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

[Advisable Joseph]

Given the way its squeezed between the safari and the trek - and with the high number of animal care facilities along Conservation Way - I'd be shocked to see them go this route. There are plenty of areas for expansion that wouldn't require this level of development or guest access risk.

There have been hints at this on the past, pre-pandemic:

An insider in the truest sense of the word once hinted the train could become part of a much bigger plan. Seems I remember it could be a resort or a new land. Certainly the train could create a much more immersive experience if they chose that option.

Also, @ToTBellHop has indicated there are plans to build north of Everest/Kali River IIRC.

 

[UNCgolf]

Given the way its squeezed between the safari and the trek - and with the high number of animal care facilities along Conservation Way - I'd be shocked to see them go this route. There are plenty of areas for expansion that wouldn't require this level of development or guest access risk.

Completely agree -- I've been shooting this idea down for a while here.

They might eventually expand all the way up to Conservation Station, but I think that's a very long way off. It's just not feasible without a tremendous amount of work.

There have been hints at this on the past, pre-pandemic:


Also, @ToTBellHop has indicated there are plans to build north of Everest/Kali River IIRC.

That wouldn't get to Conservation Station, though, unless they built an expansion that essentially doubled the size of the current park (excluding the Safari).

 

[ToTBellHop]

There have been plans for here in the past, but the train would have been removed.

It’s obviously pushed off given current plans.

 

[UNCgolf]

There have been plans for here in the past, but the train would have been removed.
View attachment 782077
It’s obviously pushed off given current plans.

I kind of doubt they were planning to use the entire plot, though, at least all at once -- mainly because it would be an absolutely massive expansion. It's basically the same size as Pandora, the Oasis, and Dinoland USA combined. It's also bigger than Africa/Asia combined, minus the animal trails and Safari.

They do need to expand there eventually. I assume they could also expand east/northeast of Everest/Kali.

 

[ToTBellHop]

I kind of doubt they were planning to use the entire plot, though, at least all at once -- mainly because it would be an absolutely massive expansion. It's basically the same size as Pandora, the Oasis, and Dinoland USA combined. It's also bigger than Africa/Asia combined, minus the animal trails and Safari.

They do need to expand there eventually. I assume they could also expand east/northeast of Everest/Kali.

Yes, it’s a huge plot. We all know how long these expansion plots sit around…and with current plans, we are talking 2040s probably…

 

[DisneyDean97]

Yes, it’s a huge plot. We all know how long these expansion plots sit around…and with current plans, we are talking 2040s probably…
View attachment 782078

So you're saying it'll probably be themed to Zootopia 5 and Live Action Moana 3

 

[UNCgolf]

Yes, it’s a huge plot. We all know how long these expansion plots sit around…and with current plans, we are talking 2040s probably…
View attachment 782078

Have they also considered the below area? I'm sure it would be even further into the future because the aforementioned plot would make more sense/be much easier to develop first, but I'm curious if it's a possibility or if there is something preventing development here. It would also allow for a massive expansion.

 

[ToTBellHop]

Have they also considered the below area? I'm sure it would be even further into the future because the aforementioned plot would make more sense/be much easier to develop first, but I'm curious if it's a possibility or if there is something preventing development here. It would also allow for a massive expansion.

View attachment 782080

Not sure the land is usable. Maybe I can haunt whatever land they put there in 2080.

 

[UNCgolf]

Not sure the land is usable. Maybe I can haunt whatever land they put there in 2080.

I guess it would be on the RCID maps somewhere if it was usable or potentially usable.

 

[Advisable Joseph]

I guess it would be on the RCID maps somewhere if it was usable or potentially usable.

That's the west bank of Reedy Creek.

Currently conservation lands.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Have they also considered the below area? I'm sure it would be even further into the future because the aforementioned plot would make more sense/be much easier to develop first, but I'm curious if it's a possibility or if there is something preventing development here. It would also allow for a massive expansion.

View attachment 782080

It's marked "conservation" and "unsuitable"

Which means, to use it, Disney would have to purchase undeveloped land elsewhere (and a lot more than the area of the land they want to use). And then, spend a lot to make the land suitable by dropping tons of dirt on it.

Maps of the Reedy Creek 2010 - 2020 Plan

The Reedy Creek Improvement District (RCID) is the governing jurisdiction for Walt Disney World comprising the 'towns' of Lake Buena Vista (formerly Reedy Creek in which Disney Springs, Saratoga Springs and Port Orleans live) and Bay Lake (the rest of developed WDW), and the unincorporated...

forums.wdwmagic.com

 

[James Alucobond]

What’s the capacity of the train anyway? I’d kill to have them move the train to the front of the park as transit between AK and AKL and then use that space for better access to the expansion pad, but that’s probably logistically impossible.

 

[PREMiERdrum]

Using some of the greenhouse area to expand just north of Kali =/= getting anywhere near expanding north to Planet Watch.

I've known of pitches to eliminate the train, relocate the petting zoo, and take the hospital fully offstage, but never anything that included expanding that far north. It's not feasible, for like a million reasons.

 

[Advisable Joseph]

@MisterPenguin, there was more talk about reusing the train:

Lee indicated at one point it could possibly connect to a resort someday. Unfortunately he doesn't seem to travel these boards anymore.

Who is "Lee"?

EDIT: Lee is @Lee. How convenient!

I've known of pitches to eliminate the train, relocate the petting zoo, and take the hospital fully offstage, but never anything that included expanding that far north. It's not feasible, for like a million reasons.I'veI've

Does "take the hospital fully offstage" mean building a new hospital?

An old comment from when Avatar was going to go to the north:
, YMMV:

The petting zoo is not going anywhere...however it is being relocated to Camp Minnie-Mickey because it has more of a fit in that land. The Animal Care facilities will also be moved but it is unclear to where at this point. They are ironing out the final details before they break ground early next year.

 

[Advisable Joseph]

Also

Glendale have long wanted a way to connect Raffikis to the rest of DAK without the train. Avland would do that. Of course if Raffikis does move the option of using the land north of Kali anyway would tie in with the long term land use proposals for the park.

This suggests a path going all the way to Rafiki's is viable, contra other claims in this thread.

What could "long term land use" mean?

 

[ToTBellHop]

Also


This suggests a path going all the way to Rafiki's is viable, contra other claims in this thread.

What could "long term land use" mean?

It’s the long-term plan to use that large plot, as I said. However, with Tropical Americas and then a ride on the western side of the park looking likely, we won’t see expansion elsewhere for at least 15 years, and even that will depend on park needs and the CEO at the time. It will take close to 60 years to finally use the Adventureland expansion pad, it seems.

 

[Advisable Joseph]

However, with Tropical Americas and then a ride on the western side of the park looking likely, we won’t see expansion elsewhere for at least 15 years,

I'm very, very puzzled here. The construction you mentioned should be done in around five years, before Disney's spending fully ramps up. Mega expansion somewhere at Disney World should follow: where do you suggest?

 

[MisterPenguin]

I wonder if WDW will use the "one new big thing per year" strategy. If so, we might be looking at something like this:

2024 TBA
2025 Full press on entertainment including parades, night parades, and drones
2026 DAK: Tropical America
2027 MK: Beyond BTMR
2028 DHS: 'something big'
2029 EPCOT: Figment/Inside Out
2030 DAK: Zootopia in Tree of Life
2031 MK: Moana
2032 DAK: Lion King ride
2033 MK: BBTMR phase 2
2034 5th Gate: Cupcakeland

Count your blessings if two of the things happen in the same year.

 

[Mike S]

I wonder if WDW will use the "one new big thing per year" strategy. If so, we might be looking at something like this:

2024 TBA
2025 Full press on entertainment including parades, night parades, and drones
2026 DAK: Tropical America
2027 MK: Beyond BTMR
2028 DHS: 'something big'
2029 EPCOT: Figment/Inside Out
2030 DAK: Zootopia in Tree of Life
2031 MK: Moana
2032 DAK: Lion King ride
2033 MK: BBTMR phase 2
2034 5th Gate: Cupcakeland

Count your blessings if two of the things happen in the same year.

Crazy how 2024 is still To Be Announced

 

[Advisable Joseph]

They need to do a lot at DAK and DHS, as well as more work at EPCOT, before they think about building a 5th park.

EPCOT doesn't really need expansions, especially compared to the other two, but it does need to fix several existing spaces. A new World Showcase pavilion or two and a couple of additional rides up there would be great, but not really necessary if they didn't have some old Future World pavilions wasting away.

DAK and DHS, on the other hand, both need at least double the amount of their current attractions.

That's the plan. Pump the most raw capacity boost over the next decade WDW has ever seen, and once that is done, build a 5th gate. Leadership gets it now, it's why you're seeing a new land at HWS before BBT is finished.

So it sounds like Henry Mystic is saying that the plan is for mega-expansion in DAK.

Too much demand: need more supply.