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

[Br0ckford]

I think nature, and/or man's presence in nature - mostly in an older sense is the key part of AK.
Everything in AK is either natural, or worn - with the exception of the Dino Institute which was "built" to study and display dinpsaurs.
Zootopia is a modern metropolis.
It's got nothing to do with animals or nature.
Honestly, if Disney were looking to put a larger IP presence in AK - then LIon King or Jungle Book would be a far better fit.
The settings are at least natural.
The look can be integrated much more seamlessly, and the animal behavior and movement is far less anthropomorphic.

I would love to see Jungle Book in AK. That seems like a natural fit to me.

 

[Touchdown]

AK is supposed to champion and celebrate the natural world and spur people to protect it.

Zootopia is a story about racism and prejudice and how it’s a harm to society. The animals are used as human analogs to soften the message to drive the point home. Zootopia’s goal is to better human society, it has nothing to do with the natural world. That’s why it’s a poor fit.

Avatar used aliens as analogs for humans, but it’s message was about protecting the natural world thus it fits AKs mission, Zootopia does not.

 

[Phicinfan]

It’s so weird how people who dedicate so much time to theme parks then turn around and spend so much time claiming they’re not really a thing.

Please keep in mind I agree with your main point, but I think you are totally missing his point in that post. I don't think it fair to say he/she doesn't care. I think the point is for all the reasons some have why Zootopia doesn't fit, none of us address the other obvious issues why other things don't fit either.

 

[ᗩLᘿᑕ ✨ ᗩζᗩᗰ]

Interestingly Jungle Book (animated feature) was somewhat anthropomorphized too but not to the extremes of Zootopia where animals sell pawsicles from a street cart. I agree that JB is the better fit. FWIW, Disney has no problem using anthromorphic characters in DAK else Robin Hood wouldn't be making appearances. Animals subbing for Humans or exihibiting human like behaviors alone isn't enough to dissuade the Mouse and masses that an IP with animals doesn't belong in Animal Kingdom regardless of what we think.

 

[crazy4disney]

Then what is the point of theming? Why pay all that extra money (as either a guest or the business) for stuff that doesn’t matter? How is thinking somehow not compatible with fun?

We can agree to disagree than… if you truly think this company now even years ago truly stuck to 100% theming etc well i would have to respectfully disagree.

 

[ᗩLᘿᑕ ✨ ᗩζᗩᗰ]

For those on the Zootopia bandwagon, Do you think they'd tailor the ride to fit Animal Kingdom's mission statement?

 

[Epcot82Guy]

We can agree to disagree than… if you truly think this company now even years ago truly stuck to 100% theming etc well i would have to respectfully disagree.

You're right, but there is no denying they cared a LOT more than they do now. Many ideas were totally scrapped because of fit. In fact, it's been the CEOs - not the creative teams - who are pushing to get rid of fit to allow for popular IPs to be put wherever they want. The themes have always flexed, no doubt. But they are now being shattered, and it seems very few decisions recently actually fit well. It feels like they are actively eroding the themes so they don't have to be followed. And, while not for you, maybe, the quality of theme was actually a large part of why people loved Disney Parks for years. So, you become very aware of it when it feels like it's going away - and especially when it feels like it's being dismantled for the sake of popular cartoon characters. The parks aren't a Target toy department.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Please keep in mind I agree with your main point, but I think you are totally missing his point in that post. I don't think it fair to say he/she doesn't care. I think the point is for all the reasons some have why Zootopia doesn't fit, none of us address the other obvious issues why other things don't fit either.

Because someone isn’t discussing something right now doesn’t mean they agree with it. But this is something that gets tossed out over and over again, people point all of these other things they don’t think are well themed or in line with the theme and the whole purpose is clearly to negate the entire concept. “You’re not criticizing that so you can’t criticize this.”

 

[Phicinfan]

Because someone isn’t discussing something right now doesn’t mean they agree with it. But this is something that gets tossed out over and over again, people point all of these other things they don’t think are well themed or in line with the theme and the whole purpose is clearly to negate the entire concept. “You’re not criticizing that so you can’t criticize this.”

I don't disagree, however you accused the poster of not caring, which to me isn't fair, if that poster didn't care, would they be here posting? Its fine to have verve for a subject, but to assume a dissenting opinion isn't as passionate is silly.

 

[crazy4disney]

You're right, but there is no denying they cared a LOT more than they do now. Many ideas were totally scrapped because of fit. In fact, it's been the CEOs - not the creative teams - who are pushing to get rid of fit to allow for popular IPs to be put wherever they want. The themes have always flexed, no doubt. But they are now being shattered, and it seems very few decisions recently actually fit well. It feels like they are actively eroding the themes so they don't have to be followed. And, while not for you, maybe, the quality of theme was actually a large part of why people loved Disney Parks for years. So, you become very aware of it when it feels like it's going away - and especially when it feels like it's being dismantled for the sake of popular cartoon characters. The parks aren't a Target toy department.

Listen i totally agree this company has lost its way & yes theming was a big part of what i enjoyed but its been a very long time this company has worried about that and we have plenty of recent examples so altho i dont agree with them I think this company has made worse decisions than possibly putting Zootopia in AK & raming IP's down our throats... My issue is how good will this attraction be if it happens and honestly God knows how long we are even talking about & does the IP even draw anyones interest as i said earlier is it even that popular or are we plucking it down there because it has "zoo" in the title? I truly dk but if the attraction/ride is good in the end is all thats gonna matter to majority of guests and bottom line... Ive never watched Avatar have no desire for the IP but FoP is one of my favorite attractions and experiences. Im in a different camp they have some of the greatest IP's in the world why not take advantage of that? problem is if they limit what can be done with said IP it does strap WDI....

 

[lazyboy97o]

I don't disagree, however you accused the poster of not caring, which to me isn't fair, if that poster didn't care, would they be here posting? Its fine to have verve for a subject, but to assume a dissenting opinion isn't as passionate is silly.

That it’s a contradiction is my whole point. I didn’t say he and others don’t care, I said they claim not to care. And they do. Acknowledging their stated stated position is not an insult or dismissal, bit it is often portrayed as such because it is an obvious contradiction.

 

[ToTBellHop]

I am truly puzzled by all the people who seem to discard the intent/theme of Animal Kingdom that was spelled out by the guy who designed it. He already came out and said Zootopia was not a good fit. It’s obvious to me why it doesn’t belong but even if it wasn’t I would tend to listen to the person who actually planned the place. Going to guess he has a better understanding of what they were going for than any of us.

Rohde was immensely talented but not infallible. He gave us Dino-Rama and, to this day, insists it was an important addition to the park.

Dinoland has been a low point for the park (to me) since day 1 and we’ve been complaining for many years that Dinosaur is too dark, has broken effects, and is inferior to the Indiana Jones Adventure in every meaningful way. Now we suddenly come to this land’s defense.

I was skeptical toward Pandora but they pulled it off even if it is kind of a loose fit. We will see about Zootopia if it even occurs. But it’s not as though it is replacing a cherished classic like Tiana. It’s replacing a ride we were complaining about 30 seconds before we learned of its demise.

 

[JustInTime]

For those on the Zootopia bandwagon, Do you think they'd tailor the ride to fit Animal Kingdom's mission statement?

Absolutely.

 

[DisneyDebRob]

You're right, but there is no denying they cared a LOT more than they do now. Many ideas were totally scrapped because of fit. In fact, it's been the CEOs - not the creative teams - who are pushing to get rid of fit to allow for popular IPs to be put wherever they want. The themes have always flexed, no doubt. But they are now being shattered, and it seems very few decisions recently actually fit well. It feels like they are actively eroding the themes so they don't have to be followed. And, while not for you, maybe, the quality of theme was actually a large part of why people loved Disney Parks for years. So, you become very aware of it when it feels like it's going away - and especially when it feels like it's being dismantled for the sake of popular cartoon characters. The parks aren't a Target toy department.

Exactly right.
If we had discussion boards and social media back in the 70’s and 80’s, there would be very little talk of what fits where. It was well themed, for the most part nothing out of place where someone would say hmmmm , that doesn’t belong there. Even when HS opened it was still well themed in each park. Almost 3 decades of caring where things go. It was a good run. I would even say through AK’s opening it was still doing ok. Now it’s all over the place in the last 2 decades and it’s not going to stop.

 

[Epcot82Guy]

Listen i totally agree this company has lost its way & yes theming was a big part of what i enjoyed but its been a very long time this company has worried about that and we have plenty of recent examples so altho i dont agree with them I think this company has made worse decisions than possibly putting Zootopia in AK & raming IP's down our throats... My issue is how good will this attraction be if it happens and honestly God knows how long we are even talking about & does the IP even draw anyones interest as i said earlier is it even that popular or are we plucking it down there because it has "zoo" in the title? I truly dk but if the attraction/ride is good in the end is all thats gonna matter to majority of guests and bottom line... Ive never watched Avatar have no desire for the IP but FoP is one of my favorite attractions and experiences. Im in a different camp they have some of the greatest IP's in the world why not take advantage of that? problem is if they limit what can be done with said IP it does strap WDI....

I understand your point. I think a big issue for many is the total lack of balance. I enjoy Disney characters, but Disney Parks were there own thing. I enjoyed the original things that could only be seen at the parks. They were an IP unto themselves. That's the piece that is most frustrating. Disney still latches onto theme with a death grip... when the want to. Galaxy's Edge is actually the most story deathgrip anywhere on property - to the point it limits what the average guests wanted. So, it's not that the company won't theme. It's that they apply it selectively for what they think is popular/important (i.e. their newest shiny toys). I get the business decision for the short term, but alienating portions of your fan base for popularity is great on the ride up. But, it's not always that resilient on the way down. Yes, Disney has always been resilient to these moves before - but I would argue they haven't alienated a fan base in the past. (They arguably haven't really had time to in the past, since the Parks are only 67 years old.) Especially when they wouldn't have to. I have 10,000% faith that WDI could create both original and IP based attractions that truly fit their settings - like we saw with Avatar. They simply aren't being tasked with that and/or are actively being told to ignore such things to "expand the theme". Time will tell if the ROI on all of this is actually worth it in the long run.

 

[mysto]

What part of Zootopia relates to real animals? Is the notion of a movie being an allegory really too much?

They just greenlit an "Animal Farm" retheme of Dinoland! I'm kidding!

When it was first announced you seemed pretty adamant that Zootopia didn't fit into Animal Kingdom and that hopefully it wouldn't come to fruition, but now you seem to have no problem with it.

The pigs have finally beaten him into submission.

I guess I would state a theme of AK as "Ecological Doom". Animals living an American style high consumption lifestyle in brownstones seems to be a fit to me.

As far as the topic of what's good in Dinoland goes; I think the Boneyard and the area around it are fantastic. I actually think the Dinosaur ride is OK, it's fun and has a light tone, a bit corny, nice queue theming. The carnival doesn't work for me mostly, just an area I have to get through to get somewhere else. I like the Brontosaur.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Dinoland has been a low point for the park (to me) since day 1 and we’ve been complaining for many years that Dinosaur is too dark, has broken effects, and is inferior to the Indiana Jones Adventure in every meaningful way. Now we suddenly come to this land’s defense.

Why does poor execution negate an idea? Should they just stop doing nighttime shows because HarmoniUS is lousy?

 

[crazy4disney]

I understand your point. I think a big issue for many is the total lack of balance. I enjoy Disney characters, but Disney Parks were there own thing. I enjoyed the original things that could only be seen at the parks. They were an IP unto themselves. That's the piece that is most frustrating. Disney still latches onto theme with a death grip... when the want to. Galaxy's Edge is actually the most story deathgrip anywhere on property - to the point it limits what the average guests wanted. So, it's not that the company won't theme. It's that they apply it selectively for what they think is popular/important (i.e. their newest shiny toys). I get the business decision for the short term, but alienating portions of your fan base for popularity is great on the ride up. But, it's not always that resilient on the way down. Yes, Disney has always been resilient to these moves before - but I would argue they haven't alienated a fan base in the past. (They arguably haven't really had time to in the past, since the Parks are only 67 years old.) Especially when they wouldn't have to. I have 10,000% faith that WDI could create both original and IP based attractions that truly fit their settings - like we saw with Avatar. They simply aren't being tasked with that and/or are actively being told to ignore such things to "expand the theme". Time will tell if the ROI on all of this is actually worth it in the long run.

Well said. And when you talk about Galaxy’s Edge imo they spent God knows what on that land and found to mangle the most popular IP ever…

 

[Jrb1979]

Why do we still go back and forth over whether something fits or not into a land or park. Disney stopped worrying about that a long time ago. They will put what they want where they want now. If they want to put Mary Poppins in Dinoland they will do it and have some kind of story behind it. We can all name numerous attractions that don’t “fit”.

Agreed. What bugs me is how so many Dis fans harp on IOA being an extension of Studios. I would say Epcot, AK and DHS now have become an extension of MK. There really is no theme to any of the parks anymore. They all blend together now.

 

[LittleBuford]

Agreed. What bugs me is how so many Dis fans harp on IOA being an extension of Studios. I would say Epcot, AK and DHS now have become an extension of MK. There really is no theme to any of the parks anymore. They all blend together now.

Whatever criticisms one may make of the parks, I think it’s a wild exaggeration to say they all blend together now. If that were the case, people would just indiscriminately visit any one of the four.