I hope this is true!

[KNWVIKING]

I'd like to see them add an upscale restaurant to AK. DW and I love the rib platter at Flame Tree, but I'd still like a nice "sit down' location.

 

[jlambrig]

I think the lack of an upscale sit down has a lot to do with Jiko and Boma at the Lodge. Doesn't excuse them for not having one in the park but I think their focus was on the hotel at first and not the park.

 

[WDWHound]

Originally posted by KNWVIKING
I'd like to see them add an upscale restaurant to AK. DW and I love the rib platter at Flame Tree, but I'd still like a nice "sit down' location.

We always eat at Tusker House. I never sould figure out why this place has such a bad rep. BTW, the new Everest area is supposed to contain a sit down restaurant, but I have no idea if its upscale or fast food.

 

[DC7800]

Originally posted by WDWHound
BTW, the new Everest area is supposed to contain a sit down restaurant, but I have no idea if its upscale or fast food.

If I understand it correctly, the deal with Rainforest Cafe prevented Disney from establishing a sit-down (table service) restaurant within Animal Kingdom itself (which, if accurate, was yet another remarkably poor business decision). Question is, is this arrangement still in effect, or has it expired/been modified since the park's opening?

 

[KNWVIKING]

I didn't know about the Rainforest deal, I just assumed that since the park always closes early- well before dinner time- that Disney figured it wouldn't be worth building one.

 

[YoHo]

As far as I know, that deal is still in place. It's one of the main reasons the old Harley tends to stick near Car 3 now adays.
Stupidest stupid move EVA!

 

[Samirella]

Originally posted by jlambrig
I think the lack of an upscale sit down has a lot to do with Jiko and Boma at the Lodge. Doesn't excuse them for not having one in the park but I think their focus was on the hotel at first and not the park.

That and the fact that the park isn't open late enough to serve dinner...which is the meal most people want a sit down restaurant for.

 

[SnackyStacky]

Originally posted by YoHo
Of course, Disney never wanted to have hopper passes and they didn't exist before MGM was built.

Sure they did. I have a 3 day "Passport" that allowed park hopping between the Magic Kingdom and Epcot from 1986.

 

[YoHo]

I have that same passport and it did not allow unlimited hopping. you could enter Epcot, leave Epcot and return to Epcot. The stamp actually said which park (via color coding) you had entered.

At least, that's the way I remember it. The more important fact though was that the passport offered zero discount. you bought a 3-day passport that cost you the equivelent of 3 single day tickets.

 

[All Aboard]

The following article has no info on park hopping. But it has some interesting info on ticket and hotel prices...

Published Sunday, October 12, 1986. Copyright, the Miami Herald Publishing Company.

A vacation at Walt Disney World may be family fun, but it's not easy on the family pocketbook. In less than two years, Disney World has jacked up its admission prices more than 25 percent and its hotel prices more than 30 percent. A one-day admission to either the Magic Kingdom or Epcot (but not both) today costs an adult $24.50, compared to $19.50 in 1984. A room at the Polynesian Village Hotel runs $120 to $190 today, compared to $90 to $160 last year. Disney officials say the stiff rate increases came about because "we hadn't kept up" and that other hotels in the area have had greater increases, but that still doesn't make it any easier on the average family. Michael Eisner, chairman of the board, acknowledged last week that some people who want to spend nights on the Disney property are discouraged by the price structure and said the company was planning to construct moderate-cost accommodations in the near future. Here's how the costs add up for a family visiting Disney World. A three-day ticket for admission today costs $61 adult, $49 for children. Multiply those amounts by two adults and two children, the average American family, and just to get into the Disney World gate will run $220 for three days. That's just for starters. You've got to stay in a hotel, you've got to eat and you've got to spend money on snacks, gifts and transportation. There are plenty of hotels in the Disney World area, starting from about $30 a night in the economy hotels. Deluxe hotels start at around $100 a night. Hotels on Disney property offer some advantages: proximity, frequent shuttle service to the attractions (the monorail in the case of the Contemporary and Polynesian, buses from the Lake Buena Vista hotels), a small discount on admissions ($1 off the three-day admission), and no extra charge for children in a room with parents. Hotels outside the Disney property also may offer shuttle services, usually not as frequently, and may or may not charge extra for children. One way to save and still enjoy the Disney ambience is to book a villa on the Disney property. A one-bedroom villa, kitchen equipped so that a family can cook as many meals as it desires, runs $140 a day. A two-bedroom unit, which can sleep up to six persons, runs $175. Kitchen-equipped villas or suites are also available off Disney property. Florida residents can obtain a ticket good for admission to the Magic Kingdom and Epcot throughout the months of September, January and May for just $50. During certain months, Disney offers hotel discounts for Floridians and/or senior citizens.

 

[theSurlyMermaid]

This Beastly Kingdom rumor has been around for a little while now....I, for one, hope it is a go. I have no inside info, just a personal opinion that Disney can still be Disney with a few more thrill rides. The Hollywood Tower of Terror, is, IMO, almost the perfect ride in terms of theming and thrills. I also love the Rock N' Roller Coaster. But that's basically it, as far as real thrill rides go (have not ridden Mission Space yet).

Disney doesn't need to rip down what they've done...they can still be a magical place....and I have no doubt the imagineers could come up with a thrill rides that are well-themed and not ugly (eg. coaster tracks everywhere, etc.). I hope they are up to the challenge because more and more people are dividing their Disney vacation to get things they don't get at Disney...namely the thrills of Universal/IOA. Even Sea World has Kraken, which I intend to try on my next trip. Disney needs to keep up with the Joneses on this one.

 

[raidermatt]

Greg, good article. I think you should save it for when the next "Did Eisner raise prices" debate comes up. The article seems to support the position that he did, though he may have done most of it right away. (Part of "properly utilizing assets", I guess...)

 

[KNWVIKING]

...Hmmm, how to say or ask this ??

What is the right price any company should charge ? The easy answer is " not one dollar less then people are willing to pay".

Now, no one desputes that Disney is a for-profit company, yet every price increase is a major debate. If defenders say "Look what USF did...." the opposition counter with "We're talking about Disney, not USF" .

My question is; How much profit should Disney leave on the table ? Regardless of what the other parks & hotels do pricewise, should Disney charge less ? If people are willing to pay more, should Disney ask for less ? Maybe this is the wrong thread for this.

 

[SnoWhiteRabbit]

Originally posted by Mickey76


I believe a lot of people will view AK as their second favorite of the four major parks, only behind Magic Kingdom.


Mickey76

I already do THere are things I love at MGM and I love the Worldshowcase, but I would have to say AK is my second favorite, after MK. Any additions to this park would be great, especially Beasties, but I love it already!

Ahhh, Beasties....My 2 DD's, 3 and 5, would love unicorn themed things and my DS 2 would love dragon themed things!

 

[aesalsa]

This is an interesting look at the AK. It shows some concept paintings on how the Mythical Creature area in AK might look. I hope that it's a GO!


http://waltdatedworld.bravepages.com/id209.htm

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

My kids would absolutely flip for that! They are really into dragons and other mythological creatures. It all started with Harry Potter, now they can't get enough of it.

 

[OnWithTheShow]

I highly recommend the book "Making of Disney's Animal Kingdom". Lots of good concept art and stories of attractions that were changed, never built, and still on the table.

As far as Beastly Kingdom is concerned we all certainly wish it will still happen, but it seems like they have decided to breakup the mythological creatures into different lands instead of having a dedicated one. There is still plenty of room left behind camp minnie mickey for some type of future attraction. I wouldnt expect much in terms of attractions for about 5 years after Everest.