Disney's Animal Kingdom (General Discussion)

[UPSguy]

Any indication where the ride might go if it were to happen? Presumably very near the Festival of the Lion King building?

I don't know, if it turned River Journey into a walk-on (or just about), I'd be fine with that!

But either way, I'm glad a genuine ride count expansion seems to be on the table for the park.

Lion King would go south of the Festival of the Lion King building, towards Club 33.

 

[Nick]

Lion King would go south of the Festival of the Lion King building, towards Club 33.

Can we raze 33 and move it… they built it literally in the way of expansion. I get the thinking of it’s a relatively quiet area, but they could’ve made Club 33 at this park so much more cool. I would think Club 33 would want a way to watch any nighttime show that comes to the park from the DAK location, which tbh would be easy to have done in a much cooler way.

 

[OrlLover]

I find it interesting that this park and DHS have such limited expansion opportunities without razing something that already exist.

Does Pandora have the space for a third attraction ?

Also in my opinion there shouldn’t be any competition for funds if Disney is serious about expanding capacity at WDW.

 

[sonoma15]

I find it interesting that this park and DHS have such limited expansion opportunities without razing something that already exist.

Does Pandora have the space for a third attraction ?

Also in my opinion there shouldn’t be any competition for funds if Disney is serious about expanding capacity at WDW.

They really don't. There's a lot of places in both DHS and DAK to expand without really replacing anything major, and yeah, Pandora has more space too.

 

[HandsomePete]

Also in my opinion there shouldn’t be any competition for funds if Disney is serious about expanding capacity at WDW.

If you have a long list of ideas and a non-infinite budget, something will always be competing for the last dollar.

Periods of time where money gets thrown around left and right is how you end up with things like Harmonious, Starcruiser, Rivers of Light, etc. … unless you’re still giving things a critical eye.

 

[OrlLover]

If you have a long list of ideas and a non-infinite budget, something will always be competing for the last dollar.

Periods of time where money gets thrown around left and right is how you end up with things like Harmonious, Starcruiser, Rivers of Light, etc. … unless you’re still giving things a critical eye.

While I do agree with you I just think that Disney needs to go ahead and commit the funds to these projects especially if the R&D costs are already covered.

For example the rumored Lion King attraction potentially coming to Paris and Orlando.

 

[UniversalRBLX]

While I do agree with you I just think that Disney needs to go ahead and commit the funds to these projects especially if the R&D costs are already covered.

For example the rumored Lion King attraction potentially coming to Paris and Orlando.

I think they're finally committing... October 1st should start a new "era" in the Disney parks and how Disney views them.

Maybe I'm being too hopeful, but it wouldn't shock me to see multiple projects across all four parks under construction within 2 years.

DAK has major expansion pads to the north along with the west if they are willing to relocate BoH locations.

 

[UPSguy]

I think they're finally committing... October 1st should start a new "era" in the Disney parks and how Disney views them.

Maybe I'm being too hopeful, but it wouldn't shock me to see multiple projects across all four parks under construction within 2 years.

DAK has major expansion pads to the north along with the west if they are willing to relocate BoH locations.

Agreed! Hopefully I'm not being too optimistic either, but we should see construction at AK, DHS, and Magic Kingdom by next summer.

 

[Mad Dog]

I think they're finally committing... October 1st should start a new "era" in the Disney parks and how Disney views them.

Maybe I'm being too hopeful, but it wouldn't shock me to see multiple projects across all four parks under construction within 2 years.

DAK has major expansion pads to the north along with the west if they are willing to relocate BoH locations.

Yes. It's a whole new ballgame it seems. I think we can throw out most of our past Disney assumptions. And, as I said before, this will make it real hard for Universal to rest on their Epic laurels, and continue the status quo at USO and IOA. They're going to have to put the gloves on now, and get some 'major' stuff ready to go, besides what's at Epic.

 

[UniversalRBLX]

Yes. It's a whole new ballgame it seems. I think we can throw out most of our past Disney assumptions. And, as I said before, this will make it real hard for Universal to rest on their Epic laurels, and continue the status quo at USO and IOA. They're going to have to put the gloves on now, and get some 'major' stuff ready to go, besides what's at Epic.

Agree 100%

Unless they pull another blue sky session stunt for D23 this year, I can justify/understand the lack of anything substantial with Iger only returning 2 years ago. BUT, that's more than enough time to develop and plan projects... now it's time for approval & construction.

As for Universal, Epic will certainly be the talk of the town 2025-2026... but after that they're gonna need to give a reason to come back.

 

[Tyc00n96]

Agree 100%

Unless they pull another blue sky session stunt for D23 this year, I can justify/understand the lack of anything substantial with Iger only returning 2 years ago. BUT, that's more than enough time to develop and plan projects... now it's time for approval & construction.

As for Universal, Epic will certainly be the talk of the town 2025-2026... but after that they're gonna need to give a reason to come back.

All the rumors floating on here from Luigi's Mansion, to Zelda and Pokemon it does seem like at the very least they have some kind of plan post-Epic for big projects.

 

[Disneyhead]

I think we will see something start at either USF or IOA (probably USF) in Jan. '25 as major construction starts wrapping up at Epic.

 

[UniversalRBLX]

All the rumors floating on here from Luigi's Mansion, to Zelda and Pokemon it does seem like at the very least they have some kind of plan post-Epic for big projects.

Yes, and that's good, won't allow them to step off the pedal unlike WDW that likes to go on long stretches of nothing

 

[Tyc00n96]

I think we will see something start at either USF or IOA (probably USF) in Jan. '25 as major construction starts wrapping up at Epic.

Perfect time to close HRRR.

 

[UPSguy]

I don't believe this is real, but noteless, here's everyone's favorite retired Imagineer on Twitter.
*IF* real, this could be what the Lion King ride at AK could look like... again, I doubt its real, and looks like bad AI.

 

[Tyc00n96]

I don't believe this is real, but noteless, here's everyone's favorite retired Imagineer on Twitter.
*IF* real, this could be want the Lion King ride at AK could look like... again, I doubt its real, and looks like bad AI.

That flume on the right looks identical to the Moana AK concept art

 

[PerceptiveCoot]

I would not believe Jerry Shull...

Oh, wait, I'm sorry, Jim.

EDIT: Also, this looks fake/edited. I really don't get why Jim needs to tank his credibility on Twitter all the time, I'm starting to find it hard to believe he ever actually worked at WDI.

 

[UPSguy]

That flume on the right looks identical to the Moana AK concept art

Yup, I highly doubt this is real. Looks completely different from the model that of the land that was described to me a couple of months ago. Unless something drastic changed

 

[Tyc00n96]

Yup, I highly doubt this is real. Looks completely different from the model that of the land that was described to me a couple of months ago. Unless something drastic changed

I know its not uncommon for concept art to get recycled but idk. How much can you explain of the model?

 

[PerceptiveCoot]

Jerry was also seen posting badly edited fan AI art of the Spider-man roller coaster today so...ugh.