Kilimanjaro Safaris Elephant Bypass

[TrainsOfDisney]

That was the whole problem with it, though.

It treated the animals like they were set dressing on a Disney attraction, which was a huge mistake. The lives animals themselves are more interesting than anything Disney was going to be able to do, so all of that just distracted from the true purpose.

All of those elements would be better in a separate dark ride.

I disagree with that. Does the story of Everest make the coaster itself less of the star? Should there be a coaster next to a “look out for the yeti” dark ride?

Or does the combination of the 2 make the definition of a Disney attraction.

 

[UNCgolf]

I disagree with that. Does the story of Everest make the coaster itself less of the star? Should there be a coaster next to a “look out for the yeti” dark ride?

Or does the combination of the 2 make the definition of a Disney attraction.

That comparison doesn't make any sense.

The safari features live animals. They're not comparable to anything else in any Disney attraction. People ride it to see the animals.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

That comparison doesn't make any sense.

The safari features live animals. They're not comparable to anything else in any Disney attraction. People ride it to see the animals.

The live animals are the thrill, the star. But you can see animals at your local zoo.

The coaster is the thrill, the star. But you can ride a coaster at your local amusement park.

It’s the story, theme, and complete experience that makes it Disney.

I’m not saying the Safaris is now a bad attraction, but I do think the full version with the story and working effects was the best.

 

[UNCgolf]

The live animals are the thrill, the star. But you can see animals at your local zoo.

The coaster is the thrill, the star. But you can ride a coaster at your local amusement park.

It’s the story, theme, and complete experience that makes it Disney.

I’m not saying the Safaris is now a bad attraction, but I do think the full version with the story and working effects was the best.

Seeing animals at your local zoo and seeing animals on the safari at Animal Kingdom aren't similar experiences, just like a local amusement park coaster and Expedition Everest aren't similar experiences.

The safari is still themed; that's one of the reasons it's better than seeing animals at a local zoo. It's not like you're just driving through some random Florida swampland with animals in it.

Generally the elements of an attraction all work together to enhance the overall experience. That wasn't the case with the safari; the overall experience is seeing the animals and the story elements did nothing to improve that. They either had no effect, or actually distracted from paying attention to the animals. That's what made it different from other Disney attractions.

Some of the general effects like the bridge and mist etc. could definitely still be on, but the attraction is better without the overall poacher storyline.

Of course it's subjective, but for me, the animals and the poaching storyline competed with each other rather than enhancing the overall experience -- even though it took riding the attraction with the storyline removed to understand that.

 

[HauntedPirate]

Well it used to have a story that went with it, and the bridge that almost fails, and an ending, which made it more of a thrilling ride. Now it's just a safari ride. An impressive one, but just a safari ride. I think maybe they should go back to that old playbook and come up with a new story for the ride. And who knows, maybe get the bridge working again.

I'd like that as well. I simply don't trust the current management to approve a story that would be a worthy successor to the original. We'd probably get an even dumber story than the current SSE script.

 

[Tuvalu]

Today the safari path was altered to go straight to the flamingo pool from the grassland, bypassing the (previously) hydraulic bridge. Is this normal for this time of year, possibly coinciding with their mating season?

Below is (very roughly) the path our safari vehicle took to bypass the area.

View attachment 761654

Rode across the (loud) creaky bridge yesterday.