Disney hopes big Animal Kingdom expansion keeps visitors in park longer

[Rumors Rocks]

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com...l-kingdom-walt-disney-world-disneyland-resort

January 11, 2014|By Jason Garcia, Orlando Sentinel
On New Year's Eve, one of the busiest days of the year at Walt Disney World, three of the giant resort's four theme parks stayed open until 1 a.m. or later.

The fourth — Disney's Animal Kingdom — shut down at 8 p.m.

The contrasting holiday schedules underscore what has become a persistent problem for Animal Kingdom, the 15-year-old park that combines a handful of marquee rides and shows with a collection of more than 1,700 animals. Although the park draws plenty of people through its gates each morning — nearly 27,400 a day, on average — it doesn't keep them very long. Some fans dismiss it as a "half-day" park.

To fix that problem — and to better compete with Comcast Corp.'s rapidly growing Universal Orlando — Walt Disney Co. last week broke ground on an estimated $800 million renovation and expansion of Animal Kingdom. The goal of the multiyear project, whose centerpiece will be a lavishly themed new land based on the "Avatar" film franchise, is to transform Animal Kingdom into a full-day destination that can command crowds' attention well into the evening.

Senior Disney executives are enthusiastically talking up the project, likening it to their $1.1 billion, five-year rebuilding of Disney California Adventure in Anaheim, Calif., which has propelled the entire Disneyland Resort to record attendance and profit. The Animal Kingdom work is a personal priority of Tom Staggs, chairman of Disney's global theme-park division, who helped negotiate Disney's "Avatar" licensing deal with filmmaker James Cameron and 20th Century Fox.

Disney would not make any executives available to discuss the project, which was first announced in 2011 and won't be complete until 2017. But in a prepared statement, Staggs called it an "opportunity to take a park that already is home to some of our guests' favorite attractions and make it even better.

"The expansion enables us to bring the popular stories of 'Avatar' to life and introduce evening entertainment that will make the park a true full-day, must-see experience that further rounds out our overall Walt Disney World experience," Staggs added.

Disney says the parallels with California Adventure aren't perfect. Although company leaders publicly acknowledged that the original California Adventure fell far short of projections, they say they have been pleased with Animal Kingdom's performance.

Disney says Animal Kingdom is home to three of Disney World's 10 highest-rated attractions: Expedition Everest, Kilimanjaro Safaris and Festival of the Lion King. According to the Themed Entertainment Association, Animal Kingdom drew 10 million visitors in 2012. That was about 90,000 more than Disney's Hollywood Studios and 2 million more than Universal's Harry Potter-powered Islands of Adventure.

Still, the park's struggle to keep guests for a full day has become a hard-to-ignore flaw because it has exacerbated overcrowding problems elsewhere at Disney World. Many of the visitors checking out of Animal Kingdom in midafternoon head for the Magic Kingdom, which is bursting with more than 17 million annual visitors, or the Downtown Disney retail area, which struggles with parking shortages in the evenings.

"What's ultimately driving this is that they're trying to increase the capacity of Walt Disney World," said Robert Niles, publisher of ThemeParkInsider.com. "With Animal Kingdom, they've had this huge, expensive asset sitting there that they aren't utilizing to the same extent as the other parks."

Crowding and long lines are one of the most commonly cited deterrents for travelers thinking about Disney World vacations. Many of Disney's most recent Orlando expansions have been aimed at creating more breathing room and better spreading people across its property.

For example, the not-yet-completed $425 million Fantasyland expansion was designed to relieve pressure in the Magic Kingdom, which was already the busiest park in the world.

And one goal of the $1 billion MyMagic+ technology project, which remains in testing, is to get as many as 90 percent of Disney World visitors reserving some of their rides in advance. Only a bit more than 50 percent of the resort's visitors use Disney World's current Fastpass system, and those that do typically obtain Fastpasses for only two rides per day.

Disney has so far disclosed only a few details about its Animal Kingdom work. Additions will include an evening show combining live music, floating lanterns, water screens and swirling animal imagery, along with a revamped, nighttime version of its Kilimanjaro Safaris ride. The "Avatar" land, which will be the final phase and will open sometime in 2017, will feature floating mountains, lush jungle scenery and a ride meant to evoke riding a "banshee," a birdlike predator featured in the film.

 

[bcrook]

We've already gone from 2016 to sometime in 2017.

Interesting comparisons to DCA.

It is good to read quotes coming Disney addressing the need for more attractions and more ride capacity.

 

[ToyStoryMania1]

While I'm bummed it's been pushed back to 2017 I am happy that Disney is finally putting some much needed cash flow into Animal Kingdom. I would be happy with a new themed land and a night show.

Dino Land is kind of an embarrassment for the most part so whatever changes they make are great.

 

[newdeal]

Ok well that is great but when I read this I think wow they really need to do something with Hollywood studios. I mean it has toy story mania, the most popular attraction, it has tower of terror and rock'n roller coaster, star tours and yet it is the least attended park. Perhaps its time to really focus on that...American Idol is dead, the "Hot Set" has been nothing forever, street of america is such a waste, they ruined the backlot tour when they put in lights motors action, the great movie ride is really showing its age...the entire park needs an overhaul, not just star wars land

 

[ToyStoryMania1]

Ok well that is great but when I read this I think wow they really need to do something with Hollywood studios. I mean it has toy story mania, the most popular attraction, it has tower of terror and rock'n roller coaster, star tours and yet it is the least attended park. Perhaps its time to really focus on that...American Idol is dead, the "Hot Set" has been nothing forever, street of america is such a waste, they ruined the backlot tour when they put in lights motors action, the great movie ride is really showing its age...the entire park needs an overhaul, not just star wars land

I have a feeling Hollywood Studios attendance will fall behind Animal Kingdom very soon and Disney really needs to step on their game and revamp the park.

 

[DRDISNEYMD]

~Yay, I can't wait to experience AK at night! It looks so beautiful!!!

~As for DHS, I have a new vision for this desperate park. Pixarland should go in DHS. And, StarWarsland should go in Epcot "Future" world!

 

[rteetz]

~Yay, I can't wait to experience AK at night! It looks so beautiful!!! ~As for DHS, I have a new vision for this desperate park. Pixarland should go in DHS. And, StarWarsland should go in Epcot "Future" world!

I don't see star wars going to Epcot much more likely to go to DHS.

 

[DRDISNEYMD]

I don't see star wars going to Epcot much more likely to go to DHS.

~While Star Wars already has a commanding presence at DHS -- I think Epcot's Future World needs Star Wars more and it's a good match. Disney needs to give up on this impossible to keep up with "Future" theme.

~DHS would benefit immensely by expanding on the Pixar catalog. The possibilities are endless with Monsters Inc, The Incredibles, Toy Story, Cars, Finding Nemo, Walle, UP, etc. I won't argue that Star Wars land is a natural fit for DHS. Maybe Pixarland should go to Epcot, then.

 

[ToyStoryMania1]

I don't see star wars going to Epcot much more likely to go to DHS.

I completely agree with this. EPCOT minus the character spot stuff isn't really big on movie themes around the park, that's not the point of it. HS on the other hand already has a Star Wars attraction which would make sense.

 

[newdeal]

~While Star Wars already has a commanding presence at DHS -- I think Epcot's Future World needs Star Wars more and it's a good match. Disney needs to give up on this impossible to keep up with "Future" theme.

~DHS would benefit immensely by expanding on the Pixar catalog. The possibilities are endless with Monsters Inc, The Incredibles, Toy Story, Cars, Finding Nemo, Walle, UP, etc. I won't argue that Star Wars land is a natural fit for DHS. Maybe Pixarland should go to Epcot, then.

I am sure you love your signature but you really should change it all those animated gifs are lagging out my browser and I don't have a slow computer

 

[Annadesu]

Hm, yeah... Animal Kingdom (and Epcot) would both benefit from having more rides. But I understand it can't be an overnight thing.

I don't mind the "Avatar" theme, but I have said in the past that they should add some more rides in that area. It sounds like they are going to do that, so... more power to them. I know it would be nice to have it sooner, but I think 2 years for an entirely new park section/land is reasonable.

 

[DRDISNEYMD]

~Awww, that's too bad. It totally sucks to have such a slow connection speed.

~I personally have at least ten different devices ranging from mainframes to iPads, even my cellphones have no issues with lagging. I am looking at three streaming "ad choice" video commercials on this page right now with no issues.

~I'm not changing my signature, but going forward I will limit it to one per page. I hope this helps a little.

~If not, the other options available to you would be to utilize the ignore feature and you also have the ability to block all signatures, too! Good luck!

 

[jlewisinsyr]

I am sure you love your signature but you really should change it all those animated gifs are lagging out my browser and I don't have a slow computer

It definitely rates up there as one of the most intrusive; when I use my second screen on my desktop it stretches beyond the screen limits (vertical arrangement) causing a word text wrapping problem.

It's the only one I've seen that way.

 

[twebber55]

800 million can more than enough accomplish what they want for the DAK makeover...this goes beyond avatar

 

[Rumors Rocks]

It definitely rates up there as one of the most intrusive; when I use my second screen on my desktop it stretches beyond the screen limits (vertical arrangement) causing a word text wrapping problem.

It's the only one I've seen that way.

I don't find it to be intrusive at all. As the previous poster suggested-block the signatures or use the ignore feature.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

I don't find it to be intrusive at all. As the previous poster suggested-block the signatures or use the ignore feature.

Blocking all signatures would be like using a bomb to destroy an ant hill; ignoring does the same to a lesser extent but often creates gaps in threads.

 

[Imhere]

It definitely rates up there as one of the most intrusive; when I use my second screen on my desktop it stretches beyond the screen limits (vertical arrangement) causing a word text wrapping problem.

It's the only one I've seen that way.

I like it.

 

[Disco]

LOL, I love MD's sig. It's like the sun though (which I love as well) it might burn your eyes out if you stare at it too long...

 

[kamik86]

I agree AK is a half day park. We hit at rope drop. Do the safari. Hit Dinosaur and either the trail with the tigers or flights of wonder and MAYBE everest if we are in the mood and we are done. We are out by noon.

As for the signature... I"m surprised it lags for so many of you. I definitely didn't see it going across the screen even with two animated gifs and my computer that is going through my work servers at the moment (taking a quick break before anyone says something about being on the dis at work I'll be here over 9 hours today) which tend to be slower and am steaming pandora at the same time and neither is messing up for it. (pandora skips a bit if I download a file or on some web pages)

 

[mcd2745]

And one goal of the $1 billion MyMagic+ technology project, which remains in testing, is to get as many as 90 percent of Disney World visitors reserving some of their rides in advance. Only a bit more than 50 percent of the resort's visitors use Disney World's current Fastpass system, and those that do typically obtain Fastpasses for only two rides per day.

I found this to be the most interesting piece of the article. Perhaps these numbers have been out there before, and I missed it. However, it offeres great insight into Disney's thinking. If only 50% of guests were using FP- and those people were only using an average of two FP-'s a day, it's easy to see how they would think that giving everyone a 3 FP+ a day (while also expecting a much higher participateion rate) constitutes an improvement in overall guest experience. Going by the posts here on the DIS (particulalrly on the theme parks board) you would think 95% of guests were using FP-, and every single one of them were pulling an average of 5-6 per day.