AVATAR land coming to Disney's Animal Kingdom

[Musicman20]

I quite like Avatar as a film, and the land looks excellent. However, after seeing how amazing Pirates at Disneyland Shanghai looks (unfortunately just through YouTube) I really hope they have something in the pipeline which is just as spectacular.

 

[Kman101]

That's the point. Let you continue to enjoy your animals, let them enjoy a days worth of attractions.

Ok then ...

 

[flyerjab]

I would love to see the Tree of Life theater get a new film that works as a park thesis like The Great Movie Ride and Spaceship Earth do for their respective parks.

Great idea.

I always thought a movie about the evolution of life would be so fitting for this park. This park is about the natural and life sciences so it could be perfect.

 

[Marc Davis Fan]

A child-friendly (a la 7DMT) Excavator-concept coaster would be perfect in place of Dino-Rama. I wouldn't be surprised at all if that's what they're going with. If it had fossils and rockwork, it would do double-duty to enhance the area's aesthetics and clarify the area's theme - something Dinoland has always needed.

 

[HauntedMansionFLA]

Ok then ...

DAK is the theme park that educates the public. The other three parks are about riding rides plus getting drunk at epcot.

 

[invader]

DAK is the theme park that educates the public. The other three parks are about riding rides plus getting drunk at epcot.

This hurts to read

 

[HauntedMansionFLA]

This hurts to read

The truth hurts

 

[brb1006]

DAK is the theme park that educates the public. The other three parks are about riding rides plus getting drunk at epcot.

This hurts to read

Unfortunately that's a true statement.

 

[Mike S]

I would love to see the Tree of Life theater get a new film that works as a park thesis like The Great Movie Ride and Spaceship Earth do for their respective parks.

Isn't that the Safari even though it's not central?

DAK is the theme park that educates the public. The other three parks are about riding rides plus getting drunk at epcot.

And one of those other parks that's all about rides has the same low amount as DAK, lol.

 

[HauntedMansionFLA]

Isn't that the Safari even though it's not central?

And one of those other parks that's all about rides has the same low amount as DAK, lol.

epcot?

 

[Cesar R M]

Glad you you gave me a shoutout for that Dragon pin pic in that article

I think they should make all the land between Rafiki's and Africa actual park space. Maybe change Rafiki's to something else while keeping the animal hospital. This would of course mean getting rid of the train.

I honestly would expand the train all the way to Asia to connect the lands and put more stuff in between.
Maybe entering inside one of the new dark rides a la magic kingdom.

It's doable and wouldn't be terribly difficult either. The trick seems to be to expand the train track rather than remove it.

View attachment 183629

Red is existing.
Blue would be the expanded route.
green would be the relocated train station
orange would be bridges going over the tracks. The existing grading of the park is pretty well setup for bridges in that area already so it wouldn't take much.

This would give open access to an area roughly equivalent to the size of safari.. That said this is already disney's largest park and pretty much everyone is in agreement that Dinoland USA is next on the BIG remodel list and there's a few acres behind primeval whirl they could plop a ride building on if desired.

 

[Mike S]

epcot?

I was thinking DHS but that's another good point.

 

[HauntedMansionFLA]

I was thinking DHS but that's another good point.

DHS is low with rides but has some of the best ones. SWL will help with that. I agree that DAK needs a few good D or C rides. A well done dark ride or two would be perfect - they have the technology to do it right.

 

[tribbleorlfl]

Looking to expand Animal Kingdom is great, but to echo above sentiments expansion should absolutely not be done at the expense of the existing animal habitats and walking trails. Additionally any additional lands (excluding Avatar) should include new Animal exhibits as pat of future expansions.

Quoted for truth.

I think they may no longer want to add more animals except in a limited way to existing areas. So that establishes some parameters for future growth.

Something like Pandora or Dinoland is much more likely than another continent filled with live animals.

In my opinion.

Unforunately, though, I believe you're correct.

 

[jt04]

Quoted for truth.

Unforunately, though, I believe you're correct.

Might not be a bad thing. Think of a giant version of Adventureland but based in South/Central America. Plenty of possibilities. And perhaps they would move some parrots and other birds into a rain forest aviary. Just think it would be limited. I actually think Indy could fit into this land. The train already has that vibe.

 

[Cesar R M]

DHS is low with rides but has some of the best ones. SWL will help with that. I agree that DAK needs a few good D or C rides. A well done dark ride or two would be perfect - they have the technology to do it right.

technology ? yes..
money? yes..
Do they really want? Not so sure.. its always about cost cuts or replacements..

 

[HauntedMansionFLA]

technology ? yes..
money? yes..
Do they really want? Not so sure.. its always about cost cuts or replacements..

I know. I'm afraid all they would do is replace DinoRama (which I'm okay with it staying as it is) All content and attractions to the best park around.

 

[DDLand]

A new land would corrupt the hub design. The one exception, Conservation Station, is only accessible by an attraction in an existing land and ensures that foot traffic keeps moving.

I suspect any major land addition would be confusing and break some of the coherence.

The lands are merely gateways to exploration. Lands set the stage for the stories that are about to be told. Behind each of the lands would have been a myriad of Safaris/Expeditions and walking trails into nature.

Originally there would have been, by my count, 5-6 major Safaris/Expeditions. Two in BK. One in Africa. One in Asia. One or two in Dinoland.

With the addition of Asia soon after Park opening, we forfeited our right to a second full fledged outdoor Safari into nature surrounded by animals. Kali River does take you into nature, but fails critically to bring you to a realm of Animals.

If I may do a bit of my own prescribing, I would actually lean towards a second Safari masterpiece as originally intended. The Asia attraction that should've been the semi thrill, but distinctly immersive companion to the likes of Dinosaur and Kilimanjaro Safaris.

One doesn't need AA boat rides when nature can be just as captivating and immersive. Especially when it reinforces the three common values of Animal Kingdom.

The only other existing ride or IP that comes to mind that could even possibly fit tonally are the ropes courses from Shanghai. I can't think of any other.

I'd also leave SEA out of Animal Kingdom. While I find it clever and fun, it was originally intended to be a plot device for a single theme park. One with Sea in the name. The Easter Eggs are fun for the people in the know, but somewhat exclusive for those who aren't. They also aren't necessarily any better at telling a story than a purpose designed organization.

In addition, adding the hyperrealistic Disney's Animal Kingdom to a shared world with the animated Lord Henry Mystic would be strange.

My two cents.

 

[rioriz]

^^^ Unfortunately there is now a precedent for a lack of the Hub design due to HKDL and now SDL

 

[Jones14]

I wouldn't mind a break from the hub and spokes design in Animal Kingdom. The park has always encouraged exploration beyond the most obvious path, and nothing they could do will ever make it as bad as DHS. Not to mention that the Africa expansion kind of broke it already (and the Africa expansion is a very good thing).