Changes Coming to the Kilimanjaro Safaris Attraction
The Kilimanjaro Safaris will soon receive some major changes that will include the expansion of the already existing savannah, together with the addition of new zebras. Here are additional information:
_________________________________________________________________________
- Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park -
Creative Changes Coming to Kilimanjaro Safaris
At Walt Disney World Resort, we continue to look for opportunities to tell our stories in new and different ways. As part of that effort, we will be making some creative changes to the last scene at Kilimanjaro Safaris at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park by creating an additional savannah with natural habitats for animals, including zebras.
As Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park has evolved, our Guests have told us they enjoy stories real animals offer and want more opportunities to connect with nature. The new plans are intended to do that and give Guests an additional viewing opportunity for one of their favorite animals (that is, zebras).
Though zebras have long been part of Kilimanjaro Safaris, they often are overlooked because of their location on the savannah. Expanding the amount of land we have for animals and creating a new habitat for the zebras will allow Guests more of an opportunity to see them.
The poacher chase set pieces and the Audio-Animatronics elephant in the current finale will be replaced with this additional savannah. Work will begin in March and construction is scheduled to be complete in fall 2012. Kilimanjaro Safaris will remain open during the construction.
Though zebras have long been part of Kilimanjaro Safaris, they often are overlooked because of their location on the savannah. Expanding the amount of land we have for animals and creating a new habitat for the zebras will allow Guests more of an opportunity to see them.
The poacher chase set pieces and the Audio-Animatronics elephant in the current finale will be replaced with this additional savannah. Work will begin in March and construction is scheduled to be complete in fall 2012. Kilimanjaro Safaris will remain open during the construction.
_________________________________________________________________________
This is certainly a welcome addition, and will certainly make the Kilimanjaro Safaris an even more interesting experience, despite the fact that the attraction is already one of the highlights of the park. The one thing that will be missed is the storyline, which will certainly need to be changed. Indeed, as the Disney Parks Blog also confirmed, "Walt Disney Imagineering will [remove] the Audio-Animatronics “Little Red” elephant and related set pieces."
I always felt the poaching story was a distraction
ReplyDeleteKilimanjaro Safaris is about the animals and doesn't need to be justified by having a storyline
I sometimes feel that the attraction stories have been crowbarred in to try and justify an attraction. If an attraction is good enough, it doesn't need a story, the attraction is good enough to stand on its own merits
I always felt the poacher story was a way to justify a boring end of ride where there were few, if any, animals to view. With a new zebra habitat, you will be able to see animals from start to finish
Not happy about this. I hope they make up for it with an antagonist in whatever Avatar will bring us. I liked that "fight" for conservation.
ReplyDeleteI loved this part of the ride as it made you realize that animals all over are poached. Its really sad they're removing it.
ReplyDeleteVery sad. I'm sure some "ONE" complained about the poaching aspect of the ride. God forbid you learn about the truth that's going on in the world and realize it's not all butterflies & puppy dogs.
ReplyDelete@ anon 2: im sure no one complained as there is nothing really there to complain about. the main reason this is going is because the story has been slowly but surely removed from the ride bit by bit through the last 7 or so years, it just really makes no sense now. at least if they add habitat we can see more animals which is nice.
ReplyDelete@ anon 1: hopefully they just never bring AK Avatar at all and trash the awful idea before it tarnishes the park.
I don't see why Avatar wouldn't enhance the theme of conservation in AK. I suppose you think Chester and Hester's is more fitting?
ReplyDeleteno, i think neither work very well. however chester and hesters story works far better then Avatar if you look in depth. a roadside dino themed carnival paying tribute to route 66 americana in an area thats supposed to represent the south west US fits farrrrr better then a civilization of aliens in a park whos true theme is conservation of the EARTHS plants and animals. its an atrocity that this development will damage such a well themed and orchestrated park, a new continent or expansion of a continent should have been added not this sham of an idea.
ReplyDeleteEver hear of a thing called allegory? Why be closed-minded to it?
ReplyDeleteallegory should be present in story telling, not major thematic items like an entire land. I'm open minded to a lot of concepts, this is just ridiculous and doesn't work at all.
ReplyDeleteBut you haven't even seen it yet.
ReplyDelete