and Thrifting (@thrifteverafter) on Threads

🚨 BREAKING: A massive new Encanto restaurant is coming to Disney’s Animal Kingdom! 🌴✨ 🍽️ Quick-service 🏛️ Hacienda-style design 📍 Part of the new Tropical Americas land (bye, DinoLand!) 🥇 One of the largest QSRs in Disney history

www.threads.com

Its the retheme of Restaurantosarus

 

[Disney Analyst]

Its the retheme of Restaurantosarus

But does this mean they are expanding it? Or is it already one of the largest? I’ve seen a few people mention “becoming one of the largest QSR”?

 

[DCBaker]

But does this mean they are expanding it? Or is it already one of the largest? I’ve seen a few people mention “becoming one of the largest QSR”?

That's the same language Disney has used since the initial announcement: "As Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro explained during Horizons: Disney Experiences Showcase at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, work on this new 11-acre section of the park is set to begin later this year. Just like Harambe, the land feels lived in, with a long, rich history — plus there’s a large hacienda which will be one of the largest quick-service restaurants at Walt Disney World Resort."

 

[wdwmagic]

But does this mean they are expanding it? Or is it already one of the largest? I’ve seen a few people mention “becoming one of the largest QSR”?

It will be the same footprint.

 

[Haymarket2008]

And the restaurant isn’t Encanto themed, it’s themed to the South American town it exists in.

 

[Bocabear]

RE: JII, The architecture is still great...It needs re-styling, and the upper water gardens area needs a complete re-do with todays tech... The ride needs to actually go backward to when it was a better attraction...and a longer attraction. The Imagination Campus needs a dedicated gift shop and some sort of a restaurant/ food option for Imaginative cuisine. Maybe even a flat ride in addition... Like a Garden Of Imaginatrion with multiple small rides in addition to the main attractiona and theater attraction.... Reinvigorate that entire area...

 

[Gremlin Gus]

Its the retheme of Restaurantosarus

Wait so is it being rethemed to Encanto, or is it going to just be rethemed to be a hacienda?

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Wait so is it being rethemed to Encanto, or is it going to just be rethemed to be a hacienda?

The quick service restaurant will be located in Pueblo Esperanza which is the central area which will also house the carousel and the kids play area

The Encanto attraction will be off of this area

So the quick service I don't expect to be themed to Encanto specifically (like won't have "Bruno butgers") but thematically will fit

 

[The Leader of the Club]

Maybe even a flat ride in addition... Like a Garden Of Imaginatrion with multiple small rides in addition to the main attractiona and theater attraction.... Reinvigorate that entire area...

 

[Tom P.]

This is different from original info. The Boneyard was supposed to live through 2025.

Original:
View attachment 865049
Update:

View attachment 865050

DinoLand Closing Updates for Animal Kingdom

Discover the latest updates about DinoLand U.S.A. closing at Disney World. There's still time to catch that dino!

disneyparksblog.com

I'm actually quite sad to see The Boneyard closing.

I have fond memories of being there with my kids, being hotter than any human being should ever be allowed to be, going up to the top level where that huge fan is running and standing in front of it, deciding how long I could stand there before I needed to be responsible and walk around and count kids to make sure all mine were accounted for.

 

[Bocabear]

I never even walked through the Boneyard, not having kids...Was it as extensive and exploratory as the Honey I Shrunk the kids play area? that was fantastic with so many places to explore...I even enjoyed it as an adult...well I remember many adults climbing through it back in the day. Universal had another very extensive play area in the Jurassic Park area that was also huge and well themed with caves and water features.... It would be nice if the replacing play arera were something on that scale...and not just another plastic slides and ball pit ...