Festival of the Lion King moving to Africa

[George]

Everything is proceeding as was previously announced. Ground breaking for Pandora by the end of 2013 seems on track.

And kudos to Joe for keeping FotLK. It seems Disney rarely moves attractions so this is a pleasant surprise I doubted would get green lit. Great decision!

I hope you are correct, since I'm in the group that thinks Pandora would make a great theme park land. Our insiders seem to think the whole thing is on life support and they do have a good track record, so that does give me doubts. In short, if FoTLK is moved, I hope we don't wind up with the old planters blocking the walkway to CMM upgrade that has been mentioned by others. Keeping my fingers crossed.....

 

[twebber55]

I hope you are correct, since I'm in the group that thinks Pandora would make a great theme park land. Our insiders seem to think the whole thing is on life support and they do have a good track record, so that does give me doubts. In short, if FoTLK is moved, I hope we don't wind up with the old planters blocking the walkway to CMM upgrade that has been mentioned by others. Keeping my fingers crossed.....

my only thing would be why move it if nothing is going there...i know what the insiders are saying but it doesnt make since to me to move a popular show just to do nothing with that area

 

[Master Yoda]

I hope you are correct, since I'm in the group that thinks Pandora would make a great theme park land. Our insiders seem to think the whole thing is on life support and they do have a good track record, so that does give me doubts. In short, if FoTLK is moved, I hope we don't wind up with the old planters blocking the walkway to CMM upgrade that has been mentioned by others. Keeping my fingers crossed.....

my only thing would be why move it if nothing is going there...i know what the insiders are saying but it doesnt make since to me to move a popular show just to do nothing with that area

I do not think there is any question that something is going there. History tells us that Disney is not going to spend a dime on construction and/or demolition until they have to. If expansion to AK was on hold, life support, whatever, nothing would be happening.

My money is still on Avatar being that expansion and I am quite looking forward to it.

 

[George]

my only thing would be why move it if nothing is going there...i know what the insiders are saying but it doesnt make since to me to move a popular show just to do nothing with that area

The show does fit better in Africa...I agree though. It would push the bounds of believability that they were moving the show just for theme park aesthetics and integrity.

 

[George]

I do not think there is any question that something is going there. History tells us that Disney is not going to spend a dime on construction and/or demolition until they have to. If expansion to AK was on hold, life support, whatever, nothing would be happening.

My money is still on Avatar being that expansion and I am quite looking forward to it.

Quoting since it was added whilst I was typing and it is your typical high quality analysis. Now, hi-ho, hi-ho, it is back to work I go.

 

[MerlinTheGoat]

I've never been THAT against Avatar if done right. My primary worry isn't even that it doesn't belong there (which it still definitely doesn't), but rather that if built then it will be value engineered to hell and back. I can at least see potential for a quality attraction if given a proper budget and with great creative talent behind it. But that's my major worry.

Insiders- any changes in plans? Is Avatar still very troubled or is it now moving ahead starting this year?

 

[twebber55]

I've never been THAT against Avatar if done right. My primary worry isn't even that it doesn't belong there (which it still definitely doesn't), but rather that if built then it will be value engineered to hell and back. I can at least see potential for a quality attraction if given a proper budget and with great creative talent behind it. But that's my major worry.

Insiders- any changes in plans? Is Avatar still very troubled or is it now moving ahead starting this year?

i would say status quo on the project...nothing is leaked by may or june i would say forget about it

 

[MichWolv]

I do not think there is any question that something is going there. History tells us that Disney is not going to spend a dime on construction and/or demolition until they have to. If expansion to AK was on hold, life support, whatever, nothing would be happening.

My money is still on Avatar being that expansion and I am quite looking forward to it.

Agreed. If they really are building the new theater to move FotLK (and thank goodness they aren't doing the intially rumored 6-month dark time for the show while they do build the new theater), then it's pretty darned clear something is about to happen in the CMM area. Best bet still remains Avatar, but maybe if they are frustrated with that, they've decided to bring back to the plan to put a Mysterious Island-type land (see Tokyo DisneySea) there, or perhaps beastly kingdom is making a return.

In any event, it certainly seems that something is gonna happen.

 

[twebber55]

Agreed. If they really are building the new theater to move FotLK (and thank goodness they aren't doing the intially rumored 6-month dark time for the show while they do build the new theater), then it's pretty darned clear something is about to happen in the CMM area. Best bet still remains Avatar, but maybe if they are frustrated with that, they've decided to bring back to the plan to put a Mysterious Island-type land (see Tokyo DisneySea) there, or perhaps beastly kingdom is making a return.

In any event, it certainly seems that something is gonna happen.

you sir have the best user name on this board (born and raised in Washtenaw County)

 

[MichWolv]

you sir have the best user name on this board (born and raised in Washtenaw County)

GO BLUE!!!

 

[ChrisM]

GO BLUE!!!

Worst post in this history of this board.

 

[twebber55]

Worst post in this history of this board.

Chris should we say wake up the echos...

 

[MichWolv]

Worst post in this history of this board.

 

[Rhinos Rock!]

Festival of the Lion King is the BEST show I've ever seen.

 

[ChrisM]

Chris should we say wake up the echos...

Has a nice a ring to it, doesn't it?

 

[doctornick]

I do not think there is any question that something is going there. History tells us that Disney is not going to spend a dime on construction and/or demolition until they have to. If expansion to AK was on hold, life support, whatever, nothing would be happening.

My money is still on Avatar being that expansion and I am quite looking forward to it.

That's my inclination as well. If they are preceeding with the moving of FOTLK, I'm inclined to think that they expecting to move forward with Avatar (most likely) or something in the CMM space. I don't think they'd spend the money to build a new theater unless they were confident that thhey would need that space.

I really hope that Avatar happens, partially because I think if well done that it would be good attractions (and I don't think Cameron would agree to the attractions being value engineered) but also because the rumored attractions (Soarin' type ride and a boat ride) would compiment the offerings already in the park.

 

[Hobnail Boot]

I saw Joe Rohde in Africa twice today. Once he was on the pathway near Tamu Tamu Refreshments and the second time he was stopped in front of the bakery near the Safari. He was with a group of about 8 people. I couldn't hear what they were talking about but they were all listening intently to Joe.

 

[RSoxNo1]

Festival of the Lion King is the BEST show I've ever seen.

I'm a huge FotLK fan, but the one show that I'd say compares to it is Aladdin A Musical Spectacular in DCA. I will say that now that OSHA got involved the Aladdin show has taken a step back.

 

[Genie of the Lamp]

I'm a huge FotLK fan, but the one show that I'd say compares to it is Aladdin A Musical Spectacular in DCA. I will say that now that OSHA got involved the Aladdin show has taken a step back.

Yeah I had the priviledge to see the Aladdin Musical at DCA in 2005 (the only time I've been to DL Resort-2 days spent their out of a week trip to Palm Springs). Guess who was the star of the show? I am known for my exquisite and witty comedic material. Best Alan Menken musical in the Parks. FOTLK is w/o a question the best WDW show you'll find. I like the broadway version more though. Although I haven't seen La Nouba and I try desperately to see it but never have enough time to do so. I used to love BATB at the Studios and still somewhat do, but it's become more outdated by every show that goes by and the set pieces and costumes have seen their better days. So back to the thread at hand, I'd imagine we'd see the theater fully constructed and operational by sometime mid Octoberish? What differences will we see in this new theater compared to the old besides more seating and the bigger queue/FP+? If this has been answered in a previous post, I apologize just not in the mood to search around the earleir thread pages.

 

[Rhinos Rock!]

I'm a huge FotLK fan, but the one show that I'd say compares to it is Aladdin A Musical Spectacular in DCA. I will say that now that OSHA got involved the Aladdin show has taken a step back.

If DCA is Disneyland, I've never been there.