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

[Jrb1979]

And they’ve not said they’d be part of Frontierland. We have no details on whether they’d be part of an existing larger land or something small and separate akin to Liberty Square.

We have no details cause they aren't likely happening. I will say these Blue sky announcements did its job.

 

[No Name]

One of the biggest problems with this blue sky spitballing is that it lessons the impact of an actual announcement, especially for these specific ideas, but partially for anything the company announces in the future. I’m sure I’m not alone in thinking that the better move would’ve been to greenlight and commit to one of the five things they mentioned and just announce that. Like, announce Moana (which seems to be the closest to happening) and nothing else. I think the fact that this didn’t happen speaks to the underlying organizational issues within the company that make them slow to adapt and prone to cost overruns.

Man, people really overthink Disney animated movies lol

Man, @arich35 really fails to comprehend themes in animated movies lol

 

[celluloid]

The Magic Kingdom's mission is especially broad, is it not? It's about bringing joy, inspiration, and new knowledge to the young and young at heart. Nothing binds it to specific lands or cultures, and what was proposed looked at least somewhat considered in terms of how it would relate to and transition in and out of surrounding lands. I'm not sure what one would find problematic about such a broad-brushed sketch, feasibility and outstanding issues elsewhere in the park notwithstanding.

It is the only park to specifically mention America in ita dedication as Walt specifically stated. It is American Mythology. It is why many in Paris initially scoffed at the idea and why Tokyo refused any major cultural changes. You can argue things change but with what we know so far it is not just anything automatically fits in MK's original mission. From our fairy tales carried over, colonization, the frontier and the inspiration all romanticized. If they do Coco Nd Encanto right they could continue that. Villain's outside of Fantasyland sure is a scratcher.

 

[LittleBuford]

It is the only park to specifically mention America in ita dedication as Walt specifically stated. It is American Mythology. It is why many in Paris initially scoffed at the idea and why Tokyo refused any major cultural changes. You can argue things change but with what we know so far it is not just anything automatically fits in MK's original mission. From our fairy tales carried over, colonization, the frontier and the inspiration all romanticized. If they do Coco Nd Encanto right they could continue that. Villain's outside of Fantasyland sure is a scratcher.

Many parts of the Magic Kingdom refer to non-American place and themes—pretty much all of Adventureland and Fantasyland.

 

[celluloid]

Many parts of the Magic Kingdom refer to lands outside the US—pretty much all of Adventureland and Fantasyland.

Re-read the post. That is covered as colonization, exploration and the Americanized fairy tales brought over from immigration. The hard truths are included in Walt Disney's original speech for Disneyland's "Magic Kingdom" that created America. There would be some great ways the company could do the new lands, but I would not trust them to care to do it.

 

[LittleBuford]

Re-read the post. I covered that colonization and the Americanized fairy tales brought over from immigration. The hard truths are included in Walt Disney's original speech for Disneyland's "Magic Kingdom."

By my reckoning, most of the countries/regions represented in Adventureland were colonised by European powers (if at all) rather than by the US. And I’m not sure how Peter Pan, Winnie the Pooh, and Alice in Wonderland qualify as Americanised fairytales brought over by immigrants.

 

[celluloid]

By my reckoning, most of the countries/regions represented in Adventureland were colonised by European powers (if at all) rather than by the US. And I’m not sure how Peter Pan and Winnie the Pooh qualify as Americanised fairytales brought over by immigrants.

This is proving the point. Through the lense of Americana.

Magic Kingdom is a Hollywood lense style Americana. The American Dream that never was and always will be if that helps. The Frontierland of Disney's version of Davy Crockett, an Adventureland with a boat ride that is more akin to The African Queen and a park with pirates that remind us more of cartoony inspirations mixed with treasure island adventure rather than the real nasties.

By design the first area you enter before spoking into anything else is a romantacized is a town known as Main Street, USA. You got there through the lense of Americana.

This is not a revelation for many. If you don't like it that is fine but it has been well studied, appreciated and is what it is.

To answer your peter pan and Winnie the Pooh comment. A famous American entertainment man created the most successful versions of them.

And it is cool if you do not care. Things like Toontown and particularly Galaxy's Edge changed the sharpness of that over time (although the cartoons represented in Toontown are very USA and parody stylized)
It does not seem those who finance care too much anymore either.

 

[LittleBuford]

This is proving the point. Through the lense of Americana.

Magic Kingdom is a Hollywood lense style Americana. The American Dream that never was and always will be if that helps. The Frontierland of Disney's version of Davy Crockett, an Adventureland with a boat ride that is more akin to The African Queen and a park with pirates that remind us more of cartoony inspirations mixed with treasure island adventure rather than the real nasties.

By design the first area you enter before spoking into anything else is a romantacized is a town known as Main Street, USA. You got there through the lense of Americana.

This is not a revelation for many. If you don't like it that is fine but it has been well studied, appreciated and is what it is.

To answer your peter pan and Winnie the Pooh comment. A famous American entertainment man created the most successful versions of them.

And it is cool if you do not care. Things like Toontown and particularly Galaxy's Edge changed the sharpness of that over time (although the cartoons represented in Toontown are very USA and parody stylized)
It does not seem those who finance care too much anymore either.

I’m not sure where you’re getting the idea that I don’t care.

I don’t for one minute disagree with the claim that the park (like all of WDW) is a highly Americanised take on the rest of the world; that’s entirely self-evident. That isn’t what I took your earlier posts to be saying, however. If I understood you correctly, your point seemed to be that a villains land would clash with the American theme of the Magic Kingdom. Is that a fair characterisation, or did you mean something else?

 

[celluloid]

I’m not sure where you’re getting the idea that I don’t care.

I don’t for one minute disagree with the claim that the park (like all of WDW) is a highly Americanised take on the rest of the world; that’s entirely self-evident. That isn’t what I took your earlier posts to be saying, however. If I understood you correctly, your point seemed to be that a villains land would clash with the American theme of the Magic Kingdom. Is that a fair characterisation, or did you mean something else?

I stated that there is nothing evident as of now, that the Blue Sky announcements for Magic Kingdom(or any of the parks Blue Sky announcements, to tie it back to the subject of the thread) show promise of them committing to that over reaching theme the park has touches of in all the other lands.
MK should not be whatever is popular goes here park anymore than any of the other three, or it loses identity as well.

I reiterate that they could do it well, but the way it's placement and announcement wording so far seems they don't care to try.

 

[LittleBuford]

I stated that there is nothing evident as of now, that the Blue Sky announcements for Magic Kingdom show promise of them committing to that over reaching theme the park has touches of in all the other lands.
MK should not be whatever is popular goes here park anymore than any of the other three, or it loses identity as well.

I reiterate that they could do it well, but the way it's placement and announcement wording so far seems they don't care to try.

I don’t share your understanding of what constitutes the park’s overarching theme, so it’s impossible for me to see the issue that you’re seeing.

 

[celluloid]

I don’t share your understanding of what constitutes the park’s overarching theme, so it’s impossible for me to see the issue that you’re seeing.

And that is ok

 

[lazyboy97o]

I think Moana’s use for Animal Kingdom would be more about the film’s location and characters than its actual storyline.

How many times has it been claimed that they’ll just use the characters for this and that? How many times has it happened?

 

[doctornick]

These lands/expansions don’t pose a problem to MKs mission (dedication plaque) but they pose a thematic issue as they wouldn’t fit in Frontierland.

Is there any reason to think they wouldn’t be in a newly created land?

 

[Clyde Birdbrain]

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.

99.9% of people don‘t care that Darth Vader or Mando are in different eras and shouldn't be seen at Galaxy’s Edge together, but Disney seems to have drawn a red line there.

Yet, I think most of us fans would be okay with a Darth Vader M&G in Galaxy’s Edge and not okay with Zootopia in Animal Kingdom. It’s weird that Disney feels so strongly about protecting one and not the other.

 

[doctornick]

3) AVATAR might not be a perfect fit either, but at least that movie has more of a focus on non-human characters (the Na'vi) than humans. And it actually takes place in a jungle-ish environment as opposed to Moana's sandy beaches and oceans.

Why would Moana’s “sandy beaches and oceans” not fit in DAK? Any natural environment can be made to work and different animals live in different places. The issue with Zootopia is that it takes place in an urban environment.

If anything I think DAK would benefit from more different environments and not just tropical jungle.

 

[Phicinfan]

I’m not defending Epcot although I actually don’t mind Rat. A ride focused on food, set in Paris, makes sense to me. Good is central to French culture. Certainly a better fit than Frozen.

Cosmic Rewind doesn’t belong in World…whatever district it’s in. I honestly don’t even remember. Nature, Celebration, and…? Drawing a blank.

Discovery and I disagree with this opinion. Outer Space in Discovery and learning of other life forms DOES fit in Discovery

 

[Phicinfan]

Okay, four things here.

1) As somebody else pointed out, the argument for why Zootopia doesn't fit in the park but Moana does is contradictory: Zootopia doesn't fit because "Animal Kingdom is about animals with animal problems, and the animals in Zootopia act like humans." But Moana DOES fit in Animal Kingdom despite being about humans as opposed to animals because "Animal Kingdom isn't about animals, it's about our connection to the environment and blah-blah-blah." Which is it?

Animal Kingdom celebrates nature - it celebrates seeing animals in their correct environment as well as conserving the resources and the world for nature and life. I repeat everyone continues to state that AK is not a zoo, fine I agree. But if Avatar fits due to its nature theme and saving nature, I submit so does Moana as that is why she journeys, which you continue to ignore.

2) You can keep pointing at the Te Fiti crap, but Moana is first and foremost about a human character teaming up with another human (or at least half-human half-god) character to save her village full of humans and fulfill her dream of sailing. It's hardly about learning to live in harmony with animals. I wouldn't say that a land based on that Flowers and Trees short would fit in Animal Kingdom even though it's technically about the environment. WALL-E has an environmental message. So did Cars 2. Do THEY fit in Animal Kingdom?

Moana is about a young girl who has special commune with the ocean, and is on a journey to save her people who's island is failing due to Nature failing due to Te Fiti losing her heart. Yes it also has a "human" demi-god, who I believe for at least half the movie is some other kind of creature off and on. Again though the base story is on giving Te Fite her heart back to save nature. As for Wall E why not? We already have aliens in Avatar area, if they were to add a futuristic part and stress the same messages as the movie it could fit.

3) AVATAR might not be a perfect fit either, but at least that movie has more of a focus on non-human characters (the Na'vi) than humans. And it actually takes place in a jungle-ish environment as opposed to Moana's sandy beaches and oceans.

Moana spends more than half the movie either on tropical islands or Oceans. What exactly is the point here?

4) Everyone seems to have this idea that the hypothetical Moana attractions at Animal Kingdom will follow the park's "protecting the environment and our relationship with it" nature. The chances of that are incredibly small. It's likely just going to be another Frozen Ever After / Tiana's Totally Woke Salt Mine Adventure and have Moana sailing around singing songs from the film. I'd be shocked if the Moana land even had any animal exhibits.

You don't think they can build a log flume that has to do with the importance of water in nature? Wow such faith.

Do any of these things come to mind when you think of Animal Kingdom?

View attachment 666549

View attachment 666550

View attachment 666551

Actually yes, if put in proper context. That is the fun part

 

[Phicinfan]

I'm sure this was asked but what does Moana have to do with animals? Animals play an extremely small role in the film's story.

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

 

[LSLS]

It would be COMPLETELY out of place to walk into a futuristic urban environment in the middle of Animal Kingdom. People would absolutely notice and hate it. You don't put a volcano ride in the middle of Main Street, USA. You just don't.

Honest to God, why are you even a Disney Parks fan?

Look, I don't like it, but I do think you are wrong about how people would notice. Or, I guess, more so if they would care at all. I'll keep going back to Cosmic Rewind. How many people boycotted the park because that monstrosity is so out of place, and doesn't fit thematically at all? I'd put money a lot less than have gone to Epcot just to ride it. Parks having a complete theme are not the end all be all for people, it's just what made Disney better than the rest.

 

[Brer Panther]

Moana is about a young girl who has special commune with the ocean

If the ocean is so dang important in the movie, why don't they just retheme The Seas With Nemo and Friends to it then? THAT'S the part of Disney World that's focused on oceans.

As for Wall E why not?

You really think WALL-E would fit in Animal Kingdom.

Oh my head...

You don't think they can build a log flume that has to do with the importance of water in nature? Wow such faith.

Remember how people were claiming that Frozen Ever After might use the characters to actually teach us about Norway, or that Guardians of the Galaxy might use the characters to teach about energy? If they couldn't be bothered to do that, I doubt the Moana ride will teach us anything about nature.