New Continent Australia At Disney Animal Kingdom?

[TisBit]

Australia and a redone Camp Minnie Mickey, multiple projects for Epcot and the Studios, an unlikely DVC at River Country, and the current Animation Resort, Hyperion Wharf, and the Magic Kingdom additions? There's no way Disney is going to spend that kind of money, unless perhaps these projects represent some sort of "blue sky" 10+ year plan (and there would be little point of even mentioning something slated for construction in 2020), with elements that may or may not ever happen (and mostly won't).

I don't know...if you break it down:

Camp Minnie Mickey could easily be redone as part of the DAK expansion.

I couldn't see the blog to see what he said about epcot and studios, but I am presuming nothing groundbreaking...maybe the rumored monsters coaster, but that is already engineered from another park.

DVC at River Country, well two things here....plans/concepts have been leaked, presuming they are the same location. DVC is a seperate entity and really doesn't impact WDW parks budget for planning expansions and is self supported.

Animation Resort, value resorts are frequently booked up and increasing the room numbers here make sense. Also, again resorts is different from parks for budgets, but I don't think one of these projects would impact the other....actually could benefit. A new draw to WDW would mean those extra rooms are needed.

Hyperion Wharf has been planned/budgeted for a number of years, they just recently announced it is all. I don't see this being a lot of capital expenditure, all of the real infrastructure is there, most just some building removals and redesigns/reconstructions.

Magic Kingdom is well under way and will be the first to be finished of all of these big projects (I believe, unless animation is further along than I think) and will be several years old before the DAK expansion is really up and running.

The DAK expansion for a new continent would not be a quick expansion and would take a number of years. Building the habitat for the animals and transplanting vegetation is not easy. Then building the infrastructure, attractions, I just don't see them rushing this if they were to do it. It would be much smarter to open a large area with a number of attractions at one time, than just have habitat and slowly add to it later....there won't be a draw for new visitors. So as a post MK expansion draw, it could work.....but it would be a long way off.

 

[MJMcBride]

WDW already has a huge coral reef aquarium: the Caribbean Coral Reef Aquarium at Epcot's Living Seas with Nemo & Friends. Sure, the Caribbean and the Great Barrier Reef are almost on opposite sides of the globe, but it's not as if WDW really needs another coral reef aquarium.

When and if Australia is eventually added to DAK, it's much more likely to showcase land animals that evolved on the Australian continent, and are found nowhere else on Earth. If they take the same approach that they did with Africa and Asia, the results could be wonderful.

But I'm not holding my breath.

I agree with you. But I do think at some point in the not too distant future Disney has to add a land to DAK. Too many people view it as a half day park and people might start heading over to Harry Potter instead

 

[DumbosMagicFeather]

People will probably either hate me or brush this comment off, but I've heard rumors that are slightly different in terms of Animal Kingdom plans. With Harry Potter doing so well, I have heard an old, once-thought-abandoned project of Rohde's has been given the green light.

A certain place that already has its land cleared away, and would be completely re-thought in a *fantastical* new light...emphasis on *fantasy*...

But, those are just rumors. Hopeful hopeful rumors.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

I agree with you. But I do think at some point in the not too distant future Disney has to add a land to DAK. Too many people view it as a half day park and people might start heading over to Harry Potter instead

I agree that DAK would benefit from an expansion. Ideally, the Disney Parks & Resorts sector would fund a new continent in the tradition of Africa and Asia, with magnificent animal habitats, a village that captures the essence of villages that one might find near nature preserves somewhere on that continent, and attractions (rides, shows, walkthroughs) that entertain and educate in the best Disney tradition.

I just don't think the rumor at the top of this thread is credible.

My fear is that when Disney eventually expands DAK, it will be based on Disney or Pixar characters, not real animals.

 

[MJMcBride]

I agree that DAK would benefit from an expansion. Ideally, the Disney Parks & Resorts sector would fund a new continent in the tradition of Africa and Asia, with magnificent animal habitats, a village that captures the essence of villages that one might find near nature preserves somewhere on that continent, and attractions (rides, shows, walkthroughs) that entertain and educate in the best Disney tradition.

I just don't think the rumor at the top of this thread is credible.

My fear is that when Disney eventually expands DAK, it will be based on Disney or Pixar characters, not real animals.

I share your concerns. I think any Australia land would basically be a Nemo land with a couple of koalas.

Lets hope not. Not everything Disney has done in the last 10 years has been "synergy" (Expedition Everest comes to mind) but a lot of it has

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

I share your concerns. I think any Australia land would basically be a Nemo land with a couple of koalas.

Or even a Nemo land without any koalas.

 

[MJMcBride]

Or even a Nemo land without any koalas.

well, there would probably be koalas as they are a huge draw in the zoo world.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

well, there would probably be koalas as they are a huge draw in the zoo world.

True.

But Disney has not added any new animal habitats to DAK that were not open or already under construction when DAK opened. (Asia was already under construction when DAK opened.)

Okay, I guess they added some bird cages in Expedition Everest queue. And perhaps they added a 10-gallon lizard terrarium in Conservation Station or other minor things along those lines. But the great environments of Africa, Asia, the Oasis, and Discovery Island (originally called Safari Village) all go back to the initial construction of DAK.

It's almost as if there was an edict to freeze any increase in the "zoo" element of DAK.

 

[Disflyer]

Didn't Disney get a lot of flack when AK first opened due to their rate of "spoilage" with some of their animal exhibits? My memory is getting foggy in my middle age but I seem to recall there being a lot of press for them losing a fair number of animals originally. I would wonder if that plays a role in the decision not to expand the population outside of their in-house breeding programs. *edit* That is to say if there is a decision about it, which I have no clue.

 

[tjkraz]

As written that story has so many holes that I don't even know where to begin. Sounds like the conclusions are entirely based upon two factors:

1. A patch of ground being cleared, which the author accurately states was previously used as a staging area for Everest construction 4-5 years ago. I believe this area may have also had some involvement in the Night Kingdom concept which was shelved 2 years ago.

2. The ever popular "inside sources" who claim people are being hired to work on an Austrailia concept.

I'm not sure I would even label this a rumor at this point--more like wishful thinking. Even if there is a grain of truth to it, it's just one of hundreds of concepts that have been (and will be) explored for the Disney parks.

Can't believe a news organization would even comment on something like this. A random Disney blog as the single source for stories on the 11:00 news?!?! Terrible.

I don't want to sound overly dramatic but someone deserves to be fired over this. Anyone who even remotely values journalistic integrity should be disgusted over such lazy reporting. This is on par with airing the latest Disney bus driver rumors on the local news.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Didn't Disney get a lot of flack when AK first opened due to their rate of "spoilage" with some of their animal exhibits? My memory is getting foggy in my middle age but I seem to recall there being a lot of press for them losing a fair number of animals originally. I would wonder if that plays a role in the decision not to expand the population outside of their in-house breeding programs. *edit* That is to say if there is a decision about it, which I have no clue.

Disney opened DAK with some of the best, most humane animal habitats and support facilities in the zoo world. And they raided other zoos for the best talent to care for those animals. Despite this, when DAK opened, there were protests from the segment of animal rights activists who are opposed to any animals in captivity. They saw Disney has a high-profile target.

There were some well-publicized animal deaths around the time that DAK opened. Two West African crowned cranes were run over by Kilimanjaro Safari vehicles, leading to a redesign. There were other animal deaths. In some cases, it was due to something that happened before the animal arrived at DAK, or due to natural causes, or during medical treatment. But a few deaths were odd and tragic. The animal deaths gave the activists something to crow about. But that settled down.

There is no indication that Disney's animal care is in any way substandard. In fact, I think it can be argued that Disney sets the standard that other zoos would like to be able to match, if they had the resources.

Just like humans, our pets, and wild animals, zoo animals die.

In general, zoos are no longer capturing animals in the wild, with some exceptions such as certain reeding programs or to save an animal's life.

But Disney could easily expand the number of species at DAK, if that were a priority.

It isn't.

 

[MJMcBride]

I was a long time docent for the Bronx Zoo, one of the leading zoos in the world which sets the standard in exhibit design and breeding programs. many of the top officials from the Bronx as well as other leading zoos, were involved as consultants in the design of exhibits.

the goal of any major zoo is to showcase animals so that the populace begins to care about those animals. Many years ago, zoos saw that they need to showcase the animals in their habitats in order to really show people the needs for habitat protection. DAK is a leader in that

There are few exhibits like the safari ride at DAK that accomplishes that feat

Horace is right in that Disney was a high profile target. At many zoos, an animal death is kept quiet with no press releases or anything. Disney does not have that luxury.

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

Disney opened DAK with some of the best, most humane animal habitats and support facilities in the zoo world. And they raided other zoos for the best talent to care for those animals. Despite this, when DAK opened, there were protests from the segment of animal rights activists who are opposed to any animals in captivity. They saw Disney has a high-profile target.

There were some well-publicized animal deaths around the time that DAK opened. Two West African crowned cranes were run over by Kilimanjaro Safari vehicles, leading to a redesign. There were other animal deaths. In some cases, it was due to something that happened before the animal arrived at DAK, or due to natural causes, or during medical treatment. But a few deaths were odd and tragic. The animal deaths gave the activists something to crow about. But that settled down.

There is no indication that Disney's animal care is in any way substandard. In fact, I think it can be argued that Disney sets the standard that other zoos would like to be able to match, if they had the resources.

Just like humans, our pets, and wild animals, zoo animals die.

In general, zoos are no longer capturing animals in the wild, with some exceptions such as certain reeding programs or to save an animal's life.

But Disney could easily expand the number of species at DAK, if that were a priority.

It isn't.

Not a big Disney defender here but Horace is absolutely correct in this case. Disney did an outstanding job at AK's inception and received undue negative press (something you'll rarely here me say).

 

[lockedoutlogic]

animal kingdom needs the kind of serious investment and addition that will make it almost impossible to leave the park early.

because animals aren't enough of a hit to do it now...as evidenced by any random day of the year at the park witness firsthand.

I don't think there are any significant plans to add to WDW...nor would i see any reason the vultures that run it would see the need. flat attendance and a small decline in bookings are offset by increasing prices for everything, cuts across the board, and an uptick in average spending per visitor.

But i would hope that they see the need at some point to see that park through...though i have almost zero faith of that ever being the case.

Only when timeshare sales fall substantially and they feel a 5-10% drop - neither of which seems to be possible - will they feel comepelled to take the "loss" associated with real additions.

I just dont' see it.

 

[skiingfast]

I feel bad for instigating this rumor that that dumb blog and tv station picked up on. About ten years ago I mentioned it would be cools to add another continent that starts with the letter A to the Animal Kingdom. So sorry.

 

[CapnZach]

I was surprised to see this. John usually does not post rumors unless he is either reporting from other sites, and he strives to portray a professional image, which is why I imagine WESH felt comfortable quoting him.

He also lives in the area so could conceivably know TDO people, especially since he has been in the game for a long time. I hadn't heard them from other sources, but for what its worth, John has proven a responsible source in the past, not willing to spin rumors just for hits.

That said, I've heard reliably that major expansion plans remain in a holding pattern. FLE is NOT meant as a Potter counter, it was planned long before that and is solely meant to expand capacity at MK which has been sorely needed.

The plans for Pixar Place are pretty well known but are supposed to be on hold. Logically, my guess is if Disney wanted to counter Potter, they would focus on their park most likely to be skipped in favor of a day at Uni. That is probably DAK at this point, which usually has the lowest attendance figures. So a major expansion here (although I HIGHLY doubt BK, Everest being built really shut that door) isn't outside the realm of possibility.

As with all Dis rumors, time will tell.

 

[MJMcBride]

I feel bad for instigating this rumor that that dumb blog and tv station picked up on. About ten years ago I mentioned it would be cools to add another continent that starts with the letter A to the Animal Kingdom. So sorry.

yeah and I did this back in '07

http://www.mouseextra.com/2007/05/3...m-part-two-nessie-and-the-kangaroos/#comments

 

[Disco]

I feel bad for instigating this rumor that that dumb blog and tv station picked up on. About ten years ago I mentioned it would be cools to add another continent that starts with the letter A to the Animal Kingdom. So sorry.

I thought you meant Antarctica.

 

[mcd2745]

I thought you meant Antarctica.

Well...who doesn't love penguins?

 

[joelkfla]

The problem with that would be it would require a lot of work to EE since it's not what I would call "show ready" from behind.

They could put up a [cheezy] mural -- like San Francisco at DHS!