Mouse Extra

Well yesterday we told you that Jim Hill would be discussing in detail the future of what will happen to the famous Adventurer’s Club as Disney reinvents Pleasure Island into something that would leave the quirky club out of place.  What we didn’t know yesterday is that the Adventurer’s Club would only be a small afterthought in today’s piece and that instead Mr. Hill would be talking rather seriously about plans for Disney World’s fifth theme park.

The rumor is that Disney is looking to produce something along the lines of Sea World’s Discovery Cove, a high-end ultra interactive and inclusive experience.  And that idea is one that has been gaining steam at WDI recently to be sure.  For a long time people assumed the next Disney park would be thrill-ride related, but many things have changed in recent years.  For one thing the bad press at Mission:Space has geared Imagineering back towards what they truly do best, immersing people into a truly sensory experience.

According to Mr. Hill, what we will have is basically a more in-depth and personal extension on the best of the Animal Kingdom.  It is called Disney’s Night Kingdom, and it will take people into the world of the wild after dark. 

Speaking of arriving … Guests will enter DNK through a new, super-sized version of the Adventurers Club at Pleasure Island. As you & your family are registering for that night’s activities, the club’s members will entertain as well as offer hints about the extraordinary adventures that await you.

After you’ve finished checking in, there’s a whole new world to explore. Have you ever dreamed of acting like Indiana Jones and riding a zip line over a pool full of hungry crocodiles? Or hand-feeding a hippopotamus? Well, here you can.

Mind you, Disney’s Night Kingdom will have no traditional theme park rides per se. But you’ll still be able to get your fill of excitement & adventure as you strap on a pair of night vision goggles and then wander out into a pitch-black African savanna. Where you’ll then be able to observe up-close lions & hyenas as they go through their nocturnal hunting routines.

You’ll also be able to try your hand at spelunking as you explore a cave full of bats. Or — if you’re not a big fan of bats — how about rock climbing? Does that sound too much like work? Then why don’t you head on over to that South American-themed enclosure where you can frolic with some penguins?

Here is where I would like to hear from Disney’s guests.  The price tag for this park will be like that of Discovery Cove, easily over $250.  To be fair, that will probably include food and you may be able to save some money by adding it to a WDW package.  But either way, it will cost about as much as a four-day park hopper.  Does this description truly entice you to double your park ticket costs for your trip? 

I guess my point is that I am never too excited about something I probably can’t afford to do more than once if even that often.  But I would try to my best to afford it if it truly sounded amazing.  I hope there is a lot more to come than this explanation.  This does not sound like something that has as much value for my dollars as a multi-day park hopper.  I mean hiking into fiberglass caves to see bats?  Smelling a hippo’s breath up close??  Am I alone on this???