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

[UNCgolf]

While Dinosaur is not my favorite, I'm always perplexed at how attractions like Dino are replaced while Speedway lives on.

The Speedway is in a bit of a tough spot in terms of replacing it, especially now that they boxed it in with TRON. The PeopleMover also runs over part of the track, which eliminates some of the usable area (or at least makes it much more difficult to use).

They could tear it up and replace it (and I'm fully in favor of that) but now that TRON is there they'd basically need to theme whatever it is in all directions and it would require construction in the middle of the park with guest facing areas on all sides. It still seems reasonably popular, so I doubt they have much desire to do all of that.

 

[EagleScout610]

On a side note it does look like Disney is getting better at being clear when the last day for these things are. I remember when they closed Splash it just said "Closed starting Jan 23rd" and there were people showing up the 23rd assuming that the wording meant "after the 23rd"

 

[joanna71985]

oh wow, I didn't realize the date for Dinosaur had been announced!

 

[BrianLo]

While Dinosaur is not my favorite, I'm always perplexed at how attractions like Dino are replaced while Speedway lives on.

Unfortunately Disney neither master plans nor performs needs based assessments in the way we would.

They have neither a list of attractions that need the most support that they are working down nor a list of franchises that are their absolute top priority. It’s a complex machination of which park needs a boost, by how much, who is pitching and occasionally the desire for guest operational redistribution.

Then once in a while someone with power steps in and declares they need “the current thing now”.

Inevitably right time and right place. Which is why a company that seems hyper fixated on IP to all else somehow passed over Moana for now or have actively removed Stitch attractions as that has turned into one of their biggest merchandise brands.

 

[Brer Panther]

We're cherry picking stuff we don't like about a specific CEO so it looks like they're incapable of building good attractions?
I wanna play too!!

superstar limo
maliboomer
mulholland madness
figment 2.0
figment 3.0
stitch's great escape
who wants to be a millionaire
primeval whirl
indiana jones and the tempe of peril
walt disney studios paris

I will acknowledge that Iger's Disney has built good attractions, but since Galaxy's Edge opened it feels (to me at least) like they've built more bad attractions than good ones.

they can take advantage of more up to date special effects.

I don't think fancy special effects automatically make for a good attraction. I'll take Peter Pan's Flight over the ride they have in Tokyo DisneySea anyday. It just has more charm.

I guess they just know Indy will draw way more people.

Will it? Wasn't the most recent Indiana Jones film a flop?

 

[Jedi14]

Will it? Wasn't the most recent Indiana Jones film a flop?

The game that came out after the movie was a success.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

I think Dino to Indy is happening because of what is being done around it and they have a relatively easy way to update with the Disneyland version being a model of what to do (even if new storyline) - so gets done as part of creating this whole new land

THe time for a full replacement if Speedway was probably when they did Tron - and they did adjust the track for it at that time so they must have felt (at least then) it didn't need replacing/was a strong part of the full complement of rides at MK

Personally I would just love for them to "Tronify" it (electric cars, etc) and focus more $ elsewhere

 

[mattpeto]

Some random thoughts:

• With Encanto not going vertical yet, I started to wonder if they would make the 2027 timeline - but they echoed and reaffirmed they were opening the land in 2027 today. Makes me feel better.
• Kind of thinking Finding Nemo: The Blue and Beyond! is more likely going to get absorbed into Asia then Tropical Americas. (It's currently part of Dinoland). Or maybe it's going to be re-themed all together to a new show or maybe the trailers will be in the right position to work on whatever is coming post Tropical Americas (Moana Log Flume anyone?)

 

[Gremlin Gus]

Kind of thinking Finding Nemo: The Blue and Beyond! is more likely going to get absorbed into Asia then Tropical Americas. (It's currently part of Dinoland). Or maybe it's going to be re-themed all together to a new show or maybe the trailers will be in the right position to work on whatever is coming post Tropical Americas

I was thinking a while back that they could do a new show there like with The Emperor's New Groove or Encanto seeing as the Finding Nemo show is kind of going to stick out like a sore-thumb after Tropical Americas opens.

Though I could see it maybe being an expansion plot for another Tropical Americas attraction as the building and surrounding land if we include backstage access is (give or take) the same as the Encanto show building, so the space is there, though the only issue is what could replace it if we're going to demolish it.

(Moana Log Flume anyone?)

I would prefer if we do get an Oceania themed land, a Moana log flume should definitely go there.

 

[HMF]

Imagine telling someone 10 years ago that somehow Speedway would outlast not only DINOSAUR, but Muppetvison, Rivers of America, Rock N Rollercoaster, Splash Mountain, ect...

You'd have been laughed off the forum

The fact that speedway still exists is ridiculous.

 

[HMF]

Inevitably right time and right place. Which is why a company that seems hyper fixated on IP to all else somehow passed over Moana for now or have actively removed Stitch attractions as that has turned into one of their biggest merchandise brands.

Moana has the splash pad in EPCOT and Stitch was a legitimately horrible attraction.

 

[HMF]

We're cherry picking stuff we don't like about a specific CEO so it looks like they're incapable of building good attractions?
I wanna play too!!

superstar limo
maliboomer
mulholland madness
figment 2.0
figment 3.0
stitch's great escape
who wants to be a millionaire
primeval whirl
indiana jones and the tempe of peril
walt disney studios paris

While Eisner did indeed greenlight some horrible attractions in his later years, Imagineering was still free to come up with original concepts which they are specifically forbidden to under Iger.

 

[HMF]

. So, it's sad to see them give up on the theme entirely.

They decided to do that the second Joe Rohde was out the door.

 

[HMF]

The game that came out after the movie was a success.

Far fewer people are going to play the game than have seen the movies.

 

[UNCgolf]

Some random thoughts:

• With Encanto not going vertical yet, I started to wonder if they would make the 2027 timeline - but they echoed and reaffirmed they were opening the land in 2027 today. Makes me feel better.
• Kind of thinking Finding Nemo: The Blue and Beyond! is more likely going to get absorbed into Asia then Tropical Americas. (It's currently part of Dinoland). Or maybe it's going to be re-themed all together to a new show or maybe the trailers will be in the right position to work on whatever is coming post Tropical Americas (Moana Log Flume anyone?)

View attachment 880954

I think it's far more likely they eventually build the Lion King flume at Animal Kingdom than the Moana one from that concept art.

 

[dmc493]

Kind of thinking Finding Nemo: The Blue and Beyond! is more likely going to get absorbed into Asia then Tropical Americas. (It's currently part of Dinoland

They could just go the DCA route and call it the Performance Corridor…. Oh wait that would require DAK to have a parade or nighttime show…. Never mind

 

[KDM31091]

The speedway could be modernized and updated without being removed entirely. The fact that it is existing in its current form in 2025 is kind of crazy.

 

[mattpeto]

I think it's far more likely they eventually build the Lion King flume at Animal Kingdom than the Moana one from that concept art.

Trailers will be right above Nemo, perfect spot to pickup phase 2.

But agreed, AK won’t get LK and Moana log flume. Moana/Oceania fits better in that space I’m talking about.

 

[Moth]

I think The Lion King ends up at DAK and Moana ends up at Magic Kingdom.

I have, no actual idea what the space for Nemo could be. North America? Planet of the Apes land? Ice Age? Fortnite? Simpsons?

Let's just say Stitch and call it a day.

 

[Disney Analyst]

I think The Lion King ends up at DAK and Moana ends up at Magic Kingdom.

I have, no actual idea what the space for Nemo could be. North America? Planet of the Apes land? Ice Age? Fortnite? Simpsons?

Let's just say Stitch and call it a day.

Moana replacing Jungle Cruise in 3…2…1…