More Permanent Closures. RoL, Stitch and Primeval Whirl

[Boopuff]

I remember seeing all the prep work, and waiting for it to open. Finally saw it a few years ago. I thought the idea was great (the night I saw the show all elements worked - but clearly one float never left the station) it didn't interfere with the show. Maybe they'll do a "water parade" type thing. But I'm glad to see Whirl go bye-bye. I always thought the weird carnival area was a big mis-step. Change that entire area!

 

[TiggerTrigger]

Dec 2017 was my only chance to see RoL. We booked the lunch package at Tiffins, but seating time came dangerously close to our family dinner at Tusker and the end of our FP window for FoP. FoP was running slow (and we gave it priority) and our FL family, that we don’t get to see very often, was waiting for us at the ride exit. We were exhausted, didn’t feel like running to the show, wanted to experience Pandora at night and were enjoying the family time...so we skipped FoP. We figured with all they put into it and the hype, it would be there for quite some time. I was only able to work a morning into AK when I was there for Marathon week back in January. I don’t regret the choices I made that caused me to miss it, but still sad.

 

[North of Mouse]

Really bummed about ROL - dh & I both really enjoyed it - so much is changed and different - not sure when we'll ever return, and we have gone for years - since 1972.
Don't really want to see the 'shadow' of what we enjoyed so much.

 

[CampbellzSoup]

They can’t just change it to a world of color? That would be amazing.

Also if was nice all four parks had an end of night show to say goodbye.

 

[zebrastreyepz]

Rivers of Light was our favorite nighttime show...specifically the original with the actors. I did not see the new version except on YouTube but didn't care to make time for it last October. I didn't like the newer version.

I thought it was beautiful and the music was stunning. It was something culturally different and it fit in Animal Kingdom very well until they shoehorned IPs into it. Same thing with the bird show, really.

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

Rivers of Light was our favorite nighttime show...specifically the original with the actors. I did not see the new version except on YouTube but didn't care to make time for it last October. I didn't like the newer version.

I thought it was beautiful and the music was stunning. It was something culturally different and it fit in Animal Kingdom very well until they shoehorned IPs into it. Same thing with the bird show, really.

My exact thoughts.

 

[disneydentist]

My guess is DAK will not be open again after dark for a long long time.

Certainly not during the summer. At best an hour plus in the dead of winter given the current hours for all four parks.

 

[VandVsmama]

They can’t just change it to a world of color? That would be amazing.

Also if was nice all four parks had an end of night show to say goodbye.

I think that's a great idea. World of Color with stadium seating. One of the big problems with World of Color at DCA in California is everybody basically has to stand up the entire time before hand (while you wait for it to start) and during the show.

On a side note, I think that the wood seating for ROL probably needs to be replaced. It's looking kind of worn and run down from the recent photos I've seen. But maybe that's on purpose?

 

[sethschroeder]

Boo to everyone hating on Whirl. It was a great little ride that was perfectly set for the theme.

Now if you show me the new roll out plans for a complete redesign of the area fine. I don't see those plans for another 3-4 years and then its another 2-3 years before its completed.

They just canned Mary Poppins and a DVC resort so its not likely they are looking to redesign a whole land at AK.

 

[gharter]

When I saw the closing of Primeval Whirl, I was really hoping they were closing all of Chester and Hester's Dino-Rama and retheme it completely.
No such luck.

 

[kylenne]

When I saw the closing of Primeval Whirl, I was really hoping they were closing all of Chester and Hester's Dino-Rama and retheme it completely.
No such luck.

I would really love an Oceania land, if they want IP they could put a Moana attraction in there. And it would really fit given the environmental message of the movie.

 

[annadreamsofdisneyworld]

I'm sad about Primeval Whirl. I only got to ride it once, and it was fun.

 

[wendow]

Also sad about Primeval Whirl. The few times that we have gone and it's been open, it has become one of our fam favs in AK. It reminds us of Goofy's Sky School in DLR and that is so much fun!

 

[tuckymom]

Always rode PW. My brother and I always liked it but never truly felt like a Disney ride (I know it wasn't but you could tell). They really should just re-theme the stupid parking lot carnival part. They could just use what they already have (the kid's area, the tri-ride, Resturantaurus) but make it just a "dig" site. Get rid of the big dinosaur and the carnival part and add another small kid's ride or some kind of interactive bone digging thing for adults.

Stitch should have never opened.

ROL...I wanted to like it but it was boring. I understand you can't have fireworks at the park but it just didn't begin to compare to the other night shows. Never saw DL's World of Color but eventually they can look at something like that.

 

[jerseygal]

Aagh..sad about ROL! We really enjoyed this show! Sad to see it go, but hoping there will be something as good or better!

 

[Madame]

We loved PW . It was a great filler ride & was actually really fun

 

[holden]

I think they will have another nighttime show at some point. Pandora at night is a big draw and they put forth a lot of effort and money into that.

ROL was a one and done for us, so I’m not sad to see it go. I would be sad to see the end of night hours at AK.

 

[GPC0321]

My guess is DAK will not be open again after dark for a long long time.

That would stink. Pandora is best at night.

I'm sad about Rivers of Light. We saw it last summer and really enjoyed it.

 

[Eastern]

Good riddance to the Stitch ride. I never got to go on ROL

 

[Brett Wyman]

Boo to everyone hating on Whirl. It was a great little ride that was perfectly set for the theme.

Now if you show me the new roll out plans for a complete redesign of the area fine. I don't see those plans for another 3-4 years and then its another 2-3 years before its completed.

They just canned Mary Poppins and a DVC resort so its not likely they are looking to redesign a whole land at AK.

I did not care for the ride but it was really well suited for the theme. Odd that Disney is closing it for "no reason". I remember rumors of it needing expensive service or was just reaching its end of life as an off the shelf ride perhaps? But then it ran seasonally sense that rumor began. And it can't be too expensive to staff it. Id be curious to the actual reason its closed forever now instead of just keeping it seasonal.