Wild Kingdom is gonna be about 4,000-5,000 acres, so about 10x the size. It's a lot, but compared to The Wilds in Ohio which is about 10,000 acres, it's still not even the biggest zoo haha. I figured give myself plenty of animal space, but the rides and whatnot won't take up all that much of it comparatively.
I actually looked up The Wilds, and they only have a select few animals -- 30 in total, according to Wikipedia -- on those 10,000 acres. I was honestly surprised when I read that, as I thought that the acreage would lead to many animals being present there. Probably because they keep these animals on giant fields with plenty of space. I take it your animals will be in much closer quarters, right?
Well, April 10 is here, so you know what that means. It's finally time to explore Mirror Walt Disney World's fifth park!
Ah, the sea... What is it about the sea that makes our minds race? Is it the thrill of racing across the waves? Or maybe just wondering what lies beneath the mellow blueness? Haven’t we all wanted to swim like a fish, or pilot our own submarine? It’s not for nothing that so many stories involve the sea, awakening new dreams for one and all. And as the sun rises on this new era in Walt Disney World history, we too, can explore the wonders beneath in a whole new way.
Imagination sets sail at Port Disney, the long-awaited fifth richly immersive park at Walt Disney World. An American cousin to Tokyo DisneySea, Port Disney is the place where the exotic ports of call we can only read about or see on the silver screen come to life. Attractions take inspiration from other parks, be they Disney or otherwise, brought to new heights with a unique approach. Classical concepts mix with newfangled experiments. Port Disney boasts many beloved Disney properties, plus exciting never-before-seen concepts. Family-friendly features appeal to the young, and the young-at-heart, while thrill rides draw in a wider audience.
Guests to Port Disney enter through Novus Harbor, an inviting seaport featuring design influences from around the globe; courtesy of the current tenants of the harbor, S.E.A. -- the Society of Explorers and Adventurers. From there, the path leads to six other ports of call. Pirates’ Cove brings to life the Golden Age of Piracy, inviting one and all to try their hand at buccaneering. The mysterious and mythical Agrabah brings the wonder of Aladdin to life. The spirit of adventure lives on in Discovery Bay, set around San Francisco in the days of the Gold Rush. At Avengers Seabase, the thrills and action of the Marvel Cinematic Universe bring a sense of heroism to the park. New York Waterfront transports guests to the Big Apple at the time of the 1920s, the age of steamboats and swinging jazz...not to mention gangsters. Finally, explore the Kingdom by the Sea, a seaside retreat inspired by the Disney princesses. These disparate epochs are united by Mt. Prometheus, a massive volcano serving as the park’s central icon and the -- no pun intended-- “peak” of Port Disney’s artistry. Mt. Prometheus is one of the largest monuments in all the resort. It is 189 feet tall, the same height as Cinderella Castle at the Magic Kingdom.
Seeing how successful Tokyo DisneySea was, and seeing its fanbase grow in America, it wasn’t long at all before Disney announced they’d bring something similar to it stateside. Sure, a few rides from the park were added stateside -- for example, StormRider and Sindbad at EPCOT -- but not a whole park inspired by it. At the 2017 D23 Expo, it was announced that Port Disney would become the fifth park of Walt Disney World, opening as part of the resort’s 50th Anniversary Celebration.
The location used for the park was a large plot of land located directly across from Disney Springs. In our reality’s Walt Disney World, this plot of land is the home to the hotels of Hotel Plaza Boulevard, as well as the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress. In an old, long-since-deleted post, S.W. Wilson of Ideal Buildout once created his own park on the space, and this is how he described what inspired him to do so: “The genesis for this exercise was seeing photo updates of DisneySprings progress, with the 1970s/80s suburban sprawl Official WDW Hotels and Sun Bank always popping up in the background, ruining the visage. Here, we can fix that and replace all those concrete & glass mid-rises with a unique, tier I park. A strip of forest beyond the park helps isolate the mundane sprawl of Orlando & I-4 from the utopian escapism found within the WDW borders.” This quote of his was my inspiration for creating this iteration of Port Disney, which I’ve had for quite some time.
In this Mirror universe, the success of the Lake Buena Vista Shopping Village in 1975 sparks inspiration in the Disney executives and Imagineers, and land is quickly set aside nearby for an all-new park, to further draw guests over to that side of the resort. I should also mention that here in this Mirror universe, Disney purchases the land the Grand Cypress -- which I should point out, opened nine years after the Village opened -- sits on in the wake of the Village’s success, so no need to fear the hotel’s destruction. However, those plans are subsequently put to a halt following the ventures that were EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywoodland and Disney’s Animal Kingdom. However, as Walt Disney World’s 50th anniversary approaches, the Imagineers decide to return to the “Eastern Park” concept, and thus, Port Disney was born.
We’ve already discussed the means of getting there, but there’s one more mean we must mention. In this mirror universe, the space that is the Hilton is the Pineapple Parking Deck. In keeping with Disney Springs’ fruit-themed parking areas, the Pineapple Deck offers exclusive parking for guests visiting Port Disney. In addition, Disney Springs guests can walk directly to Port Disney from the Village Marketplace, passing right underneath the Monorail tracks. Once our car is parked, the path leads towards the park’s entrance.
Surrounded by palm trees, the Entrance Plaza is a thing of natural beauty, honoring the wild worlds of the ocean that this park will bring to life. Glistening waterfalls flank the entrance gates. Trees sway gently in the breeze. Tropical flowers are in full bloom. Here in this Entrance Plaza, our gaze is first held by the Aquasphere, one of the two major icons of Port Disney. From atop a fountain, a large model of our water planet spins gently about. In front of this sphere is a large granite slab with a golden plaque upon it. On this plaque reads the dedication for Port Disney, delivered on September 4, 2021, 20 years to the day since its Japanese predecessor opened:
“To all who come seeking adventure, welcome. Port Disney imbues all who enter with a spirit of curiosity and excitement. Here, all are invited to set sail for mysterious and exciting ports of call; lands of adventure, intrigue and romance. Port Disney is dedicated to all those who yearn to venture outside their comfort zone, and explore the unknown. May your adventures here be adventures worth remembering for years to come.”
-- Thomas O. Staggs, September 4, 2021
(Remember, as I stated earlier in this thread, in this Mirror universe, Tom Staggs does end up succeeding Bob Iger as CEO, hence why I included his name here.)
Directly behind the Aquasphere are the main gates. Sonorous music provides a medieval aura, as if you are stepping back in time. The main gates -- in addition to the park’s PeopleMover station -- is almost Renaissance-esque in their design. Beyond these gates…
Serving as a counterpoint to Tokyo’s Mediterranean Harbor, Novus Harbor is our gateway to a fantastic world of nautical adventure. And what better way to showcase adventure by having this land be themed as the secondary headquarters of the Society of Explorers and Adventurers, otherwise known as S.E.A. According to the legend, S.E.A. was founded in 1538 in the quaint Italian village of Porto Paradiso (aka Mediterranean Harbor) by two bold adventurers.
The first was Professore Vincenzo Conoscenza. He grew up in a small agricultural village in Italy near the rolling hills of Tuscany. His father was a humble farm owner and his mother a housewife, and Vincenzo’s task was to tend to a flock of sheep, protecting them from the dangers that lurked in the wilderness. Vincenzo did his job well, but rather than spending his days watching sheep, he aspired for so much more. Vincenzo enjoyed reading anything he could get his hands on. Vincenzo must have read Homer’s The Iliad and The Odyssey at least 1,000 times by his adulthood.
At the age of 18 and at the height of the Renaissance in Italy, Vincenzo left to apprentice under the great Leonardo da Vinci in Rome. Being exposed to some of the world’s greatest works while apprenticing, from the astrological studies and philosophies of the Far East including The Art of War by Sun Tzu, The Book of Rites by Confuscious, among others, to the legendary epics of Ancient Greece, to the religious texts of India and the Middle East. Having read and learned from every book in Rome’s ever-expanding Library, Vincenzo ended his apprenticeship with da Vinci, instead, deciding to travel the world and learn from as many cultures and legends as possible. He traveled by camelback across the Sahara through Egypt to Morocco, visited the Byzantine Empire, traveled on the back of a mighty elephant through India, visited the empire of the Congo, traveled to China, Japan, and Russia, and then traveled through all of Europe, finally setting in to study at Oxford University. Studying to get his doctorate, he finally completed his studies and returned to Italy, settling down in a small canal village.
The second man was Eureka Idéa, a Greek explorer. Named not only for the famous exclamation of discovery coined by Archimedes, but also the Greek word for “idea”, Eureka fell in love with adventuring at an early age, and explored the vast corners of the world, long before those other famous explorers did. He scaled Everest long before Edmund and Tenzing, he discovered North America long before Vespucci -- or even Columbus -- and he claimed the North Pole long before Amundsen. He happened to meet Vincenzo whilst he was traveling Greece, and the two became fast friends, going on many adventures together. However, when Vincenzo left for Oxford, Eureka remained in Greece.
Meanwhile, Vincenzo opened up a library in an old church building, hosting the largest collection in the known world, having collected books, scrolls, and other texts from all over the world. However, the prospect of the New World and its many riches in both gold, resources, and stories proved too much for Vincenzo that he teamed up with Eureka, and the duo approached some of the other remarkable people they met in their travels and founded an organization known as Società di esploratori e avventurieri, later to be translated to the Society of Explorers and Adventurers. Given that S.E.A. travels the world, it’s obvious that Porto Paradiso is usually left empty, with members across the world traveling to find new adventures and new discoveries. As such, Vincenzo and Eureka have decided to come up with a second headquarters for the organization in the quaint European village of Novus Harbor. Today, Novus Harbor stands as a hub of science, innovation and a vibrant enthusiasm for knowledge and adventure.
Directly to the right of the entrance gates is the major gift shop of Port Disney, Emporio. The name is a little fancier than the usual Emporium, but the concept is the same—a large store near the main entrance that sells a general variety of park souvenirs. Plush toys, t-shirts, writing utensils, mugs, hats, and more are all here. Emporio is held within an old storage house in the harbor. References from other S.E.A. members can be found, as if to say that many a member has passed through here -- beautiful carpets, unique bric-a-brac, mounted animal heads, etc. Attached to this shop is Valentina’s Sweets, the park’s main confectionery. Valentina isn’t a S.E.A. member herself, but she is quite a popular lady, thanks to her kind heart and baking skills. Try one of her famous cookies, and you’ll find out why the members of S.E.A. have officially dubbed her their “honorary nonna”!
The rest of Novus Harbor is comprised of various other shops and restaurants and points of interest. Emporio and Valentina’s are the first shops we see on the right-hand side of the harbor. On the left-hand side, we find three more shops. First is The Crow’s Nest, a nautical-themed boutique set up by another prominent member of S.E.A., Captain Patrique Altomare (which is Italian for “high sea”), a French-Italian pirate, smuggler, and privateer who has sailed the “seven deadly seas”, through wind, weather, and the flu, forever on the hunt for new adventures and discoveries. As a child, Patrique felt landlocked, quite literally in fact, despite living so close to a canal in southern France. His Ma had run off with a donkey salesman long ago, leaving his Pa to raise their son alone. A cold, unloving man, Pa was a hard labourer, and wanted his son to follow in his footsteps, to build brick walls ‘til his back and legs failed him. Patrique wanted more in life, to be free and explore the world beyond his small home.
When he was old enough, Patrique hopped onto the first barge on the canal and sailed away to adventure. Through a series of mishaps, bribes, and one incident that involved a pesky seagull and a piano suspended on ropes, Patrique became captain of the Italian privateer ship, La Polaris, working for the government to raid enemy vessels and unsuspecting ports, to bring back their goods and valuables for profit. But, Captain Altomare found his journeys to not be for profit or destruction, but for discovery. To encounter new people, cultures, and tales from both land and sea, discover forgotten kingdoms and precious treasures. He became enthralled with the endless possibilities of world travel, preferring to spend more time on sea than on land.
But, eventually, a close encounter with a whirlpool in the West Indies nearly wrecked his ship. Patrique managed to sail La Polaris back to Italy, docking at a port he was not familiar with, with his ship in tatters. It was here that he met a number of intelligent and impressive individuals, who shared his passion for exploring the world and its secrets. He became a founding member of S.E.A., returning to the sea every now and again once his ship was fixed, to find rare and lost treasures and bring them back to the society. He had kept some of his more valuable finds for himself, and eventually decided to set up a shop in the port, deciding to decorate with his years of sailing and pillaging.
His long-time confidante, Silas the Red, has set up shop next door. Although Silas is not an official member of S.E.A., he is nonetheless a trusted confidante and supplier for the members of S.E.A., even accompanying them on a number of their adventures. Look around the shop and you’ll find remnants of some of these adventures lining the walls, from his journeys to Romania researching vampires with Professore Conoczena, or old ship parts, the only remains from a sailing gone awry with Captain Altomare. For you though, the newest visitors to Novus Harbor, Silas’ Goods supplies all sorts of necessities that you'll appreciate during your visit. You’ll find everything from old maps of Port Disney park and a one of a kind field guide documenting all sorts of nautical creatures -- a must have for your journeys in Port Disney. Accompanying these numerous field items, will be toy “inventions” befitting the period, various flasks and mugs for your favorite beverage and all manner of S.E.A and Renaissance inspired memorabilia.
Adjacent to Silas’ store via either the exterior entrance or by meandering your way through the stacks of Silas’ goods sits Novus Relics. This smallish shop doesn’t look like much, but once inside you’ll find all sorts of treasures and a pin collector's dream. With one of a kind pins found only at Port Disney, guests will have their pick of themed pins befitting the park. From Mickey da Vinci, to beautifully designed ones with various mythological creatures and everything in between, you'll have no trouble adding to your collection. Along with the pins are bits and pieces of small treasures that have traded hands many a time in the Harbor from all sorts of travelers (including a few S.E.A. members if stories be true) that can be yours...for a price.
On the other side of the street, built nearby Emporio is Figaro’s Clothiers, a clothing store with an opera theme. Shirts, hat, jackets, and other manner of clothing can be found here, along with appropriately costumed representations of Disney characters. Why the opera theme? This humble abode serves as the homestead of Bravo Impresario, another Italian S.E.A. member who doubles as a powerful operatic tenor. Right nearby is the Harbor’s bakery: the Fibonacci Café. A quintessential part of any journey to Novus Harbor is a trip to the Fibonacci Café, named in honor of the Fibonacci Sequence of numbers, this coffee and pastry shop is famous for their Gelaffles, and for their prices. A Gelaffle is a sandwich combination of a Belgium Waffle and Italian Gelato, topped with powdered sugar, and coming in a variety of waffle/gelato combos.
But, if you’re in the mood for something more nourishing to eat, then why not try the Villa Scoperta counter-service restaurant. Held next door to Fibonacci, right along the waterfront, this place offers various things to fill you with enough energy to explore Port Disney. Expect such things as pizza, pasta, signature burgers, salads and fruit.
Although all these things about Novus Harbor are incredible, perhaps the aspect that is the most special is that of Professore Conoscenza’s library, Biblioteca Novus. A mighty abode, inspired by the Great Royal Library of Alexandria, burned by the armies of Julius Caesar in 48 BC, this massive marvel of historical and educational significance, Bibliotheca Novus (named for Novus Harbor) feels as if it would stand in the Times of gladiators and gods despite having been constructed only in the 1500. Within these walls, you can set forth into the world of myth and legend, as only Disney can do it! Using state-of-the-art animatronics, elaborate show scenes and the classic Omnimover technology, Biblioteca Novus is a classic Disney dark ride reborn for a new era.
Situated nearby the Biblioteca is the Explorer’s Workshop, the main center-of-operation for American S.E.A. member Joseph Davis and place for all members of S.E.A. to get inventive! In this interactive walk-through, we can make our own experiments and interact with bizarre, Steampunk-esque machines. There are major rooms in the workshop. For example, in Camellia Falco’s room, you can help her design flying machines, and even make a miniature one to take home! In Vincenzo’s room, you can customize your own maps of the world...and maybe even make your own island! In Eureka’s room, the spirit of new ideas is brought to life as you can put down on paper your own ideas for just about anything!
Novus Harbor is situated around Lake Buena Vista, a lake with riverways leading out towards the other ports of call here at Port Disney. All views of the lagoon offer dramatic views of Mt. Prometheus, the park’s central icon -- a huge volcano stretching as high as the clouds. Every so often, a burst of lava belches forth from the mountain, casting all eyes towards it. It is here along the edge of the river that you can meet some beloved Disney characters -- namely, Mickey and the gang dressed up in their Renaissance finest.
In the center of Novus Harbor, the pathway juts out towards Lake Buena Vista, marking the home of the Astronomer’s Lounge, the headquarters of prominent S.E.A. member Stella Vedere. Stella is an incredible astronomer -- her love of space is practically in her blood! After all, her name a rough translation from Italian for “I see stars.” Kong Jian, another pioneering S.E.A. member hailing from China, was the love of her life and her partner in research. Stella and Kong worked together to create the first rocket ship in 1556, which Kong piloted, becoming the first astronaut. Unfortunately, an accident happened and now he is lost out in space. So, Stella charts the stars not just for the thrill of discovery, but in hopes of finding a way to rescue her lost love. To help with her research, Stella came to Novus Harbor to work alongside some of the brightest minds and best adventurers in the world. One of the first members of S.E.A., she helped form the organization as a way to gather exceptional people with a similar thirst for knowledge and discovery together.
Now, she invites guests into her observatory to share in delicious food and to come together for lively discussion. Her hope is to inspire others to always reach for the stars and to never give up on love! Stella can often be found in person doing research and greeting guests in the Astronomer’s Lounge! There are three themed dining rooms in the Astronomer’s Lounge. The Research Room is full of Stella’s work charting the stars and the Renaissance era tools she uses to do it. The Prototype Room is full of models and test versions of Kong’s rocket and Stella’s attempts to build ones that could be used to find him. Lastly, the largest dining room is the Starlight Room. A real working planetarium where guests can dine among the cosmos! Wherever you’re seated, it is sure to be amazing! And what's on the menu? Honoring both Stella and Kong, the menu is a mix of Italian and Chinese dishes, with enough distinct foods to satisfy even the pickiest of eaters.
By day, the visage of the Port Disney Tramp Steamer Line fills Lake Buena Vista with motion and activity, escorting guests to Agrabah and Avengers Seabase. But by night, the lagoon is transformed into a living collage of imagination and wonder in a fantastic World of Color. An unforgettable tapestry of color, magic and imagination, World of Color is in tribute to the beloved animation and spirit of the Disney Studio. The romance, friendship and music of the past celebrate the nostalgia and magic of this nighttime extravaganza. As the show’s extraordinary elements are woven into a kaleidoscope of imagination, the spectacle sweeps the surface of Lake Buena Vista.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
At long last, our trip through Port Disney has begun! I was inspired by the Novus Harbor concept that I helped create for
The Sorcerer's Apprentice: ENDGAME, so credit goes out to those I created the land with: @PerGronStudio,
@Disney Dad 3000,
@Pi on my Cake,
@spacemt354,
@Evilgidgit and
@Brer Oswald. Also, part of my introduction to this land was inspired by
@D Hulk's introduction to DisneySky, so credit to him on that! In addition, I also included a line from DisneySky's dedication into Port Disney's dedication, as a nod to his park, which served as a huge inspiration for Port Disney. Once again, credit on that count goes to D Hulk!
The next post will be out on Friday, and therein, we'll explore the next realm of Port Disney. See you then!
