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News 'Encanto' and 'Indiana Jones'-themed experiences at Animal Kingdom
- Thread starter wdwmagic
- Start date
JD80
Well-Known Member
I'm a systems engineer so I think in terms of systems and layers. Here's how my brain looks at this AK problem.
This is all based on my own assumptions and not hard data.
Most people are going to AK so they can do Pandora and the Safari. They stay for the trails, EE and maybe one or two of the shows. If the lines aren't too long they maybe head into Dinosaur. First timers are probably trying to do most of everything. Return visitors and locals are probably skipping Dinosaur more often than not.
If Dinoland is replaced by a headliner(s) that draw attendance it does a few things:
- Takes pressure off of FoP
- Keeps people in the park longer
- How often do you hear Rope Drop and leave by 1pm? Keeping people in the parks longer gets maybe 1 or 2 additional meals out of them and maybe additional merch.
- Attendance and capacity is smoothed out over the course of the day. I have to assume that Dino has a ton of un-utilized capacity outside the peak hour of the park. If new attractions are attractive enough to people, that max capacity is utilized longer throughout the day.
lazyboy97o
Well-Known Member
If there is a wait then the capacity is being used. Yes there are ways to reduce operational throughput but they’re not really being used. People aren’t walking into Dinosaur, right up to load and then waiting for a vehicle to show up to just one side of the load platform.
Having more people in a queue can help with crowding but is not part of the capacity calculation.
peter11435
Well-Known Member
People wanting to ride whatever replaces Dinosaur doesn’t suddenly make them no longer want to ride FOP. And if whatever replaces Dinosaurs drives increased park attendance, then it increases the pressure on FOP because there are now more people on the park still wanting to ride FOP.
JD80
Well-Known Member
I agree, so here is my follow ups:
How often does Dinosaur actually have a wait vs. published? And if it's a low wait, are they loading vehicles to capacity or are they making accommodations for different party sizes?
Your last point is pretty key I think. I more desirable attraction puts more people in the queue and relieves pressure from the rest of the park. More people out of FoP and also potentially putting more butts in the Nemo show afterward.
JD80
Well-Known Member
No of course not. Pandora gave AK a 20% bump in attendance from 2016 to 2017 (about 2M people). 2017 to 2018 saw about another 1.25M bump where basically attendance peaked through 2019 into the Pandemic.
AK has still yet to recover to those levels, 13.9M in 2019 and 9M in 2022. It took 2 years for AK to fully realize FoP draw. I would expect the same to happen with the Dinoland replacement.
That being said, operationally you will have more people in the parks, but you'll have more options for them to spread out in leveling out both demand and wait times. Look at it through a few layers too. More people in new Dinoland pulls people away from FoP at least at first. It also pulls people out of other parks.
lazyboy97o
Well-Known Member
The delta between theoretical capacity and operational capacity should not be huge. You have deeper operational issues if that is the case, once’s that will only be exacerbated by increasing demand.
More people in a queue is meaningless if there are more people in the park. You’re not decreasing demand elsewhere because it’s been replaced with the increased visitation.
doctornick
Well-Known Member
Yes, in this talk mentioning live animals is the fact that there are a few animal enclosures in the area. I would expect that while specific animals would change to fit the new theme that there would still be some live animals in the new land.
It’s an interesting question as well whether the current species would remain at DAK or be sent to other animal facilities.
JD80
Well-Known Member
Regarding queue space, outside the first month of operation where the new ride is overloaded with locals, APs and bloggers it's going to take a year or two to fully realize the true impact of "more people in the park". I think a headliner drawing more people to the parks is not going to be equal to the need for additional queue space. Your statement will be true eventually.
I also think it will have an impact on wait time elsewhere in the parks, especially early morning.
One thing that you have to consider is the human element and WEIGHT. Currently right now there is nothing on that side of the park keeping people there (Dinoland/Nemo). People spending an increased time in that corner of the park may create a sunk cost of "while I've spend all this time here already" and may help realize additional capacity for Nemo which in turn decreases wait times elsewhere.
It's much easier, psychologically. to hit up Dinosaur and bug out after a 10m wait and a 5m ride. But if you've been in that part of the park a few hours with 2+ rides and walking around you might be enticed to stay longer and do Nemo or stay for some food/shopping.
Anyway, I'm going beyond my original question! But my larger point is that even if you are replacing old capacity with similar capacity but it's more compelling you are creating something that is more beneficial for the operations of the park.
Andrew25
Well-Known Member
Induced demand is real, but it's not as significant as you think.
Yes, new attractions drive attendance, but they also provide additional capacity and spread crowds out. Parks will always be and feel busy... but wait-times can be managed correctly.
Disneyland exists with more than enough capacity and double DAK's attendance, and rarely do you see multiple waits over an hour.
Yes, new attractions drive attendance, but they also provide additional capacity and spread crowds out. Parks will always be and feel busy... but wait-times can be managed correctly.
Disneyland exists with more than enough capacity and double DAK's attendance, and rarely do you see multiple waits over an hour.
CJR
Well-Known Member
I could see a lot of smaller glass exhibits with a South American theme. Snakes, (tree) frogs, lizards, etc. Maybe some increased fish presence, although, perhaps not showing off piranhas? Or maybe they would.
I'll be surprised if we get a larger exhibit, like a leopard or monkey. Maybe they can move something over, if it fits and if they already have it.
It's too bad they chose South America instead of Australia, so many people don't realize the park has kangaroos. If they ever put it in the park, I think that'll be a guaranteed move.
James Alucobond
Well-Known Member
Improving transportation to and from AK would probably do more to help support a nighttime show than adding 3-4 attractions, IMO.
GhostHost1000
Premium Member
not sure I agree with that... do you mean improving as in adding an additional method of park transportation there? (skyliner for example?)
JustInTime
Well-Known Member
Yes. Pandora expansion is what I’ve heard.
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GhostHost1000
Premium Member
there was talk of a 3rd Avatar attraction at one time... not sure where that stands now however.
I'm honestly suprised they haven't gotten rid of the petting zoo goat farm area in Rafiki's Planet Watch to build some things
Yes. A winky comment from one of our insiders.
lazyboy97o
Well-Known Member
The impact of induced demand is magnified when you’re starting out with insufficient capacity. When you’re replacing capacity then you’re just increasing demand because any improvements to utilization would be marginal.