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

[HMF]

I just don’t see either Encanto and Indie fitting into AK. Indie is already in HS. Encanto or Indiana doesn’t have enough animals in there stories to offer a proper fit in a park themed around animals. Disney is now trying to make the main theme about lands just to include there IP . Indiana Jones attraction is just about using an attraction they already have constructed and tweaking it so they can do it on the cheap.

Don't you understand? It's not about theming anymore. It's about shoving IP wherever you can. whether it fits or not be damned.
https://vocal.media/wander/disney-s-animal-kingdom

 

[DisneyDodo]

If the rumors of DAK getting some Lion King addition are true I hope it’s an extension of existing area with its own mini land included with the attraction.

The original Lion King concept from years ago would have included a new ride south of the FotLK show and a LK retail location (presumably an exit gift shop). It would have all been officially part of the Africa land, but would effectively constitute a LK mini land in the sense that there would be several LK-themed things in close proximity (similar to the BatB “mini land” in NFL with ETwB, BoG, and Gaston’s Tavern).

I don’t know if this new round of LK in DAK rumors is for a revival of that concept or something different.

 

[The Leader of the Club]

Anything new Disney does with Dinos would be compared to Universal’s Jurassic Park attractions. I’d wager that, after losing with their Spider-Man experience, they aren’t too keen to compete with Jurassic World Beijing or VelociCoaster.

Another thing to consider is that animatronic dinosaurs are everywhere at this point. Zoos, museums, regional parks, even traveling exhibitions have animatronic dinos that they parade around. From Disney’s perspective, there’s no reason to keep committing to something that audiences can get from someone else. The land is better suited to showcase concepts that are uniquely Disney.

 

[Consumer]

Would Expedition Everest no longer fit into DAK if it was given an Indiana Jones overlay? I don’t see why not. So why wouldn’t a ride about mythological animals in South America work if it has an Indiana Jones theme? Seems like a small minded criticism.

 

[celluloid]

Would Expedition Everest no longer fit into DAK if it was given an Indiana Jones overlay? I don’t see why not. So why wouldn’t a ride about mythological animals in South America work if it has an Indiana Jones theme? Seems like a small minded criticism.

It would be about the same fit. Which is odd and random.

 

[haveyoumetmark]

I just don’t see either Encanto and Indie fitting into AK. Indie is already in HS. Encanto or Indiana doesn’t have enough animals in there stories to offer a proper fit in a park themed around animals. Disney is now trying to make the main theme about lands just to include there IP . Indiana Jones attraction is just about using an attraction they already have constructed and tweaking it so they can do it on the cheap.

Animals are such a small part of the story in Encanto that it really doesn't make sense in the park. Ditto for Indy. Dinosaurs make perfect sense in the park and the Dinoland area should just be given TLC, not erased.

Besides, IIRC, Indy was considered when the park opened initially and they chose to go with Dinosaur instead. So I'm not understanding the logic in this switch, considering Indy is a dated IP and the last movie didn't do well anyway.

Definitely this. It is no secret that is the mandate. Execs have admitted it.

Let's just hope it can be creatively well done the best it can be without any budget cutting that we are not even to the phase of yet.

Don't you understand? It's not about theming anymore. It's about shoving IP wherever you can. whether it fits or not be damned.
https://vocal.media/wander/disney-s-animal-kingdom

DAK’s theme is far more expansive than merely “animals”. This is such a tired, boring and myopic take. They should relocate Toontown to Animal Kingdom since that’s all animals then. Might as well bring over Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride and Roger Rabbit while we’re at it as well. Runaway Railway is about animals, what a shame they shoehorned that into the wrong park.

Anything new Disney does with Dinos would be compared to Universal’s Jurassic Park attractions. I’d wager that, after losing with their Spider-Man experience, they aren’t too keen to compete with Jurassic World Beijing or VelociCoaster.

Another thing to consider is that animatronic dinosaurs are everywhere at this point. Zoos, museums, regional parks, even traveling exhibitions have animatronic dinos that they parade around. From Disney’s perspective, there’s no reason to keep committing to something that audiences can get from someone else. The land is better suited to showcase concepts that are uniquely Disney.

This is too reasonable to resonate with everyone’s delulu nostalgia and attachment to one of DAK’s worst areas. But you’re exactly right.

Would Expedition Everest no longer fit into DAK if it was given an Indiana Jones overlay? I don’t see why not. So why wouldn’t a ride about mythological animals in South America work if it has an Indiana Jones theme? Seems like a small minded criticism.

Yup. Unfortunately having a critical opinion doesn’t require critical thinking.

 

[Sir_Cliff]

Am I the only one who is more interested in the possibilities of an Encanto or Indiana Jones attraction than a Lion King attraction at DAK? Those rides at least provide the potential to explore humans' relationship with animals, which I think is the core theme of the park. A Lion King ride would just be anthropomorphised animals telling a human story.

I don't understand the argument a Lion King ride would fit the theme of the park better and honestly think it would be a pretty bad fit alongside what's already there.

 

[KDM31091]

You can argue whether Dinoland is awesome or not, but it doesn’t change the fact that replacing it with an Encanto house and Coco carousel is hardly fitting to the theme of the park.

 

[peter11435]

Am I the only one who is more interested in the possibilities of an Encanto or Indiana Jones attraction than a Lion King attraction at DAK? Those rides at least provide the potential to explore humans' relationship with animals, which I think is the core theme of the park. A Lion King ride would just be anthropomorphised animals telling a human story.

I don't understand the argument a Lion King ride would fit the theme of the park better and honestly think it would be a pretty bad fit alongside what's already there.

I actually agree with your concerns regarding the Lion King. Although I don’t exactly think Encanto or Indiana Jones are great fits either. I think it really comes down to how they treat the story and its inclusion in the park. If it’s just a book report ride where you’re plopped into their world then it doesn’t fit at all.

But at least they are animals behaving like animals…. Zootopia is the one that really angers me.

 

[Gusey]

I'm also hoping that the Lion King ride doesn't come, just so Walt Disney Studios Park could have a unique attraction. It did feel.like there was a rumor of another attraction outside of Dinoland, a rumor about Lion King at WDS and someone combined the two to make the rumor of Lion King at AK

 

[EricsBiscuit]

Am I the only one who is more interested in the possibilities of an Encanto or Indiana Jones attraction than a Lion King attraction at DAK? Those rides at least provide the potential to explore humans' relationship with animals, which I think is the core theme of the park. A Lion King ride would just be anthropomorphised animals telling a human story.

I don't understand the argument a Lion King ride would fit the theme of the park better and honestly think it would be a pretty bad fit alongside what's already there.

A balanced ecosystem, a clear theme in TLK, would be very relevant to DAK. The question is if they can turn it into a good attraction.

 

[wonkabars7]

I assumed they are just going to replicate the DL Indy ride in Dinoland, no?

 

[SaucyBoy]

Would Expedition Everest no longer fit into DAK if it was given an Indiana Jones overlay? I don’t see why not. So why wouldn’t a ride about mythological animals in South America work if it has an Indiana Jones theme? Seems like a small minded criticism.

What else would the insufferable purists complain about?

 

[Haymarket2008]

I assumed they are just going to replicate the DL Indy ride in Dinoland, no?

According to multiple insiders, this will be a completely new attraction designed specifically for Animal Kingdom. Using the familiar ride system.

 

[DisneyDodo]

I assumed they are just going to replicate the DL Indy ride in Dinoland, no?

It will not be the same ride. They will certainly borrow some concepts from both existing Indy rides to incorporate into this one, but it will have its own unique story.

 

[wonkabars7]

According to multiple insiders, this will be a completely new attraction designed specifically for Animal Kingdom. Using the familiar ride system.

It will not be the same ride. They will certainly borrow some concepts from both existing Indy rides to incorporate into this one, but it will have its own unique story.

Gotcha, not sure how I missed that info. I'm a huge Indy fan, so I would have been happy with the DL ride dropped into AK but this sounds even better.

 

[yensidtlaw1969]

I assumed they are just going to replicate the DL Indy ride in Dinoland, no?

No

 

[wonkabars7]

No

Thx!

 

[Animaniac93-98]

Am I the only one who is more interested in the possibilities of an Encanto or Indiana Jones attraction than a Lion King attraction at DAK? Those rides at least provide the potential to explore humans' relationship with animals, which I think is the core theme of the park. A Lion King ride would just be anthropomorphised animals telling a human story.

I don't understand the argument a Lion King ride would fit the theme of the park better and honestly think it would be a pretty bad fit alongside what's already there.

I actually agree with your concerns regarding the Lion King. Although I don’t exactly think Encanto or Indiana Jones are great fits either. I think it really comes down to how they treat the story and its inclusion in the park. If it’s just a book report ride where you’re plopped into their world then it doesn’t fit at all.

But at least they are animals behaving like animals…. Zootopia is the one that really angers me.

Perhaps even more than EPCOT, Animal Kingdom is not a park suited to IP additions and overlays.

As you point out, Disney's vast catalog of animal stories are, for the most part, about humanized animals, or animals interacting with humans. Very little is focused on the natural world or conservation in a way that doesn't just use them as a backdrop against the human drama. Even Pocahontas, a movie whose big song is about not exploiting nature, is guilty of this.

It really was a park that could only have been green lit and built as it was by 20th century Disney.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

A balanced ecosystem, a clear theme in TLK, would be very relevant to DAK. The question is if they can turn it into a good attraction.

That's what Circle of Life at Epcot was. An attraction that tired to use the characters to tell such a message.

Could a ride that has the same message, but still entertain as a ride work? That's the big question to me.