Just got back and heard a couple of interesting rumors from CMs

[G00fyDad]

The AK needs to add that Beastly Kingdom that the Imagineers originally had planned for the park. Sorry if someone already mentioned this, I did not read all of the posts.

Beastly Kingdom? Never heard of this. What is that?

 

[mitros]

It was supposed to be one of the "lands" in the AK. where mythical creatures would be found. The land was one of the things cut from the original AK budget when the accountants found out that the "back stage" areas for the care of the animals cost a lot more then they had envisioned initially {can you say, Ei$ners a cheapskate?} The one thing that they had thought would be a great introduction to the Beastley Kingdom area was the Discovery River Ride. If you went to the AK park in the very beginning, there were these 62 passenger tour boats that went around that winding river that passes through the AK. Along it's route was a cave that had a roaring sound coming out of it, and it was supposed to have a fire breathing dragon that would shoot fire across the river after the boat passed. That was to get you "ready" for the Beastley Kingdom.Of course, that never happened, and all you heard was a roar from the cave, without fire, and as you probably know, they finally closed that ride, and got rid of the boats.

 

[DVCconvert]

can you say, Ei$ners a cheapskate?

Yes!, I can!

 

[Plus4206]

Actually, they still have the boats - or at least some of them - and are now using them for different things. One goes around with musicians on it.

We actually saw the flames coming out of the cave a few times before they shut it down.

I've often wondered if Disney gets some sort of tax break for maintaining the animal population, either thru an enviromental and/or educational tax incentive.

 

[G00fyDad]

Actually, they still have the boats - or at least some of them - and are now using them for different things. One goes around with musicians on it.

We actually saw the flames coming out of the cave a few times before they shut it down.

I've often wondered if Disney gets some sort of tax break for maintaining the animal population, either thru an enviromental and/or educational tax incentive.

I would imagine that as awildlife preserve of sorts that it would get some federal funding. At least for the academic areas of AK.

 

[Plus4206]

You could almost argue that the entire park could be an academic center. What attraction, show or walkway in AK is not a learning experience ?

 

[G00fyDad]

You could almost argue that the entire park could be an academic center. What attraction, show or walkway in AK is not a learning experience ?

I have never been (yet) but I was under the impression that Rafiki's Planet watch and Conservation station were learning centers.

 

[Plus4206]

They are. And ITTBAB is educational on the importance of insects. Dinosaur theorizes on the extinction of dinosaurs. Flights of Wonder -birds. KS- the animals of Africa. KR - the affects of over forrestation and other enviro ills. Dinorama- the greed and tackyness of mankind.

 

[peter pan217]

i am only 11 but love disney i think that they should get some shows or attractions in asia and africa we only go to dinoland u.s.a and camp minnie mickey for the lion king show and we go to the tree of life to see its tough to be a bug i have been 10-11 times and have never seen asia or africa maybe if they make it friendly to kids like a adventure ride also don't you think about the land at ak just a thought

 

[DancingBear]

i am only 11 but love disney i think that they should get some shows or attractions in asia and africa we only go to dinoland u.s.a and camp minnie mickey for the lion king show and we go to the tree of life to see its tough to be a bug i have been 10-11 times and have never seen asia or africa maybe if they make it friendly to kids like a adventure ride also don't you think about the land at ak just a thought

Peter Pan, I think you're missing out on a lot of existing kid-friendly activities in Asia and Africa--Kilimanjaro Safari, Kali Rapids, Maharajah Jungle Trek (tigers!) and Pangani Trail (gorillas! and naked mole rats!), and the Flights of Wonder show. Also, take the train ride to Rafiki's Planet Watch, listen to the show in the Sounds of the Rainforest, pet the animals in Affection Section, and activities in Conservation Station.

 

[raidermatt]

Ok, I'm sorry, but I had to do an internet version of a double take when I read that Dinorama is being spoken of as a "learning experience". Yes, we learned about the greed and tackiness of mankind, but not in the way Disney intended.

I'm afraid to ask about the educational value of Tarzan Rocks.

 

[Plus4206]

You had to realize my Dino crack was sarcasm.

Besides, I didn't say ALL of AK was educational.

 

[peter pan217]

you got me dancing bear i could understand how little 6 year olds can be fascinated by a tiger or monkey on a safari ride but maybe you could get more disney characters involved in like a story whenever they describe certain animals make a adventure story. but i get your point

 

[dbm20th]

I would be shocked if these ideas happened in the near future. First of all, I don't think that a "Sea World"-type thing would make much sense, but a "DisneySea", now that may happen. From what I have read, it is doing very well. I just don't think that there is a market for 2 Sea Worlds, and it would make more sense simply to expand the AK concept.

A "Thrill Ride" Park seems like a good idea, but I am not sure if that makes sense for the direction that WDW has gone in. They have been adding thrill rides to existing parks, and I would expect that trend to continue.

Here is what I have heard, and what makes the most sense. They will add an attraction to WS, the Canada rides makes a lot of sense, but don't be surprised if it isn't more than that, in an effort to change the profile of EPCOT. They are already adding to AK, with EE, but plans are to add alot more including rides. MGM gets the new stunt show, but Ihave heard rumblings of more coming there too. They have 4 parks and I think that they have big plans for those 4 before getting into too much else.

If they are adding thrill rides to the parks now, why would they want to funnel all of the thrill riders to one park and away from the ones they already have?

 

[tomerin]

at first after reading all of the stories about another park i thought it would be a great idea. after all we just bought into DVC at SSR so we just made a long commitment to WDW. another park themed or not but with thrill rides really wouldnt fit what i think is a real family type of park which is what disney wants to be known as. in my family only my 14yr old son really like the thrill rides, so i go on with him but anything with real heights does makes me expremely nervous so i try to avoid them. we ride these while my wife and other son waits for us ro goes and does something else. this is why we as a family havent visited Universal.


after some thought i really feel that adding theme areas to existing parks, like villan land, monstervillle, pixartown(just made these up), beastly kingdom etec makes more sense. it for one is easier for WDW to maintain an addition to an existing park then adding another whole area. adding to MGM with a villian themed area makes sense because of the movie characters. i love mgm but IMHO it really isnt a fulll day park. i also love AK but it also suffers from this same problem. new attractions with imagination are needed in MK to keep it fresh, this was mentioned in an earlier post. Epcot could use more E-ticket type attractions, soarin does help here and maybe a few more countries added to WS. new attractions, more resturants, more areas to rest your weary body, more training for cm's this way they are totally prepared to deal with whatever comes their way.

adding to existing parks would also ease some of the crowding that can make a trip to WDW at peak times a bit more tolerable. a larger area can handle more guest efficently. happy people stay longer and spend more.

 

[andrewmei]

I believe that is why the original AK logo has that winged creature on it (referring to the "Beastly Kingdom idea), no?

 

[sapiendut]

I'm afraid to ask about the educational value of Tarzan Rocks.

It educates us that Tarzan does, in fact, rock.

 

[eeyoresmountainpals]

My DH and I spent last week at WDW and heard some interesting rumors from a couple of the CMs.

1. According to a CM at AKL, Disney is trying to buy the Swan and the Dolphin and make them "real" (his words not mine) Disney hotels;

When we were there in October we went on an Epcot cruise and the boat driver told us the same thing about the Dolphin and Swan. He also told us that the one hotel had been built so that if this ever happened it could accomodate the monorail. (I can't remember if it was the Dolphin or the Swan.) He pointed out that on the one side you can see a different pattern in the windows where they could knock out that area for the monorail to go through! We thought it was very interesting!

 

[mycropht]

On our last visit we were told by several CMs that the former 20K Leagues/Ariel's grotto area was going to be turned into a villain-themed coaster called "Bald Mountain" after the sequence in the original Fantasia. Makes sense to go with all of the other Mountains in the MK "Mountain Range"

 

[sters]

2. According to a CM at Poly, Disney eventually wants to build 3 more parks on site - one a Sea World type attraction, a second that is primarily thrill rides, a la Islands of Adventure, and the third would be the history park that they tried to build in Northern VA about 8 years ago..

A disney bus driver told my friends the same rumor in 1992... hmmm.