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

[Yellow Strap]

So the argument people are making is that this proposed area is about tropical rainforests, so therefore it fits the theme of AK? That may be one of the flimsiest stretches of logic that's been foisted in these forums in a while, at least since "GotG fits the theme of Epcot because it deals with space".

There is an Africa region, An Asia region...Why is adding Tropical Americas a reach??

 

[danlb_2000]

My critique of DinoRama was that it was *too accurate.* It re-created the cheesiness of American pop tourist traps too well. Right down to being boring and mundane.

There was no Disney flare. No special moments. Nothing happens.

They could have played on how run-down it was by having fake moments of near catastrophe on the rides (remember Safari's bridge that 'almost collapsed'?). They could have had a dino meet and greet in an awful costume that always fell apart revealing the poor Chester and Hester employee comically embarrassed. Like Gringott's dragon that spit fire every half hour, they could have had a fake transformer spit sparks every half hour.

DinoRama was like if Test Track was just a leisurely car ride around a loop. Yep.. that's how cars are! Yep! that's how a tourist trap is!

Universal did it better with the Simpsons land.

Wow, you should get a job in Imagineering so you could see your great ideas never come to fruition!

 

[BrianLo]

So the argument people are making is that this proposed area is about tropical rainforests, so therefore it fits the theme of AK? That may be one of the flimsiest stretches of logic that's been foisted in these forums in a while, at least since "GotG fits the theme of Epcot because it deals with space".

No. The argument is that Tropical Americas is a well fitted land concept for Animal kingdom. Unless Asia, Africa, or the desired Australia / Oceana don’t in your viewpoint.

What they do with it and how it’s executed is still up for debate.

It’s a great way to introduce some of the regions animals, vibe with the rest of the park and tie in some IP. In the same vein as Africa gives them an excuse to feature Lion King.

It’s also a far improvement from a Zootopia miniland.

 

[Suspirian]

I like the idea but I wish there was a way to do another region that would break up the monotony of DAK a bit. Save for Dinoland and maybe Africa if you don't count jungle trek every land in DAK is pretty much a rainforest and even then Africa is still a tropical savannah. While the potential South America land does look nice, I feel like more of DAK would feel kinda same-y. Would love to see more diversity in biomes one day.

 

[Incomudro]

I'm so sick of "dream phase." This is so excruciatingly painful to continue to read, hear, & see.

I'm sick of the line "Stories to tell..."
They're not doing any of this because they've got stories to tell.
They're doing it because they believe they can up attendance by adding more IP's.

 

[Incomudro]

There is an Africa region, An Asia region...Why is adding Tropical Americas a reach??

It's not Tropical Americas.
It's Encanto and Coco.

 

[HauntedPirate]

There is an Africa region, An Asia region...Why is adding Tropical Americas a reach??

So the theme is... what? What went into those areas? Was it a ride based on a movie, or was it something more than that?

Theme. It's what most of those defending this crap are missing. But you know what? Have at it. Swim in your ignorance. And celebrate as Bob ruins yet another theme park with his shoehorning of movie IP because "we know what fans want".

 

[el_super]

Theme. It's what most of those defending this crap are missing. But you know what? Have at it. Swim in your ignorance. And celebrate as Bob ruins yet another theme park with his shoehorning of movie IP because "we know what fans want".

Indy and Encanto have just as valid way of communicating the interactions and interfaces between the human realm and the animal realm as Dinosaur. Fun fact: Humans and Dinosaurs never actually lived together at the same time.

 

[James Alucobond]

So the theme is... what? What went into those areas? Was it a ride based on a movie, or was it something more than that?

Theme. It's what most of those defending this crap are missing. But you know what? Have at it. Swim in your ignorance. And celebrate as Bob ruins yet another theme park with his shoehorning of movie IP because "we know what fans want".

The entire main drag looks to follow the same format as all the other lands in Animal Kingdom. You have a "village" entrance like Harambe/Mombasa, Bhaktapur/Serka Zong, and the Canteen, which then progresses toward either a more natural or ruined area in the back that houses the attractions (floating islands, savanna, Everest, walking paths). In Tropical Americas as shown, you have a Barichara-esque village up front that leads toward some ruins where Dinosaur currently is and the Caño Cristales where TriceraTop is now. This is why it's a fundamentally better idea than the blue sky plan that preceded it; it generally aligns with the park's organizational philosophy.

It's still very possible that the rides will not successfully execute on the themes, but the infrastructure will at least feel right.

 

[flyerjab]

The entire main drag looks to follow the same format as all the other lands in Animal Kingdom. You have a "village" entrance like Harambe/Mombasa, Bhaktapur/Serka Zong, and the Canteen, which then progresses toward either a more natural or ruined area in the back that houses the attractions (floating islands, savanna, Everest, walking paths). In Tropical Americas as shown, you have a Barichara-esque village up front that leads toward some ruins where Dinosaur currently is and the Caño Cristales where TriceraTop is now. This is why it's a fundamentally better idea than the blue sky plan that preceded it; it generally aligns with the park's organizational philosophy.

It's still very possible that the rides will not successfully execute on the themes, but the infrastructure will at least feel right.

Agreed. The initial redo with Moana and Zootopia would have been atrocious IMO. No cohesion in any way. That original was truly just “let’s mindlessly toss in some popular IP.” Also, I’ve never been a huge fan of the entire Dino area, and I LOVE dinosaurs.

I like the thought of three current ecological locations from around the world, all surrounding the Tree of Life. If they could fit another expansion in there an Australian area would be nice too (pipe dream of course). Asia, Africa and Tropical Americas. Thank god Vaughn came back and Chapek got the heave ho. I think it saved this project from completely going off the rails. We can argue the choice of IP. You can’t argue the placement as much as it is a mandate…Imagineers can’t get around it. At least Vaughn presented it as a specific region of the world and spoke to experiences for guests from the cultures of the Tropical Americas. If there are no (or minimal) animal exhibits, maybe there will be a concerted focus on the different cultural aspects from this part of the world.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Disney parks boss addresses potential 'Indiana Jones' ride at Animal Kingdom

Disney parks boss addresses potential 'Indiana Jones' replacement for Dinosaur ride at Animal Kingdom and other big moves: 'We know what our fans expect of us and we're going all in.'

ew.com

This would beg to differ.

Well... Josh isn't committing to anything other than Indy.

And it's the EW writer who says that the art shows Encanto *and Coco* without telling us that Josh affirms that that's Coco in the art.

So... we're still in the dark blue sky.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Fun fact: Humans and Dinosaurs never actually lived together at the same time.

Ahem. I peacefully coexist with you humans!!

 

[GhostHost1000]

Indy and Encanto have just as valid way of communicating the interactions and interfaces between the human realm and the animal realm as Dinosaur. Fun fact: Humans and Dinosaurs never actually lived together at the same time.

I’ve never lived with an elephant or a giraffe, should they get rid of those too?

 

[Yellow Strap]

So the theme is... what? What went into those areas? Was it a ride based on a movie, or was it something more than that?

Theme. It's what most of those defending this crap are missing. But you know what? Have at it. Swim in your ignorance. And celebrate as Bob ruins yet another theme park with his shoehorning of movie IP because "we know what fans want".

Good to know I'm "ignorant"

Its a family theme park...maybe don't be so insulting or take it too seriously.

Or do? I'm the ignorant one.

 

[el_super]

I’ve never lived with an elephant or a giraffe, should they get rid of those too?

But humans have. It's part of the basic conceit of Animal Kingdom: it's a place for humans to understand animals.

I seem to remember long ago Rohde explaining that Dinoland exists as an examination of how humans understood/perceived Dinosaurs and by extension other animals, despite never actually living or seeing them face to face. If you can accept that humans and dinosaurs can share a relationship that never actually existed face-to-face.... why is it such a stretch to believe that other fictional characters could too?

 

[Gusey]

But Indiana Jones has been involved with Animal Kingdom since 1996

 

[Yellow Strap]

But Indiana Jones has been involved with Animal Kingdom since 1996

His mom took him there when he was a young boy

 

[britain]

His mom took him there when he was a young boy

“I can’t wait to go back and chase those poachers who stole Little Red.”

 

[mickEblu]

Great. Now I won't get to experience Dinosaur/ Dinoland USA on my my first WDW trip either. First Great Movie Ride, Maelstrom, Splash Mountain, Horizons, the original Journey into Imagination, World of Motion and now this.

 

[Tjaden]

Great. Now I won't get to experience Dinosaur/ Dinoland USA on my my first WDW trip either. First Great Movie Ride, Maelstrom, Splash Mountain, Horizons, the original Journey into Imagination, World of Motion and now this.

A removed attractions park would easily be my favorite park.