Originally Posted By Admin This topic is for Discussion of <a href="http://www.LaughingPlace.com/Latest.asp?I1=ID&I2=2861" target="_blank">Latest: Joe Rohde to give Animal Kingdom talk</a>
Originally Posted By dennis-in-ct Please ... I hope someone who attends can post a trip report. I wish I could be there.
Originally Posted By magnet If Jim Hill's report from some time ago about the Animal Kingdom is correct, it seems like DAK has turned out to be a somewhat different park from what Rohde and other imagineers had initially imagined. Of course, Rohde's done his best with the resources he's been given to design the park, but I wonder if it's difficult to put together a talk about something you've worked on when a number of attractions you wanted to have there just never materialized? Of course, there's plenty in the park to talk about, but the perspective he has as an imagineer and the perspective most visitors have must be VERY different. What I would come to hear would be more of his perspective on what he wanted for the park in the first ten years and what he hopes will become of the park in the next ten years. I doubt we'd hear anything about the frustrations of building the park even though that might be somewhat interesting. I hope it isn't a talk that boils down to something like, "Gee, isn't DAK great! Ta-Da!" Of course, the park IS great, and so is he, but I already knew that.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip I have no way of knowing, but I'm not convinced that Rohde was a huge fan of the Beastly Kingdom. I think he tolerated a land of rides as a way to sell the idea of AK to the suits. I like to think that AK ended up being pretty close to Rohde's vision... a wonderfully evocative park that gives you a greater sense of place than any other Disney park on the planet.
Originally Posted By barboy "gives you a greater sense of place than any other Disney park on the planet." I don't understand---- could you expand on that statement a bit more? Thanks ahead of time.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<I don't understand---- could you expand on that statement a bit more? Thanks ahead of time.>> The landscaping and design of the AK feels far more realistic and gives you more of a "you are there" feeling than any other Disney Parks. Main Street, Hollywood Boulevard, Adventureland, etc. are obviously Fantasy/Idealized versions of the real thing. The Africa and Asia portions (especially Africa) at DAK are so realistic that you can almost lose yourself and forget that you are in a Disney park. I remember one night when I was sitting on the circular bench in front of the Africa restrooms just as the park was closing. It was dusk and the lights were starting to come on; very few people were still around in that part of the park. I looked at the Baobab tree in the distance and looked at the rather rundown buildings around me. I listed to the crickets chirp in the background. I was truly transported to Africa in a way that has never happened in any other Disney park. It was truly one of the most memorable moments I've had at WDW. I maybe haven’t explained this feeling very well… if not perhaps someone else who has felt the same can do a better job of communicating it.
Originally Posted By leobloom "The landscaping and design of the AK feels far more realistic and gives you more of a "you are there" feeling than any other Disney Parks." You are where? In a generalized, remote African village? When you're in Future World, e.g., you're in a one-of-a-kind enviornment. Main Street may be idealized but it's still a unique place that combines a number of design elements that can only be found in a handful of places in this world. I like DAK but the "you are there" argument doesn't hold much weight with me.
Originally Posted By Skellington88 If there is a Q&A session please bombard him with questions about Beastly Kingdom and a possible Narnialand.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<When you're in Future World, e.g., you're in a one-of-a-kind enviornment.>> You are in a one-of-a-kind environment but NOT one that recreates anything else on earth. That is the difference I see. You never think you are anywhere else because no other place like that exists. I’m not saying one is better than the other. Just that the AK is (in my opinion) far better at recreating a setting that exists than any other park.
Originally Posted By FenwayGirl I totally agree with you RoadTrip. I love the different atmospheres at AK. Actually my #2 park with Epcot being first...
Originally Posted By WorldDisney <<You are in a one-of-a-kind environment but NOT one that recreates anything else on earth. That is the difference I see. You never think you are anywhere else because no other place like that exists. I’m not saying one is better than the other. Just that the AK is (in my opinion) far better at recreating a setting that exists than any other park.>> If you feel this way about DAK, then you would soooo love TDS RT . I agree with you though, when I'm DAK, parts of me feel like I am transported there, TRULY transported there and TDS does this in so many of their area's as well, its just amazing how great Disney can pull this off when they are given a real vision and creativity. That's why some of us give DCA such a hard time. The place is IN Calif, so you would think that make them step up their game a little and make some area's feel just atmospheric as the real thing, but nope!! DAK is probably my 4th favorite Disney park and maybe my second favorite non-MK park...behind TDS .
Originally Posted By FerretAfros I wondered how long it would take to get a TDS comment. I agree that parts of the park are amazing, but the landscaping really doesn't compare to DAK. There were many areas where I was definately able to completely lose myself (Cape Cod area, Fortress Explorations, Mysterious Island, New York area), but there was really only one place that was because of the landscaping: the Lost River Delta, near the giant pyramid. That just seemed to be the absolute best themed area in any Disney park I've seen. I was totally able to believe that I was somewhere in the Amazon, miles from the nearest civilization. The weird thing about TDS to me is that there really wasn't that much vegiation. Because of the focus on water, there was a lot of open space without much theming (other than water), so it was a very different feel than other places. Also, for some strange reason, all the trees were braced to keep them from falling over. They were done in theme (bamboo posts in Lost River Delta, wooden planks by Sinbad, steel cables in Port Discovery), but it just didn't quite make sense whey they would look like this, if they were trying to be natural at all. It was a very strange feeling. Overal theming: TDS hands down. Landscaping: nothing can compare with the all encompassing and varied themes and looks at DAK.
Originally Posted By leobloom What's so impressive about the landscaping at DAK? I ask that question in all seriousness. Are there any areas that you can point to as really good examples of DAK's landscaping?
Originally Posted By trekkeruss Among other things, what is impressive to me is that within a few hundred acres, they made a credible looking African savannah on the Kilimanjaro Safari.
Originally Posted By barboy "The landscaping and design of the AK feels far more realistic and gives you more of a "you are there" feeling than any other Disney Parks." I see now. But I don't know whether to agree or disagree..... but I do see what you are saying nonetheless.
Originally Posted By barboy "Just that the AK is (in my opinion) far better at recreating a setting that exists than any other park." Being such an avid Disney vacation spender and having a more refined Disney palate than the average guest, I just don't know why you haven't crossed the Pacific yet to see Disney Sea. Animal Kingdom is a fine park, actually a damn, fine park but it really is childs' play compared to TDS in theming and details.
Originally Posted By barboy "What's so impressive about the landscaping at DAK? I ask that question in all seriousness. Are there any areas that you can point to as really good examples of DAK's landscaping?" Yes, the oasis(entry area) is terribly lush; that Maharajah Jungle walk is way beyond the call of duty too. The whole park--- minus Chester--- screams vegetation.
Originally Posted By barboy "Overal theming: TDS hands down. Landscaping: nothing can compare with the all encompassing and varied themes and looks at DAK." Yep, I'll second that!
Originally Posted By leobloom The vegetation is dense, but it's not picturesque like at many botanical gardens. I kinda think there isn't much variety to the landscaping around the park (excluding Kil. Safari)--at least not that I recall.
