Animal Kingdom boats?

[fultons96]

Was watching some old footage of the opening of Animal Kingdom and a few times saw a shot of a boat cruising on the water surrounding the Tree of Life. I've only been to AK once and spent only a short amount of time there, but I can't seem to find any info on these boats from park maps or guide books. Have they stopped running or were they never really an attraction in the first place? Anybody know?

 

[Ronda93]

You can see the docks that they depart from as you cross the bridges to Discovery Island (I think they took that name for the central area). We were there a few months after the park opened and they had stopped running.

Someone will know the exact dates I'm sure, but they were short lived. One of the docks is used for Hundred Acre Woods character greeting.

 

[Dan Murphy]

http://www.solarius.com/dvp/wdw/discovery-boats.htm

 

[gshoemate]

When crossing the bridge to Africa you can look to the right and see a dock with a boat next to it. But I have never seen the boat actually running.

 

[disboo]

I read somewhere that the boats ran as an alternative way to get around the park, in a leisurely fashion. People expected it to be a thrill ride -- long lines developed frequently, and the visitors were disappointed in the mild ride after a long wait. So, the boats were stopped. I don't remember where I read this, though, so I can't vouch for its accuracy.

 

[FFerret]

Originally posted by disboo
I read somewhere that the boats ran as an alternative way to get around the park, in a leisurely fashion. People expected it to be a thrill ride -- long lines developed frequently, and the visitors were disappointed in the mild ride after a long wait. So, the boats were stopped. I don't remember where I read this, though, so I can't vouch for its accuracy.

If heard this as well; don't think they're running anymore.

 

[FloridaCat]

When AK opened in 1998 the boat ride was an attractioion. It never caught on as it was kind of boaring and was stopped in 1999. Now one boat remains as a decoration. I ask a CM when I was there this year in July if it would ever be run again and was told highly unlikly.

 

[jiminyfan]

We actually had a chance to ride the boats twice when they were open. It was a calm cruise around the Tree and the AK canals. There were a few special effects and it did give you some nice views of the Trre of Life from all angles, somewhere in my collection of photos we have this. Yes, the lines were VERY long and a lot of the people were not thrilled when they got off. Too bad - I personally liked the tour. I think if they would have made it humorous along the lines of the Jungle Cruise it could have been a success. Of course the slow loading and unloading had to be corrected.

 

[jfulcer]

They are also using one of the loading areas as a character greet area for Pooh and friends.

 

[disneysteve]

Originally posted by jiminyfan
We actually had a chance to ride the boats twice when they were open. It was a calm cruise around the Tree and the AK canals. There were a few special effects and it did give you some nice views of the Trre of Life from all angles, somewhere in my collection of photos we have this. Yes, the lines were VERY long and a lot of the people were not thrilled when they got off. Too bad - I personally liked the tour. I think if they would have made it humorous along the lines of the Jungle Cruise it could have been a success. Of course the slow loading and unloading had to be corrected.

I agree. We rode the boats too and enjoyed them. The whole problem with AK when it first opened (and still persists) is too many guests expect it to be a traditional park with lots of thrills and get disappointed when they discover that it is more laid back, devoted to enjoying nature and slowing down to appreciate what is all around us. People got upset that the boats really didn't go anywhere (Asia wasn't open yet).

Another thing they did on the boats is had a CM with small animals, tarantulas, lizards, etc. who spoke about the animals. The kids enjoyed it. Once Asia opened, they really should have started running the boats again in my opinion.

Steve