Animal Weenies?

[holden]

Have to admit I only clicked to read this because of the title. Classic!

 

[bumbershoot]

Oh, this thread title...

Yep. First thought was “well there was that zebra at San Diego zoo that DS was most impressed by as a toddler”....

I’ve seen “weenie” used as a descriptor for the park icons. Sorcerer’s Hat is now an extinct weenie. Running a search of this forum, it’s used in the Pandora thread.

I’ve only heard it recently. IMO that sort of term should be left behind the scenes.


I would say that something that draws many people (though I’m not interested) is the possibility of seeing medical procedures with animals. (Kinda creepy to me but not to others)

Any one animal, though, will grow and change and maybe not be there on a given day or hours, so I think it’s a mistake to have an animal or one group of animals be the interest-maker.

 

[hiroMYhero]

3) - but the question is .... in my now current reading up on Disney Weenies (still a bad visual) they are architectural or permanent in nature ... so would a baby hippo or any specific animal at AK even count? I could see the Tree, Pandora or Everest (which I think is stunning) would fit the bill more than an animal.

I agree with @ZooNerd1 especially if you think in terms of AK as being a zoo. If you ever go to SD Zoo, you’ll see the similarities in the park entrance and the trails; not to mention Disney gleaned the Flights of Wonder Imagineer from SD.

Zoos do have “flagship attractions” (animal species), so in that regard an animal exhibit inside a Disney park could qualify?

 

[HopperFan]

I guess this is a question we can pose to the Disney community! Traditionally, large structures with visual appeal are typically referred to as "weenies" - but could the popularity of a single attraction, in this example an animal, be considered a weenie (maybe a sub-category) as well? Taking this beyond Animal Kingdom, we could look at popular attractions, such as Sorin' or Haunted Mansion, that have a large fan base and are generally well known among those going to Disney, would they be considered "weenies" - as they are magnets that draw guests further into the park.

I agree with @ZooNerd1 especially if you think in terms of AK as being a zoo. If you ever go to SD Zoo, you’ll see the similarities in the park entrance and the trails; not to mention Disney gleaned the Flights of Wonder Imagineer from SD.

Zoos do have “flagship attractions” (animal species), so in that regard an animal exhibit inside a Disney park could qualify?

I will continue to disagree ... I do not believe an animal or having animals on exhibit fit the definition of a "Disney Weenie". The buildings, the layout to impact movement, the placement of special attractions, even the architecture design items on the animal trails .. it is often the Disney imagineering that make those trails special from a traditional zoo.

Yes the Safari ... as an attraction is a draw so it could be a weenie due to it's architecture both hardscape and landscape, the upside down trees, the bridges, the waterways.... Augustus is popular because he's a baby but in two years you won't even know which hippo he is in the crowd. He does not fall into the definition of a weenie. I could give other business comparisons but seeing Augustus is just a moment in time. You could equally go direct there and ride the safari and not see him, or elephants or giraffes etc. I rode twice in a week; one time I had a great view of Augustus, the next time he was along the wall under us and no one saw him. Not a weenie.

I think there is a difference between going to a zoo in hopes to see and enjoy a particular animal ......... and going to a Disney park and seeing the Hat, the Tree of Life, Everest, Pandora, the Castle .... and all the imagineered items that are there to see. Animals are not imagineered. Yes, AK is approved of a zoo, it has areas that function as a zoo and it's an important part of the conservation process ... but I would venture most folks (and often reflected here) look at it as a theme park with Pandora, Dinosaur, Everest, Lion King Show, Nemo Show, Kali .... and the animals are often completely ignored by many.

To an individual, yes an animal might be their most important thing to see, but I don't believe a living, moving, changing animal is what is defined as a "Disney weenie" - which I see as always described as ... my best one word is hardscape.

 

[LizzyS]

Haha, this thread is giving me a chuckle. A+

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Someone PLEASE make an “Augustus: Not a Weenie” t-shirt and take a picture of yourself on the Safari with the hippos in the background. You will get instant sticky status*!

* For 30 minutes in the middle of the night on a random Tuesday

 

[JerseyJanice]

I looked at the title and thought the thread would be about whether people should go to AK if they are afraid of animals.

I have a bird phobia and consider myself a “bird weenie” for being afraid of them. I won’t eat at Flametree BBQ because I fear them too much. I got attacked by ducks at the outdoor Y&Y. They apparently like honey chicken.

 

[HopperFan]

Someone PLEASE make an “Augustus: Not a Weenie” t-shirt and take a picture of yourself on the Safari with the hippos in the background. You will get instant sticky status*!

* For 30 minutes in the middle of the night on a random Tuesday

Oh my. DS is the one who designed the Rumors of Light tshirts ............... and he loves a good bet ............. I think I shall bring it up. If it looks good enough I'll even wear it. I'll fight for Augustus, cause he's no weenie!

 

[HopperFan]

I looked at the title and thought the thread would be about whether people should go to AK if they are afraid of animals.

I have a bird phobia and consider myself a “bird weenie” for being afraid of them. I won’t eat at Flametree BBQ because I fear them too much. I got attacked by ducks at the outdoor Y&Y. They apparently like honey chicken.

You taste like honey chicken?

 

[kmb584]

My mind totally veered in the wrong direction when I read this thread title! I thought, "I have a picture that I took on the safari of a white rhino at complete attention that I could post..." (I didn't even notice until my then 6-year-old asked "what's that?")!

 

[dragonfly57005]

Oh, this thread title...



To answer the question: I live a half-mile from a world-class zoo, so none of the animals at AK are a draw.

I live 3 hours from the Omaha zoo -AK animals are not a draw after going to Omaha

 

[JerseyJanice]

You taste like honey chicken?

LOL! The ducks were trying to get the honey chicken I was eating. My husband was on EE and couldn’t help me. I had to get my son and nephew to shoo them away.

 

[dachsie]

“Visual Magnets”

I’ve never heard weenie used in this context.

I was looking for weiner dog info

 

[hiroMYhero]

I was looking for weiner dog info

Because you have 2 weenies??

 

[EdmondD]

This thread is giving me weenie envy.

 

[PollyannaMom]

I have to say, I knew exactly what you meant by "weenie" from reading "The Walt Disney World That Never Was". (It's a great book about the history of the parks - specifically, ideas that didn't make it in. I highly recommend it!)

Anyway, to answer the actual question, I consider it a successful day animal-wise if I get a good view of the the lions during my safari. (I also agree that baby anythings are a draw!)

I do think the animal stars need their own catchy name, though - leaving "weenie" for the big iconic structures you use to orient yourself by in the parks.

Ideas??

 

[PollyannaMom]

I was looking for weiner dog info

Oh, the ones in your avatar are so cute!!

 

[mamamelody2]

Like many others, I totally thought this thread was going to be about something else.

But, I learned something new today!

 

[Texans_loyal]

...Nevermind

 

[ZooNerd1]

I do think the animal stars need their own catchy name, though - leaving "weenie" for the big iconic structures you use to orient yourself by in the parks.

I agree! Animals in captivity are the ambassadors to those in the wild. They are incredibly important. Without them, many people would never have the opportunity to be see these exotic animals. They deserve their own catchy name! I think we owe it to them!