Disney4me Posted 4 hours ago Report Posted 4 hours ago For better or worse, Disney World is always changing. That’s clear to anyone visiting right now, as massive projects like Piston Peak, Monstropolis, and Tropical Americas dominate the landscape. However, Disney’s not done. Something is being added! A recent report on some new technologies Disney is working on sheds light on the kind of things we may see coming to the resort in the years to come. It’s given us an idea as to what the company could do with a massive area in the middle of Animal Kingdom that’s been sitting abandoned for ages. In a recent Bloomberg article on Imagineering, the outlet expanded on the aquatic robot prototypes that Disney had first teased last year. According to the outlet, Disney shared a “ray-like robot” that uses hydrofoil technology to propel itself through the water. This prototype could potentially be used to represent Gramma Tala’s spirit form from Moana. ©Bloomberg Bloomberg was also shown a video of a pair of mechanical dolphins swimming together in a lagoon, interacting with each other in a way that’s meant to tell a story. These animated figures use jet pump propulsion and biomimetic articulation to balance themselves and GPS technology for navigation. ©Bloomberg Kyle Laughlin, senior vice president for technology and R&D at Walt Disney Imagineering, stressed to the outlet that their goal “is not to do innovation or technology for technology’s sake, but always in service of the story.” He went on to specifically talk about bodies of water at Disney parks being a potentially untapped area, especially during certain times of the day. Laughlin expressed, “We look at this as a canvas where we could really bring new entertainment to life in a way that could be super powerful for our guests… It’s this great mix of water IP and underutilized spaces, so we are exploring what autonomous aquatic performers can do.” Discovery River at Animal Kingdom That talk about bodies of water got us thinking about the Discovery River Amphitheater at Animal Kingdom. The 5,000-seat structure was built in the mid-2010s initially for the Rivers of Light nighttime show, which was scheduled to premiere in 2016. However, that show was delayed, and The Jungle Book: Alive with Magic ran through most of 2016 instead. Rivers of Light finally debuted in 2017 and ran with issues until 2019, when it was retooled into Rivers of Light: We Are One. That show ran until the pandemic closure in 2020 and never reopened. Rivers of Light: We Are One In October of 2021, KiteTails opened in the theater space. The new daytime show featured large balloons themed to Disney characters that functioned like kites pulled along by jet skis, as well as in-theater performers. While the show did develop a cult following, most reactions were negative, exacerbated by a series of viral videos that showed the show’s kites “crashing” into empty sections of the bleachers. While Disney would claim these crashes were how the kites were supposed to land, the visuals definitely did not help the show’s reputation. KiteTails was eventually retooled into a walk-by experience in May of 2022, before being axed altogether in September of that year. The massive theater has sat empty since. KiteTails What if Disney’s new aquatic animatronics, like the aforementioned “ray-like robot,” and dolphins could be used in the area for a pyrotechnic-free afternoon or even an early evening show that could bring some life to this abandoned part of the park, and provide a major people-eating show to a park that will desperately need it, even after Tropical Americas is complete? The dolphins would certainly fit the park’s theme, as good Gramma Tala. The latter technology could also be used for an Avatar-themed creature instead, which, of course, could also fit in at Animal Kingdom. Discovery River Amphitheater The aquatic robots were just one of several potential projects Bloomberg reported on; they also spoke about a “hovering” food service droid that may debut at the D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event before arriving at Galaxy’s Edge in Disneyland later this year. Stay tuned to DFB for more on the future of Disney parks. We’re Spilling a HUGE SECRET About Pirates of the Caribbean in Disney World Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW What would you like to see come to Animal Kingdom’s Discovery River Amphitheater? Let us know in the comments below. View the full article Quote
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