Originally Posted By brotherdave Ok, Jim Hill unveiled the possible next Disney 'theme park' today... <a href="http://jimhillmedia.com/blogs/jim_hill/archive/2008/02/15/night-kingdom-to-reimagine-the-disney-theme-park-going-experience.aspx" target="_blank">http://jimhillmedia.com/blogs/ jim_hill/archive/2008/02/15/night-kingdom-to-reimagine-the-disney-theme-park-going-experience.aspx</a> Sorry, but I see absolutely no appeal here. NONE. NADA. ZIP. If this is true and happens to get built, in my opinion, it will die the same death as the Disney Institute. And at $250-$300 per person, they better offer more than feeding hippos and penguins. No thanks. I'd rather see that proposed $520 million spent in upkeeping and upgrading their current parks and resorts.
Originally Posted By Britain As soon as Jim said "no theme park rides per se" he lost me. I mean, I'm willing to spend top dollar on an immersive, pampered experience with a very low capacity limit ...with rides! Whatever happened to those ideas that grew out of the old Indiana Jones pitch: A 15-min ride that leads to a 40-min ride that leads to a 30-min ride? That's the park I'll hand my wallet over to experience. But this just sounds like I purchased some after-hours pass to DAK. Heck, do they really even need to build anything new? Just sell after-hours passes to DAK! Crawling around watching hyenas and swinging over hippos has little appeal to me, nor would it have any appeal to your typical WDW guest. But maybe that's the point, to bring in a different crowd than those who already come to WDW. And what the heck is the theme supposed to be? I mean it sounds like Animal Kingdom, kind of, with the savanna and all, but what's the over arching theme? The operating hours is the theme? Wha?
Originally Posted By smctopia I thought it sounded like some sort of extension to AK. Since AK is not open at night, this could be a way to expand hours and make people pay a premium. Maybe it's sort of a Extra Magic Hours for AK and not a whole new park. Visit Walt Dated World <a href="http://waltdatedworld.bravepages.com" target="_blank">http://waltdatedworld.bravepag es.com</a>
Originally Posted By dshyates Sounds like they will add this to the back side of the savannah. I can't say that I wouldn't do this once. I'm not blown away by the concept, but its OK. It really does sound like a way to strip mine an existing area to massive profit. But if the guest experience is as top notch as it says, then, cool. Rake in the cash, by all means.
Originally Posted By jonvn I am not going to spend $300 to feed a hippo. This can't be true. It's idiotic beyond belief.
Originally Posted By Mr X Dumb name, huh? Yes, sm, I get the impression it will be an extension of AK too. Would they really build a whole NEW park and fill it with animals? Weird.
Originally Posted By dshyates Maybe thats whats going in the big clearing near everest. <a href="http://tinyurl.com/yw9daq" target="_blank">http://tinyurl.com/yw9daq</a> Or anywhere on the back side.
Originally Posted By Mr X I agree, Jon. I can ALMOST understand the Sea World appeal (though still outrageously pricey!), since the swim with the dolphins thing is a pretty rare opportunity I would imagine. But this? Wha??
Originally Posted By FerretAfros I would have to pretty much agree with all the sentiments already said here. The thing that really threw me off was how he was all excited about having the same horticultural budget as Typhoon Lagoon. That's fine and dandy, but that place is tiny. If they want to make this place big enough to entertain most people for many hours (and for that price, it better be pretty friggin' entertaining), they will need a much bigger budget. The $520 budget is less than DCA, and we all know how that turned out (and it's a very small park by WDW standards). There really just isn't much that sounds like fun to me here. Sure, it might be fun to feed a hippo, but how many hippos will they have that everybody can feed one? The night vision goggles sound neat, until they mention that you will be up close and personal with the lions and hyenas for their nocturnal hunting. On top of the risk that you would get eaten, I'm not sure watching a lion devour a recently deceased zebra sounds like good family entertainment. Honestly, it sounds like they added a couple animals to the type of stuff that I've done a summer camp, except at camp that price would just about pay for a full week, not 6 hours.
Originally Posted By blueharvest82 Can someone please find spirit of 74 and tdlfan and watch them for their own safety! Everyone knows how much they support the idea of a new theme park...I don't want them to handcuff themselves to the bulldozers or anythimg!
Originally Posted By dshyates $520 mil goes along way when you are building a fancy backdoor/VIP entrance into an existing park for a theme park experience that includes no attractions, per se. For that kind of money it better be a darn fancy backdoor. That is assuming that they won't actually build an entirely new animal theme park, but use parts of the existing park. I know it sounds like I'm busting on this, but I think it could be cool. It very much will be on par with Discovey Cove. I would love to have an infrared video camera and night vision goggles and video Hyenas and Lions eating a cow. I can get Dolphins in the keys. Night footage of lions and hyenas...I don't know, Africa? Zip line across crocidiles, sure. Feeding hippos? Nah, I'll do the zip line thing again. For that kind of money there better be a lot more than listed, but for the most part I like it. It would be a fifth gate, but not a fifth theme park.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo OMG this sounds incredible and would be something that would get me back to the swamps. And no toons in site. For some of us Disney is not about rides, but amazing life experiences. I really hope this does fly and I will be there!!!
Originally Posted By dshyates I think on my next Otown vacation I will stay at the 4Seasons or Waldorf (3 nights). One day Discovery Cove, one day DNK. Just me and another yet to be discovered lucky person.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip I'm not sure whether I would do this or not since it sounds rather adventurous for a 55+ year old guy like me. But I think it is a very good idea. We DO NOT need another park with a bunch of rides... I don't care how cool the rides are or how much they are like Indiana Jones (who declared that ride the ultimate theme park experience anyway? It has a great queue, but it really isn’t all that fantastic other than that). I also think if you compare the success of IoA (or lack of it) to the success of Discovery Cove at Sea World you have to conclude the Disney is on the right track with this. I don't really see this as a new theme park, but as a major added attraction to an existing park. Is $520 million a crazy amount to pay for an added attraction? I don't think so. Disney has come to the point where they pretty routinely spend $100 million on attractions that are nowhere near the scope of this one. I give them kudos for trying something so different, but would have been much more impressed had they come up with it BEFORE Discovery Cove.
Originally Posted By aracuanbird I understand Jim Hill's enthusiasm if he believes he's broken some new story, but it would be nice if he could demonstrate some objectivity or even skepticism here. The way this project is explained, it lacks any kind of big idea. Contrast that with Discovery Cove (you swim with dolphins). One you can get your head around, the other is just meaningless.
Originally Posted By dshyates "(you swim with dolphins)." At DNK you run from lions. I believe they are going after the extreme Vault/Monster energy drink demo. "Dude, Run faster its right behind you! Here, (tosses Beavis a can of Monster energy drink)."
Originally Posted By Liberty Belle I agree with Dave and Trippy on this one. I love the idea of a "theme park" experience that's completely different - a huge part of my WDW experience is just enjoying the atmosphere, not going on rides all the time. I suppose coming from so far away the price doesn't really matter to me (what's another $300 on top of the thousands a week-long WDW holiday costs?) and I'd definitely be willing to give it a try!
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Ya, and some of you act like it's an everyway thing to feed a hippo!!! C'mon, this sort of thing is AWESOME! And having been to both the real Africa and DAK, I prefer DAK. To have an even more intense experience, add in a state of the art show and a great meal, this is awesome value. I mean imagine if you went on the dawn safari from the AKL, saw La Nouba and had dinner at the California Grill, you would spend the same sort of money right? This looks even better. So while you guys go and enjoy your latest toon laden nausea computer fest or 3 minutes of cheap thrills, I'll be at this new park! And what's really great is I don't have to have shots or boil the water to go!
Originally Posted By Mr X Sounds to me like they're just trying to make better use of that safari space. Fine for what it is...but is it really "a new park"? I'd say it's just more of an exclusive, "behind the scenes" tour of the existing one. As for feeding a hippo, I've fed a horse and an elephant. Didn't have to pay hundreds of bucks either, one was at a local place right new Tokyo Disneyland and the other was at a zoo. BFD, IMO.
