Construction Walls Go Up in Animal Kingdom's Africa

[twebber55]

Yes, the film did very good, but it hasn't proven any ability to be sustained in the long run. Star Wars, which also has been discussed has had 6 movies with at least 3 more coming. That kind of sustainability is what's needed to justify the expenditures required to build a complete land!

I just think if the lands good the lands good and movie doesnt matter regardless our opinions on it. Like i said cars was not great but cars land is great

Anyway i guess we wait and see ��

 

[StarWarsJez]

Yes, the film did very good, but it hasn't proven any ability to be sustained in the long run. Star Wars, which also has been discussed has had 6 movies with at least 3 more coming. That kind of sustainability is what's needed to justify the expenditures required to build a complete land!

Agreed - I think I'd like to print out THIS post and frame it

 

[beer dave]

OK... Correct me if I am wrong ( I am sure to be) but isn't star wars alot like star trek in that most the fans are die hard, live for the stories, engulf your life kind of fans? I have grown up with the original star wars, and liked them, no doubt, but I think that the die hard fan base is not as big as it might seem due to the voracity that the fan group displays.

Star wars land, Avatar land, Buck Rogers, Land of the Lost, whatever. Give me a good theme park experience.

 

[Kona65]

I'm the opposite, I wish it never came to be. They could have picked something better than Avatar to model a world after. But I'm all for a new section of the park that will allow me to get more EE ride time with a lower waiting time.

I agree, Avatar is old news. Seems like a waste of energy and money.

 

[bcrook]

OK... Correct me if I am wrong ( I am sure to be) but isn't star wars alot like star trek in that most the fans are die hard, live for the stories, engulf your life kind of fans? I have grown up with the original star wars, and liked them, no doubt, but I think that the die hard fan base is not as big as it might seem due to the voracity that the fan group displays.

Star wars land, Avatar land, Buck Rogers, Land of the Lost, whatever. Give me a good theme park experience.

So maybe a better solution for Disney would be to build a Star Wars Subdivision like Celebration - theme it up with Star Wars connections. Then those voracious Star Wars fans can live there!

I too like the idea of any land being added that is well done. Look at how cool they made their last bathroom at fantasyland! If they can do that for toilets, what could they do with the whole camp Minnie Mickey space? Turn the imagineers loose and actually do it.

 

[beer dave]

So maybe a better solution for Disney would be to build a Star Wars Subdivision like Celebration - theme it up with Star Wars connections. Then those voracious Star Wars fans can live there!



I too like the idea of any land being added that is well done. Look at how cool they made their last bathroom at fantasyland! If they can do that for toilets, what could they do with the whole camp Minnie Mickey space? Turn the imagineers loose and actually do it.

Thats hilarious!
and---

I haven't seen the new bathrooms, so I am not sure if they are really cool or you are comparing the AK expansion to a bathroom.

 

[DRDISNEYMD]

~Awww, this thread is just like old times!!! We're all together again -- it's so rare when that happens!

The 2.8 billipn and gross and 9 acad. nominations may disagree with you

Two recent films when advertising were comparing themselves to avatar just because you dont like it doesn't mean it wont be incredibly successful but really doesnt matter it comes down to the quality of the land and thats disneys job

Place will be packed when it opens
Guaranteed

I say give it a chance when it opens and then judge

~Thank you, twebber55. The voice of reason, as usual -- I want to frame this one, too!!!

What a totally reasonable and rational suggestion! Your sentiment clearly has no place on the internet!

~LOL. It's Sunday -- I've got to be good today! But, I totally agree!

Yes, the film did very good, but it hasn't proven any ability to be sustained in the long run. Star Wars, which also has been discussed has had 6 movies with at least 3 more coming. That kind of sustainability is what's needed to justify the expenditures required to build a complete land!

~By your logic, then every project in every theme park must have "six movies with at least three more coming to justify any expenditures" just like the New Fantasyland, Carsland, and Harry Potter World -- got it. And, Avatar has at least two more films in the works to suggest that Avatar did "very good" is an understatement -- the numbers don't support that statement. The Avengers, Spiderman, Batman did "very good" but Avatar is still number one. Again, the film doesn't matter, it is the quality of the attractions that count. It's perfectly fine to not like the Avatarland concept. But, I love it & can't wait for Avatarland!

OK... Correct me if I am wrong ( I am sure to be) but isn't star wars alot like star trek in that most the fans are die hard, live for the stories, engulf your life kind of fans? I have grown up with the original star wars, and liked them, no doubt, but I think that the die hard fan base is not as big as it might seem due to the voracity that the fan group displays.

Star wars land, Avatar land, Buck Rogers, Land of the Lost, whatever. Give me a good theme park experience.

~YES! I *love* this! I couldn't agree more -- your post deserves to be framed, as well! With that said, you've made an excellent point. I'm not a Star Wars fan -- at all. I know the main characters but you couldn't pay me to watch the films. I don't even know the name of the new guy with the red makeup & colored contacts -- he looks so scary! But, I really look forward to a Star Wars land and an expansion on Pixar land because DHS desperately needs something. Then, I hope Disney works on Epcot's Future World. But that's for later -- right now, I just want to focus on Avatarland!!!

 

[bcrook]

Thats hilarious!
and---

I haven't seen the new bathrooms, so I am not sure if they are really cool or you are comparing the AK expansion to a bathroom.

the pictures look really cool for the Rapunzel "rest area" And phone charging station. As for the AK expansion, we don't really know anything. I hope that whatever it is, it is better than Hester and Chester. I am optimistic.

 

[twebber55]

I agree, Avatar is old news. Seems like a waste of energy and money.

if this were actually true then how come movies like life of pi and the croods call themselves the next avatar

when you have movies comparing themselves to other movies it means you matter

but again it all comes down to the quality of the land/ride

when it pens give it a shot you may like it

 

[mvk]

I wonder if everyone who rides Splash Mountain loves Song of the South?

I've never seen Avatar, but certainly look forward to visiting that section if/when its complete.

 

[WDWChloe]

I'm the opposite, I wish it never came to be. They could have picked something better than Avatar to model a world after. But I'm all for a new section of the park that will allow me to get more EE ride time with a lower waiting time.

Amen

I'm excited for FOTLK to be IN Africa - it only makes sense. Plus, the walking [hopefully] won't be as bad to see the show!

 

[bcrook]

I wonder if everyone who rides Splash Mountain loves Song of the South?

I've never seen Avatar, but certainly look forward to visiting that section if/when its complete.

I don't know if I like the movie song of the south or not. It is a little campy. I liked it as a kid.

But, I love the story of the briar patch. That is a classic trickster tale.

But I get your point! You definitely don't have to be a big fan of a movie to enjoy a theme park land and subsequent rides. And vice versa, just because haunted mansion is incredible, it doesn't mean I would like the movie!!!

 

[Bram D]

I've never understood the current location of the FOTLK theater in the first place. It never made any sense.

The Avatar addition would have an extra dimension if it was finished along with an Avatar sequel though. Seeing the first movie lose a little more hype each day since it's release.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

I've never understood the current location of the FOTLK theater in the first place. It never made any sense.

The Avatar addition would have an extra dimension if it was finished along with an Avatar sequel though. Seeing the first movie lose a little more hype each day since it's release.

The lion king show was thrown in as filler due to construction/budget cutbacks at animal kingdom.

That is why there is nothing on that side of the park...that area was money Not spent.

And so here we are...

 

[bcrook]

The lion king show was thrown in as filler due to construction/budget cutbacks at animal kingdom.

That is why there is nothing on that side of the park...that area was money Not spent.

And so here we are...

It was always fitting that the area was a dead end.

 

[N365PA]

I do agree that Harambe is a little congested, but aren't most markets in Africa? Hot, sweaty, lots of people....authentic!

Seriously it will be nice to have FotLK in Africa and maybe some more sidewalk area to disperse the crowds.

 

[DCTooTall]

I've never understood the current location of the FOTLK theater in the first place. It never made any sense.

The Avatar addition would have an extra dimension if it was finished along with an Avatar sequel though. Seeing the first movie lose a little more hype each day since it's release.

I believe the original idea was that the land would open around the time of the 2 Avatar sequels being released. I'm not sure what the timing of those sequels or the land opening are looking like these days.

The lion king show was thrown in as filler due to construction/budget cutbacks at animal kingdom.

That is why there is nothing on that side of the park...that area was money Not spent.

And so here we are...

So further expand......

The area clockwise between the Oasis (park entrance) and Africa was originally intended and prepped for the construction of the Beastly Kingdom section of Animal Kingdom (The reason for the Dragon on the AK logo, and the 'Unicorn' parking lot section). When the AK budget was cut, Beastly Kingdom was not built, leaving that section of land empty.

At some point, they realized that there was not anyplace in the park for Meet and Greets, so Camp MM was quickly and cheaply constructed on the plot cleared for the Beastly Kingdom (and in actuality... only about 1/2 of the prepared land space) in order to provide for the park's need for meet and greet locations, and to provide more space and things for guests to do. FotLK was hastily put together as another entertainment option for the guests utilizing existing parade floats no longer needed for parade duty and put into the area.


Camp MM was always intended as a temporary placeholder until they completed the Beastly Kingdom land a few years later once the money was available. Unfortunately, Beastly Kingdom was not to be, and like Disney's many other "temporary" structures (Mickey's BirthdayLand, The EPCOT Wand, the MGM BAH, etc), the Meet and Greets and FotLK remained in place for years.



As an aside... There is still at least 1 set piece that was built that showcased Beastly Kingdom's inteded location within the park. While it's much harder to see now because of the plant growth and elimination of the old River Cruises, It can still be seen if you know what you are looking at over the side of the bridge heading into Camp MM.

There is a small little rock outcropping with a little waterfall next to the bridge on the Camp MM side. The outcropping is in the shape of a dragon's head with the waterfall originating from it's mouth.

 

[WDWChloe]

There is a small little rock outcropping with a little waterfall next to the bridge on the Camp MM side. The outcropping is in the shape of a dragon's head with the waterfall originating from it's mouth.

I never knew about this! Wow! R.I.P. Beastly Kingdomme <3

 

[Rhongepooh]

If I remember it correctly there was also a dinosaur in the water somewhere along that river that you could see when you took rhe boat ride. The first time I rode it I think there were 2 places you could get on...one around the front and another on the other side of the bridge in Africa the next time I rode you rode all the way around with no stopping. Also if memory severs me correctly their wasn't much to let you know it was indeed a ride around.

 

[beer dave]

If I remember it correctly there was also a dinosaur in the water somewhere along that river that you could see when you took rhe boat ride. The first time I rode it I think there were 2 places you could get on...one around the front and another on the other side of the bridge in Africa the next time I rode you rode all the way around with no stopping. Also if memory severs me correctly their wasn't much to let you know it was indeed a ride around.

I don't remember a dinosaur but there was dragon smoke (steam) coming from a cave near the first corner.