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

[Captain Barbossa]

Was really expecting for them to be sticking with the Moana idea. I guess the lone person at WDI with half a brain cell told them that it wouldn’t make sense with JoW at EPCOT.

 

[Brer Oswald]

Goodbye Dinosaurs. You’re extinct in real life and now also at Walt Disney World. One of the reasons I loved this place as a kid.

Now if only Universal would fix up the River Adventure

Dinosaur is MUCH better than River Adventure. Weird to see Disney give Universal the lead here. Now if we had the fantastic Universal Beijing Jurassic World ride…that would be a different story.

 

[Squishy]

Was really expecting for them to be sticking with the Moana idea. I guess the lone person at WDI with a half a brain cell told them that it wouldn’t make sense with JoW at EPCOT.

or they fired the guy with the moana fetish out of the company, mightve been Chapek?

 

[CJR]

My thoughts on these being in DAK:

Indy can have snakes involved. Some neat snake exhibits would be pretty awesome.

Doesn't a family member in Encanto have the ability to understand animals? That could easily be worked into the attraction's story.

 

[flyerjab]

Huge win. Replacing one of the worst lands in any Disney theme park with likely one of the best in any theme park anywhere.

Finally we can get the flavors of South American food represented in the park, give me some empanadas!

Finally Dinosaur will no longer be a “what we could’ve had” every time we ride it. It’ll finally become the attraction it always should’ve been.

A mystic manor style indoor family attraction is exactly what Animal Kingdom needs.

Everything about this is infinitely better than the actual blue sky they threw out last year.

If you noticed, they glossed over Magic Kingdom, because they don’t have firm plans anywhere, but for Animal Kingdom, they actually clarified what they’re planning to do. Animal Kingdom was always the priority number one and this confirms that. This isn’t the blue sky nonsense of last year and it’s super exciting.

A full South American continent is perfect for Animal Kingdom. New animal exhibits throughout the continent, gorgeous placemaking, and a true upgrade. Perfect, perfect, perfect. Hopefully the area between Indy and Encanto becomes a new animal trail.

We are in complete agreement here. Aside from the IP discussion, the culinary aspects alone get me excited for this. As well as the design/artwork potential from this part the world. And from an entertainment potential, Latin and South American music will provide so much energy. The more I think about this the more I like it.

And you hit the nail on the head with the possibility of a Mystic Manor type ride for Encanto. A house that comes alive to Encanto music as you ride through it could be incredible.

 

[SteamboatJoe]

IF they can tie Indy into an animal based macguffin, this could work. Like trying to get an extinct animal egg. Big IF though.

Same with Encanto. It needs to relate to the animal kingdom in some way.

I won’t hold my breath. Why oh why can’t they preserve what is arguably the last cohesively themed park behind MK? Why? Otherwise it will become a MK lite with animals.

A big snakes exhibit.

 

[Mike S]

This artwork makes it look like Nemo may not be there much longer.

Is that where the temple at the top is?

Either way my point stands. It had a presence in two parks for a long time so they’re likely not rushing anything for the stunt show.

 

[jmuboy]

This artwork makes it look like Nemo may not be there much longer.

The Encanto Casita appears to be the Primeval Whirl location.

But if the boneyard playground gets a “tree top canopy” type play area theme and a South American animal exhibit is added to the Dino discovery trail area then I’ll be ok with all of this refresh to Dinoland.

 

[Tha Realest]

My thoughts on these being in DAK:

Indy can have snakes involved. Some neat snake exhibits would be pretty awesome.

Doesn't a family member in Encanto have the ability to understand animals? That could easily be worked into the attraction's story.

Disney: He likes snakes now

 

[JohnD]

I wonder what this means for Indy long-term in DHS.

Probably nothing. It's one of several shows that absorbs huge crowds. It's not really "Indy" anyway but stunt performers taking on the parts and the stunts they do.

 

[TarzanRocked99-]

Is that where the temple at the top is?

Either way my point stands. It had a presence in two parks for a long time so they’re likely not rushing anything for the stunt show.

No, the layout is fairly easy to grasp.

The Indiana Jones temple sits exactly where dinosaur does currently

The Encanto house sits where primeval whirl used to be.

The carousel looking structure is Triceratop Spin

The large building at the bottom, right hand side is RestaurantaSaurus.

The building in the upper middle is the current Chester and Hester’s Dinarama shop

This concept actually seems to work with all existing structures and pathways. In reality it’s a cosmetic makeover with re-themes of Dinosaur and an Encanto attraction addition.

This is most likely a much more cost efficient design than the last concept.

 

[SteamboatJoe]

Is that where the temple at the top is?

Either way my point stands. It had a presence in two parks for a long time so they’re likely not rushing anything for the stunt show.

I think Casita is in its vicinity - depends on the nature of the Casita attraction. If its more than just scenery a la Rapunzel's tower, it might infringe upon the theater space.

I agree - I don't think Indy AK means an immediate exit from DHS but I can't imagine that area being expanded for Indy long-term which probably means it will replaced by somethinge eventually. Whether they have an idea for what that is though remains to be seen - perhaps its just an indefinite placeholder. It probably stays for the foreseeable future as the capital right now appears to be going to AK and then MK (Beyond Frontierland).

 

[DisneyDebRob]

First reaction... more blue sky??

Second thought... gee, I wonder how Indy made it to the project board

Agree. When I see words like “ considering” .. I’ll wait until something concrete is in place. I’ve seen this movie so many times that the ending is usually the same. I know, I know.. it gets everyone excited but I’m still thinking of the blue sky ideas from 10-15 years ago that was splashed everywhere then nothing. Artwork looks cool though.

 

[JohnD]

A big snakes exhibit.

Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes.

 

[SteamboatJoe]

No, the layout is fairly easy to grasp.

The Indiana Jones temple sits exactly where dinosaur does currently

The Encanto house sits where primeval whirl used to be.

The carousel looking structure is triceratop Spin

The large building at the bottom, right hand side is RestaurantaSaurus.

The building in the upper middle is the current Chester and Hester’s Dinarama shop

Ah yes, I forgot about the old Primeval Whirl space. I could easily see Casita being a Mystic Manor sort of attraction and/or an Encanto musical for the Theater in the Wild.

 

[JT3000]

For what it’s worth, while I think replacing Dinosaur is a poor decision, this year’s blue sky idea is leagues better than last year’s.


I mean maybe Dinosaur will stay, and as a yearly tradition, Disney will spitball a new idea they might possibly consider for the area. What will it be next year? Elemental and Dr Strange?

 

[Magenta Panther]

Pretty funny that people who screech over the idea of Zootopia (a movie with animals in it) being put into Animal Kingdom are happy with Encanto (a movie NOT about animals) being wedged into Animal Kingdom. Whereas many other people might feel that the real reason Encanto is being shoved into that round hole is that the movie, while a box-office failure, had a song that got popular for some reason. And of course representation had to be shoved into WDW somewhere...

 

[Big_Shakalaka]

The carousel looking structure is triceratop Spin

Actually looks like the carousel is going to be where the boneyard is

 

[JIMINYCR]

Sorry to see Dino go but eager to see a couple of new and interesting things added to AK that will only add a reason to stay longer and enjoy the park.

 

[ToTBellHop]

Wow—they kept this under wraps!

I like a S. America land.