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

[SpectreJordan]

I imagine considerably more will have visited a national park than the Amazon rainforest.

Again, I'm not arguing for this happening over South America. I think South America is the perfect next step.

I'm arguing for this idea happening... eventually. I don't expect this to happen anytime soon, but I think it's a good idea that should be looked into one day.

 

[RSoxNo1]

Do we really need a bona fide N. America land? Like, “ooh a rabbit and a duck! Amazing!” And then, “Mom, we saw both while walking to the food court at Pop this morning…~eyeroll~”

There are absolutely North American animals that would draw a crowd. Take a trip to Alaska, Canada or the northern contiguous US. A walkthrough headlined by bears, moose and caribou would absolutely be a draw.

That being said, I don't anticipate Disney adding to DAK in a way that is driven by any animal species any time soon.

 

[ToTBellHop]

There are absolutely North American animals that would draw a crowd. Take a trip to Alaska, Canada or the northern contiguous US. A walkthrough headlined by bears, moose and caribou would absolutely be a draw.

That being said, I don't anticipate Disney adding to DAK in a way that is driven by any animal species any time soon.

I always wonder (and this is true of any zoo in the south)—are animals that have evolved to live in the arctic healthy when it’s over 90 degrees for 6 months of the year?

 

[doctornick]

I always felt that a “North America” would work best as DAK’s version of Fantasyland - I like to think of a “Critter Country” where they could have attractions based on Bambi, Pocahontas, Lady & The Tramp, 101 Dalmatians, Brother Bear, Fox & the Hound, etc or even Chip & Dale (Rescue Rangers?) or Humphrey the Bear if they really want to go deep in the vault. It would be a way to add more rides (especially kid friendly ones) and more “standard” food and M&Gs if desired. I think another live animal show like the old Pocahontas one would be good but even a few small enclosures could work (but not be a focal point).

I don’t think a North America land in the vein of Africa or Asia would work though.

 

[Ayla]

Yeah, most WDW guests are Americans. But I imagine most of them are from the cities or the midwest. How many of them get to experience the natural beauties of the Pacific Northwest or Canada? I think it'd serve a good conservational message that the animals that live where we live are just as worthy of protection as those that live in exotic locations. & no, they don't have to fill the exhibits with deer, bunnies & ducks; there's plenty of beautiful animals that don't wander into our backyards here.

Imagine views like this done similarly to how Africa & Asia are. The segment about Canada's wildlife in the show at the EPCOT pavilion is a good example too.

I'd be down for Australia too. But we shouldn't underestimate how great a North America land could be just because we live here.

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Way to reinforce the ridiculous trope that midwesterners are a bunch of hicks who are so unsophisticated they can't be bothered to travel outside their tiny bubbles. Good lord.

 

[SpectreJordan]

I always wonder (and this is true of any zoo in the south)—are animals that have evolved to live in the arctic healthy when it’s over 90 degrees for 6 months of the year?

I don't think they'd be able to add animals from northern Canada because of that reason. But I imagine there's animals from southern Canada/the northern US that would be fine, especially if they designed the habitats in a suitable manner.

Way to reinforce the ridiculous trope that midwesterners are a bunch of hicks who are so unsophisticated they can't be bothered to travel outside their tiny bubbles. Good lord.

That's not what I implied at all, I even included city folk in the same sentence. But the reality is that there's lots of people who don't get to experience stuff like that even if they want to. I'm speaking from personal experience, as I'd love to visit those places but haven't had the opportunities to do that yet.

 

[RSoxNo1]

I always wonder (and this is true of any zoo in the south)—are animals that have evolved to live in the arctic healthy when it’s over 90 degrees for 6 months of the year?

San Diego Zoo has Pandas and Grizzlies. That being said, your point is well taken. I'm guessing that is one of many reasons we won't see a significant bear presence in DAK. Tropical Americas makes a ton of sense, I just hope they actually supplement what we've seen with live animals.

 

[UNCgolf]

San Diego Zoo has Pandas and Grizzlies. That being said, your point is well taken. I'm guessing that is one of many reasons we won't see a significant bear presence in DAK. Tropical Americas makes a ton of sense, I just hope they actually supplement what we've seen with live animals.

San Diego doesn't really get that hot (or cold). It's basically in the mid 60s to mid 70s year round.

The NC Zoo has polar bears, though, and there can be many weeks of 90+ weather in the summer there. I think they have a cooled swimming pool as well as access to an air conditioned indoor area whenever they want.

 

[MisterPenguin]

The DAK lions have an air conditioned rock.

 

[Brer Panther]

I suppose they could have a hypothetical arctic area be completely indoors... it'd allow them to keep things at a temperature the polar bears and animals can handle.

 

[ToTBellHop]

The DAK lions have an air conditioned rock.

How air-conditioned are we talking? If it’s like Spaceship Earth, I’ll be joining PETA in the parking lot! Lions are people, too!

 

[monothingie]

DAK Presents: Indiana Jones and the ECV Scooter of DOOM.

It will employ a new queuing technology to reduce wait times. I understand there will be a Phoebe Waller-Bridge AA in the ride queue to ensure that guests stay far away.

 

[FutureCEO]

Since when are Dinosaurs boring? Well, fossilized Dinos but still....

 

[mattpeto]

I love more comments about hypotheticals especially when they are turbocharged.

 

[GhostHost1000]

Removing dinosaurs from Animal Kingdom imo is wrong. Boys love dinosaurs. They could redo that ride to be less scary and less bumpy and then build some Indiana jones ride if they have to using other tech

The park needs MORE rides but I think Disney just enjoys replacing existing ones rather than maintain them

 

[Animaniac93-98]

Since when are Dinosaurs boring? Well, fossilized Dinos but still....

People pay money to look at dino bones in museums all over the world...sometimes extra money if it's a special exhibit.

But I guess it's proof that anything that isn't a brand franchise has no value to Disney.

 

[Incomudro]

People pay money to look at dino bones in museums all over the world...sometimes extra money if it's a special exhibit.

But I guess it's proof that anything that isn't a brand franchise has no value to Disney.

Yeah, millions of people don't find fossilized dinos to be boring.

 

[jeanericuser001]

I think it was just time for dinosaur to go extinct. This ride has so many different problems that its impossible to ever get it working as good as it did when it first started. The animatronics in some cases are malfunctioning as bad as disco yeti. The vehicles are dated. It doesn't draw nearly the crowds it use to. Even the T-Rex cafe likely is a bigger draw than that ride. If they scrap it and start fresh they could easily make a good indiana jones ride though it all depends on a number of factors. Are we getting a new story or revisit of one of the films? Will this be an edutainment ride, dark ride, or a thrill ride? What decisions they make could make this the next flights of passage level attraction or another navi river adventure.

 

[freedogshampoo]

None of this makes any thematic sense. I believe they need to either upgrade/fix Dinoland or come up with a new concept to replace the land that actually makes sense for AnImAl KiNgDoM.

 

[sedati]

While I loved Dinosaur, the pairing of giant creatures and speed is counter intuitive. Grandeur needs time. Even the Yeti is flawed by concept. If you're going to go big, you need more than fleeting seconds. I dearly wish they would actually commit to a proper land of prehistoric giants, but things as they are have me okay with the coming changes.