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

WDWtraveler

WDWtraveler

Well-Known Member
wdwmagic said:
The water tower is now in place and themed.
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Here are a couple of photos (as of Monday, Nov 24) of the new water tower in the new Harambe Marketplace expansion. The first photo is overlooking the fence along the Africa to Asia pathway. The water tower is black, with animal figures painted on the side. The water tower says: "Fresh Water."

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The following photo is taken from the end of the loading platform for the Wildlife Express Train. The water tower is next to a building under construction and right next to the train tracks (see the third photo below). In keeping with the Harambe theming, there is an aerial TV antenna on top of the water tower.

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I know this next photo is rather confusing and obscure, but it was taken as the train passes by the new Harambe Marketplace construction wall along the train tracks. This is not scaffolding, but the tower itself, showing how close it is to the train tracks.

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WDWtraveler

WDWtraveler

Well-Known Member
missingdisney said:
Any new photos???
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The Africa Marketplace expansion is well hidden behind construction walls. There is not much new that can be seen, as I visit the area regularly. However, for those interested, here is the view (in sequence left to right) from the Wildlife Express Train as it returns to the Harambe station. Photos as of Monday, Dec 22.

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In this last photo below, in the center far distance, you will see a new palm tree with branches bundled at top. Just behind this tree is the construction wall at Mombasa Marketplace where the crowds are. Perhaps this will give you an idea of how large this expansion will be.

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SnarkyMonkey

SnarkyMonkey

Well-Known Member
flyerjab said:
I am wondering that myself. There will be many animal exhibits that won't be viewable at night - not including the safari obviously. Maybe, after Pandora, Rivers of Light and the Nighttime Safaris are open, and they have increased the capacity potential with more open spaces, restaurants and shops, the need to add additional rides will rear its head.
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Is there any reason they can't refurb the animal viewing areas to make them viewable at night? I really don't know one way or the other but just a thought.

PrincessNelly_NJ said:
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.
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As far as I have understood, the parade has permanently ended. But I could be wrong.
 
flyerjab

flyerjab

Well-Known Member
SnarkyMonkey said:
Is there any reason they can't refurb the animal viewing areas to make them viewable at night? I really don't know one way or the other but just a thought.



As far as I have understood, the parade has permanently ended. But I could be wrong.
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I was under the assumption that these paths might not be very enjoyable at night only because I have heard no references to lighting upgrades for the walking paths. Maybe there will be but up until now this hasn't really been discussed. Also, I am no animal expert, but it is my understanding that animals are pretty much awake during the day or are only nocturnal. Something like this might require switching out of daylight animals with nocturnal animals so that you would actually have something to see. These are some of the things I have heard mentioned about the nighttime safari E-Ticket attraction. And maybe the paths already are lit but I still don't see them being truly effective after dark unless big upgrades were made.

Believe me, if they did these types of upgrades to the walking paths that would be great but I don't see it happening (at least I have not heard that it is happening). But who knows. Aside from the large Pandora expansion, a lot of the other changes in DAK have been happening but I feel like that have been slowly added over time. There have been numerous changes throughout DAK that have been happening that weren't attached to rumors prior to them occurring (i.e., new TS at Pizzafari, refurbed Flametree Barbecue, Tamarin exhibit, etc.). Maybe upgrades to the walking paths will happen but only time will tell if that would be part of the overall effort to upgrade this park.


Concerning the parade, I would be surprised if it comes back as is. I would consider the night time show Rivers of Light on the Discovery River an upgrade to the previous parade (this is just my opinion as I saw it several times but did not particularly care for it that much). Also, there is additional entertainment coming seeing as how there has been refurbing going on in front of the Tree of Life. This was even hinted at in concept art for DAK that was released around the time the concept art for Pandora was released. I even remember reading about possible night time entertainment in the Pandora section of DAK once that area is done so who knows. This park could go from having one daytime parade to multiple entertainment additions.
 
D

doctornick

Well-Known Member
SnarkyMonkey said:
As far as I have understood, the parade has permanently ended. But I could be wrong.
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I'm under the impression that changes to the paths will make a parade even less feasible than it was before (apparently, DAK was never designed with a parade in mind). I think the parade storage facility might even be affected though I don't know where it is/was.

Personally, I don't care about a parade per se, but do think that DAK should have some sort of larger scale entertainment during the day in addition to RoL at night. I think the easiest thing to do in that regards would be to have a day time water show in the same location as RoL so you can utilize the seating being built during the day. something akin to Mythica at TDS.
 
T

twebber55

Well-Known Member
Ignohippo said:
As for the Marketplace, I can't wait to see it open. That area was one of the most congested in WDW and it's fantastic that they're addressing it.
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i like the approach disney has taken with these additions to the parks infrastructure...to take on more people they needed more space/walk ways and places to eat...looking forward to see DAK as it expands over the next few years
 
flyerjab

flyerjab

Well-Known Member
WDWtraveler said:
Photo update as of Saturday, Feb 21. Views from the Wildlife Express Train as it approaches the Harambe station, from left to right.

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Again, the apparent detail that goes into the theming for this park never ceases to amaze me. I cannot wait until this section of Harambe is unveiled. It is going to totally open up this part of the park.
 

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