Originally Posted By DisDream I saw a rumor at another Disney site that Animal Kingdom may be replacing Camp Minnie-Mickey with a new land that would feature Journey to the Center of the Earth from Tokyo DisneySea. I've heard this rumor before, but it was a few years ago. My impression was that they were back with Beastly Kingdom. I wonder how this will affect that project? - The site said that it may be done in 2011 for WDW's 40th Anniversary - But, they stressed that it is still just a rumor. - Does anyone else know anything about this?
Originally Posted By Mr X Haven't heard about that, but it would be very cool! Only problem is, to do it right you'd need the volcano, and something as gigantic as that is more of a centerpiece (like at DisneySea) and would really dominate the skyline there in a strange way and maybe take away some of the grandure of the Tree of Life... But maybe they could sink it or something, like Space Mountain at Disneyland? It would look cool up close, but not dominate so much from the center of the park that way.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros While it would definately need some sort of rocky building, I don't think it needs to be a volcano. If it was something similar to the Tunder Mesa design (of course modified to fit the look instead of western) and had "natural" springs and geysers outside, I think that would be enough to show the geothermal activity. The only problem, IMO, is that the current design of the ride doesn't really focus that much on the animals, and seems to be more about the rocks and ride vechicles. Sure, there are critters in the funky mushroom forest room, and there's the weird alien eggs, along with the infamous lava monster, but I don't think all that would nessecarily register with most guests. Then again, I don't think most guests would really care if there was a relation to the animal theme at all.
Originally Posted By Mr X The yeti coaster doesn't really have an animal "focus", oer se...no more than the matterhorn in any case (and would you call that an "animal focused" attraction?). In fact, the lava monster gets just as much "face time" on the ride as the yeti does...what's the difference really?
Originally Posted By FerretAfros I've never been on Everest (it was a big pile of metal that was just starting to look like a mountain the last time I was there), but it seems to me that the entire queue has a backstory about the yeti. You pass little shrines to him, and go through a little museum. On the lift up the hill, you see the little shrine to him in there. Then, you encounter his damage, forcing you to back up, and then you see his shadow tear out the track behind you, so you go foreward. Then you finally see him and what the build up has been. I know a lot of the stuff at TDS is because of the placement within the land, but the approach area and queue are clearly designed to be about rocks and geothermal activity. The animals seem to just pop up by surprise on the trip (I don't know what the narration says), and are just as random as a layer of sandstone along the way. Then, you pass the random mercury sea and see the lava monster, which scares your car into driving away?? It would be pretty simple to change the storyline from looking for rock to looking for animals, but that would change the approach area and queue, as well as some of the scenes earlier in the ride. It may or may not change the climax of the ride and the path chosen for the cars to travel on the high speed lap.
Originally Posted By partyhare Expedition Everest is totally animal focused since every part of the ride is about the Yeti, from the queue to the gift shop. The Matterhorn is a different type of attraction. The snowman there is just a part, but the ride itself in and out of the mountain is the focus.
Originally Posted By dshyates Make it Chinese, put in Asia, fill the queue with fire breathing dragon lore complete with one of those long dragons from the chinese parades hanging from the cieling, and enjoy a trip into the Caves of Dragon Mt. Past the mercury sea, you pass a tunnel on the right but you go straight through a narrow tunnel into a larger cave and accidently wake the giant sleeping AA dragon. Your car backs through the tunnel and the dragon who can't fit in the tunnel fills it with flames. Luckily you backed just out of reach. You decide the right tunnel is safer. You come upon glowing Dragon eggs and... Mama! You speed past and continue speeding down the tunnel because with good audio design (Thundering footsteps/ear splitting screaches) and well placed flame jets you KNOW she is chasing your car. Your cars pops out of Dragon Mt. and Every car of cheering tourists makes it back to the village safely. But the best place for this ride would be behind England in Epcot. And tie it in with Knights and stuff (get Land Rover to sponsor.) Or over at MK and be Maleficents cozy family room. As Chinese dragons weren't bad meanies. They were a scource of energy. But there could be a humorous on board video guide explaining that she is nice and may appear scary but just wants to play, as she is chasing us blowing flames at the car.
Originally Posted By Brian Noble >>>But maybe they could sink it or something, like Space Mountain at Disneyland?<<< Not in Florida, you can't. There's a reason the guest areas of MK are the second floor...
Originally Posted By nbodyhome I hadn't even noticed the "sink" comment. You can't sink anything too far here in Florida.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo I kind of like the idea of JTTCOTE being in DAK, but it is a little too simialr to EE in storyline don't you think?
Originally Posted By bobbelee9 dshyates, I like your thinking, it sounds like a fun ride. Just not for my stomach!
Originally Posted By Britain If they put in all of Mysterious Island (including 20K Under the Sea), not just JTTCOTE, then the theme could be Undiscovered Life. You got your real animals, you got your mythological creatures from the far east (Yeti), you might one day see mythological creatures from Europe (Beastly Kingdom) and you could have life yet to be discovered in regions unknown (underwater and underground).
Originally Posted By Britain Oh, and you already got your extinct animals too. (Just wanted to complete the thought there.)
Originally Posted By DisDream On another Disney site, they suggest that both JOTTCOTE and a Midieval Beastly Kingdom type land may be in development. I like the idea of undiscovered animals. Maybe, they have two new lands under development. That would be great!
Originally Posted By bobbelee9 I'm still waiting for the Unicorn they mentioned way back when they first started talking about doing the AK.
