Plans for Discovery River in AK?

99Soulz · Post by **99Soulz** » Jul Wed 09, 2008 1:46 pm

Does anyone know if there are any plans (official or rumor) about turning Discovery River into something in Animal Kingdom?

Obvious choice for some sort of African Cruise but even transportation to the different continents would be a plus - would help get people off of the narrow pathways.

DisBeamer · Post by **DisBeamer** » Jul Wed 09, 2008 6:20 pm

It was a cruise to start, just it was a cruise to nowhere. I went on it with my mom in ... I'm gonna guess 1998. You just sailed around the river and there was a cast member on there who had bugs and little critters in plastic cages to show people on the boat.

As far as I've heard, it was originally supposed to be an attraction where you could see stuff on the river banks (a la WDW Railroad at the MK) but for some reason that didn't work out. They ended up closing it down because a) it was boring as all get out and b) the lines for it were massive (and then it turned out to be boring as all get out - not a good way to make happy guests).

If they could increase the ride capacity and make it worth going on it'd be a neat resource for them to tap.

IMFearless · Post by **IMFearless** » Jul Wed 09, 2008 8:58 pm

The cruise was planned for the major Beastly Kingdomme section of the park, which crashed and burned due to cost restrictions and the opening of Dueling Dragons at Universal Islands of Adventure. That's what the dragon cave was for, the original plans had a giant dragon head actually come out of the cave and attack the cruise. That's also what the freaky-as-heck destroyed suits of armor were for.

Captain Schnemo · Post by **Captain Schnemo** » Jul Thu 10, 2008 3:19 am

DisBeamer wrote:They ended up closing it down because a) it was boring as all get out and b) the lines for it were massive (and then it turned out to be boring as all get out - not a good way to make happy guests).

It also wasn't even useful as transportation, as you ended up just a short distance from where you stared.

Didn't something originally happen by the dragon cave? Flames or steam or something shooting out of it? I remember seeing something that looked almost interesting, but the CMs were ignoring it and showing us bugs instead.

DisBeamer · Post by **DisBeamer** » Jul Thu 10, 2008 3:32 am

I remember the steam too, now that Fearless mentioned the cave. I remembered the creepy bugs a lot more clearly though. Spider the size of my head...

Joe90 · Post by **Joe90** » Jul Thu 10, 2008 3:38 am

Wikki has some interesting info on the Dragon and "Beastly Kingdomme"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disney%27s_Animal_Kingdom

As for Discovery River perhaps someone should have a look to see if they can find a way to link it to Epcot or Hollywood Studios. Now that would be a discovery.

IMFearless · Post by **IMFearless** » Jul Thu 10, 2008 6:22 am

Most of the stuff I know about Beastly Kingdomme is courtesy Jim Hill. His very first blog posts concerned this, as he started on the internetz around the time of Animal Kingdom's opening.
But link Discovery River to the Epcot/Hollywood/Boardwalk body of water? Do you realize just how long it would take a boat to do that?!?! Monorail to DAK pleez.

JWG · Post by **JWG** » Jul Thu 10, 2008 7:59 am

That cruise quit operating in July/August 1998, very shortly after AK opened. I remember this because we were there. One day the cruise was available, and we didnt' do it because of the lines. The next day it was off the map, we couldn't find it and the queue area had all but disappeared. When something goes away, it really goes away.

Now Discovery River just helps add to the humidity for FL realism

cccmouse · Post by **cccmouse** » Jul Thu 10, 2008 8:14 am

Joe90 wrote:Wikki has some interesting info on the Dragon and "Beastly Kingdomme"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disney%27s_Animal_Kingdom

As for Discovery River perhaps someone should have a look to see if they can find a way to link it to Epcot or Hollywood Studios. Now that would be a discovery.

Thanks for the link. This is interesting information.

Esmeralda · Post by **Esmeralda** » Jul Thu 10, 2008 8:38 am

Wow, linking the river to another park. Now that is a good idea! Not very realistic perhaps, but Animal Kingdom is just crying to be in the loop.

I do remember hearing about the fire and dragons, but never got on the boat myself. I think they should remake it with a Narnia theme - after all it's mythical and there are dragons in the Dawn Treader!

IMFearless · Post by **IMFearless** » Jul Thu 10, 2008 10:23 am

IIRC, Narnia is actually the Imagineers' current plan for Beastly Kingdomme They're hoping it proves successful enough for them to have a good counter to the Harry Potter section going into UIoA.

agingerbugg · Post by **agingerbugg** » Jul Thu 10, 2008 10:28 am

That would be awesome, I have read the series and there is enough there to create a whole new park. Harry Potter is limited, it is in essence a long serial. For the most part the Chronicles of Narnia stand on their own.

Joe90 · Post by **Joe90** » Jul Thu 10, 2008 1:04 pm

I wonder how much longer a boat trip from AK or AKL to DHS would be compaired to the Port Orleans to Down Town trip? Float it past Coronado on the way perhaps.......google Earth here I come.

DIAC1987 · Post by **DIAC1987** » Jul Thu 10, 2008 1:57 pm

Esmeralda wrote:Wow, linking the river to another park. Now that is a good idea! Not very realistic perhaps, but Animal Kingdom is just crying to be in the loop.

I do remember hearing about the fire and dragons, but never got on the boat myself. I think they should remake it with a Narnia theme - after all it's mythical and there are dragons in the Dawn Treader!

Considering that the 2nd Narnia didn't do well at the box office (Made less than half of the earnings of the original), I doubt they have Narnia in their potential plans anytime soon. Perhaps the 3rd one will revive the franchise into money-making glory.

kcarts · Post by **kcarts** » Jul Thu 10, 2008 2:05 pm

Isn't that attraction already in the Magic Kingdom under the name Jungle Cruise?