[Other] Am I the only one who's not crazy over the old Beastly Kingdom concept?

[imaginashton]

Don't get me wrong, I love the idea of Mythical and Legendary animals coming alive, but I wouldve liked it more if it was supposed to represent these animals in a realistic way, as if they were actually in our world like what they did with EE (with the exception of Fantasia Gardens). For example...

The evil side is dominated by DRAGON'S TOWER, a burned, wrecked castle inhabited by a greedy, fire breathing dragon. He hordes a fabulous treasure in his tower chamber. The castle is also inhabited by bats who speak to us from their upside down perches. The bats have a plan. They enlist our help trying to rob the dragon and fly us off on a wild chase. At last, we meet the fire-breathing dragon himself and barely escape un-barbecued

The bolded part of the quote is what doesn't sit well with me. It's not really necessary, and doesn't stay true to dragon folklore (besides the treasure part). There are just some parts that are to...fictional i guess(lack of a bettter word) like the bat part, and the troll under the bridge and the Mother goose workshop. There are plenty of other concepts that i like, like the Loch Ness Terrace, the quest for the Unicorn, and Dare the Dragon, but i would like if it would be presented in a more realistic way to fit DAK and the natrual look that they've made today.

[Micoofy Duck]

Re: Am I the only one who's not crazy over the old Beastly Kingdom concept?

i know now that if BK ever presents itself to us that it won't be anything like what you read or stated. I just want an escape within an escape aka AK that takes me to a world I can't see at any theme park on either coast. I'm all for the money that was suppose to go into Avatarland into BK. It would be something "original" than all the movie turned ride stuff going on.

I just don't want Monsters Inc to find their way into Beastly Kingdom at all.

[Disneytwins]

Re: Am I the only one who's not crazy over the old Beastly Kingdom concept?

I'm not a fan of it myself, but I understand why some want it.

[KingEric]

Re: Am I the only one who's not crazy over the old Beastly Kingdom concept?

BK isn't very exciting in the post Potter era. M

[ttintagel]

Re: Am I the only one who's not crazy over the old Beastly Kingdom concept?

I'm a fan of the BASIC concept; that is, an area devoted to fictional animals from legend. But I'm not crazy about some of the specifics of it that made it to the drawing board.

[Rave]

Re: Am I the only one who's not crazy over the old Beastly Kingdom concept?

Disney fans love to idolize certain previously planned projects such as this and Western River Expedition. I find it ludicrous to think that this is the only solution, as many have suggested. But its the most well known.

[toonaspie]

Re: Am I the only one who's not crazy over the old Beastly Kingdom concept?

I thought the idea of the Fantasia-themed ride was kinda dumb and would work better if Greece had a pavilion in Epcot. Other than that some of the ideas have potential and a BK-like land could still work if they considered taking on some new ideas with it.

[PBandJ]

Re: Am I the only one who's not crazy over the old Beastly Kingdom concept?

What KingEric said - I didn't even think of the fact that pretty much every mythological animal is represented in Harry Potter! That's a good point.

Toonaspie - I think a Greece pavilion with a ride based on Greek mythology is a GREAT idea! The only possible problem would be that Disney would just be soooooo tempted to put characters from Hercules all over it, which would probably be a mistake since that movie is not exactly beloved.

[Micoofy Duck]

Re: Am I the only one who's not crazy over the old Beastly Kingdom concept?

I feel just like movies are represented at Universal Studioes... Hollywood Studios does it share of representing the same brand. The same could be said for this Harry Potter place you all speak of.

Just because they are featured there in some form or another WDW can still do their own version of the idea of mythological creatures to the standard they do it. That's how I view it.

I don't see it as a scrap it all because well Harry Potter is out and built now.

[Your Majesty]

Re: Am I the only one who's not crazy over the old Beastly Kingdom concept?

I think the BK concept could have been really good fot the park. I really like it except for the bit you bolded about the bats (which sort of ruins it). I wouldn't want it in AK now though. However, I do want Disney to do a Dragon themed ride and a Hercules themed attraction in the future though.

[KingEric]

Re: Am I the only one who's not crazy over the old Beastly Kingdom concept?

I like the overal concept, of mythical creatures, and a land being devoted to it, but when you look at the actual plans:

Hedge Maze
Slow outdoor boat ride
Exposed coaster

it isn't really exciting.

I want something more. I want escapism, I want adventure, I want a reason to spend hundreds of dollars on an Annual Pass.

[PBandJ]

Re: Am I the only one who's not crazy over the old Beastly Kingdom concept?

A Hedge Maze also figures heavily in the 4th Harry Potter book, so if Disney built one, people would probably raise their eyebrows (even though Disney planned it way before a Harry Potter theme park was ever even a possibility).

[goofy donald]

Re: Am I the only one who's not crazy over the old Beastly Kingdom concept?

personally i think the amazon, or australia, or an expansion on the african rainforest, or an America national parks area a la the Humphrey the bear cartoons, or an expansion and refurbishment of dinosaur, or a conservation station and in park railroad expansion, or a night time show like world of color would all be great additions to Animal Kingdom next.

[Dapper Dan]

Re: Am I the only one who's not crazy over the old Beastly Kingdom concept?

The basic concept of Beastly Kingdom rounds the Animal Kingdom not a zoo theme park concept out perfectly. The specifics on some of the individual attractions could have used some work, but that doesn't mean that the whole idea should be thrown out. The Beastly Kingdom shown above is still from the height of the Eisner build it cheap dumb tourists don't know the difference era. With a proper budget and Imagineers that aren't forced to cater to 8 year olds, this could be one of the best lands in any park. It's certainly not the only idea for an Animal Kingdom expansion, but for many reasons it is the best.

I didn't even think of the fact that pretty much every mythological animal is represented in Harry Potter! That's a good point.

That's not even close to true. There are quite literally thousands of mythical creatures not mentioned in the Potter books and even the more famous ones that are don't belong to the franchise. Dueling Dragons or Dragon Challenge or whatever it's called now isn't the first dragon themed coaster ever. It's also not so amazing that no dragon ride can ever be made again. There were hundreds of spooky dark rides built before the Haunted Mansion. Disney just did what they always did back then, made it better than anyone else had even thought of.

[sbk1234]

Re: Am I the only one who's not crazy over the old Beastly Kingdom concept?

I'm a fan of the BASIC concept; that is, an area devoted to fictional animals from legend. But I'm not crazy about some of the specifics of it that made it to the drawing board.

I completely agree. I would love to see a well-done version of this. On the scale of Cars Land, only bigger.

[KingEric]

Re: Am I the only one who's not crazy over the old Beastly Kingdom concept?

personally i think the amazon, or australia, or an expansion on the african rainforest, or an America national parks area a la the Humphrey the bear cartoons, or an expansion and refurbishment of dinosaur, or a conservation station and in park railroad expansion, or a night time show like world of color would all be great additions to Animal Kingdom next.

I agree with you on this.

I loved, loved, loved the River of Light concept that was proposed for Animal Kingdom.

I to this day believe it is the best concept for a night time show at this park. The park is so low key, and is about letting it unwind slowly, and a slow moving, and slow building parade on the water would be perfect.

Anyways. That is a long killed concept, one that as far as I know is no where on the development calendar.

I will say that Avatar is probably the greatest hope for WDW right now.

[PBandJ]

Re: Am I the only one who's not crazy over the old Beastly Kingdom concept?

Hi Dapper Dan - I suppose it was a bit of an exaggeration to say that every mythological creature is represented in Harry Potter. It just seems like whatever the next big development is at WDW is naturally going to be compared to the Wizarding World, and if that next big thing were Beastly Kingdom, it would certainly invite some criticism about the themes being quite similar. But if it is done well, I certainly wouldn't complain!

[Coastierox]

Re: Am I the only one who's not crazy over the old Beastly Kingdom concept?

I still don't see the big deal with Harry Potter land. Seems like they just put a suit and tie on older rides... Wouldn't take much to out do that, just hope it isn't avatar.

[Dapper Dan]

Re: Am I the only one who's not crazy over the old Beastly Kingdom concept?

Hi Dapper Dan - I suppose it was a bit of an exaggeration to say that every mythological creature is represented in Harry Potter. It just seems like whatever the next big development is at WDW is naturally going to be compared to the Wizarding World, and if that next big thing were Beastly Kingdom, it would certainly invite some criticism about the themes being quite similar. But if it is done well, I certainly wouldn't complain!

Maybe that's why they don't want to do Beastly Kingdom. They know they'd have to put in some real money and effort to come out on top in the inevitable comparison. There's nothing wrong with being compared to something else as long as you win. It's probably just a lot easier to do some completely different concept, and cut corners then hope nobody compares it to anything.

[calsig31]

Re: Am I the only one who's not crazy over the old Beastly Kingdom concept?

The concept is sound. I just think it needs a different name. Beastly Kingdom seems really bad to me. Almost like a name they threw out there as a placeholder until something better came along.