Mouse Extra

Jim Hill Media is continuing to report rumors about changes coming to Disney’s Animal Kingdom.  One topic often discussed is how to make this park popular after the sun goes down and the animals head to their backstage areas.

Many have been expecting to see a nighttime parade called the “Rivers of Light” but it appears those plans are no longer in the pipeline.  Instead, Mr. Hill thinks Imagineers may turn their attention back to an idea that has been a sore subject for Disney fanatics for years, the famed Beastly Kingdom.

But the good news is … Because WDW execs are still looking for ways to extend DAK’s operating hours, guess which concept for a brand-new “land” at that theme park has just been dusted off? Would you believe Beastly Kingdomme?

Mind you, you can just forget about “Dragon’s Tower,” “Quest for the Unicorn” or any other ride concepts that were previously proposed for this Animal Kingdom addition. My understanding is that WDI is now looking to get a fresh start with this part of the park. More importantly, that any shows or attractions that are being proposed for this revamped version of Beastly Kingdomme will have to have strong ties to already well established Disney brands.

If I had to choose between a parade and this, the choice is easy.  Beastly Kingdom in any form is a better choice.  But what seems so peculiar about this rumor is the difference between budgets of these two projects.  Wouldn’t you think the cost of designing, building, and operating an entire land of rides and shows would be much higher than putting a parade into motion?

And I have a little word of advice for WDI.  If you are going to build a land based on mythic creatures, but tie it almost completely into those that fit the “already well established Disney brands”, don’t call it Beastly Kingdom.  That will only disappoint those who have read so much about those original plans and may be hoping to see them finally become a reality.

Oh, and one more thing.  What “well established Disney brands” do you think would create a Beastly Kingdom?  Is the Narnia franchise enough?  Your thoughts and suggestions please…

Scott Powers of the Orlando Sentinel is reporting this morning that Disney World officials are making changes to Primeval Whirl in response to the tragic death of a cast member late last year.   Karen Price fell and died of head injuries after being hit by one of the rides cars while working on the attraction.

On the off-limits area of the ride platform beyond the passenger loading and unloading zones, Disney is installing sensor mats that will shut down the ride if someone sets foot there, Prunty said. Also, bold striping is being added to delineate the loading and unloading zones.

This doesn’t affect the guest experience to any noticeable degree.  But it is the proper response to a terrible tragedy.  Disney has received a lot of bad press from other fatal incidents in the past few years and has come under considerable fire for what appears to be a declining commitment to safety.  I can not say for sure if that is the case, but I do have to question the timing.  Why did it take over three months to make these simple changes?

I don’t mean to sound like a cynic here, but this is starting to concern me.  Back in December, a guest died on Expedition Everest of a heart attack and people questioned whether Disney had properly placed defibrillators in case of such an emergency on such an intense ride.  Is Disney dotting their I’s and crossing their T’s like they should?  It’s hard to make a negligence claim without really investigating the evidence, and I can not do that.  But we all know that perception in the biggest judge in these matters and Disney seems to be letting it slip more and more.

In horrible news, a 44-year old man named Jeffrey Reed died yesterday on Expedition Everest at Disney’s Animal Kingdom of a cardiac arrest.  According to the report in today’s Orlando Sentinel, there was not a portable heart defibrillator available in the emergency.  This is something that has been an issue in such situations in the past.

Reed’s death is not the first associated with an apparent heart attack at a Disney theme-park location lacking a defibrillator since the company began its program. In 2005, a 4-year-old boy with an undetected heart disease died of a heart attack after riding the Mission: Space ride at Epcot. The family sued, and one of the allegations was that Disney had not placed a defibrillator near enough to that ride. Disney and the family eventually settled the lawsuit for undisclosed terms.

Does this mean that Disney World carries some responsibility here?  I am not a judge so I will leave that to others to opine on.   But it does seem strange that such a device would not be readily available at the most intense attraction on property.  Honestly, to read this is very disappointing.  I would think this would not have been an issue.

The story also goes into whether or not Expedition Everest is really intense enough to cause such a terrible event…

John Gerard, a spokesman for the American Coaster Enthusiasts, a club for roller-coaster fans, described Expedition Everest as a “mildly thrilling roller coaster with some exciting elements, but it’s obviously not one of the most intense roller coasters in the world.”

Gerard, who is a medical doctor in San Diego, said he did not think the ride would be intense enough to cause a heart attack under normal circumstances. But he said certain pre-existing health conditions such as heart disease can entirely change the level of risk.

While this may be true, it doesn’t address the issue of not having the defibrillator available in an emergency.  As we know, many heart conditions can be unknown to those who have them and even a mildly intense ride such as this can trigger something terrible.

The thoughts and sympathies of the entire Mouse Extra team go out to the family of Mr. Reed.

Expedition Everest became one of my favorite Disney World attractions from the minute I stepped off the train for the first time.  I can ride it over and over again, but this past trip was very disappointing for an Everest junky like me.  Each time we tried to ride the Forbidden Mountain throughout the week, the Yeti was not working.  It was more than a little frustrating.

Finally, I asked a cast member what was going on.  Why is this happening every time I ride?  Has this been going on for awhile?  Can I expect to see this amazing creature in action soon, hopefully before I go home?  What she told me was that the Yeti has been down for a “couple of weeks” and that she was not aware of when it would be fixed or even if the work was going to be done anytime soon.  According to her, they were waiting on a part to be sent in from…wherever one buys parts for a giant mechanical creature.

Expedition Everest opened to an awesome array of fanfare, and mostly great reviews.  Those who thought less of it often pointed out that it was prone to these moments when the ride worked fine but the Yeti simply stood frozen amidst strobe lighting that gave the illusion of movement.  This was the first time I saw the Yeti in this state, and I must admit it does really make the ride a letdown.  All the buildup you get before seeing the Guardian of the Mountain only to not see much of anything but some fur flapping in the breeze is more than anti-climactic. 

The thing that bothers me here is that after months and months of service this is still happening.  Did Joe Rhode and his Imagineers bite off more than they could chew when they built this amazing audio-animatronics beast?

Among Disney park afficinadoes, debates often rise in guidebooks, message boards, and podcasts on whats the best of the parks such as the best Mountain at the Magic Kingdom, the best deluxe resort, the best character breakfast and the like. I would like to make my pitch for what I think is the best stage show at any of the World’s parks- Festival of the Lion King.

It is one of the most original productions at any theme park for certain. Oddly, it is located at the North American park themed Camp Minnie-Mickey. It seems Disney misunderstood the popularity of this hodgepodge collection of character greeting areas and stage shows. There is one passageway leading in and out and it can get jammed, especially right after the crowds bust out of the Lion King show. They also misjudged the popularity of the show itself as it often fills to capacity during the busier times of the year. Make sure you get there early on all but the quietest of days.

The show itself appeals greatly to children who often have a tough time sitting still during some of the other stage shows. The performers are nothing short of amazing. Gymnasts dressed as monkeys use their skills along with slapstick humor to warm up the crowd. Massive puppet elephants and the like impress the younger generation. They also enjoy the Timon, Pumba and Simba appearances. Other highlights include the polynesian-inspired fire dancer and the woman ballerina bird. The four hosts, one for each section of the audience, are excellent vocalists.

As I said, the performers are all first class (but that is true of most Disney park productions). But here there is a great variety and uniqueness to the show mixing so many different schools- singing, gymnastics, ballet. The audience is also made to feel a part of the show, a sure fire way to keep it lively.

The Orlando Sentinel is reporting this morning that six people, including a cast member, were injured yesterday while evacuating Kali River Rapids.  The ride itself was not the issue, but the way riders were taken off during a shut down.

Disney spokeswoman Kim Prunty said the company conducted safety checks of the ride and did not find any problems.

It did determine, however, that the platform used to evacuate people from the ride vehicles “disengaged and slid.”

None of the injuries appear to be serious, and the ride has reopened.