Rafiki's Planet Watch Question

[Disneyman88]

I am new to the threads but definately not to disney!!!!!!!! I have been there 12 times!!!

Anyway I was wondering if anyone knew anything about Rafikis planet watch being changed and redone. It says in Birnbaums Guide to Walt Disney World 2006 that there is a possibility! I heard about a name change and maybe even a totaly new attraction from a friend!!!

 

[Mecha Figment]

there is a possibility that a new walking path will be made. truth is the location doesn't get that much attendance due to its hidden nature and you have to wait on the slow trains to get there.

 

[tirian]

Actually, Disney has been considering changing this *cough*boring*cough* area for quite some time. The funny thing is that they haven't even tried to hide this! A similar announcement was also made in the '95 Birnbaum's guidebook.

 

[marlaymike]

they should make an interesting ride there! but they shouldn't eliminate the animal petting area nor the vet.

 

[Connor002]

It's no secret that Disney is not extremely happy with the area, but considering the 100 million dollar investment right down the road, I wouldn't expect anything too soon.

 

[Leolioness4200]

they should make an interesting ride there! but they shouldn't eliminate the animal petting area nor the vet.

I agree with that.

 

[Incredibles]

It's a neat area of the park. I personally liked taking the slow, relaxing train to and from the area. The animal housing areas are interesting to ride by. However, if you are pressed for time or have seen it before, it is definitly an area that could be skipped. That's probably part of Disney's problem with the area.

 

[Scooter]

I'd like to see a full service sit down restaurant put in at Rafiki's Planet watch.
Maybe a larger Gift shop too. The one they have is outside and rather small.
Althyough I go to RPW every trip, I'm usually in and out of there in 15 minutes.
I do enjoy the relaxing train ride though.

 

[PintoColvig]

It was poorly planned and not thought out well, IMO. For instance, after experiencing Planet Watch, we walked back to the train stop. Once there, my youngest child needed to potty and we had to walk all the way back to the buildings to find the nearest restroom. It really is a long walk, especially for a 3 year old!

Why put the train stop so far away from the attraction? Could it be that they intended there to be many more attractions? Maybe another land? It just seems that what we have now is but a shadow of something that they originally wanted to put in there.

My 2 cents worth.

 

[peter11435]

It was poorly planned and not thought out well, IMO. For instance, after experiencing Planet Watch, we walked back to the train stop. Once there, my youngest child needed to potty and we had to walk all the way back to the buildings to find the nearest restroom. It really is a long walk, especially for a 3 year old!

Why put the train stop so far away from the attraction? Could it be that they intended there to be many more attractions? Maybe another land? It just seems that what we have now is but a shadow of something that they originally wanted to put in there.

My 2 cents worth.

The reason the train stop is so far from the attraction is because there is a waterway going between the station and RPW. They didn't want to build a railroad bridge so instead have you cross over the waterway on foot.

 

[PintoColvig]

The reason the train stop is so far from the attraction is because there is a waterway going between the station and RPW. They didn't want to build a railroad bridge so instead have you cross over the waterway on foot.

So do you know why they didn't build RPW closer to the foot bridge?

 

[PintoColvig]

Having looked at Windows live and taking note of the location of RPW in relation to the train station, it seems that they are protecting the area to the east and southeast of the northern train station for future expansion (another land maybe?) RPW still comes across as if it were nothing more than an afterthought. IMO, it is a seriously wasted use of the train. I love trains and would have preferred a longer ride with much more to see than the night time enclosures. It would have been far better IMO if it had been done MK style and looped around much of the entire park.

 

[peter11435]

So do you know why they didn't build RPW closer to the foot bridge?

RPW is built immediatly after the foot bridge.

 

[PintoColvig]

RPW is built immediatly after the foot bridge.

Yes, but they could have built it south of the water way. BUT, as I noted above, they apparently have left the area near the station for future expansion.

 

[peter11435]

Yes, but they could have built it south of the water way. BUT, as I noted above, they apparently have left the area near the station for future expansion.

That area was intended to be the Asian version of the safari. Tiger River Run would have been like Kali only much longer. The rafts would have floated through an area near the same size as the savannah in Africa. On board guests would have seen tigers and other Asian animals. Unfortunately WDI could not figure out a way to safely display the animals to guests on a raft while ensuring they will always have a good view. The ride was eventually scaled down and became Kali River Rapids.

 

[djronnieb]

That area was intended to be the Asian version of the safari. Tiger River Run would have been like Kali only much longer. The rafts would have floated through an area near the same size as the savannah in Africa. On board guests would have seen tigers and other Asian animals. Unfortunately WDI could not figure out a way to safely display the animals to guests on a raft while ensuring they will always have a good view. The ride was eventually scaled down and became Kali River Rapids.

I'm sorry but that sounds like a very lame excuse from Disney that they couldn't find a safe way to display the animals??? There had to of been something else behind this. For goodness sakes those imaginers can come up with anything I can't believe they got stumped on something as simple as keeping animals away from rafts floating by.

 

[SarahBella82]

On an AK note, does anyone know if they still have the station in RPW where you can try the food the animals eat?

 

[speck76]

I'm sorry but that sounds like a very lame excuse from Disney that they couldn't find a safe way to display the animals??? There had to of been something else behind this. For goodness sakes those imaginers can come up with anything I can't believe they got stumped on something as simple as keeping animals away from rafts floating by.

Look at KS.....sometimes you are lucky, sometimes you are not.....and the van can slow down, stop, go up and down hills.....water is much less cooperative. The animal exhibits would have needed to be built on inclines off of the ride path in order to see anything.....but Tigers have the profound ability to jump....so pit/barriers would have been needed to be built, but that would place the animals a significant distance from the ride. In addition, emergency egress paths would have had to line the river, which would be between the river and the animal enclosure, which would have made the distance even further.

It is not like they were looking to run this through an exhibit of herbivores.

 

[PintoColvig]

It seems to me that WDI--having determined that an Asian Tiger raft attraction was not possible--should have gone back to the drawing board and come up with another approach to Asia. Before EE (is EE considered part of Asia?), the area just seemed to be incomplete. And that area south of RPW is just begging for some huge project. (I know, I know, we just got EE.) I wish that they had waited on RPW and the Wildlife (not-so) Express train until they had developed the area more fully. Now, I'm afraid that both will remain as is for decades.

 

[peter11435]

It seems to me that WDI--having determined that an Asian Tiger raft attraction was not possible--should have gone back to the drawing board and come up with another approach to Asia.

They did go back to the drawing board. There new approach was Kali River Rapids and the Maharajah Jungle Trek.

Before EE (is EE considered part of Asia?), the area just seemed to be incomplete.

EE is part of Asia.