Beastly Kingdom

[jayhawk2307]

This was a site on the river boat excursion that is no longer open. It only lasted into previews but soon ended due to lengthy lines. BK may have been originally planned but never got the green light nor was the ground even broken for it. Budgets had to be cut somewhere and BK was on that list.

I remember the preview film and model for AK that used to play at MK in the town hall. BK wasn't even mentioned.

Do you have any pics?

 

[raven]

Do you have any pics?

Not personally since my camera back then was a disposable one. I'm more into the Digital Age now. :lol:

 

[WDWGuide]

I remember the preview film and model for AK that used to play at MK in the town hall. BK wasn't even mentioned.

BK is mentioned a few times in the Making of Animal Kingdom book. Camp MM was apparently a last-minute addition, but was designed to serve as a transitional land between Safari Village/Discovery Island and the future BK, which is located to the west of the main entrance plaza, or south of Camp MM. Ground has indeed been cleared for this area, but that seems to have taken place before the park opened (see here).

Festival of the Lion King is pretty safe, even if BK were to be built. It is already "out of place" in the Adirondacks (sp?)-themed Camp MM, just as Finding Nemo is in Dinoland.

 

[comics101]

my source is my eyes and the fact that after 9 years, there is still a dragon on the AK park logo. The park is clearly designed to showcase mythological beasts (dragons, in particular), and I have little doubt that if Disney did not intend to eventually add such a land, it would not still be hinted at in the park's logo after almost a decade. Is it an assumption? Surely. But, I think it's a pretty reasonable one.

I think Eisner was telling WDI the truth when he said they would eventually get to BK, which is why we have Everest. The Dragon is there bc Beastlie Kingdomme was still planning to be built in some shape or form. I really don't believe Eisner was stupid, and according to Jim Hill, BK was the land most guests looked foward to in surveys taken before AK was built. That tells Disney something. Iger's taken Eisner's place, and he seems much more willing to spend money for a good attraction than Eisner was, so I think we can expect some form of a Beastlie Kingdomme announced with in a 5 year period. Joe Rhode has said he's most dissapointed this area wasn't built, so I'm sure he's preasureing Management. however, this is just me.

 

[Baums101]

I believe it. They have to have something to do with mythological creatures. Theres a dragon on the logo and yet they have never done anything related to dragons and sorts.

 

[juan]

So I know there have been rumors ever since Animal Kingdom opened that Camp Minnie Mickey would eventually be turned into Beastly Kingdom. Well, it looks like it might finally be happening! Wish I had a more reliable way to prove this, since I know there are people on this site all the time saying they heard this rumor, an employee told them this, etc. So I don't know how many people here will actually believe me, but here goes...

My uncle is a carpenter, he works for different companies building custom pieces. Usually he's in Vegas working on pieces for different shows and casinos there, but he just found out that he will soon be working on some pieces for Disney! So he called us since we're kind of the family Disney nuts lol, and when I asked him what it was for he said it was a new kingdom. At first that confused me because come on, Disney can't be planning on building a new park. But then he said it was going to be with mythological creatures, so I got pretty excited and said it might be Beastly Kingdom, and next time we talked to him, yep that was it! So here's hoping for an announcement soon...

I think someone's on to something...
:zipit:

 

[Tinkwings]

Even if Disney did nothing, they would not be left behind Harry Potter.

I so agree...have truly been a big HP fan over the years and enjoyed all the books, however, I can see interest in going to check out such a venture but cannot really imagine them getting multiple visits on the majority of their guests that do not live local. HP brings in a narrower group vs disneyparks who appeal to a broader spectrum....

 

[Dukeblue1016]

I don't wanna get torched for this thought... and I'm not sure (i have zero credibility) if this is even still on the shelves collecting dust or if its gone altogether...

but as someone mentioned earlier "couldn't they still do Beastly Kingdom with a different center piece than Dragon Tower if they didn't want to look like they were copying Universal?" clearly not verbatum, but something like that. Well... couldn't they take the rumoured attraction Fire Mountain intended for MK and put it as the centerpiece here at BK... and then if its plausible from the article by Jim Hill i read, they would have this new ride that started as a regular rollercoaster, and then dropped out of the bottom and went inverted... and they could theme this around a dragon but it would be a new ride idea so it wouldn't look as much like a steal??

Just throwing out ideas from what I read today from Jim Hill's three part article on Beastly Kingdom...

 

[Epcot82Guy]

I don't wanna get torched for this thought... and I'm not sure (i have zero credibility) if this is even still on the shelves collecting dust or if its gone altogether...

but as someone mentioned earlier "couldn't they still do Beastly Kingdom with a different center piece than Dragon Tower if they didn't want to look like they were copying Universal?" clearly not verbatum, but something like that. Well... couldn't they take the rumoured attraction Fire Mountain intended for MK and put it as the centerpiece here at BK... and then if its plausible from the article by Jim Hill i read, they would have this new ride that started as a regular rollercoaster, and then dropped out of the bottom and went inverted... and they could theme this around a dragon but it would be a new ride idea so it wouldn't look as much like a steal??

Just throwing out ideas from what I read today from Jim Hill's three part article on Beastly Kingdom...

I think that is certainly plausible. I think Journey to Atlantis has been around long enough that a hybrid coaster would be a very good addition to DAK. As it stands, Kali is the only water ride there, and, as other amusement parks show, a park could easily support multiple water rides (especially with the "Well, I'm drenched already, let's go do the other one mentality). You also have several clones (I know, shuddered) that could be imported and reworked into this area including JTTCOE, 20kl, and the castle dragon at DLP. It also would be a great area to meet some characters (Yes, I'm giving in) such as the Gargoyles from Hunchback, many from Hercules, etc. It also would be a great expansion plat to add the Narnia attraction into.

Point being, there are many, many possibilities that go with this land that it would be an imagineering field day as well as an instantly popular area IMHO (the fantasy creatures attractions almost automatically speak to everyone).

 

[DisnFanatic10]

Maybe they could do something with Dinorama while they are at it. That whole section feels like Disney just ran out of money.

 

[CDMagic]

I don't wanna get torched for this thought... and I'm not sure (i have zero credibility) if this is even still on the shelves collecting dust or if its gone altogether...

but as someone mentioned earlier "couldn't they still do Beastly Kingdom with a different center piece than Dragon Tower if they didn't want to look like they were copying Universal?" clearly not verbatum, but something like that. Well... couldn't they take the rumoured attraction Fire Mountain intended for MK and put it as the centerpiece here at BK... and then if its plausible from the article by Jim Hill i read, they would have this new ride that started as a regular rollercoaster, and then dropped out of the bottom and went inverted... and they could theme this around a dragon but it would be a new ride idea so it wouldn't look as much like a steal??

Just throwing out ideas from what I read today from Jim Hill's three part article on Beastly Kingdom...

I thought that Duelling Dragons was being rethemed to fit in with the Harry Potter transformation. I heard that it was being changed to look like the battle between Harry and a dragon in the tri-wizard tournament. So, if this ride was to have its theming completely overhauled, would it look like Disney was copying Universal's 9-year old ride? I think not. I believe that if BK is to be constructed Dragon Tower could be the centerpiece.

 

[WDWGuide]

In any case, Disney has never been particularly worried about copying others

 

[Dukeblue1016]

I thought that Duelling Dragons was being rethemed to fit in with the Harry Potter transformation. I heard that it was being changed to look like the battle between Harry and a dragon in the tri-wizard tournament. So, if this ride was to have its theming completely overhauled, would it look like Disney was copying Universal's 9-year old ride? I think not. I believe that if BK is to be constructed Dragon Tower could be the centerpiece.

Really? See I knew they were putting the Harry Potter world where the Lost Continent is... I didn't realize they were doing that with Dueling Dragons...

Either way... It'd be pretty awesome if in the next 2-3 years we saw BK actually being built

 

[raven]

Just throwing out ideas from what I read today from Jim Hill's three part article on Beastly Kingdom...

Just for the record, don't believe everything you read on Jim Hill Media. I have found most his rumors to be constistantly wrong. The current "Unofficial Guide" even uses him throughout the book giving tips to readers but most are wrong or completely off the wall. I just tell people to ignor the tips and look on these boards.

 

[DisneyExplorer]

Dinoland U.S.A. is not supposed to be set 65 million years ago (other than when Dinosaur, the ride, takes you back in time). It is today. Disney wouldn't want to make it like Jurassic Park anyway, because of course JP is from Universal, and they would never want to be like their competitors.

Dinoland U.S.A. is an little city/fraternity town where dinosaurs are the #1 priority.

It is its own little fictional community , and Chester and Hester happened to set up their Dino-Rama in that town.

I understand it is set in present day, hence all of the dinosaur fossils. I was saying I think the land would be better themed without the carnival theme. I suggested having it set 65 millions years ago to keep the dinosaur theme but make it more thrilling for guests. Obviously Disney wouldn't make it look like Jurassic Park ... I used the movies as an example for Disney to go off of for realism.

 

[jayhawk2307]

I understand it is set in present day, hence all of the dinosaur fossils. I was saying I think the land would be better themed without the carnival theme. I suggested having it set 65 millions years ago to keep the dinosaur theme but make it more thrilling for guests. Obviously Disney wouldn't make it look like Jurassic Park ... I used the movies as an example for Disney to go off of for realism.

I agree. I never like the whole Chester and Hester area always thought that it wasn't the Disney way. I'm not saying make it a JP scare the pants off you area just make the Excavator a mild family coaster like Thunder Mt just theamed to a dino dig site. Plus I always thought that the whole Boneyard was great for kids, heck when I went as 5 year old in the summer of '98 it to me was "The Happiest Place on Earth"

 

[Epcot82Guy]

I think I am one of the few that really doesn't mind Dino-Rama. It works for what it is, although it needs two or three other offerings as well as some smaller stuff around to really explain the "cheap road-side attraction" image. I think, given DAK's recreation approach, that this works fine, especially when juxtaposed to the fairly well themed Dino Institute next door. About 2-3 flat rides and a bit of additional themeing around would do the trick.

 

[wickedfan07]

I think I am one of the few that really doesn't mind Dino-Rama. It works for what it is, although it needs two or three other offerings as well as some smaller stuff around to really explain the "cheap road-side attraction" image. I think, given DAK's recreation approach, that this works fine, especially when juxtaposed to the fairly well themed Dino Institute next door. About 2-3 flat rides and a bit of additional themeing around would do the trick.

I agree with you. I recently finished reading the Imagineering Field Guide to AK - and I would have never understood the story of Dinoland if the book hadn't spelled it out. It defnitely could use a little more explaining through some additions, whether that be rides, shops, relevant signage or other themeing elements. Just making the story a little more apparent would go a long way and help more people understand that DinoRama really does make sense.

 

[darkstarx13]

i personally think that 2 kingdoms in WDW is enough. BK is a good idea, but only if the name was somehow changed to something else other than "Beastly Kingdom"

 

[raven]

I think I am one of the few that really doesn't mind Dino-Rama. It works for what it is, although it needs two or three other offerings as well as some smaller stuff around to really explain the "cheap road-side attraction" image. I think, given DAK's recreation approach, that this works fine, especially when juxtaposed to the fairly well themed Dino Institute next door. About 2-3 flat rides and a bit of additional themeing around would do the trick.

I agree with you. I recently finished reading the Imagineering Field Guide to AK - and I would have never understood the story of Dinoland if the book hadn't spelled it out. It defnitely could use a little more explaining through some additions, whether that be rides, shops, relevant signage or other themeing elements. Just making the story a little more apparent would go a long way and help more people understand that DinoRama really does make sense.

I remember there being more cars parked in the "parking lot" area in Dino-Rama area but they are gone. They used to have junk in them to make it look as if it were very cheap and almost abandoned. They are gone now.

But I like the area for what it is. Knowing that it was supposed to be a cheap looking roadside attraction I think they did a very good job of it. Having said that I think they still need to add a couple of flat rides (carnival type) to the area to make people go there more. A dino theamed Tilt-a-Whirl, Ferris Wheel or hokey dark ride on a trailor would do the trick nicely.