When the D23 Expo took place earlier in 2022, Disney Parks confirmed that the Dinoland U.S.A. area of Disney’s Animal Kingdom would be undergoing a serious re-theming. A number of different possibilities were shared, although nothing specific was announced. Walt Disney Imagineering is hard at work on the future of that area of Animal Kingdom, but Imagineering isn’t the only division that is consulted whenever attractions are being planned. The team tasked with animal care is also intimately involved in the process.
Dr. Scott Terrell, Director of Animal and Science Operations for The Walt Disney Company told sources about the complexities that go along with caring for the park’s numerous animal species in a park that also has roller coasters and other loud attractions that could potentially bother the animals. While Dr. Terrell did not talk about specifics, he explained that his team was involved from the beginning.
Terrell said there is very much an “animals first” mentality when it comes to designing anything new at Walt Disney World, as his team is responsible for animals company-wide, not simply those at Animal Kingdom. By making sure that somebody from the animal and science team is involved from the beginning, it prevents the need to have to make any significant changes to plans for attractions or other entertainment by realizing too late that whatever is being designed might cause a problem for animals.
The last time Disney’s Animal Kingdom saw a major update was with the creation of Pandora – World of Avatar. Terrell explained that during that time the animals were temporarily relocated, not due to the attractions, but rather due to the vibrations caused by the construction. If an attraction caused too much noise near a sensitive animal, it could have a negative impact on the animal’s health.
Currently, it is not known what the future holds for Dinoland, or when work will even begin. One Dinoland attraction – Primeval Whirl – has already been removed.
During the Disney Parks’ Expo, a “Blue Sky” discussion revealed that Walt Disney Imagineering was considering a variety of concepts, including a Zootopia-themed land, similar to the one being created in Shanghai Disneyland, or perhaps one geared toward Moana.
The concern of course is that construction in Dinoland could cause similar problems for animals as what they experienced during the construction of Pandora. When that work begins, it is possible we may see more of Animal Kingdom disrupted, but if it happens, know it is being done for the health of the animals.
Glad that Disney puts the health and safety of the animals as a top priority?