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DAK 'Encanto' and 'Indiana Jones'-themed experiences at Animal Kingdom
- Thread starter wdwmagic
- Start date
- Featured
UNCgolf
Well-Known Member
Dino-rama is kind of hard to discuss.
It absolutely feels out of place at Animal Kingdom, because the rest of the park is tropical -- but it's actually a very well-designed and intricately detailed area. The theming is absolutely on point.
The biggest issue is that it's just not a good theme for Animal Kingdom (or really for a Disney theme park in general). I'm not sad to see it go. But... there's a tremendous amount of care/detail/depth to it that that has been lacking in some of Imagineering's recent projects.
Yeah, your mid-high season pre Star Wars had that reliably over 90 minutes all day.
I'd argue that it never truly felt like a mom and pop established carnival and therefore not on point. It was never dumpy enough. It felt and looked distinctly Disney in it's execution. Too vibrant, modern and pristine. Definitely out of place for Animal Kingdom, I agree. But the visuals never really lent that tourist trap vibe, per the backstory. IMHO.
WorldExplorer
Well-Known Member
I think a good measuring stick of how creative a person is is how they handle a lack of budget or otherwise unfavorable circumstances.
Dino-Rama was clearly made by someone (Rohde) who had a clear vision of what he was doing there and was generally very skilled. Note Primeval Whirl which, despite having very few show elements at all, has several elements that people feel are missing in certain full on dark rides (like the time tunnel at the beginning so feel like you're in the middle of things not just riding past them, or the dynamic poses of the dinosaur cutouts).
To me, the area (and Restaurant O'saurus) came across as someone charging at an idea with everything they had even if it wasn't the best base to build on. Dinosaur Treasures didn't need to be filled to the brim with so much stuff that there probably wasn't a single person on the planet who saw everything in there, yet they did that anyway. The games would have run just fine and people would have paid for them without the cute little illustrations on top or the little elements that made them fit the theme, but they customized them anyway (and they were really cute). There's a near identical cast member door near Dinosaur as there was near Dinosaur Treasures and they didn't bother with any theming to tell you not to go past that one so they could've just left it at that in Rama, too, but they put up a giant parking lot sign with a joke on it. TriceraTop Spin didn't need its kenetics but it had them while most spinners don't. Chester and Hester's didn't need all the signs, etc. etc. etc. Even if you don't particularly like these elements, it's things they added to make it so it's hard to look anywhere in the area without your eyes landing on SOMETHING that was placed there intentionally and it all adds to the overall tone of the area.
Hundreds of small things because they couldn't afford one big one, is the way I saw it.
If I may go off on a more personal note;
- I'm sick and tired of the irony overload in modern culture and enjoy having puns presented to me without someone groaning or making the "eh? EH?" face immediately after.
- Dinoland is the farthest they've pushed the "feeling like you're traveling somewhere people live" concept that Animal Kingdom is supposed to be using. Africa, Asia, and Pandora, at least so far as I have seen, don't go farther than ads for stuff around the area or a place having a canonically named owner. Dinoland has full characters with personalities and Chester and Hester are the biggest example of that since Marsh and Seeker are confined to the ride and newspaper clippings; the added detail that they genuinely like dinosaurs and aren't just opprotunistic makes it surprisingly nuanced characterization considering the medium and the jokey setup, too.
- I love small towns. Sometimes, when it wasn't crowded and it was dark, the area around Dinosaur Treasures really felt like I was somewhere else. I also never get tired of that thing where they put a light in the window like someone's home; I know no one's in there, but it gets my imagination running.
- The whole "people pay for anything dino" aspect is so true and in hindsight it's funny to look back and realize it's been something present in my life without me noticing. Like, when I was a lot younger my family was driving to Disney and my parents decided to make a side stop and asked us where to go, and we all picked the dinosaur park. I wouldn't even qualify anyone in my family as a dinosaur person, that's just the magic of dinosaurs. I never thought about them and how big a role they play in our culture before Dino-Rama.
- I can't hate this face;
- Dinoland is the farthest they've pushed the "feeling like you're traveling somewhere people live" concept that Animal Kingdom is supposed to be using. Africa, Asia, and Pandora, at least so far as I have seen, don't go farther than ads for stuff around the area or a place having a canonically named owner. Dinoland has full characters with personalities and Chester and Hester are the biggest example of that since Marsh and Seeker are confined to the ride and newspaper clippings; the added detail that they genuinely like dinosaurs and aren't just opprotunistic makes it surprisingly nuanced characterization considering the medium and the jokey setup, too.
- I love small towns. Sometimes, when it wasn't crowded and it was dark, the area around Dinosaur Treasures really felt like I was somewhere else. I also never get tired of that thing where they put a light in the window like someone's home; I know no one's in there, but it gets my imagination running.
- The whole "people pay for anything dino" aspect is so true and in hindsight it's funny to look back and realize it's been something present in my life without me noticing. Like, when I was a lot younger my family was driving to Disney and my parents decided to make a side stop and asked us where to go, and we all picked the dinosaur park. I wouldn't even qualify anyone in my family as a dinosaur person, that's just the magic of dinosaurs. I never thought about them and how big a role they play in our culture before Dino-Rama.
- I can't hate this face;
If someone really can't understand why anyone could like Rama, think about something like Blizzard Beach; I think they're very similar in tone. They're bright and silly and have a general atmosphere of being upbeat and happy. They both love puns. Rama just has the joke cheap element to it. When I went to either one, though, I smiled and laughed.
I'm sad to see Rama go. I think modern Imagineers could learn a lot from it. "Chester and Hester" clearly had skill and drive even if they didn't have the budget.
ToTBellHop
Well-Known Member
They could save money by bringing over the AAs from fan-favorite Superstar Limo. Imagine, you go through Antonio’s door and it’s funnyman Tim Allen!
JackCH
Well-Known Member
I appreciate that perspective! Made me think about it a bit differently, genuinely. Still think this is a needed change though.
It used to be an automatic 75 at park open.
Garyjames220
New Member
When I was there during my 2 week start of December trip there was times it was at 90 minutes
KatiebugFan
Active Member
Count me as one of those people who think it is one of the best rides in WDW.
TriceraTop Spin Disassembly Begins as Construction Walls Go Up at Disney's Animal Kingdom
TriceraTop Spin Disassembly Begins as Construction Walls Go Up at Disney's Animal Kingdom
TriceraTop Spin Disassembly Begins as Construction Walls Go Up at Disney's Animal Kingdom
www.wdwmagic.com
bmr1591
Well-Known Member
TriceraTop Spin Disassembly Begins as Construction Walls Go Up at Disney's Animal Kingdom
TriceraTop Spin Disassembly Begins as Construction Walls Go Up at Disney's Animal Kingdom
TriceraTop Spin Disassembly Begins as Construction Walls Go Up at Disney's Animal Kingdom
Any idea what they'll do with it? I know we've armchair imagineered on here that it would do well as a Trixie spinner in TSL, but I don't think any insiders have hinted that's even in the realm of possibility.
DavidDL
Well-Known Member
What really bums me out is how DINOSAUR becoming yet another Indy attraction adds to the homogenization of the parks.
When I first visited WDW in 2007, I was super excited for DINOSAUR. It ended up being one of the absolute highlights of my trip. I’ll never forget my first ride through, the absolute terror I felt being in the driver’s seat when the Carnosaur began to “chase” the vehicle from the left.
What made it special, and what separated WDW from DL where I grew up, is that things weren’t shared between parks. WDW didn’t have Indy, they had DINOSAUR. It felt special, unique. It was quite literally one of many exclusive attractions that made me want to go and visit WDW despite DL being a 20 minute drive from my parent’s place.
Sure, the upcoming Indy will have a “different” story than the one in DL but I wonder to myself: if it had always been Indy, if all the WDW attractions were just minor deviations from their DL counterparts, would I have felt as much need to visit back in ‘07? Probably not. “Bah, we have Indy here and there’s another in Tokyo” is what I’d probably have said.
It’s a shame, really, that many of the parks continue their slow march into generic, brand loyalty centers at the cost of their original identities.
When I first visited WDW in 2007, I was super excited for DINOSAUR. It ended up being one of the absolute highlights of my trip. I’ll never forget my first ride through, the absolute terror I felt being in the driver’s seat when the Carnosaur began to “chase” the vehicle from the left.
What made it special, and what separated WDW from DL where I grew up, is that things weren’t shared between parks. WDW didn’t have Indy, they had DINOSAUR. It felt special, unique. It was quite literally one of many exclusive attractions that made me want to go and visit WDW despite DL being a 20 minute drive from my parent’s place.
Sure, the upcoming Indy will have a “different” story than the one in DL but I wonder to myself: if it had always been Indy, if all the WDW attractions were just minor deviations from their DL counterparts, would I have felt as much need to visit back in ‘07? Probably not. “Bah, we have Indy here and there’s another in Tokyo” is what I’d probably have said.
It’s a shame, really, that many of the parks continue their slow march into generic, brand loyalty centers at the cost of their original identities.
DavidDL
Well-Known Member
I see the removal of Dinoland USA as Disney conceding that they no longer have the creative ability to make some of the most popular and incredible creatures ever to walk the Earth work in their parks.
I guess just because they aren’t able to stick a (TM) towards the end of the species names? Or because there isn’t some upcoming movie or Disney+ show to tie them into?
Weak.
I guess just because they aren’t able to stick a (TM) towards the end of the species names? Or because there isn’t some upcoming movie or Disney+ show to tie them into?
Weak.
I've gotten in line when it's said 45 and 60 minutes and it's been 20, last September was my most recent ride.
You also went during what has become a rather busy time of year. Was it an actual 90 minute wait or was that just what you saw as you walked by? Curious, not accusing.
JackCH
Well-Known Member
I feel the opposite. It seems Disney is moving away from that. There were no clones announced at the last D23. Magic Kingdom is going to feel the most different from Disneyland it ever has, rather than the relatively worse version it has been for most of its existence. Even if people don't like the additions, there were definitely options for cloning they intentionally chose not to do.
The latter. Because they tried and failed. After two dinosaur movies and a Dinoland that was not lovingly embraced, it was time to call it quits.
Especially, since Universal did make successful dino movies. If Disney tried *another* dino movie, they'd be called out for for just following Uni. And imagine if that movie failed... yikes.
This was a time when Disney failed with regard to a specific genre. Uni wins on dinos. Disney wins on princesses. You play the hand you have.
And if you want Disney to double down on dinos in the parks without a merchandising theatrical tie-in... well... that's not going to happen. There are plenty of successful movies that suffice for park tie-ins and merchandising and franchising without using dinos.
Sorcerer Mickey
Well-Known Member
Good thing Dinosaur is being replaced by a franchise with a recent successful movie.
New ECO-RYTHMICS Show Brings Recycled Beats to Disney's Animal Kingdom
New ECO-RYTHMICS Show Brings Recycled Beats to Disney's Animal Kingdom
New ECO-RYTHMICS Show Brings Recycled Beats to Disney's Animal Kingdom
www.wdwmagic.com
