Animal Kingdom Update: New African Village (PART 1)
A lot of progress has been done around Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park since the last time we visited the park. We are really glad to see how much attention the park is receiving as of late, especially since it really deserves it, being one of the most beautiful theme parks ever created (very few parks can come close to the beauty of the natural environments recreated around Animal Kingdom). Take a look around with us. We hope you'll enjoy the photos:
As usual, we will start by checking out the work being done around the parking lot of the park, as the new Yeti area continues to take shape. Rumors say that the area may include strobe lights:
AVATAR Land crane:
Time to actually enter the park:
The Oasis:
The majestic Tree of Life:
The major refurbishment of the Tree of Life Garden continues:
The expansion of Disney Outfitters is in full swing:
One of the newest animal exhibits still has no animals:
The future entrance to the World of Pandora:
Due to the fact that walls will be moving toward the center of Discovery Island in a few days, the screened-in patio of Pizzafari will close temporarily for an unspecified length of time:
We think that this closure is necessary to avoid having Guests looking into the construction area:
Work continues on the new Joffrey's Coffee kiosk on the other side of Discovery Island:
The Flame Tree BBQ building is being expanded to make way for this new addition:
The Flame Tree BBQ restaurant has one of the best outdoor seating areas on property. That being said, watch out for the ibises, as they will snatch the food from your plate right before your eyes!
"It's Tough to Be a Bug!" is back open after a lengthy refurbishment:
Many of the ugly structures that had been installed around the queue area for the attraction have finally been removed. They were installed after a small branch of the Tree of Life fell into the queue line while the park was closed to Guests. Fortunately, nobody got injured:
Finally made it over there for our fall trip.
ReplyDeleteThe parking lot, yep more than just a "simple repaving." They've been doing something with utilities/underground.
There is one small section of overhead screen around the backside (river side) of the Tree. But it looks appropriate, just like someone would install around a big ole heavy tree that sheds bits and pieces occasionally. Granted its nothing like it was previously.
The new Harambe extension is seamless, like its always been there. it has a wider open space, makes it easy for people to just mill around - more like a plaza area than a street.
The Rivers construction, down towards Everest, I hope it stays in that area. There are some great riverside areas, rest areas you might say, lots of trees, a few tables and chairs, that really make the whole area more inviting. I'd hate to see the whole river bank opened up just of the sake of standing room.
Disney needs to learn, or accept, that its OK if some people can't find a space to watch something. People need to RE-learn that. That's the way it goes. The entitlement crowd needs to be curbed, ignored, they are destroying some of the best of our society, and of WDW.
Flattening everything just to create seating/standing room - like the Hub - doesn't make a place look or feel nicer. It all just becomes a bit stadium.
Thank you so much for the detailed comment about your most recent visit to the park, Anonymous!
ReplyDeleteWe agree with you, we hope Animal Kingdom will always retain that "wild" feel that it has, so that it can be separated from the concrete jungles like Magic Kingdom and Epcot (which are not bad per se, they are just different). Every theme park has to have its own identity and purpose.
Thanks again for taking the time to share your comments with us!