I like the new safari at AK story line or lack of one.

[jgarmer]

The poacher story was never a favorite of mine glad its gone. Good bye Big Red and Little Red not missed.

joe

[Wizzard419]

This is kind of like the beheading video argument on facebook, on one hand it is an unpleasant reality to face at an amusement park, on the other it is a real world problem that needs to be addressed.

[jgarmer]

It just can across as hokey and preachy. They do those great Earth movies and then they pass that off as entertainment. A leftover elephant from the jungle cruise looked out of place and no more shaky bridge either like they were leftover parts from backlot tour. We are here to see animals people. Can't wait to see CameronLand when its done. Sorry they never did the DragonLand.

joe

[Wizzard419]

It is a very first world, if not just American, thing to be against having a message that makes the viewer feel bad. This is also why Epcot did not work as an educational theme park. The guests don't want their fun contaminated by other influences. Though, I have a feeling the reason that they ditched the elephant scene, and possibly the bridge, was to maximize ridership and possibly cut down on staff.

[Amy]

It is a very first world, if not just American, thing to be against having a message that makes the viewer feel bad. This is also why Epcot did not work as an educational theme park. The guests don't want their fun contaminated by other influences. Though, I have a feeling the reason that they ditched the elephant scene, and possibly the bridge, was to maximize ridership and possibly cut down on staff.

I had read somewhere that the bridge was changed because it was too expensive to keep working safely and properly.

[DaRkNeSs]

I think it is very trivial that people find poaching to be offensive while attending a wildlife based theme park that goes to Africa where poaching is a real problem, so Disney took steps to educate and maybe teach us to value life and people find that depressing wow lets not do anything to cross into our little bubbles and show us the truth shame!

I miss listening to the radio while on the ride, I do miss red and little red!

[jderoche5]

I loved listening to the radio while on our safari! Now it's stuck in my head!

[yodiwan1]

ha doo doo doo, ha doo doo doo!!! radio was awesome!!! It did tell an important message, the problem is the kids not understanding and being scared.

[lonepalm]

I have not yet experienced the safari without the storyline. I never minded it to begin with, and if it is really just a ride through without a storyline, I don't suspect I will hate it or care one way or the other. I would have been fine to leave it the way it was, or I suspect I am fine with it being a simple safari ride through and then just going back to camp...I guess there doesn't have to be an element of story or thrill behind every ride, right?

[cy1229]

I have not yet experienced the safari without the storyline. I never minded it to begin with, and if it is really just a ride through without a storyline, I don't suspect I will hate it or care one way or the other. I would have been fine to leave it the way it was, or I suspect I am fine with it being a simple safari ride through and then just going back to camp...I guess there doesn't have to be an element of story or thrill behind every ride, right?

I think I disagree with your last sentence. One of the things that sets Disney parks apart from all the others is that there IS a story behind all of the attractions, and those stories work together within a "land" to tell a bigger story. The plot lines aren't particularly thick or complex, but they do all give you a setting and some characters. It's evident in the queue areas as well as the decor. If you go to a "regular" amusement park, there's a little bit of storytelling but not much... and the rides are all mishmashed together with little or no theming from one to the next.

[lonepalm]

I have not yet experienced the safari without the storyline. I never minded it to begin with, and if it is really just a ride through without a storyline, I don't suspect I will hate it or care one way or the other. I would have been fine to leave it the way it was, or I suspect I am fine with it being a simple safari ride through and then just going back to camp...I guess there doesn't have to be an element of story or thrill behind every ride, right?

I think I disagree with your last sentence. One of the things that sets Disney parks apart from all the others is that there IS a story behind all of the attractions, and those stories work together within a "land" to tell a bigger story. The plot lines aren't particularly thick or complex, but they do all give you a setting and some characters. It's evident in the queue areas as well as the decor. If you go to a "regular" amusement park, there's a little bit of storytelling but not much... and the rides are all mishmashed together with little or no theming from one to the next.

I should be careful...I completely agree with you in terms of rides at Disney being a story. What I meant is that the storyline with the poachers and stuff on the safari itself doesn't seem like it would make a difference to me in the quality of the ride. Not having experienced it, I can't say for sure, but I can feel pretty confident in saying that next time I ride it, I won't be saying to myself that it is way below Disney standards because there wasn't the poacher story...or any story built into the ride experience.

On the other hand, if they ripped down the queue and replaced it with the expando-rails that you see at airports, removed the safari trucks and replaced them with school buses, and put the animals on just a big wide open land area with no trees, baobab treees, elephant tusk carvings in the clay, etc, then yes, I would certainly say that it is not Disney standards. So when I say that there doesn't have to be a story behind every attraction, I meant specifically the poacher storyline...not the queue, decor, theme, etc. The fact that we are not diverted from our two week safari (or whatever it is) anymore because of poachers just doesn't seem like it changes the experience at all for me, in fact, dare I say, it may enhance it, especially since they added more animals (Zebras I believe?) in place of the little red scene if I'm not mistaken.

[cy1229]

I have not yet experienced the safari without the storyline. I never minded it to begin with, and if it is really just a ride through without a storyline, I don't suspect I will hate it or care one way or the other. I would have been fine to leave it the way it was, or I suspect I am fine with it being a simple safari ride through and then just going back to camp...I guess there doesn't have to be an element of story or thrill behind every ride, right?

I think I disagree with your last sentence. One of the things that sets Disney parks apart from all the others is that there IS a story behind all of the attractions, and those stories work together within a "land" to tell a bigger story. The plot lines aren't particularly thick or complex, but they do all give you a setting and some characters. It's evident in the queue areas as well as the decor. If you go to a "regular" amusement park, there's a little bit of storytelling but not much... and the rides are all mishmashed together with little or no theming from one to the next.

I should be careful...I completely agree with you in terms of rides at Disney being a story. What I meant is that the storyline with the poachers and stuff on the safari itself doesn't seem like it would make a difference to me in the quality of the ride. Not having experienced it, I can't say for sure, but I can feel pretty confident in saying that next time I ride it, I won't be saying to myself that it is way below Disney standards because there wasn't the poacher story...or any story built into the ride experience.

On the other hand, if they ripped down the queue and replaced it with the expando-rails that you see at airports, removed the safari trucks and replaced them with school buses, and put the animals on just a big wide open land area with no trees, baobab treees, elephant tusk carvings in the clay, etc, then yes, I would certainly say that it is not Disney standards. So when I say that there doesn't have to be a story behind every attraction, I meant specifically the poacher storyline...not the queue, decor, theme, etc. The fact that we are not diverted from our two week safari (or whatever it is) anymore because of poachers just doesn't seem like it changes the experience at all for me, in fact, dare I say, it may enhance it, especially since they added more animals (Zebras I believe?) in place of the little red scene if I'm not mistaken.

Ah. Yes. You are correct. Not having the poachers storyline won't really detract from the sense of being on a safari.

And, you really must ride it at least once. But, if you are prone to motion sickness, don't sit in the back row.

[Wizzard419]

If I recall, since the attractions do have an environmental message behind the attractions, aren't the poachers mentioned in the queue? It is a real threat on preserves in Africa, and it does take it a step further than your generic wild animal park/zoo tour.

[foldmama]

I have a fond memory of the poachers. The first time I rode when with my nephew was only four and he totally believed it was true. He kept telling everyone on our car that the police were coming to take the bad people away. He had a whole conversation with the driver and a few other guests about bad people hurting animals and they need to go to jail. After that experience it was no longer silly to me. I saw how it so reached out and taught my nephew. I think about it today and just smile.