New nighttime show 'Rivers of Light' confirmed to be coming to Disney's Animal Kingdom

captainmoch

captainmoch

Well-Known Member
Fox&Hound said:
Can I like this a million times? I want to ride in the up house and go look for Kevin the bird.
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Yes, it could be a great ride. Especially if the opening scene is like Peter Pan's Flight, except taking place in both Mr. Frederickson's town and after that Paradise Falls. Then they could delve into the jungle for some "story segments" (Doug appearing, Kevin appearing, being tracked by the other dogs), the climax could be recreated, etc.
 
D

doctornick

Well-Known Member
captainmoch said:
Can we throw in South America too? They could even partially theme it to Up and have Paradise Falls or an Up dark ride.
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I think there's a pretty valid question as to whether "cartoon" properties belong in the realistic lands of DAK (pretty much the same issue/concern as toons in World Showcase). It is one thing to have M&Gs which are kind of unobtrusive and don't really impact the theming and shows fit in better (they can always be played as "real world humans performing a show" to stay in theme). Having a ride specific to Up in a realistic South America section (or Jungle Book in Asia or Tarzan in Africa, etc.) is arguably taking one out of a theme.

I'm personally ambivalent to it depending on the execution, but it's a valid concern. I do think that DAK would benefit from a cartoon-centric "Critter Country" to add some of the toon animals to the parks via rides/attractions.
 
Sped2424

Sped2424

Well-Known Member
doctornick said:
I think there's a pretty valid question as to whether "cartoon" properties belong in the realistic lands of DAK (pretty much the same issue/concern as toons in World Showcase). It is one thing to have M&Gs which are kind of unobtrusive and don't really impact the theming and shows fit in better (they can always be played as "real world humans performing a show" to stay in theme). Having a ride specific to Up in a realistic South America section (or Jungle Book in Asia or Tarzan in Africa, etc.) is arguably taking one out of a theme.

I'm personally ambivalent to it depending on the execution, but it's a valid concern. I do think that DAK would benefit from a cartoon-centric "Critter Country" to add some of the toon animals to the parks via rides/attractions.
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Zootopia seems like a good fit for that
disney-zootopia-trailer-art-570x285.jpg
 
Fox&Hound

Fox&Hound

Well-Known Member
doctornick said:
I think there's a pretty valid question as to whether "cartoon" properties belong in the realistic lands of DAK (pretty much the same issue/concern as toons in World Showcase). It is one thing to have M&Gs which are kind of unobtrusive and don't really impact the theming and shows fit in better (they can always be played as "real world humans performing a show" to stay in theme). Having a ride specific to Up in a realistic South America section (or Jungle Book in Asia or Tarzan in Africa, etc.) is arguably taking one out of a theme.

I'm personally ambivalent to it depending on the execution, but it's a valid concern. I do think that DAK would benefit from a cartoon-centric "Critter Country" to add some of the toon animals to the parks via rides/attractions.
Click to expand...

While I personally would love to see an animated presence in every park, I sadly agree that AK and DHS are probably the parks least likely to get animated additions in the future. In my very humble opinion, it seems like MK and eventually EPCOT will be the place to go to see animated characters while AK will take a more realistic view of the world and DHS will be Star Wars and some pixar (so I guess some animated there). For me, when I go to a Disney park, I enjoy seeing Disney animated characters and movies. I don't see it as out of theme (I'm in a Disney theme park for crying out loud) but to many Disney is more than animated hits and I get that too. Back on topic, this is why I think Rivers of Light, will be filled with clips from Disney nature and not footage from Pocahontas, Brother Bear, and Nemo.

PS- I know many claim that the lines of the parks are being blurred and that "animated movies belong in MK" but I think from a business standpoint it is smart for each park to have a healthy presence: rides for little kids, rides that are more thrilling for teens and adults, animated characters and movies, rides not tied to an intellectual properties, etc. You will get less guests saying "oh that park does not have any fun animated characters, let's skip AK" or "Oh that park only has Star Wars and thrill rides, we'll take the kids there when their older." By diversifying each park, they appeal to more people. Hence why Frozen is coming to EPCOT and not MK.
 
Sped2424

Sped2424

Well-Known Member
Fox&Hound said:
While I personally would love to see an animated presence in every park, I sadly agree that AK and DHS are probably the parks least likely to get animated additions in the future. In my very humble opinion, it seems like MK and eventually EPCOT will be the place to go to see animated characters while AK will take a more realistic view of the world and DHS will be Star Wars and some pixar (so I guess some animated there). For me, when I go to a Disney park, I enjoy seeing Disney animated characters and movies. I don't see it as out of theme (I'm in a Disney theme park for crying out loud) but to many Disney is more than animated hits and I get that too. Back on topic, this is why I think Rivers of Light, will be filled with clips from Disney nature and not footage from Pocahontas, Brother Bear, and Nemo.

PS- I know many claim that the lines of the parks are being blurred and that "animated movies belong in MK" but I think from a business standpoint it is smart for each park to have a healthy presence: rides for little kids, rides that are more thrilling for teens and adults, animated characters and movies, rides not tied to an intellectual properties, etc. You will get less guests saying "oh that park does not have any fun animated characters, let's skip AK" or "Oh that park only has Star Wars and thrill rides, we'll take the kids there when their older." By diversifying each park, they appeal to more people. Hence why Frozen is coming to EPCOT and not MK.
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...DHS has a crap ton of animated film tie ins? Actually more than Epcot at the moment. Mermaid, BATB, Fantasmic, the current pixar stuff, Frozen Summer Fun. And with the Pixar area getting an expansion and the rumor of some form of cars making it this way I see that only growing. And ak has Bug's life on it's attraction line up as well as festival of the lion king and the nemo show. Animated tie in's aren't going to stop at any park, there are definitly places they aren't needed. But I don't think we have seen the end of them at all especially not under Iger.
 
Jon81uk

Jon81uk

Well-Known Member
Fox&Hound said:
While I personally would love to see an animated presence in every park, I sadly agree that AK and DHS are probably the parks least likely to get animated additions in the future. In my very humble opinion, it seems like MK and eventually EPCOT will be the place to go to see animated characters while AK will take a more realistic view of the world and DHS will be Star Wars and some pixar (so I guess some animated there). For me, when I go to a Disney park, I enjoy seeing Disney animated characters and movies. I don't see it as out of theme (I'm in a Disney theme park for crying out loud) but to many Disney is more than animated hits and I get that too. Back on topic, this is why I think Rivers of Light, will be filled with clips from Disney nature and not footage from Pocahontas, Brother Bear, and Nemo.

PS- I know many claim that the lines of the parks are being blurred and that "animated movies belong in MK" but I think from a business standpoint it is smart for each park to have a healthy presence: rides for little kids, rides that are more thrilling for teens and adults, animated characters and movies, rides not tied to an intellectual properties, etc. You will get less guests saying "oh that park does not have any fun animated characters, let's skip AK" or "Oh that park only has Star Wars and thrill rides, we'll take the kids there when their older." By diversifying each park, they appeal to more people. Hence why Frozen is coming to EPCOT and not MK.
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Although for the original Magic Kingdom & Disneyland parks, it was only designed with animated characters in Fantasyland only. Adventureland and Frontierland were largely based on Walt Disney's live action shows & films, as well as other general American folklore. New Orleans (DL) and Liberty Square (MK) are of course inspired by real world places or events.

Therefore I don't think animated characters belong in the MK, as even in that park they should be confined to smaller areas. AK seems to have the balance right with Africa & Asia only featuring real-world relevent items and although they show the Lion King it is presented as a show at the theatre and it is more inspired by the film than just a simple retelling.

I think adding some characters to Epcot is inevitable. Frozon isn't the best thing to happen to World Showcase. But Nemo at the Living Seas makes sense, although the ride could be more edutainment rather than just Nemo getting lost again.

DHS has some animated characters such as Beauty & the Best and Little Mermaid shows.
 
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captainmoch

captainmoch

Well-Known Member
I agree to the point that balance would be good for the Disney Parks. MK is pretty much the only to achieve this. Epcot is pretty inconsistent. Frozen in particular is sorta just "there", considering it's the only major character ride in WS, and Nemo has a similar issue in FW. That's why I think stuff like IO in WOL/JII, Ratatouille in France, and Mary Poppins in UK would be good attraction additions. DHS honestly is harder to judge, but considering rumors are pointing to it being the "everything Disney owns besides the animation themselves" park, (Pixar, Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Muppets, Marvel/GOTG?), it has its own unique balance. DAK does realism and original stories really well so far, but I feel it could use some more Disney inclusions. Lion King/Tarzan/Jungle Book dark rides, Up/South America area, Good Dinosaur in DinoRama, etc.
 

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