Walt Disney World is constantly evolving to provide new and exciting experiences for guests. In the past five years, we have seen two new lands and several new attractions open at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. We have gotten new nighttime spectaculars and TRON: Lightcycle / Run at Magic Kingdom. It was even announced at D23 that Country Bear Jamboree would be seeing an upgrade in the near future.
At EPCOT, the park’s overhaul to the front of the park is nearing completion and the park has added new areas and experiences including the additions of Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Space 220, and Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure.
However, aside from some reworked live shows following the pandemic closure the only new attraction to come to Disney’s Animal Kingdom since Pandora—The World of Avatar in 2017 was Kite Tails, and even it has since been retired. Animal Kingdom is arguably the most underrated of the Walt Disney World theme parks and it deserves some much-needed upgrades and attention. The possibilities of what could be added or updated are endless, however, let’s explore a few possibilities.
Addressing The Dinosaur In the Room
It is no secret that Dinoland USA is the most disliked land in Disney’s Animal Kingdom if not all of Walt Disney World. Announcements made at D23 in 2022 and 2023, showed us that Disney knows as much and that they are well into planning what might replace this land.
As much as I love DINOSAUR, even I can admit that area of the park needs a change. I have gone into detail in Where Dinoland Fails and What Should ACTUALLY Replace It! about this divisive land, and Disney even announced plans that align with those recommendations. The plan to incorporate the “Tropical Americas” is a great idea, that is, IF Disney follows through on these plans.
This theme would blend well with the other themed areas of the park including Asia and Africa. The change would come also with the possibility of incorporating more Latin and South American-inspired cuisine into the parks. Central and South American culture and representation are completely lacking at Walt Disney World, so this would be a welcome addition to the overall park experience.
Additionally, the new land would provide the ability to include new species of animals. Animal Kingdom hasn’t added new animal exhibits in quite some time. Adding new animals would have not only educational benefits for guests but also the opportunity for Disney to expand on those conservation efforts.
Finally, adding South America provides endless options for retheming Dinosaur while still reutilizing the overall ride mechanics (ultimately saving money on a new attraction). It would even provide a great opportunity for Walt Disney World to add Encanto into the theme parks. There are so many great attractions that could be added including a Casita walk-through experience, an Encanto live show, or character Meet and Greets.
Unfortunately, it seems as if any plans are still in the very early stages, meaning it will still be a while before we see any results. Animal Kingdom deserves to be at the top of Disney’s list. Though, it isn’t just Dinoland USA that needs an upgrade…
There Are Two Attractions In Need Of TLC
Two other areas where Animal Kingdom could see improvements are Kali River Rapids and It’s Tough To Be a Bug! Both of these attractions opened in the late 1990s meaning they are over two decades old, and arguably, it shows. If any attractions at Animal Kingdom require a retheme or upgrade, it is these two.
It’s Tough To Be a Bug! is an opening day attraction for Disney’s Animal Kingdom and even opened prior to the debut of the film. However, I have never gone through this attraction without hearing the shrill cries of a child who has ultimately been scarred by the experience. While it has entertaining elements, the 9-minute show includes more creepy and even scary elements including bugs crawling by your legs, hornets poking you in the back, and spiders falling from the ceiling. The show tries to teach about how bugs are friends, but it does a better job of simply terrifying young children.
Fortunately, it was announced that this show would be replaced with a new Zootopia-themed show. However, we did not get a timeline on when this would occur. It will be a great addition as Animal Kingdom is lacking in attractions that appeal to smaller children. While it was definitely one of the most exciting announcements to come out of D23 this year, it would have been great to know it was coming sooner, rather than later.
Kali River Rapids is another attraction that is lacking in immersive theming. The theming of Kali River Rapids is meaningful, as it points out the destruction caused by deforestation. However, for a thrill ride, it leaves much to be desired. The ride could maintain its overall theming but add appealing IP like Wall-E. This could make the ride more engaging for riders. They could also change the theme of Kali River Rapids altogether as Pandora—The World of Avatar delivers the same type of message in a much more immersive and enthralling way. Finally, they could choose to remove the attraction and instead add something completely new. Although it would be missed on those hot Florida days, the attraction does tend to be one of the least popular attractions at the park.
Time To Include A New Water Show
Disney’s Animal Kingdom needs a show to replace Kite Tails. While Kite Tails had its flaws, it was overall an enjoyable show. It would be great if the park could bring a new live show experience to that Discovery River theater area. First, they should add some shading to the stadium seating because they are right in the blazing sun.
The show could be a new version of Kite Tails or a type of water-based stunt show. Perhaps, combining stunts with the kites and even more flags or ribbons could make for a more exciting and eye-catching show. There are endless IP options that could be showcased in a show like this.
There are many potential updates that could come to Disney’s Animal Kingdom in the future, some that Disney has even already announced. These updates would enhance the park’s commitment to animal conservation, provide new and exciting attractions, and create more immersive experiences for guests. Let’s just hope Disney shows the park some love sooner rather than later because Animal Kingdom is a beautiful park and deserves the same amount of attention as the other Walt Disney World parks.
What do you think Disney’s Animal Kingdom needs next and when might we see some of these new plans put into place? Let us know in a comment below or on our Facebook page.
