DAK Cutbacks

[WEDWDW]

I really hope these changes don't happen!

"The Adventure Begins" is one of those special little "touches" that set WDW apart(although I liked it much better whane it was at the Tree of Life with "Tree of Life Mickey") and the Characters at Rafiki's add a lot to that area.

http://www.wdwmagic.com/Attractions...meet-and-greets,-including-Jiminy-Cricket.htm

 

[mom2rtk]

This is all really disappointing. So is this supposed to help offset the cost of Avatarland........ or to help pay for the character lunch that people without ADR's can't experience anyway?

 

[kris10399]

Oh that is too bad they are making Tusker House a character lunch. We really like the lunch buffet there and have always liked that it wasn't a character one. We've been several times to the breakfast and it has been great. I guess it will be Yak & Yeti for lunch from now on.

 

[luvdumbo]

Im really glad we decided to got to Rafiki's this past August to get pics with Pocahontas and Jiminy! I hope they plan on replacing characters and not just cutting them.

 

[nytimez]

You know what's better than letting a kid see a character for free? It's getting everyone in the family to pay $24.99 each for lunch just so the kid can see the character.

Hurry up and finish your meal folks, we got another group waiting outside.

 

[mom2rtk]

You know what's better than letting a kid see a character for free? It's getting everyone in the family to pay $24.99 each for lunch just so the kid can see the character.

Hurry up and finish your meal folks, we got another group waiting outside.

I think that just about sums it up.

 

[clerkshipwanted]

Mind you, this is coming from someone who has not been to Disney in years but after reading about all the RD craziness - I bet Disney decided that hardly anyone really comes for the pre-show, that people would still come early for RD, and so financially it doesn't make sense to have any of them.

 

[princessbride6205]

This decision makes me kind of sad. It's not like DAK has too many attractions, especially for the toddler/preschool set. But it has been a good spot to see characters. Oh well.

 

[Disney_Princess83]

Very sad. Love Pochahontas and Jiminy Cricket!

 

[Dizneefamily+4]

Just this past August, we did RD at DAK and, for the first time, saw Jiminy Cricket at Rafiki's planet watch. I guess I'm glad we did both! Here's some pics from that - I'm glad we have them since it looks like we won't ever see them again!

 

[ppony]

You know what's better than letting a kid see a character for free? It's getting everyone in the family to pay $24.99 each for lunch just so the kid can see the character.

Hurry up and finish your meal folks, we got another group waiting outside.

As much of a Disney cheerleader that I am, and I support businesses doing well but this is pretty much sums it up. I don't begrudge Disney a dime, but this is akin to a used car dealer or snake oil salesman type of maneuver to me. No offense meant to used car or snake oil salesmen everywhere.

 

[huge mickey fan]

This coming on the heels of the announcement that Disney Parks posted record numbers in the last fiscal year. Part of the Disney experience is seeing characters from movies and not the same 10 characters everywhere. I understand changing Jiminy Cricket and Pocahontas but not removing them all together. It would be so nice for Disney to bring out some other characters. How about Robin Hood and Friends or the Rescuers? I mean kids love those as well.

 

[Good Morning Dewdrop]

So will Pocahontas still be appearing at Camp MM? We've seen her there from time to time. I can live with that but if she's disappearing all together DD is not going to be a happy camper - that's her favorite princess.

 

[Victoria3]

So will Pocahontas still be appearing at Camp MM? We've seen her there from time to time. I can live with that but if she's disappearing all together DD is not going to be a happy camper - that's her favorite princess.

You can still meet her at Camp Minnie Mickey. She just no longer meets at RPW.

 

[nytimez]

AK is also losing Lilo, Stitch and Terk, according to another poster who would know.
His thread is here.

...he also mentioned Jiminy and Pocahontas in that post...

 

[Good Morning Dewdrop]

You can still meet her at Camp Minnie Mickey. She just no longer meets at RPW.

whew that's a relief!! I don't care where she is as long as we can find her!

Thanks!!

 

[book_junkie]

Could the reason why they're leaving be that Rafiki's Planet Watch and that whole area is where they're going to start construction on the Avatar land they're working on?

Looking at this, it makes since that they'd start closing it off to foot traffic... Start with the characters, then slowly ease out the animals and vets, then the train...

 

[nytimez]

Could the reason why they're leaving be that Rafiki's Planet Watch and that whole area is where they're going to start construction on the Avatar land they're working on?

Looking at this, it makes since that they'd start closing it off to foot traffic... Start with the characters, then slowly ease out the animals and vets, then the train...

I doubt it. If they need to close the area, they'll just close it -- just like they did to Toon Town.

 

[GreenCntryGirl]

I may be in the minority, but anything that has to go because of the Avatar addition annoys me. I've never seen the movie. Have no desire to see the movie. And I fail to see a connection between the movie and Disney in any way, shape, or form.

I'm sorry I never got to meet Jiminy Cricket. I think I heard somewhere that it used to be that he was only out on Earth Day?

 

[disnut8]

I find it amusing that the term "cutbacks" is being used but at the same time people are saying this is because of expansion. Not sure which way you all want Disney to go. Expand or just keep the same things all the time? People yell because things stay the same but then Disney has to *gasp* do something in order to grow and then people start yelling about that.

Magic Kingdom has had Fantasyland closed for a long time but now people are excited about the future of that place. Why is this any different?