Does anybody know what the missing attraction in Animal Kingdom was supposed to be?

[adrianna_sarah]

Does anybody know what the missing attraction in Animal Kingdom was supposed to be? I was thinking an Australian themed area with koalas and kangaroos and the like would be neat. The Animal Kngdom is my favorite park. I lived in East Africa for awhile as part of my collegiate studies and going to the AK takes me "home".

 

[WDSearcher]

I believe it was "Beastly Kingdom" -- an area based on mythological animals.

 

[adrianna_sarah]

Are you being serious? That sounds kinda "out-there".

 

[Feralpeg]

Are you being serious? That sounds kinda "out-there".

That's correct. Originally, they talked about unicorns, dragons, etc. At one time, there was talk about a rollercoaster themed around the movie "Reign Of Fire".

 

[Ilovestitch]

Yeah look on the AK logo- there's a dragon. When the park first opened you could ride boats around and it went by an animatronic dragon.

 

[WDSearcher]

Are you being serious?

Yes, I am being serious. The original logo of Animal Kingdom included the silhouette of a dragon, which was supposed to be the icon for the "Beastly Kingdom" section of the park. It was to focus on unicorns, dragons, griffins, the Loch Ness monster -- all of those mythical and fantastical creatures who are considered "animals", but not considered to be real.

 

[adrianna_sarah]

Very cool. Thanks for the info. Wonder if it will ever come to fruition?

 

[JiminyCricketFan]

It is too bad that they did not do it. I would have added some sorely needed "magic" this park. Don't get me wrong, AK is a great park. It needs some Disney pixey dust add to it though.

 

[crazyj4488]

I think Expedition Everest will fill this gap nicely. It looks like they will have an entire little Tibetan village over there once it is finished. It's not dragon's but it will certainly add to the magic.

 

[BethC1952]

I don't think Expedition Everest will fill the "pixie dust" gap. Many of us will not be able to ride it, any more than we can ride Kali River Rapids, the assorted WDW "mountains", or any other "bumpy" or thrill rides.

Of course, I don't think there is a gap in the magic. AK is my second favorite park (after Epcot). When I'm at AK I'm transported magically to places I probably won't get to in my lifetime, and can see things I won't see anywhere else. This one isn't about the characters. It's about real life things that are truly magical and awesome in themselves--animals, plants and nature in general (including us humans).

Beth

 

[KarenAylwood]

I TOTALLY remember wondering why there was a dragon in the Animal Kingdom logo. Is this logo still the one used? I can't remember for the life of me... I was there in March but don't remember it at all...

 

[greenyskp]

dont forget guys www.jimhillmedia.com

He loves this stuff.

And I believe I read on there that Camp Minney Mickey was supposed to be a temporary area. Which would later be turned into 'Beastly Kingdom'. But, now 6 years (happy birthday animal kingdom!) later, Camp Minney Mickey is very popular, and theyre not planning on taking it out. So the imagineers are left with only blueprints for what beastly kingdom would have been.

Surprsingly this has happened quite often within the world.

Back in the 90's (or was it 89?) They put Mickey's Birthdayland into the Magic Kingdom, to celelebrate mickeys 50th birthday. (ah yes, that would make it 90) It was built with tents and simple structures that were planned on being removed to make way for a villian themed land, that was being imagineered. Well, Mickey's birthday land was so successful and such a staple for parents with young kids. They kept it permantly, again to the dismay of many imagineers. So now it has been revamped several times (mickeys starland, mickeys toontown fair etc..) And been given permanant structures like Goofy's Barnstormer.

Unfortunatly, I can see this being a disney wave of the future. As they are STILL talking about getting something villian themed in the park. (where 20,000 leagues used to be) But for now, The 100 acre wood will suffice. But I bet anyone that Pooh's 100 acre wood will become permanant. Why wouldnt people love it? Right now, while Pooh and friends have semi-permanant meet and greets like the Crystal Palace and such. When the wood gets finished they will have a place to call home all day long. So your son wants to meet pooh, go to the 100 acre wood, its garunteed he'll be there. And again, the imagineers will have to imagineer a new place to put really cool stuff, While 'Meet and Greets' take over the world.

Hope this helps!

 

[stinkerbelle]

Yeah look on the AK logo- there's a dragon. When the park first opened you could ride boats around and it went by an animatronic dragon.

the one that was supposed to spit out a big fireball..but ended up only being a puff of smoke?

read the jimhillmedia on this...it's hilarious of what AK was thinking of doing.

http://www.jimhillmedia.com/mb/articles/showarticle.php?ID=1137

 

[DrTomorrow]

It's funny; it was several years after AK opened before we made it back to WDW, but read all about it in the UG and Birnbaum. When we finally went there, so much had changed: the Boats/Radio Disney, "Countdown to Extinction", the plans for the Beastly Kingdom, etc....

 

[minnie61650]

Before AK was built one of the lands was supposed to be Beastlie Kingdomme. Because of budget cuts Disney delayed the building of Beastly Kingdomme and built Camp Mickey and Minnie and put the show Lion King in that area to keep the area ready for Beastlie Kingdom.
My understanding is that because Lion King and Camp Mickey and Minnie are so well liked that Disney scraped the whole idea of Beastlie Kingdomme.
They really had some great ideas on the drawing board and many people would like to see them become reality but I fear the chances of that happening are slim.
We can always hope.

Here is an article about some Disney attractions that were designed but never built. The Dragon Tower attraction was originally slated for Beastlie Kingdomme land planned for Disney's Animal Kingdom park in Florida. This article gives one a virtual walk-through of Beastlie Kingdomme and the ride Dragon Tower.
http://www.mouseplanet.com/mark/mg041027.htm
Linda

 

[cleo]

Pooh and Friends do not do meet and greets in Pooh's Playful Spot. It seems like a natural thing to have them there, doesn't it? But no....they're not there now and according to the CM's they won't be there any time soon.

 

[minnie61650]

In an article I read by Paul Torrigino, contributing writer (introduction by Mark Goldhaber)
Paul tells about how he worked on a project for the Animal kingdom.
He spent 2 years helping to plan the Dragon Tower ride. (a thrill ride)
It was going to be a suspended coaster ride inside a castle complete with bats and a dragon.

There was going to be a restaurant on a little lake with mythical sea creatures.
The Loch Ness monster was going to appear every so often. Bubbling would start up in the lake and then the monster would slowly appear.
Sounds so cool.
They were also going to have, Fantasia Gardens, a bridge called "Billy Goat Bridge",a Unicorn Maze, a Mother Goose's shop, etc., that all over the land.

He said, "I remember after they shelved it, I watched the guys crate up all the pieces, very sad. They probably still have it all in a warehouse somewhere."

I for one hope they get those concepts out of the warehouse and build BK.
Linda

 

[BottledRed]

In an article I read by Paul Torrigino, contributing writer (introduction by Mark Goldhaber)
Paul tells about how he worked on a project for the Animal kingdom.
He spent 2 years helping to plan the Dragon Tower ride. (a thrill ride)
It was going to be a suspended coaster ride inside a castle complete with bats and a dragon.

There was going to be a restaurant on a little lake with mythical sea creatures.
The Loch Ness monster was going to appear every so often. Bubbling would start up in the lake and then the monster would slowly appear.
Sounds so cool.
They were also going to have, Fantasia Gardens, a bridge called "Billy Goat Bridge",a Unicorn Maze, a Mother Goose's shop, etc., that all over the land.

He said, "I remember after they shelved it, I watched the guys crate up all the pieces, very sad. They probably still have it all in a warehouse somewhere."

I for one hope they get those concepts out of the warehouse and build BK.
Linda

Wow...I want to pick up that book! If AK had the Beastly Kingdom, I could have talked my DF into going there on our past trip. We'll have to save it for a trip in 2007.

 

[bigmac5]

Yes, I am being serious. The original logo of Animal Kingdom included the silhouette of a dragon, which was supposed to be the icon for the "Beastly Kingdom" section of the park. It was to focus on unicorns, dragons, griffins, the Loch Ness monster -- all of those mythical and fantastical creatures who are considered "animals", but not considered to be real.

I love this idea. I hope they will still do it Think how sparkly and magical they could make it.

 

[AnaheimGirl]

Are you being serious? That sounds kinda "out-there".

Hey, no offense, but this made me lol!

This is Disney, the people who brought us giant mice that wear clothes and speak, a boy who flies and doesn't age, a fairy godmother who turns a pumpkin into a coach, a magical nanny who uses her umbrella to fly, etc, etc.

How are dragons and unicorns any more "out there" than any else Disney has done?