Beastly Kingdom back on?

[airlarry!]

News sources are reporting that Disney is set to raise nearly 8 billion dollars in security issues...with 5 billion of that probably going to the (IMHO) horrid Fox Family deal. Where is the other three going? Laughingplace.com news points to an Orlando Business Journal article which says perhaps Beastly Kingdom is off the drawing board and in the prep stages.

http://orlando.bcentral.com/orlando/stories/2001/08/20/newscolumn1.html

Hmm...they need 5 bill for the Fox deal. 3 bill would just about do all the plans this board has been scheming up over the last month...including BK, Australia/S. America, the Lagoon ride (my vote, some kind of Atlantean Aquatopia!), the EPCOT biggie, the MGM biggie, and another water park, doncha think?

 

[Captain Crook]

airlarry, the rumor meister! This is what I like to read, real rumor backed by apparant fact (statements by Weiss & Pressler)! Of course things could change but the BK rumors seem to be getting closer & closer. I'm pulling for the one DIS'er who suggested that a big announcement could be tied into the Walt Celebreation (am I agreeing with myself?)...No matter, this is exciting!

As to another part of the article I find interesting. Universal seems ready to build another state of the art coaster (the inverted?). This will signal to me that Disney probably won't enter the 'coaster wars' unless they do it first and it more importantly shows that IOA is really more interested in becoming known as a 'coaster park.'

 

[larworth]

I'll have to read the article, but the IOA insiders on the other board continue to deny any plans for another coaster anytime soon. They do admit their next coaster would likely be another B&M machine (they made both the Hulk and DD). B&M is soon to lauch their version of a "flying" coaster and that was being speculated as one headed for IOA, but they say no.

 

[gary]

The article said "there's nothing else like it in the world", then described it as a 'face down' coaster. They have something like that at Paramount's Great America in Santa Clara, CA (which they also refer to as a "flying coaster").

Gary

P.S. Not to mention - I also found the rest of the BK speculation fascinating. I hope they go with it!

 

[PJesse25]

In the most recent issue of Disney Magazine, they have an article about the Walt's 100th birthday celebration and have a picture of the 100 year button for Animal Kingdom. It's in the shape of the Tree of Life and features shadow profiles of an elephant, a lion, a dinosaur and a DRAGON! If there weren't plans for Beastly Kingdom, why would they include a dragon?

BRING ON BEASTLY KINGDOM!

 

[Sarangel]

Not to burst your bubble, PJesse25, but the dragon has always been part of the AK logo... Since Beastly Kingdom was part of the *original* concept, mythical creatures were incorporated into the logo for the park.

I'll say it again: I know someone pretty high in imagineering that says Beastly Kingdom is being developed even as we speak (type).

Sarangel

 

[larworth]

Sarangel

When Presslar confirmed the rumored new land for AK, the odds on favorite was BK. I assume by your comment that this is definately where we should place our bets.

Any insight on whether the BK version we will get is along the same lines (same plan, but not the full attraction count) as the original design, or is it being reimagineered somewhat?

Besides the promised E ticket (anyone have a vote on what it will be?) should we expect at least one companion B/C ticket attraction to round things out or can they get byy with only the one ride to open?

 

[Sarangel]

My source woudln't give me any details on the subject, he does after all have a job to protect, but hinted that we wouldn't be disappointed.

Sarangel

 

[larworth]

Fair enough.

If it will open in 2004 than it seems like an official announcement shouldn't be too far away.
The lead time for SPACE was at least 3 years. Of course, this might have been a special case since there was an idle pavillion to address?

If the 2002-2003 celebration is going to be around aviation (rumor) than I assume the 2003-2004 event will be focused on AK and the opening of BK.

 

[Testtrack321]

If it is still on, expect an announcment Labor Day Weekend, October 1st, or March '02.