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

[RSoxNo1]

My issue with removing DINOSAUR is not that it's a sacred attraction. My issue with removing DINOSAUR is about what's replacing it and the fact that the park needs additions, not replacements.

I think this park would be substantially better off with Moana and Nemo lumped into an Oceania land and the Boneyard, Restaurantosaurus and DINOSAUR remaining as Dinoland USA.

Having said all that, what is a realistic time table for DINOSAUR closing? 2024?

 

[Coaster Lover]

Having said all that, what is a realistic time table for DINOSAUR closing? 2024?

For a long overdue refurb? Hopefully soon... to be replaced by Moana/Zootopia? I think even thinking something would start on this by 2027 would be optimistic...

 

[J4546]

Maybe they could refurb dinosaur into an evil castle themed ride and make beastly kingdoms?

 

[Andrew C]

Maybe they could refurb dinosaur into an evil castle themed ride and make beastly kingdoms?

We have Pandora.

 

[UNCgolf]

My issue with removing DINOSAUR is not that it's a sacred attraction. My issue with removing DINOSAUR is about what's replacing it and the fact that the park needs additions, not replacements.

I think this park would be substantially better off with Moana and Nemo lumped into an Oceania land and the Boneyard, Restaurantosaurus and DINOSAUR remaining as Dinoland USA.

Having said all that, what is a realistic time table for DINOSAUR closing? 2024?

Well, considering the Dinosaur retheme is part of a supposed "phase 2", which never happens, I'm guessing (and hoping) a realistic time table for it closing doesn't really exist.

 

[doctornick]

It was weird with how they led with a kind of "Zootopia is perfect for DAK" in that odd part of the presentation. You would think they would have talked about Moana first especially if that is in the near horizon as it seems. I'm a little fearful that Zootopia might be so far along they are committed to it (though Disney often cancels things willie nilly anyway, so there's that).

My issue with removing DINOSAUR is not that it's a sacred attraction. My issue with removing DINOSAUR is about what's replacing it and the fact that the park needs additions, not replacements.

I think this park would be substantially better off with Moana and Nemo lumped into an Oceania land and the Boneyard, Restaurantosaurus and DINOSAUR remaining as Dinoland USA.

This is exactly what they should do, plus add another dino themed attraction next to Dinosaur. I feel like the plot of land between Restaurantosaurus and the Dinosaur ride could house a smaller ride or at least a walk through - it abuts a backstage road so sightlines aren't an issue with putting anything there.

 

[cookiee_munster]

I wonder if at any point they recently dug out the concepts for the excavator rollercoaster that was supposed to be built in Dinoland...

Rather than use the Dinorama space for the coaster, they'd rather go with spending way more money on things that may not even have that much of an extra impact on capacity for the park. The only upside i guess is merchandising and how much extra stuff they could sell in the gift shop at the end of each ride. Sad really...

 

[RSoxNo1]

I wonder if at any point they recently dug out the concepts for the excavator rollercoaster that was supposed to be built in Dinoland...

Rather than use the Dinorama space for the coaster, they'd rather go with spending way more money on things that may not even have that much of an extra impact on capacity for the park. The only upside i guess is merchandising and how much extra stuff they could sell in the gift shop at the end of each ride. Sad really...

There definitely is room for a flat ride or two in that area. Possible more if you do something about the DINOSAUR extended queue.

 

[ᗩLᘿᑕ ✨ ᗩζᗩᗰ]

It's the mandate, I get it. So why not push Zootopia out by Rafiki's? Then just reimagine Dinoland USA as an Oceanic theme complete with the Moana Spinner, Nemo Theater, Atlantis: The Lost Empire whatsit, an S.E.A. themed eatery and Tokyo's 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea dark ride in the former Dinosaur space.

 

[DisneyHead123]

It's the mandate, I get it. So why not push Zootopia out by Rafiki's? Then just reimagine Dinoland USA as an Oceanic theme complete with the Moana Spinner, Nemo Theater, Atlantis: The Lost Empire whatsit, an S.E.A. themed eatery and Tokyo's 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea dark ride in the former Dinosaur space.

It does seem like on both Blue Sky ideas, it’s a strange mashup of whatever IP they could cram into the same space. Hoping that would get fixed if these lands are ever actually made. The Thunder Mountain area works a little better but Moana and Zootopia are too disparate to be in the same area, to my mind.

 

[UNCgolf]

So why not push Zootopia out by Rafiki's?

I think that would require significantly more work. They'd have to create a walking path to get there, and it would be a relatively long walk through empty space unless they spend additional money to add some stuff along the way.

 

[Brer Panther]

Moana doesn't belong in Animal Kingdom. Nor does Atlantis.

 

[SpectreJordan]

I think the reason why Dinoland was a bit of a swing and miss is that it didn’t go all-in on the nostalgia element that was the “hook”. I think for most people that’s the idea of the old fashioned American road trip. Route 66. Antique cars. Norman Rockwell-esque scenes of family fun and wackiness. Etc.

I think a land that was centered entirely around those elements might have worked (although it could be that the nostalgia train has left the station and people want innovation more than anything at this point.) And alternately, a land that was all about dinosaurs in a way that was more in line with the Jurassic era might have worked. But I think the mashup just ended up watering down both elements. Look at similar (but not watered down) execution of the 1950s in HS, for example. Sci Fi Restaurant seems to do well. To me this points to the idea that going more strongly one way or the other would have been better.

Also, I think carnival rides almost never work because we still have carnival rides in the US, so it’s not something to get nostalgic about. They’re the nausea inducing parking lot based experiences you have to endure for the sake of your kids at every town festival, fundraiser, or trip to the boardwalk. If they were extinct they might be charming, but they most definitely are not.

It’s crazy that they didn’t try to make a “real” dinosaur land to try & one up Universal before they got Jurassic Park into IOA. They had a year advantage too.

 

[DisneyHead123]

It’s crazy that they didn’t try to make a “real” dinosaur land to try & one up Universal before they got Jurassic Park into IOA. They had a year advantage too.

I think the 1998 opening date has a lot to do with that. As much as I have griped about certain decisions by Disney recently (where is my Magic Express?!?) I have always said I think they have upped their game considerably in the rides department over the years. I don’t think there’s any way they would green light something like DinoLand in 2022… there is significantly more focus on Wow Factor now. Over 25 years ago, when DinoLand was being planned, totally different story I think.

 

[Brer Panther]

It's because Disney doesn't have any popular dinosaur IPs.

I still think Ice Age would work fine as a Dino-Rama replacement. I know Disney closed Blue Sky Studios, but that Buck movie they did earlier this year shows that they're still perfectly willing to milk the franchise.

 

[SpectreJordan]

I think the 1998 opening date has a lot to do with that. As much as I have griped about certain decisions by Disney recently (where is my Magic Express?!?) I have always said I think they have upped their game considerably in the rides department over the years. I don’t think there’s any way they would green light something like DinoLand in 2022… there is significantly more focus on Wow Factor now. Over 25 years ago, when DinoLand was being planned, totally different story I think.

I'm guessing the main issue was budget constraints. But I feel like some realistic dino statues & more jungle like environments couldn't have cost that much. But who knows how tight they were for money with the final land.

It's because Disney doesn't have any popular dinosaur IPs.

I still think Ice Age would work fine as a Dino-Rama replacement. I know Disney closed Blue Sky Studios, but that Buck movie they did earlier this year shows that they're still perfectly willing to milk the franchise.

I mainly meant at launch, when they weren't as IP focused. I totally get why they, sadly, aren't doing it now.

 

[DisneyHead123]

I'm guessing the main issue was budget constraints. But I feel like some realistic dino statues & more jungle like environments couldn't have cost that much. But who knows how tight they were for money with the final land.

I think budget constraints but also expectations. Say they started planning around 1995 - the vast majority of Americans didn’t even have internet, and the glory days of AOL were still a few years away. If you had a cell phone it was probably a car phone, and a fairly giant apparatus. It was a totally different entertainment and travel landscape. A cute lil’ area featuring Donald Duck probably would have cut it in those days.

 

[WondersOfLife]

I think this park would be substantially better off with Moana and Nemo lumped into an Oceania land and the Boneyard, Restaurantosaurus and DINOSAUR remaining as Dinoland USA.

This, I can get behind... What would be great (but would never happen) is if they bulldozed the living seas at Epcot and built a brand new Nemo/Dory-Themed aquarium at AK, complete with the musical, a nemo dark ride (exiting into the aquarium, but a better ride) and Turtle Talk.

I would argue you wouldn't even need Moana. Especially since she's going to Epcot. Just make a fully-fleshed out Nemo-Aquatic themed land, and condense the Dinosaurs down a little, so we still have the dinos plus the E-Ticket (when it wants to be) over there in the corner.

 

[_caleb]

I’m hoping they replace DINOSAUR with for five intertwined exposed-track coasters in an entire land dedicated to talking cartoon alien aquatic dinosaurs because it’d fit perfectly with DAK’s theme of animal related decorations.

Check out my blog for some concept art I drew.

 

[FettFan]

Why?

Other than the fringe “theme park aficionado” who is really going to care about where a ride is, to the point it effects their decisions to come and spend at the park?

You honestly think people will say, well I just rode guardians right across the lake from here and loved it, but I don’t think I want to walk the extra few minutes to ride Tron bc it’s at the Moroccan pavillion?

You can suspend disbelieve that Mexico is right near Norway, and enjoy what both pavillion a have to offer, but the placement of a roller coaster is going to turn people off/away?