Originally Posted By Doobie This topic is for Discussion of: <a href="http://www.LaughingPlace.com/News-ID510110.asp" target="_blank">2/21/06 Pardon Our Dust - Disney's Animal Kingdo</a>
Originally Posted By charliesportz Young as I am, Animal Kingdom was the first park I got to see from it's opening. And I'll tell you what, as am 8 year old kid, it bored the daylight out of me. I was too old for Camp Minnie Mickey, so after Dinosaur and the safari all could say was "Daddy let's gp to the Magic Kindom!!!" Now I'm catching on. Everest rocked!!!!! The "E" ticket is indeed back, the theming is as immersive as Tower's theming and ride... like nothing I've ever ridden before. I hope Joe Rhode and the team keep it up 'cuz I'm really starting to enjoy WDW's "other" kingom. (sidenote: Is it just me or does an austrailan section in the park sound a tad boring? Kangaroos and koalas can only go so far. What then? Desert shrubs? Nothing against Austrailia, it just doesn't sound... theme-parky)
Originally Posted By mickey_ring Australia. hmmm, might be a way to Nemotize another park! something-something Wallaby Way, Sydney.
Originally Posted By mrichmondj What about South America? I don't think that part of the world has been very well explored in Disney park-dom. I can think of some very colorful ideas relating to that part of the world -- bringing the Three Caballeros to life!
Originally Posted By FerretAfros I think it would be interesting to zee anorth or south pole themed area. It would be cool to see how they worked it in with the rest of the park, as it would probably need to be indoors. Also, there isn't any architecture that would blend in too well, so I think that would be an interesting change. The Rivers of Light parade sounds really cool. I don't picture it as being something that is a spectacular like Fantasmic!, but more one of those things that is just really emotional and impacting like the Candlelight. Maybe I'm thinking of it the wrong way, but it seems like a really organic live version of Ave Maria from Fantasia, which I at least would be really amazed with.
Originally Posted By LuvDatDisney Anything that keeps folks in DAK longer is a good thing. Of course had they built the park as the full-day experience (Beastly Kingdom ring a bell?) Joe Rohde and his team envisioned and had a couple of full-serve dining options (no, that dreadful Rainforest Mall Cafe doesn't count) and a nighttime show to begin with, they wouldn't need all of these fixes now.
Originally Posted By FoxHound Another live animal area would be nice, but they really need some indoor, air conditioned attractions in this park. I went with my parents in June a few years ago, and it was just unbearable. The other parks offered so many more opportunities to escape the heat. The animals were wisely hidden, and the line for the train was so long, we did not check out Rafiki's Planet Watch (I was sad we did not see it, but we really had to go back to our hotel for a dip in the pool to cool off). Too bad the Living Seas can't be brought over to Animal Kingdom----it would be a big hit. Narnia with an indoor family dark ride would be nice. They could have a beaver exhibit bridging Camp Minnie Mickey and Narnia (I think in any scenario for expanding into the Beastly Kingdom plot, they have to bulldoze Pocahontas). Narnia would be easy to market, even in foreign markets.
Originally Posted By Indigo Why does the 'River of Light' parade have me thinking of Light Magic. Imagine the already crowded pathways of Animal Kingdom impassable with guests camped out in the best locations for hours. Sorry Joe. Just say no. The Nemo show is the direction I think they should go. Yes. Seaworld is just down the street, but a Disney treatment of the creatures of the sea would make DAK back into a 12 hour park, IMHO. Plus, Ocra's, Dolphins, etc will work after dark.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 Yep throw in a couple of dark rides to escape the heat from in summer ....and a few more animals ( I for one kinda like Australia) - and AK is starting to fulfill it's promise.
Originally Posted By woody I'm not sure why they want to keep people longer in the park. The park doesn't lend itself to it. The animals and landscapes are its main attractions. They are also daytime oriented. The park is very hot. There are few indoor options. They could add more indoor stores and exhibits. Changing the conservation pavilion helps. Why not remove the live animals at night and replace them with the animatronics? Have an evening version of the safari ride with thrills!!!
Originally Posted By brotherdave I've been to a number of zoos that have some wonderfully themed indoor exhibits. The Cincinnati Zoo has this awesome indoor ancient Asian temple ruins that feature orangutans, reptiles, and other animals in a fully immersive indoor environment. Heck, the building itself blended in so well with the surrounding trees and foliage, we almost passed it up for just some outdoor theming. I'm sure Disney could come up with something equally as spectacular, if not more so featuring indoor exhibits!
Originally Posted By leemac One of the issues that will govern whether DAK gets extensive cash is whether D-MGM attendance keeps tanking as it has recently and whether Epcot's budget increases*m That is the problem with one pot of money and four parks.
Originally Posted By LadyandtheTramp ^^^But if that pot of money is big enough, that shouldn't be a problem. Now, getting the pot big enough, that's another story.
Originally Posted By StitchMom84 .....Australia? What a great place for a "Kanga-Pooh's Playground"!!!!! .....sorry, vbdad, I just couldn't resist!!!!!!
Originally Posted By vbdad55 aaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrggggggggghhhhhhhhhh!!!!! Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom My opinion is to finally build "Beastly Kingdom'. However I think the likelyhood of seeing this next at DAK is nil. Disney seems to be responding to consumer demands. Right now consumers want roller coaster and don't be surprised that there is going to be another roller coaster at DAK.
Originally Posted By DouglasDubh They should build a Narnia dark ride in Camp Minnie-Mickie. It would be cool if they could make the omnimover cars look like sleighs, which start as white, and change to brown.
Originally Posted By Kuzcochik I don't know, I believe (ignoring Dinoland) putting in Beastly Kingdom whould be deviating too far from reality. I'm delighted to hear about the RPW makeover (as a former CM from up there a walking path would be a god sent) as long as they don't mess it up or try and make it too cutesy or character oriented (it's the real world...plain and simple). I also like the idea of more eateries and the night time parade. Personally I think a reworking of Kali would be beneficial too. I went on it the first time (being a Disneylander) expecting Grizzly River Run and being sadly dissapointed. If they could make it longer or better that might help.
