Will there ever be a "Beastly Kingdom" at AK?

[dynamite100]

The original premise of Animal Kingdom was that it would involve creatures "real, ancient, and legendary." There were, I believe, plans drawn up to include a land of mythical creatures such as dragons and unicorns called Beastly Kingdom, at some point in the future. It was always the intention that AK should constantly expand/evolve.
Obviously, the park is entering the realms of mythical creatures with the new Expedition Everest attraction. However, this is in the existing Asia section of the park. Just wondered if any of you have any insider Disney knowledge regarding whether or not this new Beastly Kingdom will ever be built at AK?

Cheers, Carl.

 

[edingerc]

I'm not sure about the Beastly Kingdom aspect, but Everest isn't being built to bolster the mythical creature aspect of AK. AK has the lowest attendance of the "big four." When the park opens in the morning, everyone stampedes to Kilamangaro. What everest is meant to do is to give another rope drop focus and to get more people coming to the park.

I wonder if the Yeti is going to look just like the one in the Matterhorn?

 

[minnie61650]

This rumor surfaces every so often. 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

 

[wshupnastar]

I read something about this a while back...not sure on the "truthfulness" of it, but I do seem to remember it coming from a reliable place...(but, again, it's been a while back, so I can't remember exactly where).

Anyway, I read that Disney had planned on a mythological section, but when the park was almost completed they were so far over budget that they had to scrap the budget by 1/3. They chose to nix the "Beastly" area, but still needed something to put where they had intended to put it. They needed something "cheap" (in Disney terms anyway) and that is how they decided on Camp Minnie-Mickey. Doing character greeting spots was relatively inexpensive.

Of course, they had already used the AK logo so much that financially it was better just to keep the dragon on it, so that is why we still see that dragon on the AK symbol.

 

[peter11435]

The original idea was for Animal Kingdom to contain real, imaginary, and extinct animals. The dedication plaque at the entrance to the park says exactly that. The original idea was to use dragons, unicorns, etc. to convey they idea of imaginary animals.

Due to financial reasons the decisions was made to cut Beastly Kingdom out of the phase 1 plans. They (the Imagineers particularly Joe Rohde) made the executive decision to keep the dragon on the parks logo, because they wanted to keep the idea fresh in the minds of guests and management. This is why even now the redesigned AK logo has replaced the triceratops with Lucky, yet the Dragon has been left in place only moved slightly to the right. They are keeping their options open. While there are no plans to build Beastly Kingdom at this time, or any time soon, the concept is still out there, and WDI would like to one day build it.

 

[webmomom]

I am sure I will flamed for this, but I sure do hope they don't do a mythical creatures area. I for one am not into this. I really would rather see more REAL ANIMALS than mythial ones.

 

[JRawkSteady]

I like mythical creatures, but the Beastly Kingdom or the rumored "villains park" would be a pathetic attempt to keep up with the thrill rides at parks around them. I'm very glad these are all just rumored and are not going to happen anytime soon...when Iger is in charge, hopefully he'll put a stop to any and all rumors and add Australia into Animal Kingdom instead of animals that don't actually exist. There are so many wonderful animals in Australia! They could do so much with it!

 

[minnie61650]

I am sure I will flamed for this, but I sure do hope they don't do a mythical creatures area. I for one am not into this. I really would rather see more REAL ANIMALS than mythial ones.

No Flames
I love the real animals also.
I hope they are always there.
If Disney builds BK at the AK it would just be another "land" like Dinoland.
Those who only wish to see the real animals can go to the Asia and Afica
sections and skip Dinoland and BK.
Linda

 

[LadyDulcinea1]

Actually adding Beastly Kingdom would probably make me more inclined to go to AK, which as of right now is the only park that I actually skipped completely on my last trip. Although the new Everest ride does sound appealing

 

[AaronandJessica]

The original premise of Animal Kingdom was that it would involve creatures "real, ancient, and legendary." There were, I believe, plans drawn up to include a land of mythical creatures such as dragons and unicorns called Beastly Kingdom, at some point in the future. It was always the intention that AK should constantly expand/evolve.
Obviously, the park is entering the realms of mythical creatures with the new Expedition Everest attraction. However, this is in the existing Asia section of the park. Just wondered if any of you have any insider Disney knowledge regarding whether or not this new Beastly Kingdom will ever be built at AK?

Cheers, Carl.

Mu husband is still really hoping for this one. The logo has the dragon on it. It would be awesome to see the mystical park. There is nothing like it. My fingers are crossed. When they first opened AK there was a dragon in a pit that would breathe faire every hour. The cave is still there.. there are a bunch of rocks around it..

Jess

 

[civileng68]

Dragons, Unicorns and Disney? No thanks. I'll pass.

 

[peter11435]

I like mythical creatures, but the Beastly Kingdom or the rumored "villains park" would be a pathetic attempt to keep up with the thrill rides at parks around them. I'm very glad these are all just rumored and are not going to happen anytime soon...when Iger is in charge, hopefully he'll put a stop to any and all rumors and add Australia into Animal Kingdom instead of animals that don't actually exist. There are so many wonderful animals in Australia! They could do so much with it!

While Beastly Kingdom was planned to have a roller coaster. The land would not have been all thrills. The plan called for other attractions as well including a Unicorn based dark ride among other things.

 

[Dodie]

I have one of those bottle strap things from our visit to AK during it's first couple of months of operation. The strap has the AK logo and a series of animals in profile, including a dinosaur (makes sense) and a DRAGON.

 

[Jennasis]

I LOVE the idea of a Beastly Kingdom at AK. After reading the description of Dragon Tower (thanks Minnie61650) I am very stoked about it! Not sure I love the idea of bats though.

After visiting IOA a few years back and enjoying THEIR mythological section I just knew Disney could do it. IOA is pretty awesome though. Disney had better get there act together on this one!

There have been PLENTY of dragons and unicorns and stuff in Disney lore (Maleficent turns into one and would be a perfect addition to BK). Elliot from Pete's dragon could be in it. All the mythological creatures from Fantasia...Tinkerbell could be like "the Queen!". Heck, even stick Mushu in there.

 

[homer424]

Actually adding Beastly Kingdom would probably make me more inclined to go to AK, which as of right now is the only park that I actually skipped completely on my last trip. Although the new Everest ride does sound appealing

I have skipped it completely on my last 3 trips, too. (And this most recent trip we skipped MGM, too, but that is because it was a shortened trip and we just did the "musts"). I remember in 1996, going into the Town Hall and watching a presentation on AK and looking over the models for it. I was pretty excited for it to open! Shoot, i remember in 1988 going into Town Hall and seeing something similar for MGM's opening, too!

I think the Beastly Kingdom would be cool to have-just to see what they would do with it!

 

[Jalva22]

Sounds like the building of the original Haunted Mansion at DL. They built the exterior of the mansion and put up a sign advertising space for ghosts to come retire. For various reasons, the project kept being put on the back burner. The sign stood there for years before the ride finally became a reality. Like AK's dragon in the logo, they used the sign to keep the new attraction on everyone's mind until they were finally ready to develop it.

 

[civileng68]

After visiting IOA a few years back and enjoying THEIR mythological section I just knew Disney could do it. IOA is pretty awesome though. Disney had better get there act together on this one!

If Disney wants to add this sort of thing because they want it for them, then fine. I personally don't really like the idea of unicorns. However, that's just me.

However, if Disney does it to compete with companies like Universal's IOA, then I see a big problem.

Disney has already said to have designed DTD because of Universal's CW, and Animal Kingdom to compete with Tampa's Busch Gardens. I think that's fine but that's the limit. Whether Disney has unicorns in folklore or not, and even though Disney has attractions that have nothing to do with Disney, something about Unicorns just doens't sit right with me.

 

[minnie61650]

If Disney wants to add this sort of thing because they want it for them, then fine. I personally don't really like the idea of unicorns. However, that's just me.

However, if Disney does it to compete with companies like Universal's IOA, then I see a big problem.

Disney has already said to have designed DTD because of Universal's CW, and Animal Kingdom to compete with Tampa's Busch Gardens. I think that's fine but that's the limit. Whether Disney has unicorns in folklore or not, and even though Disney has attractions that have nothing to do with Disney, something about Unicorns just doens't sit right with me.

The concepts for BK go back to 1992 so I don't think it was a plan to compete
with Universals IOA.

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

 

[AnaheimGirl]

That sounds awesome! The dragon ride and the rest of BK! My family would love an area like this, much more than Camp Minnie Mickey and FOTLK.

If Disney wants to bolster attendance at AK, BK would certainly do it for our family.

 

[eeyore0062]

What is WRONG with Unicorns??? They are beautiful mythological creatures that cause no harm to anyone. I have a HUGE collection and would LOVE if Disney added Beastlie Kingdomm to AK. It wouldn't be copying IOA, as Disney had the concept 1st. If anything, IOA took the concept when Disney didn't use it.