News Zootopia and Moana Blue Sky concepts for Disney's Animal Kingdom

[celluloid]

There’s definitely some truth to this. The subconscious is programmed to recognize patterns, so it picks up when multiple elements conform to a unified theme, creating a sense of satisfaction for the guest even if they aren’t fully aware it’s happening.

However, conformance to a theme is only one aspect of a theme park and often needs to be weighed against other concerns. For example, I don’t think it’s always worth maintaining perfect thematic integrity at the expense of adding fun attractions. That doesn’t necessarily mean throwing the theme completely to the wayside, but rather stretching it a little to accommodate new things.

Of course, a moderation in all things including park operations and some things will be non diegetic, but what is presented and recent track record does not seem to be the case.

 

[ToTBellHop]

I don’t know the ride system but there is a drop in Shanghai Pirates. So that alone is not limiting.

 

[kong1802]

False equivalency. The purpose of St. Jude’s is not for you to view children in their beds.

Yeah that took a hard right turn.

 

[RSoxNo1]

Putting Moana in Animal Kingdom is like putting Aladdin in Animal Kingdom because, hey, there are animals as supporting characters in that movie too, right? You can point to Te Fiti all you want, but even then I don't think of Moana and Maui when I think of Animal Kingdom. I don't like the idea of Zootopia replacing Dinosaur either, but I at least get the mindset behind it because, hey, animals. Moana is first and foremost about human beings.

WALL-E talks about how important it is to take care of our planet. Does THAT belong in Animal Kingdom?

If they're really that obsessed with putting Moana in two parks, stick an attraction based on the film in Adventureland. It'd work fine there, and surely you have the room.

Theme and Plot are different. Themes of Pandora worked for DAK much in the same way themes of Moana work for DAK. The spinner won't have much of a story, but we don't know what the story of the flume ride will be.

Unless they completely change the themes of Zootopia in the Zootopia+ shorts, there isn't a justifiable theme that fits into DAK. What killed me was that Chris Beatty talked about the themes of DAK including the intrinsic and superior value of nature that is one of the 3 underlying themes of that park. Then he crapped all over it by suggesting Zootopia fit. It was a total parallel to prior D23's where they talked about EPCOT as being a place where there real becomes fantastic and the fantastic becomes real. The latter part was previously used to describe Magic Kingdom not EPCOT.

They want to pretend they have a tie to the past and the vastly superior crop of creatives, but the reality is they don't. That being said, an Oceania theme for DAK that integrates Moana and Nemo isn't a dilution of theme for that park. Zootopia definitely is...

Not a Disney/Pixar/Marvel/Star Wars IP so not happening

You could look at recent movies that do carry mythical animals though and use that. A Shang Chi / Ta Lo attraction and/or a Raya and the Last Dragon attraction near Expedition Everest would work as an Asian inspired mythical land. If Disney is willing to concede Dinosaurs to Universal because of Jurassic Park, I have to believe they already conceded European mythical animals because of Potter.

 

[RSoxNo1]

I really like how the Moana area looks for DAK, it give the area a nice lush landscape and still works with the IP and park.

I am not sure about zooptopia I guess I would be ok with zootopia if they took it in a different direction form what they are doing in Shanghai. Instead of doing a city scape they really should consider one of the other more natural Biodomes that are referenced in the movie.

I would prefer the rainforest, meadowland or Tundra areas for DAK if zootopia was to go in that park

Imagine a replica of the rainforest area with tree canopies an walkways that would give some amazing views of the area. The perfect excuse to add a skyway to the park.
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or why not put the land towards the back of the park and add Savanna or Sahara central.


The movie has some gorgeous scenery I do not understand why they chose the downtown cityscape.

No matter how detailed they do that it would not compare to the elaborate look of the city in the movie.

These other areas would give them more liberty to really create something impressive

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If Zootopia is a different ride system than DINOSAUR, one that doesn't have a height requirement and it's a tour of the biomes of Zootopia that highlights what animals live in each biome, that could work. It would pray on the familiarity of the Zootopia characters while using real life environments to educate guests on the real world... using a cartoon.

 

[LittleBuford]

Yeah that took a hard right turn.

I found the analogy especially bizarre in relation to Animal Kingdom, which, whatever one thinks of it, was clearly created above all as an entertainment venue and not as a charity.

 

[RSoxNo1]

Serious question… how/why does an IP hold back creativity for WDI unless my answer lies in your statement of “demanding it in certain ways”

When a themed area is designed, there are essentially a set of rules that need to be followed. A great example of this is Galaxy's Edge. Initially the timing of that land was set between Episode 8 and 9. That hamstrings the creative process with another variable. They can't just put Star Wars content in there. It has to be the right Star Wars content or it dilutes the theme.

Adding to an existing themed area without diluting the original theme is a very difficult task. In the case of Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge they were willing to dilute that theme in Disneyland but haven't been willing to dilute that theme in Florida. Most on here would argue that the added timeline variable is remarkably unnecessary.

 

[ToTBellHop]

When a themed area is designed, there are essentially a set of rules that need to be followed. A great example of this is Galaxy's Edge. Initially the timing of that land was set between Episode 8 and 9. That hamstrings the creative process with another variable. They can't just put Star Wars content in there. It has to be the right Star Wars content or it dilutes the theme.

Adding to an existing themed area without diluting the original theme is a very difficult task. In the case of Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge they were willing to dilute that theme in Disneyland but haven't been willing to dilute that theme in Florida. Most on here would argue that the added timeline variable is remarkably unnecessary.

Unfortunately, with people paying $6k for authenticity, we won’t see movement on this.

But no worry--use Star Tours and Launch Bay! I really don’t see what the holdup is with those two areas also existing.

 

[GustoGummi]

AK is not just about animals, remember we keep being told its not just a zoo

The literal theme of the park is Animals of the Past, Present, and Fantasy.

 

[ToTBellHop]

The literal theme of the park is Animals of the Past, Present, and Fantasy.

The theme of this and every Disney park is “timeless, relevant, family, and Disney”.

 

[RSoxNo1]

Adding Zootopia to Animal Kingdom? I wouldn’t. It alters the original intent of the theme park, and that’s not good.

First off, phenomenal.

Let me introduce you to Pandora...

The theme integration of Pandora into DAK is flawless. I will die on this hill. You can argue about the quality of the attractions all you want, but they nailed the integration into Animal Kingdom. It is the best example of adding a land to an existing park without diluting the original themes of that park. Anyone that says otherwise, has no idea what they're talking about.

Agreed. Beastly Kingdom as a whole would be amazing - as would Dark Mountain at MK, anchoring a Villains land.

We seek out Beastly Kingdom because we think we know what it is. The original land was a hedge maze and a dragon themed roller coaster. That's not really what the park needs right now.

 

[RSoxNo1]

No. One. Cares.

Okay, a few people care. But 99.9% of people visiting DAK would not find anything wrong with having Zootopia there and would think they fit just fine because they are animals, regardless of them acting as humans in the film. No one is going to question them as being out of place.

Except they would. They wouldn't be able to articulate it, but they would notice. Joe Rohde understood the value of non-linear story telling. Anything that takes you out of that non-linear story disrupts guest satisfaction either consciously or subconsciously.

It can absolutely go too far (See: Timeline for Galaxy's Edge) but as you further dilute that non-linear story something has to suffer.

 

[RSoxNo1]

Zootopia is a golden opportunity to lean heavily into ecological education.

How do different animals survive in the real world in arctic climates, deserts, etc? Hint, it's shown in the movie. The jungle district has sprinklers, the arctic district has snow machines, etc. etc.

The education opportunities are enormous with Zootopia REGARDLESS of if Disney actually does that with the land or not.

And that's really the closest thing they would have to go by. If Joe Rohde was in charge, I'd have confidence that he'd find a way to make it work. If Chris Beatty is in charge, I'd have confidence that it would look good but theme and story would be secondary. If anything we'd get a Zootopia book report ride.

 

[MaryJaneP]

A giant Sasquatch inside a mountain is really realistic too!

 

[RSoxNo1]

Disney is losing or has lost all sense of theming.

The fact that Hispanicland and Villians could be beyond Big Thunder after putting Tiana in Frontierland is proof

Tiana and Pirates are New Orleans Square, "Frontierland" has a Latin American vibe to include Thunder, Coco and Encanto and Villains land is it's own thing or part of Fantasyland.

 

[ToTBellHop]

A giant Sasquatch inside a mountain is really realistic too!

His name is Mitch and he’s actually really nice if you get to know him.

But few make the effort.

 

[ToTBellHop]

Tiana and Pirates are New Orleans Square, "Frontierland" has a Latin American vibe to include Thunder, Coco and Encanto and Villains land is it's own thing or part of Fantasyland.

We don’t have New Orleans Square. Tiana is opening a co-op in Albuquerque AND New Orleans, apparently.

 

[RSoxNo1]

Unfortunately, with people paying $6k for authenticity, we won’t see movement on this.

But no worry--use Star Tours and Launch Bay! I really don’t see what the holdup is with those two areas also existing.

You're probably not wrong, but you should be. I'm constantly convinced that the decision makers at the company simply don't get it.

 

[networkpro]

We don’t have New Orleans Square. Tiana is opening a co-op in Albuquerque AND New Orleans, apparently.

Thematically it does only make sense in the land of Walt's ghost.

 

[RSoxNo1]

The literal theme of the park is Animals of the Past, Present, and Fantasy.

Nope, the themes of the park are as follows:

• The intrinsic and superior value of nature – this means that nature, above all else is at the forefront of the design. This leads to parts of the park being out of their true control (live animals, overgrown pathways, etc.).
• Transformation through adventure – this idea is that adventure changes people when they experience something they’ve never experienced before.
• Personal call to action – a sense of responsibility for the animals and the conservation message.