I think you could argue that the film is about Ecological Interdependence which would link it back to the themes of Animal Kingdom. That said, I like the movie, however, at the moment I don't see how an expression of the Zootopia IP would currently fit within the expression of the Animal Kingdom theme.
I think that is why there is a fundamental disagreement on this topic, there is a clear 'winnable' argument from both sides of the debate.
The sky is falling! The sky is not falling! Both are obviously not equal. There is a correct statement; a better one like many things in life.
Zootopia does not fit in Animal Kingdom at all. The park is about man’s relationship with nature and broadly ‘conservation’. Animals are part of nature, but they are not the only thing the park is about (meaning the IP can’t just have animals!), nor is it a justification to add an attraction say like Splash Mountain over because it has animals.
All man-made buildings in the park are overruled by nature. Nature wins. Allegory or not, Zootopia is a movie where animals act as people in a big city. The movie does not sell you on an actual place that could exist in our world like Avatar did, and does not fit in the realistic AK. Style is yet another reason it has no place there (the city clashing with the trees and nature look of the park).
Pandora, contrary to what some people say, fits exceptionally well at the park. Honestly, better than any modern IP land in my opinion. Harry Potter (like the entire IOA) has no relation to the other lands, Star Wars will feel the same way, but Cars Land like Pandora to AK visually fits California, and therefor California Adventure.
The only park Zootopia can remotely even fit inside is Hollywood Studios, but even then the main part about Zootopia are the animals. Sure there are different ecosystems, but the lack of actual animals for something that looks like a city (albeit with some minor differences) could stand a problem, but in HWS it could work better since there is more leeway. How will the land look? Will people magically transform into furry critters? It doesn’t really affect Toontown, but Zootopia is more about the animals than Toontown is, especially to justify it properly fitting in AK. Yet it still feels like something is off in Toontown. The world of Zootopia itself is better for a ride than an entire land unless they can do it because they have a great idea, and not just because they have to base it on a movie like has been happening a lot recently.
Hollywood Studios is a dumping ground for IP, and in my mind that’s fine for a Hollywood-style park, but the park will never have harmony like Tokyo DisneySea, or even what EPCOT and AK have. Zootopia will throw that off at AK, and it would be a real shame.
Sure, it’s my opinion, and everyone should voice theirs, but typically there is a better choice. To me it’s a no brainer: Animal Kingdom is not the right park for anything Zootopia if what we get is the city.
If you don’t care about theming, themes, and storytelling then carry on, but if you do, I challenge everyone who disagrees with me and others to at least reconsider your opinion. The best theme parks successfully transport you to different locations and worlds; the absolute best visually work together from everywhere or nearly everywhere, and they are not self-aware. That’s why Marvel’s rides (Iron Man & GOTG) being located literally at the park and not in the place the park is trying to transport you to feels off, and also why Pixar Pier is such a travesty.
I don’t expect Zootopia to be self-aware like that, but in relation to the rest of the park it won’t fit at all visually as far as storytelling is concerned. Honestly, Star Wars Land at Disneyland will in my mind feel more right at home since it’s basically it’s own genre akin to the other lands in a way. The same cannot be said for Zootopia and Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
