Building upon the Animal Kingdom part two; Nessie and the kangaroos
Today’s Bulidng My Imagineering Resume is by Mike, contributing write to Mouse Extra/ Part two of his three part proposal to expand the Animal Kingdom brings us to Australia.
Now, let’s move across Discovery Island to the Theater in the Wild where the Nemo musical is currently playing. It seems to me this would be a great jumping off point for a new area dedicated to the world’s aquatic environments, called “Aquatica.” Everyone who has seen the newest Little Mermaid Special Edition DVD has checked out the animated mock up Little Mermaid ride. Put it here.
As for animals, we already have an indoor coral reef at Epcot. So to avoid duplication, we’ll pay tribute the National park system with Alligator River Park trail. American alligators and crocodiles would be viewed along with other animals from the region like herons, ducks, raccoons, bobcats, and maybe even manatees. I would include a building for the smaller creatures like insects, frogs, snakes, and fish. I would also add displays on the history of our national park system. Other exhibits could include sea lions, which are always popular. At my zoo, we have a huge flight cage for pelagic (ocean going) birds like gulls, terns, cormorants, and penguins. This area could host an old idea from the aforementioned Beastly Kingdomme, Loch Ness Landing. This would be a restaurant with seating around a lagoon. Periodically, guests would hear bag pipes in this distance followed by a bubbling in the center of the water. Finally, old Nessie would come up and look down at the diners.
But we do have the Living Seas. I can feel some of you out there wanting to steer clear of the water. I think its different enough, but I do have an alternate plan. The Nemo musical could also be a springboard for an Australia area. A walkabout exhibit featuring kangaroos, wallabies, and the like from Australia’s wild lands would be the main exhibit. I would also construct a rainforest home for kiwis, snakes, and koalas. A thrill ride could also be developed such as a hybrid coaster (part coaster, part flume) racing the through the outback. Of course, the obligatory “shrimps on the barbie” food stop would be there.
David said,
May 31, 2007 @ 4:06 pm
Just curious, what does Nessi have to do with a tribute to the National Parks? Don’t get me wrong, I love the idea…
Chris said,
May 31, 2007 @ 7:08 pm
I dont think Disney wants to make Animal Kingdom into more of a zoo. That’s exactly what they dont want. They dont want to be known as just another zoo with animal exibits (thats why they had the “Natazu” promotion), they want Animal Kingdom to be a unique Animal themed park.
The Aquatica name for a Sea themed area of AK wont work because SeaWorld is building a water park in Orlando with the same name. I personally dont think Animal Kingdom needs any Ocean themed area/attractions because that is already covered at The Seas with Nemo and Friends, and if they want to build the Little Mermaid dark ride- it can find a perfect home in Fantasyland or as a replacement for Voyage of the Little Mermaid show at the studios. If they ever build a mythical creatures themed Beastly Kingdom land- it would need to be better than IOA’s Lost Continent/Wizarding World of Harry Potter which is very hard to beat.
As for Australia, it was rumored a while as a new land to be placed in between Africa and Asia (replacing Rafiki’s Planet Watch)- but that never happened. To me the biggest problem at Animal Kingdom is Dinoland USA. It has one of the best rides in the park but the area’s theme is lacking. Chester & Hester’s DinoRama is horrible. The Boneyard is an embarassment compared to Camp Jurassic at IOA. I think they should theme Dinoland into a more authentic Dino area like Jurassic Park at IOA and remove the tacky carnival rides and cheap playground. And they open a Nemo musical in the middle of this Dinoland mess! Nemo has nothing to do with Dinosaurs, but of course Disney thought it would be cheaper to enclose an existing theatre in Animal Kingdom and put the Nemo show there than build a new theatre somewhere else where it can fit the theme.
After they fix Dinoland, they can fix the next worse area in the park: Camp Mickey-Minne. The Lion King show needs to be moved to Africa. As for Africa, I heard there are overcrowding problems there and they are thinking of expanding the area a bit to accomodate crowds. As most know there have been recent changes to the theming of Kilimanjaro Safaris (So I guess Disney decided to work on Africa instead of other areas in the park needing more help?)
I like your idea of transforming Camp Mickey Minnie into an America themed area!
Mike said,
May 31, 2007 @ 10:46 pm
Hopefully, Chris, you will get behind my last idea for DAK, which hopefully Dave will publish over the next few days.
I’m not as down on Dinoland as you are, but I did like that old area that had the path and the tent of Dino statutes. As for Dinorama, yeah its kind of tacky, but I always liked the Primeval Whirl.
brennam said,
June 1, 2007 @ 3:04 am
why would they have an american theme land. that would be a waist of time. they need to build beastly kingdom. the only real big ride is expedition everest and that still isnt that great. if they want to compete with IOA maybe they should build some good rollercoasters in some of the other parks except MGM.
David said,
June 1, 2007 @ 12:12 pm
If we truly want to revisit old ideas, this would be a great spot for the classic Marc Davis Western River Expedition idea.
Mike said,
June 2, 2007 @ 2:16 am
There is no reason to compete with IOA, since that park is not even in the same ballpark for attendance. Not your competing with someone you’re pummelling
brennam said,
June 4, 2007 @ 4:13 pm
What universal needs to do is build a park in texas. there competing with disney and they follow them(california,orlando,japan). if universal really wants to sell move near houston. plenty of people great weather just like florida.
Mike said,
June 6, 2007 @ 3:42 pm
Houston doesn’t get the tourist traffic that Florida and California does
brennam said,
June 14, 2007 @ 1:12 am
i live in houston. if they put one there would be tons of people coming in. people come from alll over the world to go to disney they wont care where it is