Why doesn't DL have a Lion King attraction?

[Aladdin]

Finally, it has been announced by Disney that the "Snow White"
of the 2nd Golden Age will FINALLY have a Dark Ride in DCA!!!
Of course, I'm referring to Ariel, the Little Mermaid! And of course,
this will be one of the most anticipated attractions in YEARS!

SO, now my attention goes to the movie that gained the
Lion's share of the Box office during the 2nd Golden Age,
it also was the inspiration for one of Broadway most successful
musicals, it also gave DL one of it's most popular parades ever,
and at least a couple of floats since then. The Lion King at
DL is virtually unrecognized, and THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE!

The Lion King definitely deserves it's own attraction in Disneyland
or DCA. The storyline is beautifully done, and the characters
are all fun, Scar is one of Disney's best Villains EVER, BUT
SELDOM IS SCAR SEEN IN ANY FORM at Disneyland ~ not
even during Halloweentime. And let's not forget those heinous
Hyenas, who add so much to the movie, as well.

Disneyland, it's time that The Lion King is given it's due honor
with a Dark Ride!

[Rocker]

Re: Why doesn't DL have a Lion King attraction?

I could see a Lion King attraction in Disneyland, but where would it go?? AND what kind of an attraction would it be???

[JeffYardDog]

Re: Why doesn't DL have a Lion King attraction?

It does. There's a throne back in TDA.

Oh wait, that's for the Lyin' King

[ZedIzDead]

Re: Why doesn't DL have a Lion King attraction?

I always liked the idea of somehow expanding FantasyLand and adding dark rides of the modern classics like Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Etc...

Maybe put it where the fantasyland theater is now.

[Sir.Mouse]

Re: Why doesn't DL have a Lion King attraction?

well Disney world has given it attention to the movie with the all those stage shows over there. But I think the Broadway version has prevented Disney from creation a truly unique experience that pays homage to the movie. You just cant get any better than the live Julie Taymor show!

[PragmaticIdealist]

Re: Why doesn't DL have a Lion King attraction?

Both Bambi and Simba deserve elaborate allegorical attractions at D.A.K.

[Sir.Mouse]

Re: Why doesn't DL have a Lion King attraction?

Bambi would require elaborate and extremely lavish set design which could be nice but vary dull because the film is based in realism.

[almandot]

Re: Why doesn't DL have a Lion King attraction?

It's the CIIIIIIIIRCLE OF LIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIFE, and it moves us ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL through despaaaaaaaaaair and hoooOoooOoOoOoooope

[Lost Boy]

Re: Why doesn't DL have a Lion King attraction?

At The Magic Kingdom in Florida they did a wonderful show in the Mickey Mouse theater (that was changed out to Mickey's Philharmagic) using giant puppets of the characters. It could be done by taking out that Aladin's thing in Adventureland (It totally does not fit in that area anyway) and replace it with a good sized theater to do the show, or something similar. They need more in Adventureland anyway. It only has two rides, Jungle Cruise and Indy. The Lion King would fit right in Adventureland and a theater type show would be a great place to sit down for awhile. The show in Florida was very well done and it would be nice to see something like that done here.

[k_peek_2000]

Re: Why doesn't DL have a Lion King attraction?

Who here remember the Pride Rock concept that one guy from Theme Park Review made. That would have made an amazing ride.

[techskip]

Re: Why doesn't DL have a Lion King attraction?

Here is the specific problem I see in this. Adventureland is one of the most crowded areas in DL. An attraction requires space that currently just isn't there. The most likely scenerio would be to remove the current Aladdin show, re-theme it to a more generalized Jungle theater, and then use it for a combination of Aladdin, Jungle Book, Tarzan, and Lion King. The "venue" would need to be a typical show stage that could be broken down and enhanced quickly by removable sets and various props. I do not mean a combination show, I mean 4 unique shows having their own show times on either specific days, or specific times of the week. At night the venue could then be converted to Adventurer's Club. This would greatly enhance the theme of the entire area and fully utilize a rather stagnant venue with a total of 5 different show offerings.

The main cost would be show development, construction, cast, and costumes. If done correctly this would really be something. It would also require Guests to read a map and pay attention to the time. Instead of the "everyone gets the same experience" this would provide a different show, with a different experience, each show time.

[lazyboy97O]

Re: Why doesn't DL have a Lion King attraction?

Both Bambi and Simba deserve elaborate allegorical attractions at D.A.K.

NO! Disney's Animal Kingdom remains, for the most part, incredibly realistic and film-based attraction free. Even Dinosuar is done rather lightly. Harambe Village and the Kingdom of Anandapur are very realistic environments that need not be disturbed. Also, at least as it was planned, Bambi would have been absolutely out of place in the European section, Beastly Kingdomme.

[2DieFR]

Re: Why doesn't DL have a Lion King attraction?

The main problem I see is that the only thematic fit in DLR for an attraction based on TLK (The Lion King) is Adventureland, and there simply is no room left in Adventureland. So as much as I'd like one... (my MiceChat name, 2DieFR, is a licence-plate style allusion to "...To Die For," the name of the musical score during the wildebeest stampede) ...I don't see it happening here in Anaheim. However, if interactive AA technology progresses far enough, perhaps we might see AA Simbas and Mufasas roaming the jungle sometime soon.

I have written up my own idea of a TLK attraction, using vehicles very similar to Indy's, but again, probably better suited for WDW's Animal Kingdom.

[BigThunder]

Re: Why doesn't DL have a Lion King attraction?

A Lion King attraction? Easy. Just deep six Toontown and expand Fantasyland beyond the berm, filling it with attractions based on the 'modern classics'. Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, they should all be there.

[Quacky4Donald]

Re: Why doesn't DL have a Lion King attraction?

BUT
SELDOM IS SCAR SEEN IN ANY FORM at Disneyland ~ not
even during Halloweentime. And let's not forget those heinous
Hyenas, who add so much to the movie, as well.

Disneyland, it's time that The Lion King is given it's due honor
with a Dark Ride!

I believe Scar is going to get his rightful (or undeserved - it's up to interpretation) time in the spotlight when Disney's World of Color begins performing at California Adventure. In the concept art Scar, as well as the hyenas, can be seen on the right-hand side of the image. (See below)



As for a dark ride...I posted an idea a few months back that I thought would be knd of neat. As much as a thematic mess it would be, I came up this idea back when TSI was getting Pirated. I figured why the heck not just change it into Pride Rock. (Yeah, I know, quite the thematic mess.) Anyway, here it be, and enjoy!

_________________________

The Lion King

[aashee]

Re: Why doesn't DL have a Lion King attraction?

I agree Aladdin(OP). I think it was all a matter of bad timing. While Lion King was setting box office records, Disneyland was not in a huge expansion period ride wise. Once they started building up, Pixar was the belle of the ball.


Good call though. Lion King would be awesome.

Chad

[pineapplewhipaddict]

Re: Why doesn't DL have a Lion King attraction?

If we're going to complain about Lion King not having an attraction, we need to at least complain about the same issue for Beauty and the Beast, too.

I'd like to see more attractions of these Disney classics instead of a total reliance on contemporary Pixar films.


Adventureland, as mentioned, is terribly small...but, a thought just occurred to me.

[IMG]file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/Andrea/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot.jpg[/IMG]

Rafiki's tree. Kick out Tarzan and put a really cool Lion King tree in Adventureland...Rafiki could be in one spot, sketching out Simba, and you could meet a whole other bunch of the characters from the film.

I'd love to see a full-out dark ride, but again, no space there.

[Aladdin]

Re: Why doesn't DL have a Lion King attraction?

Here is the specific problem I see in this. Adventureland is one of the most crowded areas in DL. An attraction requires space that currently just isn't there. The most likely scenerio would be to remove the current Aladdin show, re-theme it to a more generalized Jungle theater, and then use it for a combination of Aladdin, Jungle Book, Tarzan, and Lion King. The "venue" would need to be a typical show stage that could be broken down and enhanced quickly by removable sets and various props. I do not mean a combination show, I mean 4 unique shows having their own show times on either specific days, or specific times of the week. At night the venue could then be converted to Adventurer's Club. This would greatly enhance the theme of the entire area and fully utilize a rather stagnant venue with a total of 5 different show offerings.

The main cost would be show development, construction, cast, and costumes. If done correctly this would really be something. It would also require Guests to read a map and pay attention to the time. Instead of the "everyone gets the same experience" this would provide a different show, with a different experience, each show time.

Wow! Aladdin, Jungle Book, Tarzan, Lion King ~ That is pretty much
a summary of my all time Favorite Disney Movies! And then you even
mentiion The Adventurers Club! I don't think I would ever leave
Adventureland again (well maybe for Pirates and Haunted Mansion!)

I'm just going to add, Really, Adventureland is basically maxed out ~ with great attractions
(ok Aladdin's Oasis needs help ~ but is limited size-wise). With all the popular Jungle Movies
and movies that fit into the the Adventureland theme ~ I would REALLY want the Third Anaheim
Disney Theme Park to Reserve a LARGE Portion of it's space for showcasing Disney Classics such
as the Jungle Book and The Lion King. Maybe the Swiss Family Robinson could even find a new
home in the new Disney Jungle! I'm sure there will eventually be other Disney Jungle character
in the future, that could find a home here. Of course the music from the Lion King is Spectacular,
and Also the Jungle Book has some of the THE Best Disney songs ever! These two movies need
to find a home where they can be neighbors!!!!

[Rex Dopey24]

Re: Why doesn't DL have a Lion King attraction?

oh I love the lion king its one of my favorites and the songs are just great especially can you feel the love tonight not from elton john but the movie itself ahhh and sighs.

[dizzygrl]

Re: Why doesn't DL have a Lion King attraction?

I would absolutely love a Lion King Ride. My son is 25 now and when we visited DLR this past May we asked everywhere if they had some really nice lion king collectabiles to buy and we were told no. He owns a cell from the movie that we bought when the movie came out and they sell nothing anymore.. I did leave a comment at city hall about this because I was told the movie just wasn't a big enough draw; imagine how stunned I was. I believe as I'm sure many others do that the Lion King is one of the main jewels in Disney's crown. Anyway, I'd love a ride. Someone mentioned that their adding another park? is this true? that would be excellent if the rides mentioned in this thread could have a home there. I love reading and learning from all of you, thanks much!