Festival of the Lion King moving to Africa

[Omnimover]

I would also argue that if the buildtime for Avatar is 2016 at the earliest, then a modified Maharajah Jungle Trek that includes Giant Pandas should be an immediate priority for this park.

While I don't disagree with you as a giant panda environment would be a major positive addition to the park, I thought there were issues with incorporating them due to their very particular environmental needs. If memory serves me well (and it rarely does), whenever this topic has been broached, posters seem to indicate that the Powers That Be wouldn't be interested in the added complexity/inflexibility a giant panda exhibit would require.

 

[drew81]

Again, this is just a rumor. I am not 100% where it would go in Africa or when this will happen.

I would think it could go back behind the Bradley Falls area. They train layout could be changed to accomodate it.

 

[disnyfan89]

I believe the last plans that where being thrown around was to remove flights of wonder and place the new FoLK in that location. There was also talk of using the version from Hong Kong.

 

[drew81]

I believe the last plans that where being thrown around was to remove flights of wonder and place the new FoLK in that location. There was also talk of using the version from Hong Kong.

Doesn't Disney still have a lengthy contract with Steve Martin/Natural Encounters Inc for Flights of Wonder?

 

[Lucky]

I agree it can't be in or past Harambe due to thematic clash and congestion problems. The path to FotLK has to be separate.

 

[disnyfan89]

Doesn't Disney still have a lengthy contract with Steve Martin/Natural Encounters Inc for Flights of Wonder?

That I'm not sure about. I know he was brought in to help develop the show but I'm not sure what additional control or agreement he has with Disney. Doing a quick search I do see that Flights of Wonder is not listed on Natural Encounters Inc's website. http://www.naturalencounters.com/shows.html

 

[MarkTwain]

Sounds like a logical move to me. It could be even more in theme if they designed the exterior to feature the dilapidated, earthy look of Harambe, and called it "Harambe Festival Theater" or something like that. Make it look like a village production about fantasy Africa.

I agree that Harambe's design is immaculate, but there really may be no better place for a Lion King-related attraction in all of WDW than AK's Africa. Some flexibility seems appropriate for an attraction this popular.

 

[autigger]

Apparently, Hong Kong Disneyland and has a much more elaborate FOTLK. Hopefully, this is an opportunity for TDO to seriously upgrade this already very popular attraction and create a great new FOTLK for Animal Kingdom. If handled correctly, this could be very good news for Animal Kingdom.

 

[disnyfan89]

Here is the Hong Kong version for anyone interested:

 

[djkidkaz]

Rumor-

Camp Minnie-Mickey will be seeing many changes in the upcoming future. The most significant of these will see Festival of the Lion King relocated to Africa.

The Camp will also be losing the character kiosks and the replacement for those will be the new meet 'n greet location at Beastly Bazaar(which was reported a few weeks ago).

So there will be nothing left back there then, correct?

 

[djkidkaz]

I really think the easiest spot to move FotLK is where Creature Comforts currently sits, right before the bridge to Africa from Discovery Island on the left hand side:
http://www.wikimapia.org/#lat=28.3566072&lon=-81.59172&z=18&l=0&m=b

Another option is to put Festival of the Lion King on the pathway between Harambe and Flights of Wonder, but without altering the train layout this is an extremely tight fit:
http://www.wikimapia.org/#lat=28.3589203&lon=-81.5908832&z=18&l=0&m=b

Really, the best option is altering the train layout and Maharajah Jungle Trek, pushing Flights of Wonder further back in Africa with an entrance near the current Harambe train station is. By altering or removing the current train layout and modifying the Maharajah Jungle Trek, they can position the park much better for future expansion into the plot North of Asia. I would also argue that if the buildtime for Avatar is 2016 at the earliest, then a modified Maharajah Jungle Trek that includes Giant Pandas should be an immediate priority for this park.
http://www.wikimapia.org/#lat=28.359803&lon=-81.589998&z=18&l=0&m=b

Im guessing that once this is announced there will be large changes to AK. If they really are going to make it a full day park, they really need to make some changes. I think we'll see alot of modifications to the layout of the park. I'd love it if the train was made to circle the whole park.

 

[AVPTI]

Just watched HK's version and I really hope we don't see it come here. Just wasn't as entertaining as we have now.

 

[JustInTime]

Just watched HK's version and I really hope we don't see it come here. Just wasn't as entertaining as we have now.

Yeah! It's really not. It's missing the flying birds and the acrobats. Ours is 100x better.

 

[disnyfan89]

If they do make changes to the show it would be more of a hybrid of the two shows. I would hope Disney would take the opportunity to take the show to the next level. For a show that was built using left over parade floats and meant to be temporary it sure has done wonders. It would be amazing to see where they could take it with a new home.

 

[NiarrNDisney]

How I could see it happening

 

[AVPTI]

How I could see it happening

1. Wild Trek training and "admin" area is right where you placed the theatre.

2. There still needs to be room to store the floats when they aren't on stage that would increase the size of the theatre.

 

[NiarrNDisney]

If theatre is going to being moved and that is the prime location. I am sure it won't be an issue to relocate the Wild Trek Africa admin and training.

Not to mention where I placed it is south of the service areas so I'm certain it woud fit.

 

[AVPTI]

Not to mention where I placed it is south of the service areas so I'm certain it woud fit.

I guess, but traffic flow would be crazy. It's already pretty rough in it's current location.

 

[SpectroMagicMan]

I had also heard that this would be moving sooner than later and that they would use a good portion of the HKDL show and specifically remove the current stage as the preformers had the transition from the tumble monkey segment to the rest of the show.

 

[bethymouse]

What? Worried that you might be able to see a show building from the train ride?


I don't think it belongs right in the village like Mombasa Marketplace or Tamu Tamu, but I think you could have a path leading behind the village with some Harambe-appropriate signage pointing you in the direction of the show. Like I said earlier, there is pretty much no chance that you just stumble upon FotLK right now. The healthy crowds that it gets are all people seeking it out, so it doesn't need to be in your face in the village.

Can't you already see the buildings on the train ride?