AK@Night

[BrerBear]

Hey there,

With all this talk of Everest and the fact that AK will stay open to 8:00pm some nights (in June) I began to wonder if there are any official plans for late night plans at AK. It has been mentioned before by others that this night time plan would include shuting off half of the park with the exception of Asia, Dinoland, and the Tree of Life. I think that this would be great. Think about it, that's Kali, ITTBAB, Everest (when it opens), Dinosaur, PW, and TS. That's about 6 rides open.

I made an outline of where the area might be on the map. Here it is.
http://photoalbums.wdwmagic.com/showphoto.php?photo=8979&password=&sort=1&cat=500&page=1

Someone once said that there might be a night time show as well. Apperently there was some kind of laser show or light show that was supposed to take place in the bay part of Discovery River (see the map for info).

Another good thing about this setup is that the area would totaly be shut off from the animals. This would mean that while the AK night time period is taking place, staff would be able to shuffle the animals away from their show areas without interference.

So, what do you guys think? And does anyone have some insider info on this stuff?

 

[grandmath]

I really think that would be possible and a good thing. With Everest opening, there would be enough rides to keep the park open to at least 8 pm or more.

A nightime show could be done too, using more projections, lasers and music then fireworks of course. Imagine the illuminations of the sky with the "great animal spirits" from Brother Bear as seen in the film, celebrating the spirit of the animal world... it could also have an emotional conservation theme, with a pyro show (and stuff similar to ROE at Epcot?) on the river telling the story of the destruction of the animal world and what can we do to save it and protect it, narrated by Grandmother the Willow, Rafiki or Jiminy Crocket...

 

[disneyman23]

yeah this idea is a winner all around. eventually the park will start staying open later and with that you would have to expect some sort of show to end the night, something to keep visitors there all the way till closing. it would have to be something with lasers and lights and such, fireworks would not happen because of all the animals. possibly a parade even, along the same quality lines of spectro magic. it will be interesting to see what they come up with.

i look forward to seeing the tree of life and everest and such all lite up at night, should be really cool

 

[DisneyFan 2000]

Originally posted by grandmath
or Jiminy Crocket...

PLEASE not again! Rafiki sounds like an idea!

 

[disneyman23]

yeah rafiki would be ideal

 

[Chape19714]

That sounds great that AK should stay open later. I think a show would be great, if they could get it so the pryo effects would not scare the animals. Rafiki would be the ideal charactor. Just another quick question, Does Kali have lighting, or would they have to install it for this if it were to happen, i know that Dinoland does, as well as Discovery Island, but i don't know about the limited part of Asia that would be open. I'm sure they are planning ligthing as a part of Expedition Everest.

 

[crazydaveh]

I like the idea of AK staying open later! I hate that it closes so early, but understand why.

If they added more Nocturnal animals with exhibits, that could be very interesting for the evening hours!

I know many of the animals go inside for the evening there, but for those who stay out, they might be frightened by a huge fireworks/pyro show.

I would still like to see it at night! Maybe have tours of how the animals are kept in the evenings!

 

[iowafan]

that would be great ak is a realy great park

 

[EpcotGrl]

This is KIND OF related, and has probably been answered on a million posts already, but... when exactly is Everest to open? Are there scheduled soft and/or hard opening dates?

Dad finally agreed to go back when Everest opens...he loves the coasters! :lol:

 

[grandmath]

Winter 2005 earliest /Spring 2006 at the latest. Rumors tend to say it will open in April for AK's birthday.

 

[Jusjuice]

I think some kind of a water show, a-la Tokyo DisneySea, would work well at AK, as it wouldn't totally depend on fireworks. In the area between Everest and Dinoland the river gets pretty wide, sort of forms a cove, and it would make for a decent show area. It's right in the middle of the animal-free attractions, too. They could bring in floats and jet skis, and even have performers on the pathways. Nothing major, but something marketable, and entertaining. It could be done a couple of times nightly.

Conservation isn't really that "fun", and the generic animal theme is already done with Mickey's Jammin Jungle Parade, so some kind of ocean or fish theme would be neat, as they aren't represented all that well at AK. Ariel could host.

 

[EpcotGrl]

Thanks grandmath! Whoo hoo, I'm going (back) to Disney World (again)!

 

[M. Racer]

Yeah, I'd love to see a nighttime show at AK, but even with EE opening, it's a half-day park for us. If they do a night show we'll just do it on the late half of the day. The more late shows to choose from, the better.:dazzle:

 

[Jusjuice]

Its interesting to look at that picture^ because it looks almost like they planned it this way all along. (Keeping that part of the park open, the lagoon) Hopefully if they keep it open, people will hang around. (But if they don't, it would be a great excuse to build Beastly Kingdom.)

 

[se8472]

They could also keep the lion king show running. Since it looks like its getting fast pass this would help with that as well.

 

[ThirdEye]

Can they set off fireworks around the animals? Wouldn't the animals get freightened by the loud noises and bright lights

 

[Jusjuice]

Hey

They could also keep the lion king show running. Since it looks like its getting fast pass this would help with that as well.

Hey, give people a fastpass for after the animal attractions close and they HAVE to stay. I still have a feeling that unless something major opens, (E:E may not do it) people just won't stay that late.

 

[surfsupdon]

I don't see why they should have any aspects of the park closed. Open all of it, not some of it.

Animal Kingdom is about exploration. And what better way than at night through special lighting!

 

[cherrynegra]

Animal Kingdom would be a beautiful park at night. And I'm sure it would look completely different with all the flora and fauna mixed in with the lights and the shadows. I don't see why Camp Minnie Mikey would have to be closed. They could definitely keep those shows running at night. And some sort of laser or water show would be nice. Maybe something with giant fountains a la the dancing fountains at Bellagio in Las Vegas. Though they have something like that at Epcot already.

 

[Imagineer]

DAK is not capable of staying open late. They have tried in the past and it has failed. When it first opened they experimented with night safaris which was fun but failed. Anytime the park is open past 6pm there is probably less than 5000 people in the park (probably closer to 1000). Having worked there I know what the park is like after dark. The lighting is very dramatic but VERY unsafe. The trail at Rafikis Planet Watch is nearly pitch black due to poor low lighting. The rest of the parks pathways have horrible lighting too due to the plant life. As stated earlier the animals won't stay out for viewing because they are trained to go to their 'house'.

As for a night time show is concerend that too has been tried and failed. They attempted a New Years celbration back when the park opened and no one showed up for it. It was held in the parking lot with bleachers. Also, the fireworks would scare the animals and the fallout is not safe for the animals. Finally the park is just plain to small for long hours. There is not a lot of attractions that could stay open past sunset. The park is my favorite park and is spectacular during the day. Anyone who has not been at DAK for sunrise has not truely seen the park in all its glory. At night it truly is a different experience but unfortinately no one will really get to experience it due to the factors mentioned above....

By the way Everest should have incredible lighting to make it an icon that will overpower the tree of life.