Given how thick and lush the foliage is at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, it will probably come as no surprise that this theme park has an extensive drainage system.
Photo by Jeff Lange
But what may surprise Disneyana fans is to learn that — in spite of the fact that Disney’s Animal Kingdom is less than seven years old — the park’s drainage system is reportedly already falling apart.
According to WDW insiders, Disney’s decision to cut corners during the construction of this $800 million project (I.E. Using corregrated metal in DAK’s drainage system) is now supposedly coming back to bite Mickey in the butt. With pipes allegedly already collapsing all over this 500 acre theme park, the Mouse is now rumored to be looking at a repair / replacement project that could wind up costing the Walt Disney Company as much as $67 million.
Obviously, with this level of funding needed to address this crisis, DAK’s post- “Expedition Everest” expansion plans are now reportedly being put on hold. Though this theme park is obviously in need of additional rides, shows and attractions, all of those will now have to wait as Disney deals with this drainage problem.
“Exactly how bad is this drainage problem?,” you ask. Bad enough to supposedly cause several sinkholes within the park’s perimeter. According to “Kilimanjaro Safari” drivers, one of these sinkholes allegedly caused the route that the ride vehicles in this DAK attraction typically follow to be changed.
Photo by Jeff Lange
“So what is Disney doing to deal with DAK’s drainage problem?,” you query. Reportedly, park-wide repair work has already begun. Some drainage pipes are being dug up. While still others (which are in hard-to-reach areas, like inside the theme park’s animal enclosures) will supposedly have a smaller plastic tube inserted into them. Which (in theory) will slow the eventual corresion and collapse of these corregated metal pipes.
“How long will this parkwide pipe change-out / repair job take?,” you continue. Given that Disney doing this project in a somewhat piecemeal fashion, it may take as long as 2-to-2-1/2 years to complete repairs.
And the projected $67 million cost of completing this project? … Well, all that money has to come from somewhere, folks. Which is why we’d all better hope that “Expedition Everest” is one really incredible ride. For that state-of-the-art coaster may be the only new attraction of size that DAK sees from now ’til 2008.
Photo by Jeff Lange
Sorry to break this bit of bad news, folks. I know that there are a lot of you out there who truly love Disney’s Animal Kingdom. But sometimes it seems like this theme park just can’t catch a break. That DAK — for one reason or another — is always being prevented from becoming a first class Disney theme park.
Anyway … Your thoughts?