Bolt
Well-Known Member
I wonder if these scrims are more used as keeping dust and other pieces from the guests as they work on this during park hours.
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PHOTOS - Discovery Island expansion at Disney's Animal Kingdom underway
- Thread starter wdwmagic
- Start date
WDWtraveler
Well-Known Member
Photo update as of Wednesday, Oct 21. The green metal roof is installed on the tower and glass windows are in on the long roof line of this addition to Disney's Outfitters. There are also two new light posts inside the construction fence (one at either end of the building) that match others in the Discovery Island plaza.
WDWtraveler
Well-Known Member
Photo update as of Wednesday, Nov 4. Exterior construction of the expansion of Disney Outfitters is progressing with exterior paint scheme and architectural details. This is the façade (end view of the building) that guests see when entering Discovery Island on the bridge.
A close-up of the lettering on the side of the building says "Riverside Depot."
The tower at the front of the building also displays the color scheme.
Across the Discovery Island plaza, Island Mercantile displays new signage installed recently.
Finally, across from Pizzafari, there was always an unmarked entrance to a trail that wandered on this side of the Tree of Life. A couple of weeks ago, this new sign structure appeared to mark the trail entrance called the "Tree of Life Garden." However, the trail is closed off at about 25 yards, which is where it has ended for many months now as refurbishment continues at the base of the Tree of Life.
A close-up of the lettering on the side of the building says "Riverside Depot."
The tower at the front of the building also displays the color scheme.
Across the Discovery Island plaza, Island Mercantile displays new signage installed recently.
Finally, across from Pizzafari, there was always an unmarked entrance to a trail that wandered on this side of the Tree of Life. A couple of weeks ago, this new sign structure appeared to mark the trail entrance called the "Tree of Life Garden." However, the trail is closed off at about 25 yards, which is where it has ended for many months now as refurbishment continues at the base of the Tree of Life.
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EPCOTCenterLover
Well-Known Member
Thanks for the photos!
RandySavage
Well-Known Member
Ditto. An encouraging sign - pun intended - that the ToL Garden paths might one day fully re-open (was one of my favorite places in any park).
The best compliment I can give to the people working on DAK is that a lot of these changes look like they could have been there from day 1.
EPCOTCenterLover
Well-Known Member
So true...
prfctlyximprct
Well-Known Member
Thanks for all the picture updates! By 2018, you're gonna have to drag me by my Mickey ears to get my out of Animal Kingdom.
RandySavage
Well-Known Member
I pieced together some before and after pics to get a better idea of the overall aesthetic change to this land (using a bunch of wdwtraveler's and others' pics).
I like the new darker, "adventure" color scheme (and hope that continues to the land's Playskool-colored benches, if it hasn't already). I remember the great effort (they brought in Balinese artists) to create all the whimsical animal carvings that adorned both the exterior & interior of the Island's buildings & signage, so it's bittersweet that a majority of that has been removed.
Look forward to seeing the new Island when everything is completed.
Left is original. Right is current:
I like the new darker, "adventure" color scheme (and hope that continues to the land's Playskool-colored benches, if it hasn't already). I remember the great effort (they brought in Balinese artists) to create all the whimsical animal carvings that adorned both the exterior & interior of the Island's buildings & signage, so it's bittersweet that a majority of that has been removed.
Look forward to seeing the new Island when everything is completed.
Left is original. Right is current:
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RandySavage
Well-Known Member
Toned down. If there is a way to see the above pics full size (I'll make them enlargable thumbnails), it tells the story about the exteriors. Thankfully, some carvings are still there, but there's a lot less of it: The overall change to the Island isn't a step down, IMO, it's just different. I think I might even prefer this newer version...
This one example is indicative of what has occurred throughout:
Before, note the lower Giraffes and Mantises(?):
After, still has Giraffes uptop and new Monkeys on the signage, but other carvings are gone:
prfctlyximprct
Well-Known Member
Oh man, side by side I like before better. 
Next Big Thing
Well-Known Member
To put it best, the old style of Discovery Island was very cluttered. They are still keeping the animal carvings, just toning down on them and muting the colors a bit so it doesn't look so messy.
I know a lot of people like the old, colorful design, but from a marketing perspective, think of it if you will. Look at the before pics of Creature Comforts and Island Mercantile. The designs on the signs were so cluttered, you barely could make out what the sign said or in some cases, the signs were very poorly placed. In the updated versions, the signs are crisp, clear and stay true to what DAK is while still making sure you can read the sign (and if you know it's there, you're more likely to come in and shop).
I know a lot of people like the old, colorful design, but from a marketing perspective, think of it if you will. Look at the before pics of Creature Comforts and Island Mercantile. The designs on the signs were so cluttered, you barely could make out what the sign said or in some cases, the signs were very poorly placed. In the updated versions, the signs are crisp, clear and stay true to what DAK is while still making sure you can read the sign (and if you know it's there, you're more likely to come in and shop).
SpaceMountain75
Well-Known Member
I think the new look is 100% better than the old. Looks much less DCA 1.0.
Fox&Hound
Well-Known Member
Haha-I agree. It was visually so much for the eye to take in that you didn't even notice the details. I never even noticed the zebras on the roof of what is now Starbucks until the new paint scheme. Bravo, Disney!
