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

[Cmdr_Crimson]

This. It's the only roller coaster in the park and it's a decent enough one at that, so it's easy to like.

But the Guardians IP is superfluous to the ride itself. Even the music isn't actually GotG, it's just the kind of music you might here in the series, and other story ideas could justify its use.

They missed such an opportunity to have a Easter egg track if you were lucky to get it...

 

[Epcot82Guy]

how has this turned into a Cosmic Rewind bashing thread?

Fair critique. To bring it back, I think there is justifiable concern about how Encanto, Indy, etc. would be used. There are ways to make them fit nicely with DAK (like Pandora). There are many ways to not. Current Disney creative seems to be in the latter camp. Hopefully back on track now.

 

[UNCgolf]

They could have, but they weren't going to. The biggest stateside non-IP driven ride built under the Iger/Chapek era was the Trolleys in DCA.

I believe that EPCOT today is better than it was in 2018. That doesn't mean this decision making was perfect, but it's an improvement.

I wasn't suggesting it had to be non-IP addition (of course that wasn't going to happen), and I agree that EPCOT is better now than it was in 2018.

I meant WDW taken as a whole, though. If CR was at DHS, especially with a whole Marvel NYC area (but even without), WDW would be better overall than it is right now even if EPCOT had nothing where CR currently is. DHS is still severely lacking in things to do even compared to 2018 EPCOT (not that 2018 EPCOT was in a good place).

As an aside regarding CR itself -- the Guardians films are my favorite part of the MCU, so I was disappointed that a ride featuring them captures very little of what's good about the IP.


EDIT: The point I'm trying to make is that right now, both EPCOT and DHS still need serious work; DHS is a half day park even with the recent builds. They'd be better off if they'd focused on fully fleshing out the new version of DHS then pivoted back to EPCOT later instead of just going halfway (if that) with both.

 

[SpectreJordan]

They could have built a different anchor than Cosmic Rewind, and one that was better both thematically and in overall ride quality -- in some ways, Cosmic Rewind is a swing and a miss, although not because it's a bad attraction (it is, of course, not bad). People enjoy it because it's a good coaster, but it's a poor usage of the Guardians IP. More importantly, the theming in general is more or less superfluous to the ride experience. Most guests would enjoy it as much as they do now if it was just general space imagery with music and everything else was excised.

Cosmic Rewind at DHS, especially with an additional Doctor Strange attraction and a Marvel NYC area, would be a much, much bigger boost to that park than Cosmic Rewind has been to EPCOT. Current DHS is still a weaker park with less to do than EPCOT was before CR existed. It's not that EPCOT didn't need another headliner attraction, because it did -- they just could have handled everything so much better.

Outside of a Rise style dark ride with cool animatronics of the characters, I think this is a good representation of the series. IMO it captures the spirit of the space battles in those movies. Ships in the Guardians movies are real fast & zip around like the coaster does. The Guardians trilogy is up there with the original SW & Indy movies for me, so I'm pretty passionate about them & I think CR lives up to those movies.

I do wish they could've copied the Rocket animatronic from Cali for this ride's queue though.

Fair critique. To bring it back, I think there is justifiable concern about how Encanto, Indy, etc. would be used. There are ways to make them fit nicely with DAK (like Pandora). There are many ways to not. Current Disney creative seems to be in the latter camp. Hopefully back on track now.

Yeah, I really hope Disney is able to do that if they go ahead with those IPs. I really don't think either would be particularly hard to make them fit thematically either.

I especially hope we get a new animal trail with this expansion. The Asian & African trails are so good, especially the ruins area near the tigers in Asia.

 

[UNCgolf]

Outside of a Rise style dark ride with cool animatronics of the characters, I think this is a good representation of the series. IMO it captures the spirit of the space battles in those movies. Ships in the Guardians movies are real fast & zip around like the coaster does. The Guardians trilogy is up there with the original SW & Indy movies for me, so I'm pretty passionate about them & I think CR lives up to those movies.

I do wish they could've copied the Rocket animatronic from Cali for this ride's queue though.

That's not really specific to the Guardians, though. Ships zipping around quickly applies to any number of space based IPs.

The heart of the Guardians franchise is the characters, and they're a very minor part of the ride.

I think it's closer to representing the cosmic parts of the MCU in general rather than anything specific to the Guardians; you could probably sub in Captain Marvel (or even just Nova Corps alone) and change almost nothing about the ride itself (the preshow would be different, although the Guardians themselves aren't a major part of that either).

 

[SpectreJordan]

That's not really specific to the Guardians, though. Ships zipping around quickly applies to any number of space based IPs.

The heart of the Guardians franchise is the characters, and they're a very minor part of the ride.

I think it's closer to representing the cosmic parts of the MCU in general rather than anything specific to the Guardians; you could probably sub in Captain Marvel (or even just Nova Corps alone) and change almost nothing about the ride itself (the preshow would be different, although the Guardians themselves aren't a major part of that either).

I do wish they had a bigger part in the ride, atleast in the queue. But I think the mixture of the space battles & the music* make it feel enough like Guardians. I love the part after the pre-show where the Guardians theme is playing, it makes me feel like a superhero.

*I also like how the music isn't just a "greatest hits" from the movies. September is the perfect song for the ride.

 

[Bocabear]

I do wish they had a bigger part of the ride, atleast in the queue. But I think the mixture of the space battles & the music* make it feel enough like Guardians. I love the part after the pre-show where the Guardians theme is playing, it makes me feel like a superhero.

*I also like how the music isn't just a "greatest hits" from the movies. September is the perfect song for the ride.

Blondie's "One Way Or Another" was I think the very best song for the ride.....I liked September, but One Way Or Another was perfect.....

 

[SpectreJordan]

Blondie's "One Way Or Another" was I think the very best song for the ride.....I liked September, but One Way Or Another was perfect.....

That's a great one too. But man, that launch with the trumpets in September blasting is so good.

Regarding Indy, is there any reason IJA hasn't been brought to Disney sooner? With how popular it is in DL, you think they would've copied it over here. Especially around 2008 when Crystal Skull came out & Iger was already CEO. Seems like that would've been an easy win for them park wise back then.

 

[Bocabear]

That's a great one too. But man, that launch with the trumpets in September blasting is so good.

Regarding Indy, is there any reason IJA hasn't been brought to Disney sooner? With how popular it is in DL, you think they would've copied it over here. Especially around 2008 when Crystal Skull came out & Iger was already CEO. Seems like that would've been an easy win for them park wise back then.

Seems like everyone says they could not bring it sooner because Dinosaur used the same ride system and track layout... which seems like a lame excuse...They could have had an Indiana Jones ride and land in DHS a decade or so ago...no one would care that it is the same ride system....

 

[ToTBellHop]

That's a great one too. But man, that launch with the trumpets in September blasting is so good.

Regarding Indy, is there any reason IJA hasn't been brought to Disney sooner? With how popular it is in DL, you think they would've copied it over here. Especially around 2008 when Crystal Skull came out & Iger was already CEO. Seems like that would've been an easy win for them park wise back then.

It wasn’t time for Dino to leave and Everest was still new. They could have theoretically opened it at DHS but they had just opened the (at the time) wildly popular Midway Mania.

Now Dino is on its way out and DAK is next for an update. Need and opportunity have met. So the stars have aligned, basically.

 

[doctornick]

Seems like everyone says they could not bring it sooner because Dinosaur used the same ride system and track layout... which seems like a lame excuse...They could have had an Indiana Jones ride and land in DHS a decade or so ago...no one would care that it is the same ride system....

Or have put it in MK at the same spot it’s located in DL.

 

[RSoxNo1]

Don't get me wrong! I hate IP in Epcot and I don't think either one fits there. I just thought having a "computer technology pavilion" is more plausible than "Wonders of Xandar." A bit more in line with the original Epcot philosophy.

The leaps required to thematically put TRON in EPCOT are no less fantastical than the leaps required to put Guardians in EPCOT. I'm with you in the sense that putting you inside a computer is akin to say, Body Wars, but that narrative thread is at best inferred with the current iteration of TRON. With Guardians there is a space component to it. It's fantasy based, but the other space ride that's grounded in a bit more reality is lousy.

Edit: Back on topic, why aren't we talking about the multiple reports that we should be expecting some movement on this soon?

 

[Cmdr_Crimson]

The leaps required to thematically put TRON in EPCOT are no less fantastical than the leaps required to put Guardians in EPCOT. I'm with you in the sense that putting you inside a computer is akin to say, Body Wars, but that narrative thread is at best inferred with the current iteration of TRON. With Guardians there is a space component to it. It's fantasy based, but the other space ride that's grounded in a bit more reality is lousy.

Edit: Back on topic, why aren't we talking about the multiple reports that we should be expecting some movement on this soon?

Shame it never happened in Epcot...But, there were plans in the early 80s..

 

[osian]

Or have put it in MK at the same spot it’s located in DL.

Indeed, and that's the issue with squeezing pre-built IP in, you could make an argument that it fits everywhere.

MK because it's Adventureland.
DHS because it's a movie franchise and there's already an IJ area.
AK because of the Americas and, well, animals.
Even Epcot because it's about world discovery. Or celebration. Or nature. Any really.

It's like horoscopes, which are general enough that they could apply to anything and anyone.

Justifyng attractions based on pre-built movie franchises by saying "it fits because..." is a fallacy. No it doesn't fit, it never does. Unless it was customised and built for exactly that space in that specific park.

I'm still trying to work out what the difference is between all the Universal parks. It's coming to that with the Disney parks now.

 

[SpectreJordan]

Seems like everyone says they could not bring it sooner because Dinosaur used the same ride system and track layout... which seems like a lame excuse...They could have had an Indiana Jones ride and land in DHS a decade or so ago...no one would care that it is the same ride system....

Yeah, that's definitely a lame (but believable from them) excuse given how we have the invasion of trackless dark rides currently going on lmao

Indeed, and that's the issue with squeezing pre-built IP in, you could make an argument that it fits everywhere.

MK because it's Adventureland.
DHS because it's a movie franchise and there's already an IJ area.
AK because of the Americas and, well, animals.
Even Epcot because it's about world discovery. Or celebration. Or nature. Any really.

It's like horoscopes, which are general enough that they could apply to anything and anyone.

Justifyng attractions based on pre-built movie franchises by saying "it fits because..." is a fallacy. No it doesn't fit, it never does. Unless it was customised and built for exactly that space in that specific park.

I'm still trying to work out what the difference is between all the Universal parks. It's coming to that with the Disney parks now.

I really think it belonged in DHS & I still think it does. But if they can find a way to make it work in DAK, I'll take it.

 

[Bocabear]

It wasn’t time for Dino to leave and Everest was still new. They could have theoretically opened it at DHS but they had just opened the (at the time) wildly popular Midway Mania.

Now Dino is on its way out and DAK is next for an update. Need and opportunity have met. So the stars have aligned, basically.

That went so well in EPCOT...perhaps they will add more gardens and seating areas with a meet and greet and say all the good ideas are cancelled...then wall off half of the park for 5 years....

 

[SpectreJordan]

Tbf, atleast EPCOT received an additional ride during all of that. Judging my current "plans", DAK isn't getting anything additional; I'm saying the removal of Primeval Whirl was in preparation for this retheme.

 

[ToTBellHop]

Tbf, atleast EPCOT received an additional ride during all of that. Judging my current "plans", DAK isn't getting anything additional; I'm saying the removal of Primeval Whirl was in preparation for this retheme.

The Dino-Rama project is needed and will actually better-utilize capacity.

Like others, I’d rather see Dino stay and get a new E-ticket elsewhere, though.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

Is Coco really going to AK now? That feels like an especially strange choice, even by Disney's current standards.

 

[ToTBellHop]

Is Coco really going to AK now? That feels like an especially strange choice, even by Disney's current standards.

There’s a dog. Good enough. Any film with even one animal depicted is a perfect fit at DAK.