Rivers of Light coming to Animal Kingdom

[ColinA]

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2 ... l-kingdom/


This sounds good. Should be open for one of our trips!

[KeithS]

You beat me to it! The concept art for this looks fantastic doesn't it? I can't wait to see it for myself one day. I kind of looks like they will build some terraced viewing area. I'm going to check out Google Earth to see if I can figure out exactly where it is all going to fit in.

[ajp]

Wow, looks awesome!

[ColinA]

They might plan on constructing on the right side of Tree of Life on the right side of Discovery Island or on the section of land near Nemo. They will have a plan!

[KeithS]

or on the section of land near Nemo.

Looking at the view in Google Earth, I would think the area adjacent to Nemo is exactly where it will go - it is nice centred on the large lake there, between Discovery Island and Everest.

In other news, Disney announced today they will have a hard-ticketed night time event every Saturday night from 7 June to 9 August in the Harambe section of AK - it will be a street party with African foods, and outdoor live entertainment, as well as a viewing of a new show called The Lion King: Concert in the Wild, which will be held in the new Harambe Theatre. These special viewings will be hosted by a different celebrity host each Saturday.

Now what is not clear to me is whether "The Lion King: Concert in the Wild" is going to be the new ongoing show in the theatre, or whether the of Festival of the Lion King will return - we'll have to wait an see!

[ColinA]

I had checked google earth as well and I agree to most likely be over near Nemo.

I thought the Harambe Nights was only going to run for about 1 month.

From what I know Festival of the Lion King is just being moved and would take 6 months to construct the new site. The old area had closed early January so do not think the new theater would be open on time for Harambe Nights. From what the news says it seems to be on the street. Both seem to be in Africa section.

[BrizMarc]

It looks to be a bit of a world of colour type thing with a twist. You know this will be good. I wonder how the animals will adapt to the night noise

[KeithS]

I wouldn't have wanted to be the manager that had to step up this week to say that the Rivers of Light show wouldn't be ready by 22 April and that the opening will have to be pushed back!

https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2016/04/update-on-nighttime-experiences-at-disneys-animal-kingdom/

Disney have been advertising for many months that the show (along with a bunch of new offerings at Animal Kingdom) would debut on Earth Day - 22 April.  Judging by people's comments on the Disney Parks Blog, lots of people had planned expensive holidays to Orlando to see the new show...and now have had their plans put into turmoil.

Disney are saying they will announce further information about the project in May - so I'm guessing that the delay is quite significant and that they were probably never going to finish on time, yet they were still advertising the 22 April date on the WDW this morning - oops!

I'm just wondering if it is things like this (Shanghai late opening and over runs, MyMagic+ cost over runs and its failure to adapt to Disneyland, delays to Rivers of Light and slow construction of Avatar) that encouraged Tom Staggs to fall on his sword?

[ColinA]

I was thinking the same thing this morning when I saw the news. Who would the job of managing the project.

Friends of ours leave for WDW on Anzac day. Suppose they will have to wait until the next trip.

By the comments some people like to jump up and down but maybe they need to realize life does not revolve around them.

[mushu mama]

I'm just wondering if it is things like this (Shanghai late opening and over runs, MyMagic+ cost over runs and its failure to adapt to Disneyland, delays to Rivers of Light and slow construction of Avatar) that encouraged Tom Staggs to fall on his sword?

OHhh, you might be onto something there I'm thinking ... just too many things not going to plan.
I hadn't actually read about this delay till I read it  here, so I'm amazed that they kept advertising its opening date so vigorously if the lag time is significant.  Disappointing for those who planned around the dates.. .for me, I haven't seen anything in the park at all, and while I hope it is up and running by the time I get there, its a bonus for me anyway.