Africa Marketplace expansion coming to Harambe at Disney's Animal Kingdom

[draybook]

Not everything can be attractions,

Understatement of the decade with regards to the park of which we are talking about. By the time they get new rides in AK, Universal will have their 16th HP expansion done along with Lord knows what else....

 

[Next Big Thing]

A spinner like Dumbo or Alladin in MK.

Could be a whip like ride (Mater in DCA) or even a carousel.

I agree that the area is going to feel very well themed, but lack in attractions. Maybe eventually we can get a ride back between the path from Pandora to the LK theatre? I'd love to get a LK dark ride.

 

[doctornick]

I agree that the area is going to feel very well themed, but lack in attractions. Maybe eventually we can get a ride back between the path from Pandora to the LK theatre? I'd love to get a LK dark ride.

That area seems like a prime spot for either some additional ride capacity.

 

[FigmentForver96]

Understatement of the decade with regards to the park of which we are talking about. By the time they get new rides in AK, Universal will have their 16th HP expansion done along with Lord knows what else....

If so then they will lose a lot of respect from me. Universal needs to rely on other IPs other then Harry Potter.

 

[englanddg]

I'm just gonna drop that pretty much every comment I've read on this thread has been positive. Granted, some have said they need more rides, but no one thinks this (and if you go back, response for moving FoLK was pretty similar) is a bad idea, or the night show, or the other stuff.

So, everyone just file this thread away as examples next time we (as a collective forum) get accused of "doom and gloom" and "haters" and all that jazz.

When Disney does right, we like it. When they don't, well, everyone can have their own opinion.

And my opinion on this is I'm THRILLED (even with Avatar) with what it appears they are sinking into AK. I hope they do it right and it turns out great, cause it's all looking pretty darned tasty...and makes me hungry for a visit!

 

[GoofGoof]

I'm just gonna drop that pretty much every comment I've read on this thread has been positive. Granted, some have said they need more rides, but no one thinks this (and if you go back, response for moving FoLK was pretty similar) is a bad idea, or the night show, or the other stuff.

So, everyone just file this thread away as examples next time we (as a collective forum) get accused of "doom and gloom" and "haters" and all that jazz.

When Disney does right, we like it. When they don't, well, everyone can have their own opinion.

And my opinion on this is I'm THRILLED (even with Avatar) with what it appears they are sinking into AK. I hope they do it right and it turns out great, cause it's all looking pretty darned tasty...and makes me hungry for a visit!

I was thinking the same thing. It's a rare thing to get 4 pages of almost exclusively positive comments. I think there was maybe 1 post calling it "meh" or something.

 

[Fox&Hound]

So so excited.

And why are people afraid the additions will stop here? I think it's obvious the plans they have for dinoland...

 

[Next Big Thing]

So so excited.

And why are people afraid the additions will stop here? I think it's obvious the plans they have for dinoland...

That movie seems sketchy to me as to if it'll even be good and personally, i'd rather DAK have original content than fill it with unnecessary toons.

Just had a sudden realization while writing that that DAK may be my EPCOT. Meaning that I want to keep DAK as pure as possible. I'd much rather something original than something based off of a toon for the park. It's a bit ironic as I was just saying the other day how BH6 could potentially fit into innoventions and I didn't have a problem with it. I guess i'm a hypocrite that way.

But back to the Africa Marketplace....

 

[Baldy]

I'm really looking forward to all these changes. After MK, AK is my favorite park.

 

[note2001]

I've been told that Disney keeps all their power lines underground and out of the elements. Given this, I'm assuming those power lines in the sketch of the upcoming marketplace are fake. Are they essential to mimic the feel of a small African village? Is there anything else they might be using those poles for other than just aesthetics?

 

[englanddg]

I've been told that Disney keeps all their power lines underground and out of the elements. Given this, I'm assuming those power lines in the sketch of the upcoming marketplace are fake. Are they essential to mimic the feel of a small African village? Is there anything else they might be using those poles for other than just aesthetics?

Without a doubt they go underground, for very obvious reasons.

I'd suspect they are fake, but they'll probably host a few goodies for Disney ops like hotspots for MM+ and cameras, I suspect.

Though, they could all be ornamental.

 

[xdan0920]

im telling you DAK is about to blow up over the next few years

NSA watch list for you.

It's a cymbal.

It's spelled "symbol". Good grief.

I've been told that Disney keeps all their power lines underground and out of the elements. Given this, I'm assuming those power lines in the sketch of the upcoming marketplace are fake. Are they essential to mimic the feel of a small African village? Is there anything else they might be using those poles for other than just aesthetics?

Harembe proper has fake power lines too. They look cool.

 

[xdan0920]

The theatre district is awesome place making. Expanding Harambe the other way, and making a path to Asia is a great idea, and the execution looks on point.

Does anyone know if the Dawa Bar is now permanent in front of Tusker house? The location is sorta, eh. I miss the old location along the water.

 

[wdwmagic]

The theatre district is awesome place making. Expanding Harambe the other way, and making a path to Asia is a great idea, and the execution looks on point.

Does anyone know if the Dawa Bar is now permanent in front of Tusker house? The location is sorta, eh. I miss the old location along the water.

Yes it is.

 

[wdwmagic]

I've been told that Disney keeps all their power lines underground and out of the elements. Given this, I'm assuming those power lines in the sketch of the upcoming marketplace are fake. Are they essential to mimic the feel of a small African village? Is there anything else they might be using those poles for other than just aesthetics?

Yes they are for show.

 

[FerretAfros]

"Africa Marketplace"? They really dug deem to come up with that name, didn't they?

That said, it looks great and will be a really nice addition to the area. With this and the new theater, Harambe will feel like an actual village, rather than a simple corridor with an attraction at the far end

 

[MarkTwain]

Honestly I'm not sure there'd be even room for a flat ride in the area. Even small ride like spinners require at least 6000 ft.² or so, and then additional room for queue capacity and the ability to pass around it without blocking up traffic. Considering they're already bound in by the Rafiki's Planet Watch train track, the fact they're planning on adding a full QSR with new kitchen facilities is doing pretty well.

I'm excited to see what this amounts to.

 

[PrincessNelly_NJ]

When you start to add everything up:

1. Pandora Expansion - E Ticket, C Ticket, new AAs, food/shopping, amazing theming
2. Expanded Outfitters store
3. New/improved Festival of the Lion King Theater and themed district area
4. New Africa Marketplace with new QS and shopping - hopefully african inspired QS
5. Nighttime safaris
6. Rivers of Light nighttime show
7. New tamarin exhibit
8. Refurbished show at Rafiki's Planet Watch
9. Flame Tree Barbecue expansion and plussing
10. Refurbished Pizzafari
11. Refurbished Tree of Life - Removal of Netting!
12. Refurbished animal trail - can't remember which one
13. Refurbished Tree of Life Garden
14. New TS restaurant

(We did lose a parade though, which was disappointing.)

When you look at that list, that is a very good trend for improving a park. I can put up with the construction walls over the next few years knowing how much better this park will ultimately be. Hoping that there are some additions to Asia as well (and of course DinoLand also). It seems odd that they are putting this much time into Africa/Harambe and they wouldn't do anything in the Asia area. Oh well, time will tell.

I wonder if the parade might come back. I can see why they stopped it right now with the amount of construction in AK and walls everywhere.

 

[xdan0920]

Yes it is.

I sort of figured that. It's alright. I'll still find a way to enjoy a frosty beverage there. I'm a survivor.

 

[Slowjack]

Kudos for this. Not only for Disney adding this area, which should really help with immersion--being able to go around a corner in the same area makes it so much more convincing, as we see in Epcot with the Morocco pavilion. But also for this concept art, which shows that Disney hasn't forgotten how to make concept art that shows an idea in its best light; after all those cheaply Photoshopped tourists in the art for Downtown Disney and the Poly, this is a refreshing change. Even if this is just more QS dining, I think this area is a nice plus.