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Animal Kingdom: The Visual Evolution
VERSION I: The earliest available (and grandest) iteration of DAK, now annotated:
Notes:
A. Masai River: In earlier iterations, when the Kilimanjaro truck reached its northernmost point, the view would have opened up to an incredible vista across a water control canal disguised as an African river to herds of African megafauna on the far bank.
B. Savanna Overlooks: At one point Imagineers wanted to create overlooks (accessible from the Conservation Station) so guests could see the vast savanna without having to get on the Safari (in this map, I believe these are animal/caretaker entry points to the savanna, however.
C. Gorilla Falls Trail was there at the beginning.
D. Extended Discovery River Cruise, took an elongated turn into African waters… perhaps with live animal encounters.
E. Tiger River Expeditions: Maybe the most ambitious theme park attraction ever conceived, this was the Jungle Cruise for real, involving Asian Elephants, tigers, bat-filled caves and a turbulent, thrilling rapids section. Perhaps a 20+ minute experience.
F. Maharajah Jungle Trek was there as a way to view animals on foot.
G. Flights of Wonder, or at least a similar theater, survived to opening day.
H. Wildlife Express: The station is located between Africa and Asia and in this more interesting version the train passes through the “show scenes” of the Asian river safari on its way to Conservation Station.
I. Conservation Station: The concept survived to opening day, but in a different exterior form.
J. Great Falls: Separating Asia and Africa a large water feature spilled into Safari (Discovery) River. Guests would pass through a cave underneath the falls (see image H).
K. Beastly Kingdomme Shop/Restaurant:
L. Dragon’s Tower: Signature rollercoaster for the park.
M. Quest for the Unicorn: Hedge maze experience.
N. Fantasia Gardens: Gentle boat ride visiting creatures from Fantasia.
O. Tree of Life & Gardens: Seem to have been there in the beginning.
P. The Oasis/Genesis Gardens: Also there.
Q. The Boneyard: Located in a pits, running through the center of Dinoland.
R. Indoor/Outdoor Dinosaur Ride: Perhaps far more elaborate than Countdown to Extinction, as it did not have to conform to the IJA layout.
S. Dino Restaurant
T. Ice Age Expansion. Maybe a future flume ride with featuring woolly mammoths, giant sloths & sabretooth cats.
U. Pagoo’s Adventure: Dark ride of the Kid’s Land. Possibly based on a cartoon Panda.
V. Kid’s Land
1. Amazing Animal Arcade
2. Back to Nature Fast Food
3. Big Picture Theater
4. Animal Amphitheater
5. Insects Expansion
6. Birds Expansion
7. Otter Pool
VERSION II. Time passed and the design of DAK evolved. This version, still a magnificent full-day park, has seen some significant changes:
Notes:
A.No More River: Harambe Wildlife Reserve has been brought within the water control canal, eliminating the river and super-wide/distant vistas.
B.Wildlife Express: The station has moved to Africa and no longer passes through the Asian River Safari, staying fully backstage.
C.The Conservation Station has been moved north of the canal, setting up the long walk that we see today.
D.The African Extension of the Safari(Discovery) River Cruise remains from Version 1.
E.The Asian River Dock remains from Version 1
F.Kid’s Land (featuring Pagoo) has been replaced with the generic Theater in the Wild.
G.The Dinosaur Ride (Countdown to Extinction) is now a fully indoor ride, based on DL’s IJA.
H.The Excavator: The center of Dinoland is now filled with a rollercoaster. Judging by the size of the real estate available, Excavator must have been a small/family coaster on the scale of Crush or Raging Spirits.
I.The Boneyard now straddles the entrance to Dinoland.
J.Bonus points to whoever can identify what is going on here.
K.Beastly Kingdomme takes on a reversed layout from Version 1: Dragon’s Tower in the southwest, Quest for the Unicorn in the east, Fantasia Gardens in the north.
L.The sea monster remains to terrify riders of Riverboats.
M.Billy Goats Bridge, featuring 3 goats.
N.Mother Goose Shop.
O.Loch Ness Landing restaurant.
VERSION III: Opening Day. Budgets have been slashed. The extensive Asian river safari is gone, soon to be substituted with a brief rapids ride. All of Beastly Kingdomme, the most-anticipated land of mythical animals , has been cut. In its place is Camp Minnie-Mickey, featuring meet & greets and two theater shows, one of which will prove to be very popular, cementing the indefinite postponement of Beastly Kingdomme. DAK opens as a half-day park (like MGM before it), but for a variety of reasons, DAK does not get the crowds that MGM did:
VERSION IV: Present Day (11 years after opening). The park has seen a couple extraordinary additions (Jungle Trek, Everest) and couple of lackluster ones (Dinorama, Kali River). It’s lost a few out of its starting line-up (Discovery Riverboats, Cretaceous Trail), and a number of animal viewing areas are empty.
To many of us, DAK will not feel complete until it sees the arrival of the fantasy animals – dragons, unicorns, etc. - that have were supposed to have been there since the beginning. When they do come, it will be a happy day.
“Welcome to a kingdom of animals ... real, ancient and imagined: A kingdom ruled by lions, dinosaurs and dragons; A kingdom of balance, harmony and survival; A kingdom we enter to share in the wonder, gaze at the beauty, thrill at the drama … and learn."
Thanks to Mark Taft for first finding the Version I map.
VERSION I: The earliest available (and grandest) iteration of DAK, now annotated:
Notes:
A. Masai River: In earlier iterations, when the Kilimanjaro truck reached its northernmost point, the view would have opened up to an incredible vista across a water control canal disguised as an African river to herds of African megafauna on the far bank.
B. Savanna Overlooks: At one point Imagineers wanted to create overlooks (accessible from the Conservation Station) so guests could see the vast savanna without having to get on the Safari (in this map, I believe these are animal/caretaker entry points to the savanna, however.
C. Gorilla Falls Trail was there at the beginning.
D. Extended Discovery River Cruise, took an elongated turn into African waters… perhaps with live animal encounters.
E. Tiger River Expeditions: Maybe the most ambitious theme park attraction ever conceived, this was the Jungle Cruise for real, involving Asian Elephants, tigers, bat-filled caves and a turbulent, thrilling rapids section. Perhaps a 20+ minute experience.
F. Maharajah Jungle Trek was there as a way to view animals on foot.
G. Flights of Wonder, or at least a similar theater, survived to opening day.
H. Wildlife Express: The station is located between Africa and Asia and in this more interesting version the train passes through the “show scenes” of the Asian river safari on its way to Conservation Station.
I. Conservation Station: The concept survived to opening day, but in a different exterior form.
J. Great Falls: Separating Asia and Africa a large water feature spilled into Safari (Discovery) River. Guests would pass through a cave underneath the falls (see image H).
K. Beastly Kingdomme Shop/Restaurant:
L. Dragon’s Tower: Signature rollercoaster for the park.
M. Quest for the Unicorn: Hedge maze experience.
N. Fantasia Gardens: Gentle boat ride visiting creatures from Fantasia.
O. Tree of Life & Gardens: Seem to have been there in the beginning.
P. The Oasis/Genesis Gardens: Also there.
Q. The Boneyard: Located in a pits, running through the center of Dinoland.
R. Indoor/Outdoor Dinosaur Ride: Perhaps far more elaborate than Countdown to Extinction, as it did not have to conform to the IJA layout.
S. Dino Restaurant
T. Ice Age Expansion. Maybe a future flume ride with featuring woolly mammoths, giant sloths & sabretooth cats.
U. Pagoo’s Adventure: Dark ride of the Kid’s Land. Possibly based on a cartoon Panda.
V. Kid’s Land
1. Amazing Animal Arcade
2. Back to Nature Fast Food
3. Big Picture Theater
4. Animal Amphitheater
5. Insects Expansion
6. Birds Expansion
7. Otter Pool
VERSION II. Time passed and the design of DAK evolved. This version, still a magnificent full-day park, has seen some significant changes:
Notes:
A.No More River: Harambe Wildlife Reserve has been brought within the water control canal, eliminating the river and super-wide/distant vistas.
B.Wildlife Express: The station has moved to Africa and no longer passes through the Asian River Safari, staying fully backstage.
C.The Conservation Station has been moved north of the canal, setting up the long walk that we see today.
D.The African Extension of the Safari(Discovery) River Cruise remains from Version 1.
E.The Asian River Dock remains from Version 1
F.Kid’s Land (featuring Pagoo) has been replaced with the generic Theater in the Wild.
G.The Dinosaur Ride (Countdown to Extinction) is now a fully indoor ride, based on DL’s IJA.
H.The Excavator: The center of Dinoland is now filled with a rollercoaster. Judging by the size of the real estate available, Excavator must have been a small/family coaster on the scale of Crush or Raging Spirits.
I.The Boneyard now straddles the entrance to Dinoland.
J.Bonus points to whoever can identify what is going on here.
K.Beastly Kingdomme takes on a reversed layout from Version 1: Dragon’s Tower in the southwest, Quest for the Unicorn in the east, Fantasia Gardens in the north.
L.The sea monster remains to terrify riders of Riverboats.
M.Billy Goats Bridge, featuring 3 goats.
N.Mother Goose Shop.
O.Loch Ness Landing restaurant.
VERSION III: Opening Day. Budgets have been slashed. The extensive Asian river safari is gone, soon to be substituted with a brief rapids ride. All of Beastly Kingdomme, the most-anticipated land of mythical animals , has been cut. In its place is Camp Minnie-Mickey, featuring meet & greets and two theater shows, one of which will prove to be very popular, cementing the indefinite postponement of Beastly Kingdomme. DAK opens as a half-day park (like MGM before it), but for a variety of reasons, DAK does not get the crowds that MGM did:
VERSION IV: Present Day (11 years after opening). The park has seen a couple extraordinary additions (Jungle Trek, Everest) and couple of lackluster ones (Dinorama, Kali River). It’s lost a few out of its starting line-up (Discovery Riverboats, Cretaceous Trail), and a number of animal viewing areas are empty.
To many of us, DAK will not feel complete until it sees the arrival of the fantasy animals – dragons, unicorns, etc. - that have were supposed to have been there since the beginning. When they do come, it will be a happy day.
“Welcome to a kingdom of animals ... real, ancient and imagined: A kingdom ruled by lions, dinosaurs and dragons; A kingdom of balance, harmony and survival; A kingdom we enter to share in the wonder, gaze at the beauty, thrill at the drama … and learn."
Thanks to Mark Taft for first finding the Version I map.
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