Fans Unhappy with ‘Zootopia’ Coming to Disney’s Animal Kingdom

In the flurry of what Josh D’Amaro called Walt Disney Imagineering’s “Blue Sky” announcements, there is one that is stirring up some debate among Disney Fanatics, specifically regarding the proposed retheme of DinoLand, U.S.A.

We at Disney Fanatic were on hand to hear the Chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products share the news that the area inside Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park was going to be transformed into a land dedicated to both Walt Disney Animation feature films Zootopia and Moana. 

Read More: D23 UPDATE: DinoLand Is Going to be Revamped

The announcement was done with Jennifer Lee and Chris Beatty and was clearly meant to be an inspiring sign that more and more magic is to come at The Walt Disney World Resort. But, not every fan is happy about it–especially the fans self-proclaimed to be loyal to the now-former Walt Disney Imagineer and creative lead behind the very creation of Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Joe Rohde.

@SuperJARKenobi said, “POV Joe Rohde being at D23 to watch Disney announce the one thing he said he didn’t want to happen to his park:”

POV Joe Rohde being at D23 to watch Disney announce the one thing he said he didn’t want happen to his park: pic.twitter.com/OnJFtN4P6S

— Lego Jar Jar Binks (@SuperJARKenobi) September 11, 2022

Related: Fans Underwhelmed with D23 Expo’s Disney Parks Panel

@blockbustedpod vented on Twitter by saying,

“Joe Rohde is finally gone and so they’re doing Zootopia in Animal Kingdom…………this is my worst fear. goodbye Dinosaur. 

“OH NO NOW THEY’RE SAYING MOANA FITS ANIMAL KINGDOM PLEASE DON’T DO THIS TO YOUR MOST THEMATICALLY-COHESIVE PARK NO”

https://twitter.com/blockbustedpod/status/1569037601188843522?s=20&t=rCh3kjTXKJDg4oTEzZREiA

@WorldWatchers97 said, “This is stupid. This is something that Joe Rohde argued against for many years as being thematically inconsistent with DAK. Call me a “purist,” but thematic integrity IS very important to the parks.” 

This is stupid. This is something that Joe Rohde argued against for many years as being thematically inconsistent with DAK. Call me a “purist”, but thematic integrity IS very important to the parks. https://t.co/aMJdAAGpyi

— John Lynch (Autistic Tiki Bird) (@WorldWatchers97) September 11, 2022

Joe Rohde himself has yet to express comment on the matter at the time of this article’s publication.

But there are others who did not attempt to express division among the Imagineering camp on this project and simply shared their sorrow at losing one of their favorite Disney Parks Themed Lands.

@kovuren, for example, shared some fun photographs and said, “dinoland usa appreciation post because it’s the best land ever and if it’s replaced i will cry.”

dinoland usa appreciation post because it’s the best land ever and if it’s replaced i will cry pic.twitter.com/ROGZ3e4o64

— 🦁 lily 🦖 (@kovuren) September 11, 2022

While it has fun character experiences and the fan-favorite E-Ticket dark ride, Dinosaur, DinoLand, U.S.A. has seemingly been headed towards its own extinction for some time, with Primevil Whirl closing down as one of the most noticeable points. It has long been speculated that a revamp or an entirely new land was going to be coming in as a replacement, but we never received confirmation.

It should be noted that these “Blue Sky” announcements are glorified hopes and dreams for the future of the Disney Parks, and no official dates for any stage of closure and construction were announced.

We at Disney Fanatic will continue to monitor this story and will update our readers on this story as well as all of the other exciting Disney Parks stories as more developments come to light.