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

[osian]

I'd counter that the only park they've ever opened anywhere in the world that did not include pre-existing IP from movies or TV was the original EPCOT Center. Even there, they started at least bringing the characters in pretty quickly as they judged people wanted to see them.

I do think they have gone too far with the IP mandate under which it seems like they only build attractions tied to existing IP. The other extreme, though, where the parks don't include any pre-existing IP is probably more untenable at this point in time. I doubt it would be something with which even Walt, who loved pushing his products, would agree.

Classic fairytales and stories and folklore is where I like to think Walt was coming from. A merging of movies into this is as an aim in itself is stretching it, though of course the organisation has expanded ever so slightly since he was involved, and public expectations may have changed. But how much of public expectations has been directly manipulated by Disney anyway pushing what they want people to want.

 

[SamusAranX]

This is my take. I can agree with the point that Encanto isn’t as popular as Moana (or Frozen) but it seems to me that it had at least a certain level of cultural relevance that puts it at a reasonable point to warrant a ride. As you point out, it’s not like other recent films (eg Raya, Turning Red, Luca [which I loved], Strange World, etc) are getting the same attention - because Disney knows what has “hit”.

And people are exaggerating the amount of push Encanto is getting anyway. What are we seeing? A M&G right now (no biggie) then a temporary sing a long for a few months then a single ride. That’s not really excessive and the M&G is in a spot that in the past changes intermittently so that very well may not be “permanent” (admittedly Brave was there for a while).

It’s funny you mention Raya, because I think it would be infinitely better and more of a fit at AK, continuing Pandora’s spiritual successorship and nods to Beastly Kingdom.

 

[Disgruntled Walt]

Why the HECK are we not getting the Lion King ride that Paris is supposedly getting?

 

[J4546]

maybe that will be the surprise e ticket rumored to also be going in AK along with the dinoland redo? That would be cool if they built out a little themed area for it in the NW quadrant of AK where the africa area is

 

[celluloid]

But if that's all we're talking about in terms of Encanto in the parks (all of them) at the moment, I still don't see why people are suggesting it is being pushed beyond its popularity.

If that film which has already demonstrated some staying power is judged not popular enough because some other franchises may sell more merchandise, we just end up with the kind of Toy Story over-saturation that we've all been complaining about because almost no film will prove popular enough.

Honestly, funny that people bring up Emperor's New Groove as it is honestly comparable.

Emperor's New Groove was not a flop in theaters, but a disappointment.

Emperor's New Groove had incredible play with the culture of school children at the time and home video was very popular. The movie became quotable culture. Still to this day it holds on due to the meme internet generation.

Encanto was a disappointment in theaters. Home play through streaming could. Bruno was a viral internet quotable joke a couple of years ago.

So for people who scoff at Emperor's New Groove, the films are more similar than they are alike.

And yes, that is what we will end up with, because in order to sell merchandise and food that is good on its own, Disney has to let Imagineering and teams create those originally that feel organic to the world, and there is less and less than that all of the time.

If it was permitted, we would not be having this discussion, and new attractions would be being built with the frequency they should.

 

[MistaDee]

Classic fairytales and stories and folklore is where I like to think Walt was coming from. A merging of movies into this is as an aim in itself is stretching it, though of course the organisation has expanded ever so slightly since he was involved, and public expectations may have changed. But how much of public expectations has been directly manipulated by Disney anyway pushing what they want people to want.

Are you saying Walt was focused on some pure concept of fairytales and folklore and only begrudgingly included movies? From its founding Disneyland has always pushed synergy with its entertainment and merchandising offerings. It's obviously gotten a lot more extreme but there's been no philosophical change.

Walt was a creative genius but also a pretty ruthless businessman, the original Disneyland included a ton of IP tie ins and connections. The Jungle Cruise is connected to True-Life Adventures, Frontierland supported Davy Crockett, the Matterhorn was connected to "Third Man on the Mountain" the only fairy tales selected were those with Disney movies etc.

 

[bmr1591]

Is there a net gain of attractions here??

We had TriceraTop Spin, Primeval Whirl, Dinosaur

If those attractions are taking on 100 guests an hour and the new attractions pull in 200 guests an hour, that’s a net gain of capacity.

 

[culturenthrills]

They don’t need a 5th gate. All 4 parks don’t have the capacity that they need. They need to add capacity to all 4 parks. Never mind the cost of adding a 5th gate and running it. For years they got away with it but it’s not working anymore. MK is woefully under capacity. DAK and DHS still need more attractions. Epcot after 4 years of walls still needs more attractions to update a certain Imagination pavilion. I hope they never build a fifth gate and finally actually expand the capacity of the parks they have.

 

[ToTBellHop]

Why the HECK are we not getting the Lion King ride that Paris is supposedly getting?

I’m sure we will, but it will go where needed at that point, so if it replaces Spaceship Earth, so be it.

 

[Rosso11]

Are you saying Walt was focused on some pure concept of fairytales and folklore and only begrudgingly included movies? From its founding Disneyland has always pushed synergy with its entertainment and merchandising offerings. It's obviously gotten a lot more extreme but there's been no philosophical change.

Walt was a creative genius but also a pretty ruthless businessman, the original Disneyland included a ton of IP tie ins and connections. The Jungle Cruise is connected to True-Life Adventures, Frontierland supported Davy Crockett, the Matterhorn was connected to "Third Man on the Mountain" the only fairy tales selected were those with Disney movies etc.

Yea I always find it funny when people think Walt wouldn’t be pushing as much IP into the parks as Iger is today if he was alive. Walt was the king of cross promoting his IP across film, TV, merchandise and parks. He pretty much invented it. I can’t imagine what he would have done if he had the amount of IP to play with that the company has now.

 

[Disstevefan1]

If those attractions are taking on 100 guests an hour and the new attractions pull in 200 guests an hour, that’s a net gain of capacity.

Will there be three attractions in this new land? And I presume the bone yard is going away.

 

[Zummi Gummi]

Will there be three attractions in this new land? And I presume the bone yard is going away.

I don’t doubt it but it seems odd to remove the Boneyard. It’s quite popular and it’s such an easy re-theme from a paleontology dig site to an archaeology dig site. But

 

[Rich Brownn]

Are you saying Walt was focused on some pure concept of fairytales and folklore and only begrudgingly included movies? From its founding Disneyland has always pushed synergy with its entertainment and merchandising offerings. It's obviously gotten a lot more extreme but there's been no philosophical change.

Walt was a creative genius but also a pretty ruthless businessman, the original Disneyland included a ton of IP tie ins and connections. The Jungle Cruise is connected to True-Life Adventures, Frontierland supported Davy Crockett, the Matterhorn was connected to "Third Man on the Mountain" the only fairy tales selected were those with Disney movies etc.

Heck, Disneyland's two main icons (The Castle and the Matterhorn) both came from movies, and the castle in particular is an IP icon (built to promote the forthcoming movie).

 

[lazyboy97o]

Heck, Disneyland's two main icons (The Castle and the Matterhorn) both came from movies, and the castle in particular is an IP icon (built to promote the forthcoming movie).

Sleeping Beauty Castle was not built to promote the movie. Do was always going to have a castle and it was at first just the generic Fantasyland Castle.

The shared setting of the Matterhorn Bobsleds doesn’t mean it came from Third Man on the Mountain. Both came out of Walt’s interests in winter sports which is what had first brought him to Zermatt.

 

[DisneyHead123]

I don’t doubt it but it seems odd to remove the Boneyard. It’s quite popular and it’s such an easy re-theme from a paleontology dig site to an archaeology dig site. But

I like the Boneyard for littles but it’s nothing you wouldn’t find at a million indoor playgrounds. I can see them thinking that if families are paying Disney prices, they’re expecting something unique. (On that note, I know they have some kind of “Encanto Experience” type traveling play area, as I’m always getting ads for it on social media. Since that’s already designed, wonder if they will incorporate it?)

 

[osian]

Yea I always find it funny when people think Walt wouldn’t be pushing as much IP into the parks as Iger is today if he was alive. Walt was the king of cross promoting his IP across film, TV, merchandise and parks. He pretty much invented it. I can’t imagine what he would have done if he had the amount of IP to play with that the company has now.

"What Walt would have done" is disenguous because it's clear that by the time of his death he wasn't considering additonal theme parks but had changed his trajectory towards The Florida Project, which certainly had nothing to do with pushing Disney movies. The company then built a second park in the image of Disneyland but also took inspiration from the new vision when building EPCOT Center. Did they go against his principles when inititially not tying the park into Disney movies?

 

[LSLS]

Moana is a phenomenon, but in 2024 Encanto is still routinely making the list of top ten most-streamed films. If that doesn't rise to the level of being popular enough to justify an attraction and some shows, then we'd better get ready for a future of four Moana theme parks at WDW.

We are getting an Encanto show, Encanto ride (and maybe miniland), meet and greet, and Encanto in a character meal so far, represented in 3 parks and a resort. Now, been a while since I've been down, but I believe Frozen has a meet and greet, a show, and a ride (I don't think a character meal?) in 2 parks. Moana has a walkthrough garden and maybe a meet and greet in 2 parks? My point is that I find it odd that Encanto seems to be getting more representation than the much larger films.

 

[bmr1591]

Will there be three attractions in this new land? And I presume the bone yard is going away.

Presumably Indiana Jones, Encanto, and a Coco carousel. That doesn’t include any animal walkthroughs.

 

[Coaster Lover]

I mean, they need to move the capybaras to this area... right? So what replaces the capybaras on the Discovery Island Trail?

 

[tcool123]

I mean, they need to move the capybaras to this area... right? So what replaces the capybaras on the Discovery Island Trail?

I didn’t think they were still around - so if I have to wager then it would be whatever ended up already replacing them!