Rumor Lion King Flume Ride being considered for Animal Kingdom

[nickys]

They have a model and the showbuilding is HUGE. Like almost twice the size of Splash in Tokyo. It’s going to be a long dark ride that will need to be properly filled out with detailed sets and animatronics. Makes sense given it’s supposed to be retelling the entire Lion King story.

I kind of assume most of the story will be told inside the show building, with the meandering outdoor part being at the start of the ride - to minimise the length of time people might be wet after the drop.

 

[nickys]

Considering that MK is losing the ROA for the Cars attractions and that WDW is already jammed packed with attractions (including many relatively new ones) I think what’s happening at WDS is much more of a glow up and a bigger deal for them. Nothing is being removed for any of their additions and they re gaining a lot of atmosphere including a huge water feature in what everyone says is Disneys ugliest park.

I don’t think the lake is going to be that big. @marni1971 can probably comment better on that, but based on what I could see last year, it’s more akin to Echo Lake, not the Epcot Lagoon.

 

[marni1971]

I don’t think the lake is going to be that big. @marni1971 can probably comment better on that, but based on what I could see last year, it’s more akin to Echo Lake, not the Epcot Lagoon.

What’s this? Paris? Not Epcot but far larger than Echo Lake.

 

[nickys]

What’s this? Paris? Not Epcot but far larger than Echo Lake.

Wow! Happy to have been wrong on that.

 

[JackCH]

What’s this? Paris? Not Epcot but far larger than Echo Lake.

I was about to say the concept art looked far more grand than Echo Lake. I actually love the design and what they are doing on that.

 

[Chef idea Mickey`=]

I don’t think the lake is going to be that big. @marni1971 can probably comment better on that, but based on what I could see last year, it’s more akin to Echo Lake, not the Epcot Lagoon.

The concept art makes it larger than what maybe it seems!

 

[Timothy_Q]

According to Google Earth, on their wide sides

WDS Lake: 480ft
Echo Lake: 220ft
WS Lagoon: 1500ft

 

[RSoxNo1]

Most would agree with you. I can’t think of a single “addition” that is above a 7/10. Most aren’t even above a 5.

Guardians and Rise of the Resistance are excellent additions. An argument could be made that Guardians is a bad fit for the park or that Galaxy's Edge shouldn't have been locked to the Episode 8 timeline, but the attractions themselves are excellent.

 

[Starship824]

What’s this? Paris? Not Epcot but far larger than Echo Lake.

Would it be around the size of the lagoon at DisneySea? That seems like the best comparison for size.

 

[Epcot82Guy]

Guardians and Rise of the Resistance are excellent additions. An argument could be made that Guardians is a bad fit for the park or that Galaxy's Edge shouldn't have been locked to the Episode 8 timeline, but the attractions themselves are excellent.

Even as someone who really dislikes them, it's not because they lack merit. I think they are both matters of missed potential. Guardians, for example, is a 9/10 that is hampered by its location, fit and story (plus a bit of the motion sickness factor - but that's a smaller group I'm sadly a part of). Galaxy's Edge, similarly, falls short mostly because of its storytelling (or lack thereof) in the land itself.

Compare that to Pandora which I think hits on most of the checkboxes more successfully than either of the foregoing. (And, I firmly believe you could fix both without a major overhaul - like a simpler, more direct "Epcot" story for Guardians and stretching the timeline of Galaxy's Edge.)

 

[marni1971]

Even as someone who really dislikes them, it's not because they lack merit. I think they are both matters of missed potential. Guardians, for example, is a 9/10 that is hampered by its location, fit and story (plus a bit of the motion sickness factor - but that's a smaller group I'm sadly a part of). Galaxy's Edge, similarly, falls short mostly because of its storytelling (or lack thereof) in the land itself.

Compare that to Pandora which I think hits on most of the checkboxes more successfully than either of the foregoing. (And, I firmly believe you could fix both without a major overhaul - like a simpler, more direct "Epcot" story for Guardians and stretching the timeline of Galaxy's Edge.)

I’d argue Pandora fails due to lack of an E ticket. It’s pretty eye candy, but so it GE. Passage is good, but I can’t rate it an ’E‘ and neither does the company. In fact on our recent most visit we didn’t set foot in Pandora whilst in DAK. But that’s me.

I’m on record as personally thinking RotR is one of Glendales modern masterpieces, timeline and lack of physical effects notwithstanding.

 

[Blobbles]

I’m on record as personally thinking RotR is one of Glendales modern masterpieces, timeline and lack of physical effects notwithstanding.

I agree Martin. To me, ROTR is a combination of everything imagineering had learned up until that point to make a truly great surrounding experience that is ONE OF A KIND. In hindsight, it feels like the swan song of an era of imagineering pre-Covid.

(disclaimer I do have faith in the new crop of imagineers.)

 

[JackCH]

I’d argue Pandora fails due to lack of an E ticket. It’s pretty eye candy, but so it GE. Passage is good, but I can’t rate it an ’E‘ and neither does the company. In fact on our recent most visit we didn’t set foot in Pandora whilst in DAK. But that’s me.

I’m on record as personally thinking RotR is one of Glendales modern masterpieces, timeline and lack of physical effects notwithstanding.

Sorry if you have answered this before, but does the company actually still use the "E-Ticket" rating system or something similar? Always assumed that was just a fan thing.

 

[marni1971]

I don’t think the lake is going to be that big. @marni1971 can probably comment better on that, but based on what I could see last year, it’s more akin to Echo Lake, not the Epcot Lagoon.

I was about to say the concept art looked far more grand than Echo Lake. I actually love the design and what they are doing on that.

The concept art makes it larger than what maybe it seems!

Now I'm home, a pretty much to scale comparison:

 

[marni1971]

Sorry if you have answered this before, but does the company actually still use the "E-Ticket" rating system or something similar? Always assumed that was just a fan thing.

It does internally. It wouldn’t readily market anything as such.

 

[JackCH]

Now I'm home, a pretty much to scale comparison:

View attachment 830265

But at least we have Gertie! (cries internally)

 

[HauntedPirate]

But at least we have Gertie! (cries internally)

It's a Mickey ear.

 

[Disgruntled Walt]

Now I'm home, a pretty much to scale comparison:

View attachment 830265

Is it just me or does it seem like it's particularly similar in shape, right down to the indentations in the coastline?

 

[BrianLo]

I’d argue Pandora fails due to lack of an E ticket. It’s pretty eye candy, but so it GE. Passage is good, but I can’t rate it an ’E‘ and neither does the company. In fact on our recent most visit we didn’t set foot in Pandora whilst in DAK. But that’s me.

I really think that’s mostly just you and in your defense you’ve been very strong on that conviction. But Pandora remains the highest rated thing at the entire resort.

I understand at some point FOP wasn’t an E ticket, but I’d have a very hard time being convinced in any way that’s still true. I mean… lightening lane single pass pretty much refutes what the original intention was.

 

[Brer Oswald]

Guardians and Rise of the Resistance are excellent additions. An argument could be made that Guardians is a bad fit for the park or that Galaxy's Edge shouldn't have been locked to the Episode 8 timeline, but the attractions themselves are excellent.

They're 7s overall. I take the entire experience into account, not just the best moments.

For Rise:
The queue is bland and unremarkable. The pre-shows are excellent, undeniably the best part of the experience. The attraction peaks at the storm trooper room and goes down hill from there. The only other major high points are the AT-AT room, and the first encounter with Kylo (both of which are in the first half of the ride). The rest of the attraction goes out on a whimper. Maybe if the cannons still worked it would be different, but it's fair to judge the ride as is since that effect has been permanently deactivated for the majority of the ride's life. Many have criticized the majority of the ride for being a glorified "hallway simulator" and the critique is appropriate.

For Cosmic Rewind:
The exact opposite of Rise's issues. The queue is fine. The ride experience is amazing! I'd be willing to bump it up to an 8.5 (bad fit for the park or not) if not for the abysmal pre-shows. They drag and are painfully irritating. They also lead to an awful pinch point in what I like to call the "red corridor". This hallway is my least favourite room of any theme park attraction I have been on. Everyone is pushing and shoving to get to the front. It's just bad design. The theming itself is also not remarkable, but the coaster is so fun that I can give it somewhat of a pass.