News 'Encanto' and 'Indiana Jones'-themed experiences at Animal Kingdom

[HauntedPirate]

So with Encanto coming to Epcot, how might this affect the DAK concept? Now there's Encanto characters in MK (M&G, cavalcade), DHS (Fantasmic IIRC)??, Epcot (CommuniCORE Plaza show), and coming to DAK. They're really milking this movie for all they can get...

No no... "We're responding to overwhelming demand from Bob to synergize guest demand to see the characters from 'Encanto' in every theme park".

 

[LSLS]

Indeed.

Disney fans say: We need more attractions.

Disney hears: The fans want existing custom attractions ripped out and replaced with ill-fitting movie IP.

Yeah it's weird, cause for a company so budget conscious, it feels like they could spend less money to get people more of what they want. Instead of gutting the entire area and adding a new one, just upgrade Dino and add another dinosaur themed ride. Go over to Pandora, expand that area with another ride (or even 2 if you are so daring). Now you've got 2-3 new rides (which people want) and have spent less than the current plan would have cost (I would assume). Now to add a land later if you want, you have capacity to handle that additional land, and you don't need to close off even more capacity to get there.

 

[Yellow Strap]

I know nostalgia rules supreme with Disney fandom...

But this plan looks so much better and more fitting in AK than Dinoland, even with IPs

 

[pdude81]

What I'm not able to piece together her with the updated plans and varied speculation is whether the Boneyard is supposed to stick around and be rethemed slightly, or if the plan is to raze that and replace with something else.

 

[Sorcerer Mickey]

So with Encanto coming to Epcot, how might this affect the DAK concept? Now there's Encanto characters in MK (M&G, cavalcade), DHS (Fantasmic IIRC)??, Epcot (CommuniCORE Plaza show), and coming to DAK. They're really milking this movie for all they can get...

Encanto show is temporary. The M&G can easily be moved. Either way, Toy Story has a presence in two parks. As do Nemo and Frozen. Doesn't make a difference.

 

[Sorcerer Mickey]

Remember: For a time, DHS was down to only 4 rides.

And still is on some days!

 

[Marc Davis Fan]

Want to hear a crazy idea? Take Dino-Sue, the "OIden-Gate Bridge," the former Dino Jubilee props in the CTX gift shop, etc., and create a paleontology/dinosaur exhibit in the Wonders of Life building (paleontology pavilion).

What I'm not able to piece together her with the updated plans and varied speculation is whether the Boneyard is supposed to stick around and be rethemed slightly, or if the plan is to raze that and replace with something else.

The Boneyard will almost certainly be removed entirely, not rethemed... at least in according to the current plan.

 

[TheCoasterNerd]

What I'm not able to piece together her with the updated plans and varied speculation is whether the Boneyard is supposed to stick around and be rethemed slightly, or if the plan is to raze that and replace with something else

From what I can tell, the Boneyard is in the spot where the carousel/flat ride is in the concept art, so I assume razed for replacement

 

[TheCoasterNerd]

Toy Story has a presence in two parks. As do Nemo and Frozen. Doesn't make a difference.

Which two in WDW? As far as I remember (although I haven't been to the parks in a long time) Toy Story was only in DHS - sure, it's in MK and Epcot fireworks but that's not a huge deal. Nemo, yes, is in DAK and Epcot, and Frozen with a ride and a show. But when there's meet&greets, cavalcades, firework shows, a stage show, and several in-development rides, it seems a bit excessive to me, that's all. I just feel like guests might think, "this is a lot of Encanto representation. How odd."

 

[osian]

Which two in WDW?

You'll kick yourself!

 

[DisneyDodo]

they’ve become addicted to the revenue that Genie+ provides and adding new capacity will potentially lower that

I see this claim a lot, but it’s almost certainly not true. Adding more rides will allow them to add more offerings to G+ increasing the demand for the service, resulting in more sales and/or a higher price, meaning increased profitability. This is especially true in a park like DAK where the G+ lineup is so weak.

We’ve already seen that Disney was not able to sustain having 2 ILL attractions at DAK/DHS/Epcot and needed to shift one to G+

 

[doctornick]

If Rohde is involved, you wouldn't have confidence that the IP integration would be treated better? Remember how cynical we all were about the Pandora addition?

I don’t really understand why people were cynical. Anyone watching the movie could see how the conservation message there was a great match for DAK.

 

[Zummi Gummi]

Which two in WDW? As far as I remember (although I haven't been to the parks in a long time) Toy Story was only in DHS - sure, it's in MK and Epcot fireworks but that's not a huge deal. Nemo, yes, is in DAK and Epcot, and Frozen with a ride and a show. But when there's meet&greets, cavalcades, firework shows, a stage show, and several in-development rides, it seems a bit excessive to me, that's all. I just feel like guests might think, "this is a lot of Encanto representation. How odd."

You should have been around in the two years after Frozen came out, when it felt like EVERYTHING was Frozen.

 

[osian]

But when there's meet&greets, cavalcades, firework shows, a stage show, and several in-development rides, it seems a bit excessive to me, that's all. I just feel like guests might think, "this is a lot of Encanto representation. How odd."

Yeah, I mean this is exactly why I'm fed up with the whole thing. They really are doubling down on one particular demographic, as though thats the only demographic that matters but it's very tiring and alienating for the people who are not obsessed with cartoons and movies. And Loungefly.

Toy Story is also in Magic Kingdom - Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin!

 

[pdude81]

Want to hear a crazy idea? Take Dino-Sue, the "OIden-Gate Bridge," the former Dino Jubilee props in the CTX gift shop, etc., and create a paleontology/dinosaur exhibit in the Wonders of Life building (paleontology pavilion).


The Boneyard will almost certainly be removed entirely, not rethemed... at least in according to the current plan.

From what I can tell, the Boneyard is in the spot where the carousel/flat ride is in the concept art, so I assume razed for replacement

Thanks to you both. If I thought about the orientation of the art with the current Dino gate and the temple being Indy/Dinosaur, it lines up correctly.

However, it's odd to me as that's spending money on another ride that probably won't move the needle. Unless that carousel/spinner is something special, I'd rather they keep the Boneyard for kids and either retheme Triceratops spin somewhere else or just use it for spare parts.

 

[Disstevefan1]

I know nostalgia rules supreme with Disney fandom...

But this plan looks so much better and more fitting in AK than Dinoland, even with IPs

I never liked Dinoland USA area, it seemed cheap and rushed, BUT it was something, and we did like that silly Primeval Whirl.

I always thought of the Dinosaur attraction as separate from Dinoland USA

Yes, IF Disney goes through with this addition and does not cheap out on it, it could be great.

But I have no faith in Disney in actually doing anything after Iger wins the proxy fight.

 

[danlb_2000]

I know nostalgia rules supreme with Disney fandom...

But this plan looks so much better and more fitting in AK than Dinoland, even with IPs

I personally think what would be most fitting for AK is a properly fleshed out Dinoland, but current Disney isn't going to spend a lot of money on any park edition that doesn't tie to a reasonably popular IP.

 

[TheCoasterNerd]

Yeah, I mean this is exactly why I'm fed up with the whole thing. They really are doubling down on one particular demographic, as though thats the only demographic that matters but it's very tiring and alienating for the people who are not obsessed with cartoons and movies. And Loungefly.

Toy Story is also in Magic Kingdom - Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin!

Ohh yeah duhh. Sorry I think of Woody when I think of Toy Story, didn't remember that

 

[osian]

I never liked Dinoland USA area, it seemed cheap and rushed, BUT it was something, and we did like that silly Primeval Whirl.

I always thought of the Dinosaur attraction as separate from Dinoland USA

Yes, IF Disney goes through with this addition and does not cheap out on it, it could be great.

But I have no faith in Disney in actually doing anything after Iger wins the proxy fight.

According to Disney Fandom Wiki, DinoLand USA was started by an amateur fossil-hunter who purchased the site where he found old bones, as a visitor attraction. He called his park DinoLand USA and established the restaurant Restaurantosaurus and the Dino Institute where the CTX/Dinosaur ride is. Then two locals, Chester and Hester, set up their own rival tourist attraction called DinoRama, on the parking lot.

I'm unclear as to whether DinoRama is part of DinoLand USA (it seems odd that the original owner would allow a rival operator in his own park, let alone build on his parking lot. Plot hole!)

I liked Primeval Whirl too, it was just an off-the-shelf fairground spinning mouse (true to the theme of DinoRama) and was a lot of fun but unfortunately there was a lot of over-the-top hate and drama from people who don't like carnival rides.

 

[BrianLo]

I personally think what would be most fitting for AK is a properly fleshed out Dinoland, but current Disney isn't going to spend a lot of money on any park edition that doesn't tie to a reasonably popular IP.

I still think this is historical nostalgic bias. There’s many takes on Animal Kingdom and at its base form, Dinosaurs as ‘animals’ have an obvious place. Dinoland USA, no matter its quality, doesn’t really mesh as well with Africa/Asia as Tropical Americas does, in theory. “North America” would be better on brand for AK than Dinoland USA.

Joe’s whole thing has been more eco tourism and I don’t get that out of Dinoland. Including the inability to lean into living animals or conservation messaging outside the attractions.

The last major plot should be Oceania - which would allow for both the Australian/South Pacific Islands that the park is desperately reaching for.